Laser Lighting Device Using Diffraction Grating for Smoke Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices fail to provide satisfactory depth perception and forward visibility in smoke-filled or narrow areas, often requiring complex infrastructure that is impractical for emergency situations, and existing laser lighting systems either produce blinding reflections or are absorbed by smoke particles, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A laser lighting device utilizing a diffraction optical grating to distribute laser light into a plurality of beams, particularly in a donut pattern, which reduces central light intensity and distributes power evenly across a wide area, minimizing blinding effects and enhancing visibility in smoke-filled or turbid environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If laser light is made very bright to overcome smoke absorption, then forward visibility is improved, but smoke particles reflect strong light backward creating a blinding sight field
Solution Approach 1:
The single laser beam is segmented into multiple beams by the diffraction grating. This divides the total light energy across multiple paths, reducing the intensity of any single beam that could cause blinding reflections while maintaining overall illumination coverage through the smoke-filled environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional bright beam to a multi-dimensional beam distribution pattern. The diffraction grating creates beams at various angles, distributing light across spatial dimensions to illuminate smoke particles without concentrating excessive intensity in one direction that would cause blinding reflections.
2Device complexity
If conventional lighting is used in smoke-filled areas, then infrastructure complexity is reduced, but depth perception and forward visibility are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The laser lighting device is self-contained and portable, requiring no external wiring or complex infrastructure. It generates its own structured light pattern that automatically adapts to smoke-filled environments, providing both depth perception and forward visibility without needing connection to building infrastructure.
3Illumination intensity
If existing laser lighting systems are used in smoke-filled rooms, then forward visibility is improved, but smoke particles absorb substantially part of the light rendering detectable forward distance too short
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the laser light into multiple beams, the system increases the total surface area illuminated within the smoke volume. More light paths interact with smoke particles, scattering light back to the observer from multiple positions, thereby compensating for absorption losses and extending the detectable forward distance.
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 device provides clear, non-blinding illumination with improved depth perception and forward visibility in challenging environments like smoke-filled rooms and underwater conditions without the need for complex infrastructure, ensuring safe and effective navigation.
Implementation Method 1
A laser lighting device utilizing a diffraction optical grating to distribute laser light into a plurality of beams
Implementation Method 2
the smoke (tiny particles forming the smoke) or turbidity will reflect a strong light backward
Implementation Method 3
the smoke (tiny particles forming the smoke) or turbidity will reflect a strong light backward
Implementation Method 4
the smoke (small particles) may absorb a substantially part of the light, which may render the detectable forward distance too short to be useful
Data Source
AI summary
A laser lighting device provides a broad range illumination for an area, such as a smoke filled space, a hallway or an underwater environment with certain turbidity. This lighting device contains a laser diode as a light source and a diffraction grating that is able to diffract an input laser light beam generated from the laser diode into a plurality of output laser light beams with the cross section of the plurality of output laser light beams forming a pattern comprising a plurality of light spots. In addition, this pattern may be in a donut shape. That is to say, the power of a light spot formed by a zero order light beam is lower than other light spots' power. Further, this laser lighting device is used to provide lighting with depth perception and forward visibility.