Flexible Toroidal Shroud for Uniform LED Diffusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices with light shades often fail to evenly distribute light, resulting in aesthetically unpleasing 'hot spots' and discomfort, and require significant setup effort to position light sources correctly.
Innovation Solution
A flexible shroud with end frames that can be easily joined and separated, forming a toroidal shape with an internal cavity, where a light board with LEDs is positioned to uniformly illuminate the shroud, using magnetic or other fasteners for connection, and channels or translucent material to diffuse light evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is placed in the middle of a light shade to diffuse light, then the light is distributed across the shade, but the light distribution is not even and creates visible hot spots
Solution Approach 1:
The light shade is divided into multiple light guides arranged in a grid pattern, each light guide acting as an independent light distribution channel. This segmentation allows precise control over light distribution across different zones of the shade, eliminating the uneven hot spots that occur with a single centralized light source.
Solution Approach 2:
Light guides serve as intermediary elements between the light source and the exterior environment. Instead of light directly illuminating the shade surface from a single point, the light guides mediate the light transmission, distributing it evenly across multiple locations on the shade exterior, thereby achieving uniform illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If a light shade with holes or apertures is used to diffuse light, then light can pass through, but the point sources of light remain visible and create aesthetic discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of visible point light sources is extracted and eliminated by replacing the single centralized light source with multiple distributed light guides. The light transmission function is maintained through the light guide structure, while the negative aesthetic effect of visible bulbs is completely removed as the light guides themselves remain invisible when properly illuminated.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guides function as thin, translucent structures that allow light to pass through while remaining visually imperceptible when illuminated. These thin film-like light guides replace traditional opaque light shades with holes, providing both light transmission and aesthetic concealment of the light source in a single integrated solution.
3Illumination intensity
If a traditional light fixture requires positioning the light source into a light shade, then the light can be diffused, but significant setup effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The light source and light distribution structure are merged into a single integrated light board assembly. The light guides are pre-arranged in their final grid configuration and directly connected to the light source, eliminating the need for separate positioning and assembly of light bulbs into light shades. This merging of functions dramatically reduces setup effort while maintaining effective light diffusion.
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 even light distribution, occludes the light source from view, reducing eye discomfort and simplifying setup by eliminating the need to reposition the light source during configuration changes.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible shroud can be made from translucent or transparent material to diffuse the light evenly across its surface area
Implementation Method 2
The end frames can be held together using magnetic or other fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
Light fixtures often have bright spots caused by the light sources that can be unpleasant or uncomfortable to look at. A light device is provided that diffuses the light, which includes an internal cavity defined in the body of a flexible shroud extending transversely from an opening defined in a first end frame to an opening defined in a second end frame of the shroud. The first and the second end frames are removably connectable to each other to form a circular configuration of the flexible shroud. The internal cavity also extends in the circular configuration. A light board is attached to one of the end frames and at least partially covers the opening of the given end frame. In the circular configuration, the light board is sandwiched between the first and the second end frames.