Lampshade Light Guide Structures for Glare Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lamp designs often fail to effectively utilize light sources due to glare and monotonous visual effects, as they rely on printed patterns on the lampshade rather than manipulating light paths for aesthetic and functional improvements.

Innovation Solution

A lampshade structure featuring a light guide plate with varying thicknesses and optical coatings that refract, absorb, or diffuse light, changing its direction and intensity to produce gradient effects and reduce glare, while allowing different visual effects at various viewing angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If printed patterns or colors are applied on the outer surface of the lampshade, then visual appearance is enhanced, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidlight utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and lampshade body. The light guide plate with varying thickness and refractive index redirects light paths, allowing the lampshade to achieve visual effects through light manipulation rather than surface printing, thus improving light utilization efficiency while maintaining aesthetic appearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lampshade employs varying thickness parameters of the light guide plate (from thin central region to thick peripheral region) and varying refractive index parameters to control light propagation. This parameter variation creates gradient light effects and visual appeal without requiring printed patterns, thereby improving both appearance and light efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If uniform thickness lampshade is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but visual effects and glare reduction are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvisual effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide plate is designed with local quality variations - the central region has smaller thickness and different refractive index compared to the peripheral region. This local differentiation creates specific light refraction patterns and visual effects that uniform thickness cannot achieve, while still maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If light source is placed close to lampshade, then structure is compact, but glare increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidglare
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide plate serves as a mediator between the light source and lampshade body, effectively separating their positions. It redirects light from the compact light source position through refraction at varying thickness interfaces, reducing direct glare while maintaining structural compactness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention addresses glare by introducing a new spatial dimension - the light guide plate extends in the light propagation direction with varying thickness. This dimensional approach allows light redistribution in multiple directions, reducing concentrated glare while keeping the overall structure compact

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

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 effectively reduces glare and enhances visual appeal by creating gradient light and shadow effects, offering a more dynamic and colorful appearance that changes with viewing angles, and can be made from materials like glass for improved transparency and texture.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the light guide structures has a central thickness and a peripheral thickness, and the central thickness is less than the peripheral thickness... due to differences in light absorptions and transmittances of the body at different thicknesses, a gradual light and shadow and different shades or colors of the light source can be produced when the light travels through the lampshade structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

due to differences in light absorptions and transmittances of the body at different thicknesses, a gradual light and shadow and different shades or colors of the light source can be produced when the light travels through the lampshade structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

The light guide structures are disposed on the inner concave surface and/or the outer surface... when light travels through the light guide structure, the light guide structure can change the traveling direction of the light, thereby avoiding glare

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3832197B1Lampshade structure and lamp
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 RADIANT OPTO ELECTRONICS CORP
  • EP3832197B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832197B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3832197B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lampshade structure and a lamp. The lampshade structure includes a body (110) and a plurality of light guide structures (120). The body (100) has an inner concave surface (111) and an outer surface (112) opposite to the inner concave surface (111). The light guide structures (120) are disposed on the inner concave surface (111) and/or the outer surface (112). Each of the light guide structures (120) has a central thickness (T1) and a peripheral thickness (T2), and the central thickness (T1) is less than the peripheral thickness (T2).