Flexible Lighting Device with Optical Member Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices with light guide plates are limited in thickness and flexibility, making it difficult to design thinner, more flexible products with enhanced aesthetic and optical features.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design that replaces the light guide plate with a resin layer and an optical member featuring a protrusion optical pattern, allowing for a thinner profile, increased design freedom, and improved light distribution, including the use of a flexible PCB and reflection members for enhanced reflectivity and uniform light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is used to achieve plane light emitting function, then light distribution is improved, but the device thickness increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the light guide plate from the lighting device structure, extracting the thick rigid component that limited design freedom. Instead, it uses a flexible PCB with integrated LEDs and optical members to achieve light emission without the traditional light guide plate, thereby reducing thickness while maintaining light distribution functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible optical members and thin film structures to replace the rigid light guide plate. These flexible components can conform to curved surfaces and enable thinner device profiles while still providing effective light guidance and distribution across the illumination area.
2Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is used to achieve plane light emitting function, then light distribution is improved, but design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible optical members and thin film structures that can conform to curved surfaces and various device geometries. This flexibility enables the lighting device to be integrated into diverse applications including curved panels, wearable devices, and various form factors without being constrained by the rigidity of traditional light guide plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flexible PCBs and flexible optical components that can be bent, shaped, and configured to match different device designs. This dynamic adaptability allows the lighting device to transition between different configurations and accommodate various mounting scenarios, enhancing design versatility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a light guide plate is used, then structure stability is improved, but the device cannot be made thinner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the light source (LEDs) directly onto the flexible PCB, eliminating the need for a separate light guide plate. The optical members are positioned in close proximity to the LEDs, merging the light generation and light guidance functions into a compact integrated structure that maintains stability while reducing overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar light guide plate structure to a three-dimensional integrated arrangement where optical members are positioned at specific heights and angles relative to the flexible PCB. This spatial reconfiguration allows light distribution to be achieved through vertical and angular arrangements rather than relying on a thick horizontal light guide plate.
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 results in a thinner, more flexible lighting device with enhanced aesthetic appeal and improved light distribution, capable of producing geometric optical patterns and 3D effects, suitable for various applications including vehicle headlights and liquid crystal display backlights.
Implementation Method 1
an optical member with a protrusion optical pattern formed between a resin layer and a reflection member is provided, so an effect that the shape and a 3D feeling of light change depending on a viewing angle
Implementation Method 2
a reflection member and a reflection pattern which define a structure configured to efficiently reflect the light emitted from the light emitting units
Implementation Method 3
guiding light using a resin layer
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a lighting device which comprises: an optical member comprising a protruding optical pattern forming a gap with an adjacent layer; at least one light emitting unit inserted into the optical member; and a resin layer formed on the optical member and the at least one light emitting unit, whereby it is possible to obtain an effect that the shapes of light change depending on the viewing angle when viewing the light source by producing various protruding optical patterns, an effect that the whole thickness can be reduced, and an effect that the degree of design freedom can be enhanced when designing products thanks to an enhanced flexibility.