Deformable Auxetic Collimator for Adaptive Light Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional collimators, such as honeycomb collimators, are not well-suited for all spatial light distributions and lighting applications as they cannot simultaneously increase light collimation in both directions due to their positive Poisson ratio, limiting their adaptability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A deformable collimator device with an auxetic structure, where the cells form a grid of walls that can change cross-sections to alter light collimation, allowing simultaneous increase in both length and width, and featuring walls with high reflectivity and light absorption or diffusion capabilities to optimize light collimation across various spatial distributions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional honeycomb collimator with regular hexagonal cells is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot simultaneously increase light collimation in both directions due to positive Poisson ratio

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight collimation adaptabilityVSAvoidcollimator structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collimator panel is made deformable by using an auxetic structure that can change its cross-section from a first configuration to a second configuration. This dynamic transformation allows the collimator to adjust its cell dimensions and thereby control the spatial distribution of collimated light in multiple directions simultaneously, resolving the limitation of static conventional collimators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental structural parameter by using an auxetic structure with negative Poisson ratio instead of a conventional structure with positive Poisson ratio. This parameter change enables the collimator cells to expand or contract in a way that allows simultaneous increase in both length and width, providing adaptable light collimation in multiple directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the collimator panel is made deformable to change spatial distribution, then light collimation adaptability is improved, but the structural stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial distribution controlVSAvoidcollimator panel stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The collimator panel incorporates a deformable auxetic structure that can dynamically transform between different configurations. The structure maintains stability in each configured state while allowing controlled transformation between states, enabling spatial distribution control without compromising overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a flexible collimator panel with an auxetic structure that can deform while maintaining its structural composition. The flexible nature of the structure allows it to change cross-section configurations for different spatial distributions while the auxetic geometry provides inherent structural stability during deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 deformable auxetic collimator device achieves improved light collimation by adjusting spatial distribution, reducing spill light, and maintaining high efficiency with multiple deformations, making it suitable for diverse lighting applications.

Implementation Method 1

An auxetic structure has a negative Poisson ratio and the advantage is that it allows to simultaneously increase its length and width (and/or simultaneously decrease its length and width). The deformable collimator panel which comprises cells which form an auxetic structure allows to simultaneously increase the size of the cells in both directions.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative Poisson ratio (auxetic structure): Auxetic Structures

Implementation Method 2

Light which impinges on a side of a wall of a cell may be absorbed or redirected for providing collimated light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

Light which impinges on a side of a wall of a cell may be absorbed or redirected for providing collimated light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11143386B2Collimator device, a lighting device, a lamp and a luminaire

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

The invention provides a collimator device for a lighting application which comprises a collimator panel having a first end face which receives input light and a second end face which provides collimated light. The second end face is opposite to the first end face. The collimator panel comprises a plurality of walls which extend between the first end face and the second end face to obtain a grid of cells. The cells extend between the first end face and the second end face to obtain the collimated light. At least the plurality of the walls are arranged to obtain cross-sections of the associated cells which form an auxetic structure. The collimator panel is deformable from a first structure into a second structure by changing the cross-section of the associated cells to change the collimated light from a first spatial distribution into collimated light having a second spatial distribution. The first spatial distribution is different from the second spatial distribution.