Diffuse Reflective LED Luminaire for Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED road lighting luminaires exhibit a pixelated appearance and high glare/brightness contrast due to individual lenses, leading to inefficient light distribution and glare issues.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising a light source, a first diffuse reflective element that tapers from one end to another, and a lens, with an optional second specular reflective element that redirects light to the lens, creating a wide beam with improved light distribution and reduced glare by blocking light in undesired directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual lenses are used for each LED in an array, then precise illumination of the road surface is achieved, but a pixelated appearance and high glare/brightness contrast occur
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual LED-lens units are merged into a single luminaire housing with a common optical system. The reflective elements and single lens integrate light from multiple LEDs into a unified beam, eliminating the pixelated appearance while maintaining precise illumination control.
Solution Approach 2:
Reflective elements (first and second reflective elements) are introduced as intermediaries to redirect and redistribute light from individual LEDs. These reflectors act as mediators that smooth out the light distribution, reducing brightness contrast and glare while preserving illumination precision.
2Power
If a large array of medium power LEDs is used, then sufficient light output is achieved, but the luminaire exhibits high glare and brightness contrast
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the optical system are assigned different functions: the first reflective element collects light from multiple LEDs, the second reflective element redirects light to fill dark areas, and the lens focuses the redistributed light. This local differentiation of optical qualities enables high light output without glare.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system transitions from direct LED-to-lens illumination to a multi-dimensional light path involving multiple reflections. Light travels through additional spatial dimensions via the reflective elements, enabling redistribution that reduces brightness contrast while maintaining total light output.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple reflective elements are added to redirect light, then light distribution is improved and glare is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective elements serve multiple functions: the first reflective element both collects light from LEDs and redirects it toward the lens, while the second reflective element simultaneously fills dark areas and controls beam shape. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective elements are designed with specific geometric parameters (angles, curvatures, positions) that optimize light redistribution. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves improved light distribution uniformity without requiring excessive numbers of components.
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 system provides a wide beam with even light distribution at high angles, reducing glare and allowing for easy tuning of the beam shape, resulting in improved visual comfort and efficiency in street lighting.
Implementation Method 1
the first reflective surface is diffuse reflective
Implementation Method 2
the second reflective element is configured to specularly reflect at least part of the light source light that reaches the second reflective element (to the lens)
Implementation Method 3
the lens is configured (especially at the first end) to beam shape at least part of the light source light emanating from the reflective element and the light source
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D~1E
AI summary
The invention provides a lighting system (1000) comprising a light source (10), configured to provide light source light (11), a first reflective element (210), a second reflective element (220), and a lens (240), wherein: - the first reflective element (210) tapers from a first end (211) to a second end (212), wherein the first reflective element (210) comprises a first reflective surface (213) bridging the distance between the first end (211) and the second end (212), wherein the first reflective surface (213) is diffuse reflective, and wherein the light source (10) is at least partially circumferentially surrounded by the first reflective surface (213); - the light source (10) is configured closer to the second end (212) than to the first end (211), and wherein the light source (10) is configured to direct at least part of the light source light (11) in the direction of the first end (211); - the lens (240) is configured to beam shape at least part of the light source light (11) emanating from the reflective element (210) and the light source (10); and - the second reflective element (220) is configured to redirect part of the light source light (11) to the lens (240), wherein the second reflective element is configured to specularly reflect at least part of the light source light (11) that reaches the second reflective element (220).