Curved Translucent Enclosure Street Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing street lighting technologies either waste light by directing it upward or require close spacing to effectively illuminate a small area, as they either have zero upward light output with limited illumination area or wide spacing with upward light waste.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a curved translucent enclosure and light sources positioned peripherally between reflectors and the enclosure, ensuring all light is directed downward through the reflector for indirect illumination, allowing for wide spacing without upward light emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a horizontal translucent enclosure part is used, then upward light emission is eliminated, but the illuminated surface area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupward light emissionVSAvoidilluminated surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a curved translucent enclosure part instead of a horizontal flat enclosure. This curvature allows the light to be distributed over a wider angular range while still preventing upward emission, thereby increasing the illuminated surface area without directing light upward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The light source is positioned at a peripheral position rather than centrally, and oriented at a specific angle toward the reflector. This spatial reconfiguration in multiple dimensions enables the light to be reflected and distributed more effectively through the curved enclosure, expanding the illuminated area while maintaining control over emission direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If a curved translucent enclosure part is used, then the illuminated surface area is increased, but upward light emission occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveilluminated surface areaVSAvoidupward light emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is oriented at a specific angle toward the reflector rather than emitting in all directions. This directional orientation ensures that light is preferentially directed toward the reflector and then distributed through the curved enclosure in desired directions, minimizing upward emission while maintaining wide area illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The curved translucent enclosure part, which initially causes upward light emission, is combined with a reflector and specifically oriented light source to convert the potentially harmful upward emission into beneficial downward and lateral illumination. The curvature is utilized to distribute light widely while the reflector redirects light that would otherwise escape upward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If light sources are positioned centrally, then the structure is simple, but the light distribution is less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight source positioningVSAvoidlight distribution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is positioned at a peripheral position and oriented at a specific angle toward the reflector, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric positioning optimizes the light path through the reflector and curved enclosure, achieving more efficient light distribution and wider area illumination compared to a symmetric central position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 provides a lighting device that illuminates a large surface area without upward light emission, combining the advantages of horizontal and curved enclosure street lightings by directing nearly all light to the surface, enabling wider spacing between units and homogeneous distribution.

Implementation Method 1

at least one reflector for reflecting the light emitted by the at least one light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a housing comprising at least one curved translucent enclosure part, wherein the light source is arranged at a peripheral position between the reflector and the translucent enclosure part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission through translucent material: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2947383B1Lighting device for illuminating streets, roads or paths
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 ZG LIGHTING FRANCE SAS
  • EP2947383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2947383B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Lighting device 10; 100 for illuminating streets, roads or paths, comprising: at least one light source 30; 300, 300'; at least one reflector 50; 500, 500' for reflecting light emitted by the at least one light source 30; 300, 300'; a housing 20; 200 comprising at least one curved translucent enclosure part 25; 250, 250', wherein the light source 30; 300, 300' is arranged at a peripheral position between the reflector 50; 500, 500' and the translucent enclosure part 25; 250, 250'; and wherein the at least one light source 30; 300, 300' is oriented towards the reflector 50; 500, 500' such that the light is reflected by the reflector 50; 500, 500' in a direction to the translucent enclosure part 25; 250, 250'.