Duty-Cycled Light Output Array for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light output systems face challenges in achieving uniform light intensity distribution and have limited lifetimes, leading to high maintenance and operational costs due to the need for frequent replacements and non-uniform light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A light output system with a multiple of light sources operating at a reduced duty cycle to ensure uniform intensity, extending the system's lifetime and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If more light sources are used to achieve uniform light intensity distribution, then the uniformity of light intensity is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a duty cycle control mechanism where light sources are operated in alternating on/off periods. This allows the system to use fewer light sources while maintaining uniform light intensity distribution through temporal modulation rather than spatial multiplication of sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of light sources based on real-time monitoring of light intensity distribution. The controller modifies duty cycles of individual light sources to compensate for non-uniformities, enabling uniform illumination with reduced hardware complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are operated at 100% duty cycle to meet minimum intensity requirements, then the light intensity coverage is improved, but the lifetime of light sources deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through duty cycle control, operating light sources at reduced duty cycles (less than 100%) while maintaining minimum light intensity coverage. This temporal modulation extends light source lifetime by reducing continuous operational stress while ensuring adequate illumination through coordinated switching of multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning multiple light sources with specific duty cycle assignments before operation begins. This allows the system to distribute the illumination load across multiple sources over time, ensuring minimum intensity requirements are met while extending individual source lifetime through reduced continuous operation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If more light sources are deployed to extend system lifetime through redundancy, then the system lifetime is improved, but the initial installation cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action through duty cycle control, operating light sources at reduced duty cycles (less than 100%) while maintaining minimum light intensity coverage. This temporal modulation extends light source lifetime by reducing continuous operational stress while ensuring adequate illumination through coordinated switching of multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting duty cycle ratios rather than simply adding more light sources. By modifying the duty cycle parameter to be less than 1/α of the maximum, the system extends effective lifetime while reducing energy consumption compared to running additional sources at full power.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a light output system for delivering light to a region of interest, for providing at least a minimum light intensity to all of the region of interest. The system has more light sources of a particular kind than are needed to reach the minimum light intensity (to all of the region of interest), and they are operated with a duty cycle. The duty cycle ratio is reduced by a factor which is greater than the factor by which the number of light sources in increased above the minimum number, so that energy savings are obtained as well as an increased lifetime of the system.