Converging Lens Grooves for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems using semiconductor light-emitting devices often fail to achieve uniform intensity distribution and even illumination, and they incur significant beam spreading due to intentional light scattering, which blurs the images of the devices.
Innovation Solution
A lens device with a converging lens having a frusto-conical shape and a light input cavity with grooves following a spline, and a lighting system comprising multiple lens modules with converging and diverging lenses to align and direct light emissions, ensuring uniform intensity distribution and controlled beam spreading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If intentional light scattering is used to achieve uniform intensity distribution, then illumination uniformity is improved, but beam spreading increases and device image clarity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light input surface is segmented into multiple regions by introducing grooves that divide the surface into distinct zones. These grooves create separate light entry paths that converge at different locations, allowing control over light distribution without relying on scattering mechanisms that cause beam spreading.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light input surface are given different properties through the groove pattern. The grooves are strategically positioned to create local variations in light refraction and convergence, enabling uniform intensity distribution across the output while maintaining directional control and preventing harmful beam spreading.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional lens designs are used, then device complexity is low, but illumination uniformity and beam control performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are pre-formed on the light input surface of the lens during manufacturing, establishing the light distribution pattern before the light even enters the lens. This preliminary structuring of the input surface eliminates the need for complex internal lens geometries or additional optical components, achieving uniform illumination with a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of achieving uniform illumination through complex three-dimensional lens shaping, the invention transitions to a two-dimensional solution by patterning the light input surface with grooves. This dimensional shift from volumetric lens complexity to surface pattern simplicity maintains manufacturing feasibility while dramatically improving illumination uniformity.
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 achieves uniform intensity distribution and controlled light emission, preventing beam spreading and maintaining the clarity of semiconductor light-emitting device images, thereby enhancing the lighting system's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of grooves on the light input surface of the converging lens, each groove following a spline
Implementation Method 2
a total internal reflection side surface spaced apart around the lens axis and having a frusto-conical shape
Data Source
AI summary
Lens device that includes converging lens having light output surface being spaced apart along lens axis from light input surface. Converging lens has total internal reflection side surface being spaced apart around lens axis and having frusto-conical shape extending between light input and output surfaces of the converging lens. Portion of light input surface of converging lens includes light input cavity being bounded by perimeter and having central axis and being generally shaped as portion of spheroid. Light input cavity has plurality of grooves each respectively following spline along light input surface that intersects with central axis of light input cavity and with respective point on perimeter, wherein each of respective points are mutually spaced apart around perimeter of light input cavity. Lighting system including lens device.