Focused Lighting via Segmented LED Control and Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current task lights often illuminate more than the intended task area, providing inadequate lighting and illuminating unwanted areas, which is undesirable in tasks performed in dark environments or where focused lighting is necessary.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a base with a light element, a hollow member, biconvex lenses, and a reflective enclosure that can be configured to direct light precisely to a target area, allowing for discrete and focused lighting through the use of a power source such as LEDs, with optional features like dimmers and timers for adjusting light intensity and duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If current task lights are used to illuminate a work surface, then the light source is exposed to provide lighting, but the light illuminates more than the intended task area and provides inadequate focused lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multiple individual light sources (LEDs) arranged in a grid pattern on the light-emitting surface. Each LED can be independently controlled to illuminate specific local areas, allowing the system to provide intense focused lighting exactly where needed while leaving other areas dark. This is achieved through individual driver circuits for each LED that can be selectively activated based on touch sensor input or remote control commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the light-emitting surface into multiple discrete controllable zones corresponding to individual LEDs or groups of LEDs. Each segment can be independently activated or deactivated, allowing precise control over which areas are illuminated. This segmentation enables the system to illuminate only the specific task area required rather than the entire surface, resolving the contradiction between providing adequate lighting and minimizing illuminated area.
2Ease of operation
If a light source is exposed to provide task lighting, then lighting is provided for the task, but areas outside the target area are also illuminated which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces touch-sensitive sensors and remote control interfaces as intermediaries between the user and the light sources. These intermediaries allow precise selection and control of which specific light sources are activated. The touch sensors detect user input at specific locations on the surface and activate only the corresponding LEDs, while remote controls allow wireless selection of illumination zones. This eliminates unwanted light exposure by ensuring only the necessary areas are illuminated while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive control mechanisms.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to provide adequate task lighting, then sufficient illumination is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual LED light sources into a single integrated light panel with a unified control system. Although multiple LEDs are used to provide adequate illumination coverage, they are combined into one cohesive device with shared power supply, control circuitry, and housing. The individual driver circuits for each LED are integrated into a single controller that responds to touch sensors or remote commands, managing all LEDs through a unified interface. This merging approach maintains task lighting adequacy while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate lighting devices.
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 configuration enables effective, focused lighting for tasks in dark environments, such as reading or changing a baby's diaper, while minimizing light exposure to unnecessary areas, providing adequate illumination where needed.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of biconvex lenses positioned within the cavity of the first hollow member
Implementation Method 2
a reflector being secured within the reflective enclosure by a retaining ring, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect light from the cavity of the first hollow member to a location exterior to the first hollow member
Implementation Method 3
Any suitable light source can be used including, for example, an LED light
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
Disclosed are lighting devices and methods which allow a user to focus light in an otherwise dark environment on a target area. The lighting devices can have a nestable-collapsible configuration and a rotatable reflector which allows light to be focused on a target location during use.