Deflecting Optics for Uniform Wall and Floor Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices struggle to achieve uniform illumination of surfaces arranged at an angle, such as walls and floors, without visible inhomogeneities like light-dark edges, especially when trying to illuminate both surfaces simultaneously with a single spotlight.
Innovation Solution
The deflection optics are designed to limit the direct light component so it only falls on one surface, with the edge of the illuminated area aligning with the transition between the two surfaces, while the indirect light component covers the area illuminated by both direct and indirect light, creating a seamless transition and avoiding noticeable brightness edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a spotlight simultaneously illuminates both floor and wall surfaces, then both surfaces receive light, but inhomogeneities such as brightness edges appear on the surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The light beam is segmented into direct and indirect light components that are spatially separated. The deflecting optics divides the illumination into different paths: one path directs indirect light to both floor and wall surfaces, while another path directs direct light only to the floor surface, preventing the formation of brightness edges on the wall surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the illumination beam are given different qualities. The direct light component is restricted to illuminate only the floor surface with higher intensity, while the indirect light component illuminates both floor and wall surfaces with more diffuse distribution. This local differentiation of light properties eliminates unwanted brightness edges while maintaining overall illumination coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If the direct light component is allowed to fall on both surfaces, then illumination coverage is maximized, but visible brightness edges appear at the transition between surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful direct light component that would create brightness edges is extracted from the path to the wall surface. The deflecting optics is designed to redirect direct light only toward the floor surface, while indirect light continues to illuminate both floor and wall surfaces. This extraction of the problematic direct light from the wall illumination path eliminates brightness edges while preserving overall illumination coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the deflecting optics is designed to create uniform illumination, then illumination homogeneity is improved, but the optical surface contours become complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system uses dynamic light control through the deflecting optics to achieve uniform illumination. By dynamically separating direct and indirect light paths and controlling their respective distribution patterns, the system achieves homogeneous illumination without requiring complex static optical surface contours. The dynamic manipulation of light paths simplifies the optical design while maintaining 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
This design ensures even illumination across both surfaces, making the brightness edges invisible and achieving a uniform light distribution, particularly on the wall surface, while maintaining manageable contours for the optics.
Implementation Method 1
a deflecting optic comprising a reflector and/or a lens, wherein the deflecting optic captures light emitted by the light source and radiates it in the form of a beam onto both surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a deflecting optic comprising a reflector and/or a lens
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for illuminating two surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, in particular wall and floor surfaces, with at least one spotlight comprising at least one light source and a deflecting optic comprising a reflector and/or a lens, wherein the deflecting optic captures light emitted by the light source and radiates it in the form of a beam onto both surfaces, so that a portion of each surface is illuminated, wherein the beam comprises an indirect light component reflected by the deflecting optic and a direct light component not reflected by the deflecting optic, which partially overlap.According to the invention, the deflecting optics are designed to limit the unreflected direct light component in such a way that the said direct light component falls only on one of the two mutually angular surfaces and an edge of the surface section illuminated by the direct light extends along the angular transition between the two surfaces.