Annular Light Guide with Fringed Portion for Rotary Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional annular light guides in rotary operation type electrical components suffer from poor illumination efficiency due to unutilized light from the light source, as light emitted in directions without a light guide diffuses or leaks, resulting in reduced brightness and higher power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The annular light guide features a light inlet with a cavity for the light source and a toric light outlet, utilizing reflection and refraction to direct light from all directions into the light inlet, with collective lenses, inward, and outward projected fringes to optimize light utilization, reducing leakage and enhancing illumination efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light is emitted from a light source in all directions, then the light source can illuminate areas in all directions, but light emitted in directions without a light guide diffuses or leaks, resulting in poor illumination efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful light leakage and diffusion into beneficial illumination by adding a reflecting surface that redirects previously wasted light toward the light guide. The reflecting surface is positioned to intercept light emitted in directions without a light guide and reflect it toward the light guide's light incident surface, thereby converting energy loss into useful illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by adding a reflecting surface at a different angular position relative to the light source. This reflecting surface operates in a different dimensional space (angular dimension) to capture and redirect light that would otherwise be lost, creating a new light path that complements the existing light guide structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If a conventional annular light guide is used, then the structure is simple, but light from the light source is not fully utilized, resulting in reduced brightness and higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful light leakage and diffusion into beneficial illumination by adding a reflecting surface that redirects previously wasted light toward the light guide. The reflecting surface is positioned to intercept light emitted in directions without a light guide and reflect it toward the light guide's light incident surface, thereby converting energy loss into useful illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the system by introducing a reflecting surface with specific reflective properties. This changes the light distribution pattern and improves the utilization efficiency of the light source, thereby reducing the power consumption required to achieve the same illumination level.
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
This configuration significantly improves illumination efficiency by utilizing light from all directions, reducing power consumption and ensuring uniform brightness across the illumination area.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing reflection and refraction to direct light from all directions into the light inlet
Implementation Method 2
utilizing reflection and refraction to direct light from all directions into the light inlet
Data Source
AI summary
An annular light guide is provided. The annular light guide is made of optically transparent material, and is provided with an annular body that is an integrated combination of a light inlet and a light outlet. A light source is disposed in a cavity formed in the light inlet. Illumination light is emitted from the front surface 16c of the light outlet.