Compound Lens Design for Lateral Light Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED lighting systems fail to effectively direct light in a laterally-biased manner, resulting in trespass lighting, as existing lenses do not adequately minimize light emission towards non-preferential areas and often require multiple refractions for light control, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The proposed LED apparatus includes a primary lens and a secondary lens with a compound outer surface designed to redirect light preferentially towards a preferential side, using a ridgeline and concavity configuration to maximize light direction towards the desired area with minimal trespass lighting, achieved through a single refraction and optimized lens design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional lenses with projecting elements and extensive regions of discontinuity are used, then light redirection capability is provided, but trespass lighting is not adequately minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into distinct functional zones: a first region with a first refractive index for primary light redirection, and a second region with a second refractive index for controlling light at the non-preferential side. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently for its specific function, achieving precise light direction control while minimizing trespass lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lens are assigned different optical properties (refractive indices) tailored to their specific functions. The first region has optical properties optimized for redirecting light to the preferential side, while the second region has properties optimized for minimizing light emission to the non-preferential side, thereby reducing trespass lighting.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple refractions are used for light control, then light direction precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light control functions are merged into a single lens structure. The lens simultaneously performs primary light redirection, secondary light control, and trespass lighting minimization through its integrated multi-region design, eliminating the need for multiple separate optical components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens is designed as a multi-functional optical element that performs multiple functions: redirecting light to the preferential side, controlling light at the non-preferential side, and minimizing trespass lighting. This universal design consolidates what would traditionally require multiple specialized components into one element.
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 solution significantly reduces trespass lighting by directing a maximum amount of light towards the preferential side while minimizing light on the non-preferential side, achieving uniform illumination with improved control and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
directs light in a laterally-biased direction... achieved through a single refraction
Data Source
Figure 1~4C
Figure 5~6
Figure 7
AI summary
LED apparatus (10) for illumination toward a preferential side, including a light emitter (18) having at least one LED on a base (22), a primary lens (16) positioned over the light emitter and having a central axis (26), and a secondary lens (20) placed with an inner surface surrounding the primary lens. The secondary lens has a base-adjacent lower end defining a main plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis, and a compound outer lens surface (24) with a middle-region reference point defining a reference axis (44) parallel to the central axis (26). The compound outer lens surface includes (A) a principal perimeter surface (38) centered on the preferential side, the principal perimeter surface (a) projecting to a ridgeline subtending a substantial angle about the central axis, and (b) terminating inwardly at the ridgeline (42), (B) a middle region (50) containing the reference point and having a concavity thereabout, and (C) a non-principal perimeter surface centered on the non- preferential side and adjoining the middle region and the principal perimeter surface.