Lamp Assembly with Diffuse Reflective Cavity for Uniform Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lamp assemblies with masks obstruct a significant portion of diffusely reflected light, limiting the regions that can be illuminated and resulting in non-uniform color mixing and illumination.

Innovation Solution

A lamp assembly with a cavity having a diffuse reflective surface and an open aperture, where light emitting diodes are arranged in close proximity to the reflective surface, allowing unobstructed reflection of light towards the surface, and featuring light transmitting walls for ambience lighting, ensuring efficient color mixing and uniform illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a mask is used in the lamp assembly to control light distribution, then the radiation intensity distribution can be tailored for certain applications, but a considerable portion of the diffusely reflected light is obstructed, limiting the regions that can be illuminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation intensity distributionVSAvoidilluminated regions
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the mask component from the lamp assembly entirely. By extracting this obstructing element, the patent eliminates the problem of blocked diffusely reflected light while preserving the desired illumination control through alternative means (LED arrangement and cavity geometry), thereby increasing the illuminated area without sacrificing radiation intensity control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a mask to block and shape light from a central source, the invention inverts the approach by using an unobstructed cavity where the reflective surface itself shapes the light distribution. The illumination control is achieved through the cavity geometry and LED positioning rather than through active occlusion, allowing diffusely reflected light to reach all regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Illumination intensity

If a mask is used to control light distribution, then the radiation pattern can be customized, but the uniformity and color mixing of the light is compromised due to limited regions being illuminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation patternVSAvoiduniformity and color mixing
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the mask that created non-uniform illumination, the patent allows diffusely reflected light to reach all regions of the target surface uniformly. The unobstructed cavity enables complete color mixing of light from multiple LEDs, achieving both customized radiation patterns through LED arrangement and uniform illumination across all areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates homogeneous illumination by eliminating the mask that caused spatial variation in light distribution. The diffusely reflective cavity surface ensures uniform scattering of light from multiple LED sources, achieving consistent color mixing and uniformity across the entire illuminated area rather than limited regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Illumination intensity

If light emitting diodes are arranged to directly illuminate the surface, then the amount of light reaching the surface is maximized, but the uniformity and color mixing of the light is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of lightVSAvoiduniformity and color mixing
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from direct illumination (one-dimensional light path) to indirect illumination through a cavity (multi-dimensional light paths). Light from LEDs arranged on the cavity surface reflects diffusely in multiple directions, maintaining high light output while achieving uniform distribution and complete color mixing across all illuminated regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The diffusely reflective cavity surface acts as an intermediary between the LEDs and the target surface. Instead of light traveling directly from LEDs to the surface, the cavity surface mediates the light distribution, scattering it uniformly in all directions and enabling complete color mixing while preserving the total light output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design enhances the uniformity and color mixing of light, increasing the amount of light directed towards the surface, reducing direct illumination, and allowing for effective heat dissipation, while providing improved luminance for atmosphere and ambience lighting applications.

Implementation Method 1

a cavity having a substantially diffuse reflective surface, said cavity having an open aperture facing said surface to be illuminated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffuse reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

said chamber having light transmitting walls such that luminance is obtained for the lamp assembly itself for providing ambience lighting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3447366B1Lamp assembly
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3447366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447366B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3447366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a lamp assembly for illuminating a surface comprising a cavity (5) having a substantially diffuse reflective surface (6), said cavity having an open aperture (7) facing said surface to be illuminated, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (9A, 9B, 9C) capable of emitting visible light (LA, LB, LC). The light emitting diodes are arranged on or near said diffuse reflective surface of said cavity such that light emitted from said light emitting diodes is capable of reflecting from said diffuse reflective surface towards said surface to be illuminated.