C-Shaped Light Guide Hides Housing for Uniform Luminaire Appearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lamps with light-guiding elements limit design freedom due to visible carrying components and LED light sources, affecting their external appearance.

Innovation Solution

A lamp design featuring a C-shaped light-guiding element with a C-profile line, decoupling structures, and a housing positioned behind the light-emitting surface area to minimize the visibility of carrying components, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing and uniform external appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If conventional light guides with visible support elements and LED sources are used, then the structural function is achieved, but the external appearance and design freedom are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal appearanceVSAvoidvisibility of carrying components
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the housing behind the light-emitting surface area, utilizing the depth dimension to hide structural components. The C-shaped profile line with curvature arrangements support elements and LED sources in recessed positions, making them invisible from the front viewing angle while maintaining their structural function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide element features an asymmetric C-shaped profile line with different curvature arrangements that optimizes both the aesthetic appearance and the functional positioning of components. The asymmetric design allows the housing to be concealed behind the light-emitting surface while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Shape

If the housing is positioned to hide behind the light-emitting surface, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the structural support function may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidstructural support function
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is repositioned from a side or front position to a rear position behind the light-emitting surface area. This dimensional relocation allows the housing to maintain its structural support function for the light guide element while being concealed from the primary viewing angle, thus preserving both aesthetics and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If a C-shaped profile line with curvature is used, then the light-emitting surface area is increased, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-emitting surface areaVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide element employs a C-shaped profile line incorporating curvature arrangements instead of straight lines. This curved geometry increases the light-emitting surface area and creates more aesthetically pleasing light distribution patterns. The curvature is integrated into the molding process, making the complex shape manufacturable through standard plastic injection molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design enables a sleek external appearance by hiding carrying components and enhancing light distribution and emission, while maintaining efficient light coupling and distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a light source (2) for generating light and a light-guiding element (3)... LED light sources (LED: light-emitting diode) are arranged on two opposite narrow sides of the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The light is coupled into the light-guiding element via a narrow side of the latter and is subsequently emitted via a light-emitting surface area of the light-guiding element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight guidance: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentEP2746650B1Luminaire with a curved light conducting element
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP2746650B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2746650B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2746650B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The lamp has a lighting unit (2) for generating a light. A light guide (3) has a narrow side (31) that is coupled to lighting unit and a light output surface area (32) through which light is discharged. The light guide is formed such that cross-section of light guide is set perpendicular or normal to the axis of light guide. A profile line (l) of light guide is provided with uniform thickness. A curvature (k) is formed along the profile line.