Dichroic Filter Homogenization for LED Luminaire Color Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for LED luminaires with multiple colors struggle to achieve effective homogenization of light output, particularly when using four or more different colors, leading to issues like spill light and color fringing due to physical separation and varying effects of optical devices on different colors.
Innovation Solution
The use of dichroic filters designed to selectively transmit and reflect specific wavelength ranges allows for the combination of multiple colors of LEDs into a single homogenized light beam, with each filter optimized to pass or reflect light based on the discrete peak wavelengths of the LEDs, enabling the mixing of colors like red, amber, blue, cyan, green, and yellow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple colored LEDs are physically separated in an array to enable color control, then color mixing capability is improved, but homogenization of light output deteriorates causing spill light and color fringing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light mixing process by using separate dichroic filters for different wavelength ranges. Each filter selectively transmits or reflects specific color wavelengths, allowing physically separated LEDs to be optically recombined without direct physical mixing, thus maintaining color control while achieving homogenization.
Solution Approach 2:
Dichroic filters serve as intermediary optical elements between the separated LED sources and the final combined beam. These filters mediate the interaction between different color wavelengths by selectively transmitting or reflecting them, enabling homogenized color mixing without requiring direct contact between different colored LED outputs.
2Ease of operation
If optical devices like lenses are used to control beam shape for each LED, then beam control is improved, but color fringing increases due to differing effects on different colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam control function into a single optical path after the dichroic filters have combined the different colored beams. By using one common optical device rather than separate devices for each LED color, the system achieves unified beam shaping that applies equally to all wavelengths, eliminating color fringing while maintaining beam control.
Solution Approach 2:
The dichroic filters act as intermediaries that combine different colored beams before they reach the beam control optical device. This intermediate combining step ensures that all colors are already mixed when they enter the beam control optics, so the optical device shapes a homogenized beam rather than separately shaping different colors that would then diverge.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dichroic reflecting filters are used to combine three single colors of LED into a beam, then color combination is improved, but the system cannot mix more than three colors of LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal dichroic filter system where each filter is designed with specific wavelength transmission and reflection characteristics that can accommodate multiple colors. The filters are engineered to handle broader spectral ranges, enabling the system to mix more than three colors by adding more LEDs within the existing filter architecture without requiring complete system redesign.
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 approach results in improved homogenization of light output, reducing spill light and color fringing, and allows for a wider range of colors to be mixed effectively, enhancing the color gamut available in LED luminaire systems.
Implementation Method 1
The use of dichroic filters designed to selectively transmit and reflect specific wavelength ranges allows for the combination of multiple colors of LEDs into a single homogenized light beam
Data Source
AI summary
A remotely directable luminaire with an improved color LED homogenization system for LED luminaires employing a plurality of LED arrays where an array employs a plurality of discrete peak LED groups and dichroic mirrors maximized for transmission/reflection of around the groups of LED's discrete peaks to generate a directional homogenized color light beam with additive color mixing.