Electro-Optic Cell for Adjustable LED Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lamp modules with mechanical light adjustment solutions are slow, unreliable, and require significant manual operation, while electro-optically controlled solutions often result in dimming effects rather than precise beam shaping.
Innovation Solution
An integrated LED lamp module with an electrically controllable cell positioned in front of the LED chip, using optics for light extraction and shaping, allowing for adjustable beam direction and shape through electrical control, and a processor to manage LED and cell activation with a single switch, enabling flexible light distribution without manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical means are used to adjust beam shape and direction, then beam shaping functionality is achieved, but the adjustment is slow and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an electro-optically controllable cell that can be controlled electronically. This substitution eliminates the need for manual mechanical operations, providing faster and more reliable beam shaping and direction adjustment through electrical control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The electro-optically controllable cell enables dynamic adjustment of beam parameters without mechanical movement. The system can rapidly change beam shape and direction by controlling the optical properties of the cell through electrical signals, providing real-time adaptability without the inertia and reliability issues of mechanical systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If an electro-optically controlled cell is used to alter light direction, then beam direction adjustment is achieved, but dimming effects occur instead of precise beam shaping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the electro-optically controllable cell into the light extraction means positioned close to the LED chip. This localized integration allows the cell to affect only the light extraction process in its immediate vicinity, enabling precise beam shaping without causing overall dimming of the entire light output. The cell modifies light direction locally rather than affecting the entire beam uniformly.
3Manufacturing precision
If the cell is integrated into the light extraction means, then beam shaping precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electro-optically controllable cell with the light extraction means into a single integrated unit. By combining these two functional elements, the patent achieves precise beam shaping while reducing the number of separate components. This integration simplifies the overall device structure and reduces assembly complexity compared to having separate cell and light extraction 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 solution provides efficient, reliable, and user-friendly beam shaping and direction adjustment, avoiding dimming effects by integrating the cell into the light extraction means and using a processor to control the LED and cell independently, allowing for various light distribution patterns with minimal user input.
Implementation Method 1
US-A-5424927 discloses a flashlight having an electro-optically controlled region disposed forwardly of a traditional light source
Implementation Method 2
Alternatively, the means for extracting and shaping the light emitted from the LED chip(s) can comprise optics shaped to direct light from the LED chip(s) in a certain direction, such as a dome allowing an isotropic emission LED. Such a dome can optionally be combined with total internal reflection (TIR) optics
Implementation Method 3
the direction of incoming light to large angles is used. When such a cell alters the direction of incoming light to a large angle
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lamp module (10) comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip (12) for emitting light, means (13, 15, 16, 17) for extracting and shaping the light emitted from the chip(s), and a base (21) for allowing the lamp module to be fitted and connected to a lighting device. The lamp module is characterized by at least one electrically switchable cell (22) adapted to receive light emitted from the LED chip(s), which cell in a first state transmits incoming light without substantially altering the direction of the light and in a second state alters the direction of the light when the light passes the cell(s). This allows for electrically controlled adjustable beam shaping. The present invention also relates to a lighting device (30) comprising such a lamp module.