Aspherical Light Distribution Lens for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lenses for light emitting elements fail to achieve a smoothly-diffused light distribution with a wider area while maintaining a constant width in the short-axis direction and an elongated light distribution in the long-axis direction, often resulting in uneven illuminance patterns.
Innovation Solution
A lens with a specific three-dimensional surface shape featuring a concave shape near the central optical axis and convex shapes on both sides in the long-axis cross-section, and a straight-line part at least 5% of the short-axis length in the short-axis cross-section, along with continuous curved surfaces that intersect with the central optical axis, to achieve desired light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional lenses with simple spherical surfaces are used, then manufacturing is easy, but light distribution is isotropic and rotationally symmetric, failing to achieve desired elongated patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The lens surface is divided into multiple regions with different curvature characteristics: a first region with positive curvature radius, a second region with negative curvature radius, and a third region with positive curvature radius. This segmentation allows each region to contribute differently to light distribution, achieving elongated patterns while maintaining manufacturability through standardized molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from simple spherical surfaces to complex aspherical surfaces with varying curvature radii in different regions. By introducing dimensional complexity in the surface profile (described by polynomial equations with multiple coefficients), the lens achieves sophisticated light distribution patterns including elongated and uniformly diffuse illumination without requiring multiple lens elements.
2Area of stationary object
If bimodal shaped lenses with two peaks are used to achieve elongated light distribution, then light spreads in long-axis direction, but the illuminated area is limited and the pattern has pointed tips rather than smoothly-diffused edges
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the lens surface are assigned different curvature characteristics to achieve specific local light distribution effects. The first region (positive curvature) provides convergence, the second region (negative curvature) provides divergence, and the third region (positive curvature) provides additional convergence. This local quality differentiation enables the lens to produce both elongated distribution and smoothly-diffused edges simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens surface employs aspherical geometry with continuously varying curvature radii described by polynomial equations. By carefully controlling the curvature profile across different regions and azimuthal angles, the lens transforms the pointed-tip pattern of conventional bimodal lenses into a smoothly-diffused illumination pattern that covers a larger illuminated area.
3Illumination intensity
If lenses with complex aspherical surfaces are used to achieve precise light distribution control, then illumination uniformity improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens design uses polynomial equations with multiple coefficients to describe the aspherical surface profile. By optimizing these parameters (curvature radii, polynomial coefficients, region boundaries), the invention achieves precise light distribution control while keeping the surface geometry within manufacturable tolerances. The mathematical parameterization allows for systematic optimization balancing optical performance and manufacturing feasibility.
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 lens provides a wider, smoothly-diffused light distribution with a rectangular-like illuminance pattern, ensuring uniform illumination and improved light distribution characteristics compared to conventional lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a light distribution lens to be placed on a light emitting element... having a light incident side facing the light emitting element and a light emitting side opposite to the light incident side
Data Source
AI summary
A lens for light emitting lamps that use light emitting elements such as LEDs, etc., is provided. The lens has a specific surface shape for light-distribution control to achieve desired light distributions, as well as a light emitting device using said lens. On the lens surface of the light emitting side which has a double-peak shape to obtain a light distribution characteristic having long and short two axes, by possessing a straight-line part in the surface shape of the light emitting side viewed on the lens short-axis cross section, a desired smoothly-diffused light distribution having a longitudinal direction with a certain width is obtained. The lens may be designed to have a surface of the light emitting side comprising a collection of straight lines parallel to the lens short-axis cross section, or to have a continuous curved surface comprising a collection of straight lines parallel to the lens short axis.