Fiberoptic Luminaire Side-Light Extraction for Directional Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiberoptic luminaires with scattering extractor patterns lack sufficient directional control over light emission, leading to uneven illumination and light spillage outside the target area.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating both scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns on a fiberoptic light pipe, where the specular pattern provides additional longitudinal directional control, allowing for more localized illumination and reduced light spillage by directing light over a radial angle of less than 180°, with the specular pattern covering less than 20% of the side-light extractor pattern length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a scattering extractor pattern is used on the luminaire, then light is provided onto the target area with good directional control in the cross-sectional direction, but longitudinal directional control is insufficient leading to light spillage outside the target area
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor pattern is divided into two distinct types: scattering extractor patterns and specular extractor patterns. Each type serves a specific function - scattering patterns provide omnidirectional light distribution while specular patterns provide directional control. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both good lateral spread and precise longitudinal directionality, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the luminaire are assigned different extractor pattern types based on their functional requirements. Scattering extractor patterns are used in regions where omnidirectional light distribution is needed, while specular extractor patterns are used in regions requiring precise directional control. This local differentiation optimizes performance across the entire luminaire, reducing light spillage while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Manufacturing precision
If only a scattering extractor pattern is used, then fabrication errors are tolerated well, but control over localized target distribution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor pattern is segmented into scattering and specular components with different functional roles. Scattering patterns provide robustness to fabrication variations, while specular patterns deliver precise directional control. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both the manufacturing tolerance of scattering patterns and the precision control of specular patterns, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and measurement precision.
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 combination enhances directional control over light emission, achieving improved uniformity and reducing light spillage by allowing for more precise targeting of the illumination area, with the scattering pattern providing greater than 50% of the light.
Implementation Method 1
a scattering extractor pattern provides more side light than a specular extractor pattern
Implementation Method 2
a specular extractor pattern allows more control in directing extracted light in a desired direction
Data Source
AI summary
Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-light emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern alone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.