Flexible PCB Lighting Structure Without a Light Guide Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices using light guide plates are limited by thickness, flexibility, and light loss, leading to reduced light efficiency and increased temperature issues affecting LED performance.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design that replaces the light guide plate with a resin layer and incorporates a light reflection member and optical pattern layer on a flexible printed circuit board, minimizing light loss and enhancing heat dissipation, flexibility, and design freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a light guide plate is used to uniformly supply light from LEDs, then light distribution uniformity is improved, but the thickness of the entire product increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the light guide plate from the lighting device structure entirely. Instead of using a separate light guide plate component, the invention integrates light guiding functionality directly into the housing structure through reflective surfaces and geometric design, thereby eliminating the thickness contribution of the light guide plate while maintaining uniform light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a light guide, and incorporates reflective surfaces for uniform light distribution. By making the housing multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated light guide plate components, reducing overall product thickness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a light guide plate is used to supply light uniformly, then light distribution is improved, but the material becomes non-flexible and difficult to apply to bent parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light guiding function from a separate rigid light guide plate component and integrates it into the housing structure, which can be manufactured with flexible or bendable materials. This allows the lighting device to be applied to surfaces with curves or bends while maintaining uniform light distribution through the integrated reflective housing design.
3Area of stationary object
If light is emitted to the side of the light guide plate, then light coverage area is improved, but light loss increases and light efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts what would normally be wasted side-emitted light into useful illumination by incorporating reflective surfaces within the housing structure. These reflective surfaces redirect light that would otherwise be lost to the side back toward the intended illumination area, thereby reducing light loss while maintaining or expanding the effective light coverage area.
4Illumination intensity
If LED temperature increases during light emission, then light output is maintained, but LED characteristics such as luminous intensity and wavelength transition are changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat dissipation structure as an intermediary between the LED light source and the surrounding environment. This structure facilitates efficient thermal management by conducting heat away from the LEDs, thereby maintaining stable LED operating temperatures and preventing unwanted changes in luminous intensity and wavelength while preserving the required light output levels.
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 improved brightness, reduced thickness, and increased reliability of the lighting device, with enhanced heat dissipation and uniform light distribution, while maintaining stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light reflection member formed on at least one of one side surface and another side surface of the resin layer
Implementation Method 2
a resin layer disposed on the printed circuit board so that the light source is embedded
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a lighting device, comprising: a light source module comprising: at least one light source disposed on a printed circuit board; and a resin layer disposed on the printed circuit board so that the light source is embedded; a light reflection member formed on at least any one of one side surface and another side surface of the resin layer; and a diffusion plate having an upper surface formed on the light source module, and a side wall which is integrally formed with the upper surface and formed to extend in a lower side direction and which is adhered onto the light reflection member, wherein a first separated space is formed between the light source module and the upper surface of the diffusion plate, whereby flexibility of the product itself can be secured, and durability and reliability of the product can be also improved.