Flexible Substrate Lighting Fixture with Light Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lighting fixtures using light emitting diodes (LEDs) lack adaptability and integration, requiring new manufacturing and assembly technologies to leverage LED characteristics, and there is a need for improved substrates that can manage and control LED light effectively for various applications while reducing costs.

Innovation Solution

A flexible diffuser lighting fixture with a substrate that can manipulate light emitting diodes' output through diffusion, refraction, reflection, transmission, filtering, or imprinting, allowing for adaptable geometry and enhanced illumination characteristics suitable for diverse lighting applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional rigid substrates are used for mounting LEDs, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability in lighting fixture design and format deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadaptability in lighting fixture design
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible substrate that can be bent, folded, or shaped into various configurations while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible substrate replaces conventional rigid substrates, enabling adaptability in lighting fixture design and format while providing sufficient mechanical stability through its flexible nature and mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate components are used for LED mounting and light management, then functional precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a single flexible substrate component. The substrate simultaneously serves as the mounting platform for LEDs, the structural support element, and the light management surface with optical features. This merging of functions reduces device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision through integrated design and fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible substrate is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical support for LEDs, structural framework for the lighting fixture, and optical surface for light management. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precise functional performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional lighting fixtures are designed with fixed geometries, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to different applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible substrate that can be dynamically shaped into various geometries after manufacturing. The substrate maintains its structural integrity while allowing post-manufacturing configuration changes, enabling the same manufactured component to adapt to different lighting applications and geometries without requiring complex multi-purpose manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 flexible substrate system enables adaptable lighting solutions with improved illumination characteristics, supporting a wide range of applications from signage to outdoor lighting, while being cost-effective and easily integratable into various fixtures.

Implementation Method 1

The substrate may diffuse, refract, diffract, reflect, transmit, filter, imprint information upon, pattern, form text or images from, or otherwise purposely manipulate the incident light to achieve a desired effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The substrate may diffuse, refract, diffract, reflect, transmit, filter, imprint information upon, pattern, form text or images from, or otherwise purposely manipulate the incident light to achieve a desired effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

The substrate may diffuse, refract, diffract, reflect, transmit, filter, imprint information upon, pattern, form text or images from, or otherwise purposely manipulate the incident light to achieve a desired effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

The substrate may diffuse, refract, diffract, reflect, transmit, filter, imprint information upon, pattern, form text or images from, or otherwise purposely manipulate the incident light to achieve a desired effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransmission:

Implementation Method 5

The substrate may diffuse, refract, diffract, reflect, transmit, filter, imprint information upon, pattern, form text or images from, or otherwise purposely manipulate the incident light to achieve a desired effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP2986901B1Flexible substrate lighting fixtures
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 COOPER TECH CO
  • EP2986901B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2986901B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2986901B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A lighting fixture can comprise a flexible substrate and an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the flexible substrate. In various embodiments, the array of LEDs can be disposed at one region of the flexible substrate, with another area of the flexible substrate free from LEDs. Light emitted from the LED array can be incident upon the area that is free from LEDs, and that area can manage the incident light to achieve a desired effect. Accordingly, the flexible substrate can filter, diffuse, refract, transmit, diffract, imprint information upon, or otherwise purposely manipulate light generated by associated LEDs The flexible substrate may be manipulated into different forms for different lighting fixtures styles and models and for different applications.