Compact Lens Array for Uniform LED Color Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED illuminating devices with changeable correlated color temperature face challenges in miniaturization due to large lens diameters and thickness, leading to non-uniform light emission and potential perception of broken LEDs when some light sources are turned off, along with chromatic aberration issues.
Innovation Solution
A compact lens design featuring a first surface with light incident surfaces, including three-dimensional and partial cylindrical surfaces, and a total reflection surface, allowing light from different sources to mix uniformly, reducing volume and preventing dark areas when sources are turned off, while improving light extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a lens is configured to cover all LEDs as a whole to achieve uniform light mixing, then light mixing uniformity is improved, but lens diameter and thickness become very large
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into multiple lens units, each corresponding to one or more LEDs. Each lens unit has its own light incident surface and light emergent surface. This segmentation allows each lens unit to be compact while collectively achieving uniform light mixing when all LEDs are activated.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate lenses are assigned to different groups of LEDs with different correlated color temperatures, then correlated color temperature adjustment is improved, but dark areas appear when some LEDs are turned off
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens unit is designed with a universal light incident surface that can receive light from its assigned LED(s) and also from other LEDs. This multi-functionality ensures that when some LEDs are turned off, their light paths are still covered by other lens units, preventing dark areas and maintaining the appearance of uniform illumination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate lenses are assigned to different LEDs, then individual LED control is improved, but chromatic aberration occurs between different lens regions
Solution Approach 1:
Each lens unit has optimized local optical properties with specific refractive indices and surface curvatures tailored to its assigned LED(s). This local optimization ensures that each lens unit properly focuses and directs light from its specific LED(s), while the overall arrangement maintains chromatic consistency across the entire lens assembly.
4Area of stationary object
If lens diameter is increased to cover all LEDs, then light coverage is improved, but device miniaturization is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The lens array transitions from a single large planar lens to multiple smaller lens units arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. This dimensional transformation allows the system to cover the same LED array area while reducing the overall profile height and enabling better spatial utilization, thus facilitating device miniaturization.
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 compact lens array achieves uniform light mixing and emission, enhancing light extraction efficiency and preventing the perception of broken LEDs, while allowing for independent control of luminance and changeable correlated color temperature.
Implementation Method 1
the light incident surfaces comprise a plurality of three-dimensional surfaces assigned to different light sources, a part of light from one light source can enter the lens from one three-dimensional surface assigned to the one light source, and the other part can enter the lens from one three-dimensional surface that is not assigned to the one light source
Implementation Method 2
the first surface comprises: light incident surfaces, from which light enters the lens; and a total reflection surface, on which a part of light entering the lens is totally reflected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lens, a lens array and an illuminating device. The lens comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises: light incident surfaces, from which light enters the lens; and a total reflection surface, on which a part of light entering the lens is totally reflected, the second surface comprises a light emergent surface, wherein the light incident surfaces comprise a plurality of three-dimensional surfaces assigned to different light sources, a part of light from one light source enters the lens from one three-dimensional surface assigned to the one light source, and the other part enters the lens from one three-dimensional surface that is not assigned to the one light source. The lens has a compact structure and can uniformly mix colors.