Low-profile color-mixing lightpipe via angled waveguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-mixing systems require increased height to achieve effective light mixing, which is not suitable for applications needing both efficient mixing and a shorter system height.
Innovation Solution
A light-mixing system comprising a light pipe with an input surface, a light-mixing segment, and an output surface, where the input and output surfaces are oriented at non-zero angles relative to the light-mixing segment, and optionally include reflective surfaces, microlenses, and surface texturing to enhance light propagation and mixing while maintaining a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the length of the mixing rod is increased to improve light mixing effectiveness, then the light mixing quality is improved, but the system height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear light-mixing rod to a curved light-guiding waveguide that extends in a different spatial dimension. The waveguide follows a curved path (e.g., U-shaped, zigzag, or circular) allowing light to travel a longer effective path length for mixing while the vertical projection height remains compact. This dimensional reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by decoupling the light path length from the system height.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved geometries in the light-guiding waveguide, such as U-shaped bends, zigzag patterns, or circular loops, to increase the light propagation path within a compact footprint. The curvature allows light to undergo multiple internal reflections and extended traversal through the mixing medium without requiring a linear increase in system height, thereby achieving effective light mixing in a compact vertical space.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional light-mixing systems are used to achieve effective light mixing, then light mixing quality is improved, but the system becomes less suitable for applications requiring short height
Solution Approach 1:
The curved waveguide design allows the light mixing function to be achieved in a horizontal or angled plane rather than purely vertically, making the system adaptable to applications with height constraints while maintaining effective light mixing through extended curved light paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved geometry of the waveguide enables compact integration into various application scenarios including automotive lighting, portable devices, and architectural installations where vertical space is limited, thereby enhancing the adaptability of the light-mixing system to diverse short-height applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves efficient light mixing with a significantly shorter height compared to conventional systems, allowing for effective light distribution while maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective surface that is optically coupled to the input surface and the light-mixing segment of the light pipe for directing at least a portion of the light received via the input surface to the light-mixing segment
Implementation Method 2
In other embodiments, the reflective surface can reflect the light incident thereon via total internal reflection
Implementation Method 3
the output surface of the light pipe can include a plurality of microlenses
Implementation Method 4
surface texturing or both. By way of example, the surface texturing can be characterized by a plurality of surface projections
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a light-mixing system is disclosed, which includes a light pipe having an input surface configured for receiving light from a light source, a light-mixing segment optically coupled to the input surface, and an output surface optically coupled to said light-mixing segment through which light exits the light pipe. A putative vector normal to at least one of the input or the output surface forms a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the light-mixing segment. In some embodiments, the non-zero angle can be, for example, about 90 degrees.