Monolithic Fresnel Lens and Reflector for Light Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optoelectronic light sources face challenges in adapting Lambertian light distribution to desired patterns, leading to interfering light and reduced efficiency due to light being incident on folding flanks, especially for light sources with specific dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The optical body is divided into a monolithic inner Fresnel lens and outer reflector part, where the Fresnel lens splits light into two parts, with the first part refracted towards the main direction and the second part refracted away, then redirected using the outer reflector's reflection surface to avoid interfering light and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the Fresnel lens is optimized to guide all light through active flanks only, then light bundling efficiency is improved, but this is only possible for punctiform light sources and not for light sources with specific dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of light incident on folding flanks (which creates interfering light and reduces efficiency) into a beneficial process. By intentionally designing the optical body to guide this previously wasted light through the outer reflector part back into the beam bundle, the patent transforms a problem into a solution, increasing overall light utilization efficiency while maintaining applicability to light sources with specific dimensions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If light incident on folding flanks is excluded from the beam bundle, then interfering light is reduced, but light efficiency is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply excluding light incident on folding flanks from the beam bundle, the patent uses the outer reflector part to redirect this light back into the main beam direction. This converts what would be wasted light into useful illumination, maintaining high light efficiency while still eliminating the harmful interfering light effect
Solution Approach 2:
The optical body is segmented into an inner lens part and an outer reflector part, each with specific functions. The inner lens part separates light into different paths (through active flanks and folding flanks), while the outer reflector part specifically handles the light from folding flanks, redirecting it into the beam bundle. This segmentation allows for optimized handling of different light paths
3Ease of manufacture
If a monolithic optical body is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the ability to implement complex optical paths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lens function and reflector function into a single monolithic optical body. The inner lens part and outer reflector part are integrated into one piece, combining multiple optical functions (refraction through active flanks, refraction through folding flanks, and reflection from the outer reflector) into a unified structure that is manufactured as a single component, simplifying production while maintaining complex optical functionality
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 approach effectively redirects the second part of the light into the desired beam bundle, increasing efficiency and reducing glare, while maintaining a simple manufacturing process and reducing material usage.
Implementation Method 1
the inner light part is formed as a Fresnel lens, i.e., a light passage surface of the inner lens part is subdivided into active flanks and folding flanks, which Fresnel lens having the active flanks acts as a collimating lens, so that a first part of the light which passes through the Fresnel lens via the active flanks is refracted toward the main direction
Implementation Method 2
a reflection surface is provided on the outer reflector part, on which the second part of the light is incident and reflected thereon and deflected with the reflection toward the main direction
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device is provided with an optoelectronic light source and an optical body. The optical body is divided into an inner lens part and an outer reflector part adjoining thereon outward in relation to directions perpendicular to a main direction, which body parts are formed monolithically with one another. The inner part is formed as a Fresnel lens with active flanks which acts as a collimating lens, so that a first part of the light which passes through the Fresnel lens via the active flanks is refracted toward the main direction. A second part of the light which passes through the Fresnel lens via folding flanks is refracted away from the main direction. A reflection surface is provided on the outer reflector part, on which the second part of the light is incident and is reflected thereon and deflected with the reflection toward the main direction.