Curved Light Guide Member Uniform LED Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED light fittings lack uniform light distribution across the aperture due to the narrow beam of light emitted by LEDs, leading to bright spots and reduced light output, and adding diffusers or light guide boards increases bulkiness, which is undesirable in space-constrained installations.
Innovation Solution
A light fitting design featuring a curved edge light guide member with a reflective pattern that redirects and disperses light emitted by LEDs, focusing it into a central area and then through the aperture, ensuring uniform light distribution without the need for additional bulk-inducing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a diffuser is added to diffuse light, then light uniformity is improved, but light output is reduced due to more light being reflected back into the fitting
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the aperture. This light guide member captures light from the LEDs and redirects it through the aperture using its curved edge and reflective pattern, achieving uniform light distribution without the need for a diffuser that would reflect light back into the fitting and reduce overall light output.
2Illumination intensity
If additional components such as light guide boards and diffusers are added, then light uniformity is improved, but the bulkiness (thickness) of the light fitting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member combines multiple functions into a single component: it acts as both a light guide and a light redirecting element with an integrated reflective pattern. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate light guide boards and diffusers, achieving uniform light distribution while minimizing the overall bulkiness of the light fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member features a curved edge portion that is specifically designed to redirect light from the LEDs through the aperture. This curved geometry enables the component to perform both light guiding and light distribution functions simultaneously, reducing the need for additional flat components and thereby minimizing the fitting's thickness.
3Loss of energy
If LEDs are arranged to emit light directly through the aperture, then light output is maximized, but light uniformity deteriorates due to bright spots at individual LED locations
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member serves as an intermediary that receives light directly from the LEDs and redistributes it uniformly across the aperture. This intermediary component allows the system to maintain high light output from the LEDs while achieving uniform light distribution, eliminating the bright spots that would occur if light emitted directly through the aperture.
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 achieves a slim profile and uniform light emission across the aperture, enhancing light output and reducing bulkiness, making it suitable for space-constrained installations like under-cabinets or shelves.
Implementation Method 1
a substantial part of the light emitted by the one or more light emitting diodes passes indirectly through the aperture by reflecting from the reflective pattern of the light guide member through the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A light fitting comprises an aperture, a light guide member comprising a curved edge portion and a reflective pattern, and a light source including one or more light emitting diodes arranged with respect to the aperture and the curved edge portion of the light guide member such that a substantial part of the light emitted by the one or more light emitting diodes passes indirectly through the aperture by reflecting from the reflective pattern of the light guide member through the aperture.