Curved Light Guide Layout With Optical Waveguide Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light-emitting devices with a light-guiding body face challenges in efficiency and reliability due to heat generation issues, as the light-guiding body is often in close proximity to the radiation source, leading to increased operating temperatures and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a light-emitting device design where the light-guiding body is separated from the radiation source via an optical waveguide, allowing for efficient light transport and emission while using converter materials to convert short-wave radiation into visible light, and incorporating a detection system to ensure safety and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the light-guiding body is placed in direct proximity to the radiation source, then the light transport efficiency is improved, but the operating temperature of the light-guiding body increases leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the radiation source is separated from the light-guiding body by an optical waveguide. This segmentation allows the radiation source to be positioned for optimal light generation while the light-guiding body is positioned for optimal light transport, with the optical waveguide serving as an intermediary connection that transmits light without direct thermal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical waveguide is introduced as an intermediary component between the radiation source and the light-guiding body. This intermediary serves dual purposes: it efficiently transmits light from the radiation source to the light-guiding body while simultaneously isolating the light-guiding body from the heat generated by the radiation source, thus resolving the contradiction between light transport efficiency and thermal management.
2Reliability
If the radiation source is separated from the light-guiding body via an optical waveguide, then the operating temperature of the light-guiding body is lowered increasing reliability, but the light transport efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide serves as a specialized intermediary that is optimized for light transmission. It is designed with appropriate refractive index profiles and geometric configurations that enable efficient total internal reflection, ensuring that light can be transmitted over the separation distance with minimal loss, thus maintaining high light transport efficiency while achieving thermal isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical/thermal contact between the radiation source and light-guiding body with an optical coupling system. Instead of relying on physical proximity for both light and heat transfer, the system uses optical waves to transfer light energy through the optical waveguide while blocking thermal energy transfer, thereby achieving decoupled light and heat management.
3Productivity
If converter material is used to convert short-wave radiation into visible light, then the light emission efficiency is improved, but reabsorption of converted light by the radiation source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The converter material is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the radiation source and positioned at the distal end of the optical waveguide, near the light-guiding body. This spatial extraction allows the converter material to efficiently convert short-wave radiation into visible light while the converted light is immediately coupled into the light-guiding body for emission, minimizing the chance of reabsorption by the radiation source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the spatial dimension along the optical waveguide to separate the conversion process from the radiation source. By positioning the converter material at the distal end rather than in close proximity, the system creates a dimensional separation that allows converted light to be directed away from the radiation source through the optical waveguide, reducing reabsorption losses.
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
This design enhances light emission efficiency, lowers operating temperatures, and increases the reliability of the light-guiding body, while also providing a safe and uniform light output with the ability to detect damage and prevent harmful radiation emission.
Implementation Method 1
The optical waveguide (10) has a core region (10E) and a cladding region (10C), the core region having a higher refractive index than the cladding region
Implementation Method 2
The light-guiding body (20) has a converter material (15), by means of which the short-wave radiation (11) is converted into visible light having a longer wavelength (12)
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the invention proposes a light-emitting device comprising a radiation source for the emission of a radiation having at least a first wavelength, and an elongated, curved light-guiding body, into which the radiation emitted by the radiation source is coupled and which couples out light at an angle with respect to its longitudinal axis on account of the coupled-in radiation having the first wavelength.