Hybrid Halogen LED Illumination Spectral Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current illumination systems, such as incandescent and halogen lamps, are inefficient and lack control over correlated color temperature (CCT) and spectral output uniformity, particularly at specific wavelengths, which can lead to shorter lifespan and unwanted color shifts when increasing power to enhance light intensity.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid broadband/narrowband coaxial illumination system that combines a halogen source with a 405nm LED, using an optical waveguide and condenser to align and filter the spectral outputs, allowing for customizable CCT modification without power increase, and providing a flatter spectral output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If halogen light source power is increased to enhance light intensity at specific wavelengths, then light intensity is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates and correlated color temperature becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensityVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources, each responsible for specific wavelength bands. A halogen source provides broadband visible light, while separate LEDs target specific wavelengths (e.g., 405nm UV, red, green, blue). This segmentation allows each source to operate at optimal efficiency for its designated spectrum, avoiding the energy waste of over-driving a single broadband source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by using multiple light sources with different spectral characteristics rather than increasing the power of a single source. Each LED operates at its peak efficiency wavelength, and the halogen source operates at a stable, lower power level, collectively achieving high intensity without the energy inefficiency of high-power halogen operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If halogen light source power is increased to enhance light intensity at specific wavelengths, then light intensity is improved, but correlated color temperature stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensityVSAvoidcorrelated color temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spectral output is segmented into discrete wavelength bands, each controlled by an independent LED source. This allows precise control over the spectral composition and correlated color temperature. By adjusting the intensity of individual LEDs rather than increasing overall halogen power, the system maintains stable CCT while achieving the required light intensity at specific wavelengths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes from a single-parameter control (halogen power) to multi-parameter control (individual LED intensities). This enables independent adjustment of spectral power distribution and correlated color temperature, allowing the system to maintain stable CCT while enhancing intensity at specific wavelengths through selective LED activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If RGB LED combination is used to achieve spectral control, then correlated color temperature adjustability is improved, but spectral uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrelated color temperature adjustabilityVSAvoidspectral uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spectral output is segmented into multiple discrete wavelength bands using separate LEDs for UV (405nm), red, green, and blue regions, plus a broadband halogen source. This fine-grained segmentation provides superior spectral control compared to standard RGB LEDs, enabling both CCT adjustment and spectral uniformity by precisely tuning the intensity of each spectral component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a composite light source architecture combining multiple LED types with different spectral characteristics and a halogen broadband source. This composite approach creates a more complete and uniform spectral output than RGB LEDs alone, filling spectral gaps and achieving both CCT adjustability and spectral uniformity through the synergistic combination of different emission types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If broadband halogen source is used to provide visible spectrum illumination, then spectral coverage is improved, but energy efficiency at specific wavelengths deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral coverageVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The broadband halogen spectrum is segmented by adding specific narrowband LED sources at wavelengths where the halogen output is insufficient or inefficient. The LEDs target specific spectral gaps (e.g., 405nm UV, enhanced red, green, blue regions), allowing the system to maintain comprehensive spectral coverage while achieving high efficiency at critical wavelengths by using LEDs instead of relying on high-power halogen emission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the spectral power distribution parameters by superimposing narrowband LED emissions onto the broadband halogen spectrum. This creates a hybrid spectrum that maintains the broad coverage of halogen while adding intense, efficient emission at specific wavelengths through LED peaks, optimizing both spectral coverage and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system achieves efficient and flexible illumination with improved lifespan and customizable CCT, reducing power requirements and maintaining spectral uniformity, outperforming traditional RGB LED solutions.

Implementation Method 1

an optical waveguide component having an input end and an output end, that is at least partially disposed in the device housing to receive at the input end the first spectral output and the second spectral output

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical waveguide transmission: Waveguide (optics)

Implementation Method 2

a condenser optical element having an optical axis, mounted in the device housing and disposed to receive the first selected spectral output and propagate said output along the optical axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondenser optical focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 3

the device includes a spectral filter disposed to filters a portion of the broadband source that overlaps the spectral bandwidth of the narrowband source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical spectral filtering: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 4

The tungsten filament of a typical incandescent light bulb has a lifetime of between about 700-1000 hours. Moreover, about 90% of the radiation emitted by a typical incandescent bulb is in the form of heat (i.e., infra-red (IR) radiation) rather than light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIncandescence: Incandescence

Implementation Method 5

the second illumination source has a narrowband infra-red spectrum. In an aspect, the first illumination source is a halogen source and the second illumination source is a 405nm light emitting diode (LED)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emitting diode electroluminescence: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2210039B1Hybrid illumination apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 SCHOTT CORP
  • EP2210039B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2210039B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3b
  • EP2210039B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A hybrid illumination device includes a first illumination source having a broadband spectral output and a second illumination source having a narrowband spectral output that overlaps or lies adjacent a minimum intensity spectral region of the broadband spectrum A halogen source can provide the broadband illumination while a 405 nm LED can provide the narrowband IR illumination The device further includes an optical condenser that collects the broadband illumination and directs it along the optical axis The narrowband source LED can be disposed adjacent the condenser or mounted in the condenser in such a manner that the broadband and narrowband illuminations propagate along coaxial optical paths A waveguide can be provided that collects the hybnd illumination at th device and transmits it to a target scene Target-reflected light may also be collected and transmitted by the waveguide to a receiver/detector