Floating Optical Element for Luminaire Thermal Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-part optical systems for elongate lamps face challenges due to manufacturing tolerances and operational thermal expansion, leading to gaps and deviations from desired light distribution curves, which can be costly to rectify with complex geometries and overlapping components.
Innovation Solution
The optical system features a floating second optical element that tracks changes in length with head elements, ensuring gap-free contact and maintaining optical properties through elastic restoring forces and frictional connections, allowing for automatic centering and compensation of dimensional changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional multi-part optical systems are used with fixed geometries, then manufacturing is simpler, but gaps appear due to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion causing deviations from target light distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a floating support mechanism that allows the second optical element to move dynamically in the longitudinal direction. This dynamic capability enables the system to compensate for dimensional changes due to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion, maintaining gap-free contact and preserving the target light distribution curve without requiring complex fixed geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The floating support mechanism changes the positional parameter of the second optical element along the longitudinal axis. By allowing this parameter to vary within a certain range, the system adapts to dimensional changes in the reflector and first optical element, ensuring continuous optical contact and maintaining optical performance despite manufacturing variations and thermal effects
2Reliability
If complex geometries and overlapping components are used to avoid gaps, then optical properties are maintained, but manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex fixed geometries, the patent employs a dynamic floating support mechanism that automatically adjusts to maintain proper optical contact. This simpler mechanical solution achieves reliable optical performance without the need for expensive overlapping components or complex geometric designs
Solution Approach 2:
The floating support mechanism is designed to self-adjust and self-compensate for dimensional changes. The second optical element automatically positions itself to maintain gap-free contact with the first optical element, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or expensive manufacturing measures while ensuring consistent optical performance
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 design effectively maintains the predetermined light distribution curve and optical properties across all operating situations, eliminating the need for complex geometries and costly design measures, while ensuring the optical system's performance and appearance are consistent.
Implementation Method 1
the head element (7) is designed to be elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction (X-direction) in the area (A) facing the first optical element (4)
Implementation Method 2
frictional connections, allowing for automatic centering and compensation of dimensional changes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an optical system for an elongated luminaire (1), comprising an elongated reflector (2) comprising a support section (20) on which a light source arrangement is arranged, and reflector side sections (22a, b) spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y) and extending in the longitudinal direction (X) by the support section, a first elongated optical element (4) which closes off the reflector (2) with a planar cover section (40), wherein transversely spaced-apart and longitudinally extending side sections (41a, b) of the first optical element (4) are connected to the cover section (40), to which the reflector (2) is attached, a second elongated and planar optical element (6) which is arranged on the reflector side of the cover section (40) of the first optical element (4), and a head element arranged at each longitudinal end of the reflector (2) and attached thereto. (7)The optical system according to the invention is characterized in that the second optical element (6) is supported on the first optical element (4), and that the respective head element (7) with an inner surface section (72) abuts an associated end face (64) of the second optical element (6) and is designed and arranged to maintain a gap-free contact of its inner surface section (72) with the associated end face (64) of the second optical element (6) by adjusting the inner surface section (72) in the event of an operational change in the length of the second optical element (6) in the longitudinal direction (X). The invention further relates to a luminaire comprising such an optical system.