Funnel Reflector Lighting Device with Tilted Liquid Crystal Lens

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting devices, such as Z-lights and cylindrical stand lights, are bulky and struggle to produce fully collimated light, requiring additional optical components that increase the device's length.

Innovation Solution

A compact lighting device design featuring a funnel-shaped reflector, a reflection plate tilted at 45 degrees, and a liquid crystal lens with incident and opposing surfaces tilted at specific angles to control light emission and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional lighting devices (Z-light, desk light, cylindrical stand light) are used, then the device structure is simple, but the device size is large and cannot produce fully collimated light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoiddevice length in light emitting direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reflector and lens functions into a single integrated component. The reflector includes a light emitting hole and a lens hole with a curved reflective surface that directly forms collimated light, eliminating the need for separate rod lenses and additional optical components. This merging of functions achieves full collimation while keeping the device compact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a curved reflective surface within the reflector that is specifically shaped to convert divergent light from the LED into collimated light. The curved surface geometry enables the device to achieve full collimation without requiring additional optical components, thereby reducing the overall device length while maintaining optical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If rod lens and additional optical components are used to get fully collimated light, then fully collimated light is achieved, but the length of the lighting device in light emitting direction becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight collimation qualityVSAvoiddevice length in light emitting direction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reflector and lens functions into a single integrated component. The reflector includes a light emitting hole and a lens hole with a curved reflective surface that directly forms collimated light, eliminating the need for separate rod lenses and additional optical components. This merging of functions achieves full collimation while keeping the device compact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a curved reflective surface within the reflector that is specifically shaped to convert divergent light from the LED into collimated light. The curved surface geometry enables the device to achieve full collimation without requiring additional optical components, thereby reducing the overall device length while maintaining optical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If conventional lighting devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the light distribution angle is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidlight distribution angle

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a curved reflective surface within the reflector that is specifically shaped to convert divergent light from the LED into collimated light. The curved surface geometry enables the device to achieve full collimation without requiring additional optical components, thereby reducing the overall device length while maintaining optical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 achieves a compact form factor with a short length in the light-emitting direction while maintaining a small light distribution angle and allowing for easy adjustment of the light spot shape.

Implementation Method 1

a funnel shaped reflector including a first hole in which a light source is disposed, a second hole which emits light, and a reflecting curved surface connecting the first hole and the second hole with each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a liquid crystal lens including an incident surface and opposing to the reflection plate, a major surface of the incident surface of the liquid crystal lens being tilted to the major surface of the reflection plate with a second angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12331909B2Lighting device

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 JAPAN DISPLAY INC

AI summary

A lighting device according to the invention includes: a funnel shaped reflector including a first hole in which a light source is disposed, a second hole which emits light, and a reflecting curved surface connecting the first hole with the second hole, a first direction being defined as a direction of a line connecting a center of the first hole with a center of the second hole; a reflection plate, being opposed to the second hole of the funnel shaped reflector, major surface being tilted with a first angle; and a liquid crystal lens including an incident surface and opposing to the reflection plate, a major surface of the incident surface being tilted to the major surface of the reflection plate with a second angle, in which light emitted from the funnel shaped reflector is reflected at the reflection plate, and is emitted from the liquid crystal lens.