Configurable Luminaire with Interchangeable Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED-based luminaires lack flexibility in adjusting color temperature, lumen output, and photometric distribution, necessitating large inventories to accommodate user preferences, and there is a need for a system that can adapt to various applications efficiently and flexibly.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire system with multiple light sources of different color temperatures and lumen outputs, controlled by a circuit and input switches, allowing configurations for desired illumination properties, such as color temperature, lumen output, or photometric distribution, with a mapping mechanism to simplify settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional LED-based luminaires use permanently attached light sources, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is divided into separable components: a housing and interchangeable light source assemblies. Each light source assembly can be independently configured with different LED modules, allowing the same housing to support multiple configurations without requiring different manufacturing processes for each variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire housing is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of light source assemblies with different color temperatures and lumen outputs. This multi-functional design allows a single housing model to serve multiple application requirements, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple luminaire configurations are stocked at distribution, then adaptability is improved, but inventory complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the luminaire into a universal housing and interchangeable light source assemblies, the system reduces inventory complexity. Instead of stocking complete pre-configured luminaires for each application, distributors can stock one housing model and multiple light source assembly types, which can be combined as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic configuration at the point of sale or installation. The luminaire can be adapted to different applications by swapping light source assemblies rather than requiring static preconfiguration, allowing inventory to remain simple while maintaining high adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lamp swapping is used in incandescent or fluorescent luminaires, then adaptability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lamp swapping system with an integrated light source assembly that combines LED modules, optics, and electronics. This substitution maintains the adaptability of swapping components while achieving superior energy efficiency through LED technology, eliminating the energy inefficiency associated with incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
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
Enables a single luminaire to be configured quickly and efficiently for various applications, reducing inventory needs and enhancing energy efficiency and flexibility in lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer substantial potential benefit associated with their energy efficiency, light quality, and compact size
Data Source
AI summary
A system can configure a luminaire for providing illumination of a selected color temperature, a selected lumen output, or a selected photometric distribution. The luminaire can comprise at least two light sources that have different illumination characteristics, for example different color temperatures, different lumen outputs, or different photometric distributions. The system can configure the luminaire to operate a first of the two light sources, a second of the two light sources, or both of the light sources based on an input. When the luminaire is configured to operate both of the light sources, the luminaire can produce illumination having a color temperature, a lumen output, or a photometric distribution that is different than either of the two light sources.