High Bay Luminaire Micro-Optical Waveguide Glare Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional high bay luminaires face limitations in performance, visual comfort, and cost, particularly in achieving desired light distributions and reducing glare, due to their reliance on large LED sources and outdated design features.

Innovation Solution

The use of micro-optical structures and waveguide components in optics for LED arrays, which provide directional down and up-lighting distributions, allowing for symmetric or asymmetric light patterns and independent control of up and down lighting, while reducing glare through a radial arrangement of micro-optical structures and a waveguide edge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional large LED sources are used in high bay luminaires, then cost is reduced, but optical control and glare reduction become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidoptical control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting system into multiple independent LED modules, each with its own micro-optical structures. This segmentation allows for simplified optical control of individual modules while maintaining cost-effectiveness through modular manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces micro-optical structures as intermediary elements between the LED sources and the environment. These micro-optical structures serve as mediators that control light distribution and reduce glare without requiring complex overall system design, thereby simplifying optical control while maintaining affordability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional design features are used for down lighting and up-lighting, then manufacturing is simple, but performance and visual comfort reach limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidperformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes key parameters including using multiple independent LED modules with adjustable intensity, implementing micro-optical structures for precise light control, and enabling independent control of up-lighting and down-lighting. These parameter changes improve performance and visual comfort while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If elaborate glare reducing features are included, then visual comfort improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglare reductionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing micro-optical structures at specific locations on individual LED modules. These localized optical control elements provide glare reduction precisely where needed without requiring complex system-wide structures, thereby improving visual comfort while minimizing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If micro-optical structures with radial arrangement are used, then light distribution control is enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution controlVSAvoidoptical structure precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses identical replicated LED modules with standardized micro-optical structures. By copying the same design across multiple modules rather than creating unique complex structures, the system achieves versatile light distribution control while reducing manufacturing precision requirements through standardized production processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 solution enhances light distribution control, reduces glare, and improves visual comfort by providing efficient and customizable lighting solutions with reduced luminance at specific angles, achieving a ratio of max luminance to total lumen output of less than 7 and luminance at 65 degrees from nadir of less than 3×105 cd/m2.

Implementation Method 1

a waveguide edge for providing one or more up-lighting distributions from the LED array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the optical structures are Fresnel structures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS11221115B2High bay luminaire

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 IDEAL IND LIGHTING LLC

AI summary

An optic for a light emitting diode array comprises an arrangement of optical structures for providing one or more down lighting distribution from the LED array; and a waveguide edge for providing one or more up-lighting distributions from the LED array. Luminaires are described comprising a light emitting diode (LED) array and the optic. Lighting systems are described comprising a plurality of the luminaires arranged over an area enclosed by walls.