LED Array Common Lens for Compact Flash Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flash systems for mobile phones require larger lateral areas to accommodate multiple lenses for beam shaping, which is not suitable for space-constrained applications.

Innovation Solution

A light emitting diode (LED) array module with a common lens segment featuring a multitude of sections that shape an uneven surface, allowing for reduced lateral size while ensuring targeted illumination of specific areas, using a Fresnel or partial TIR lens, or their combination, to enhance light distribution and contrast.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If different lens segments are assigned to respective LEDs, then beam shaping control is improved, but lateral area increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam shaping controlVSAvoidlateral area
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lens segments corresponding to different LEDs are merged into a single common lens segment. This common lens segment contains multiple sections, each section being optically coupled to a respective LED, allowing beam shaping for multiple LEDs within one unified lens structure, thereby reducing the lateral area while maintaining beam shaping control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common lens segment is segmented into multiple sections, where each section is optically coupled to a specific LED. This segmentation allows each LED's light to be independently shaped while sharing a common lens structure, resolving the contradiction between individual beam control and compact lateral area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If a common lens segment with multiple sections is used, then lateral area is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral areaVSAvoidlens structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lens segments are merged into one common lens segment that can be manufactured as a single integrated component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity despite the increased functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common lens segment serves multiple functions by containing multiple sections, each optimized for a specific LED. This multi-functional design allows a single lens component to perform what would traditionally require multiple separate lenses, simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 achieves homogeneous illumination and increased contrast by directing more flux to specific target areas, reducing the overall size of the LED array module while maintaining effective beam shaping, thus being suitable for mobile phone flash systems.

Implementation Method 1

The lens may, for example, be a Fresnel lens or a partial TIR lens or a combination thereof. It may especially be preferred that the Fresnel lens is a catadioptric Fresnel lens.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFresnel lens: Fresnel Lens

Implementation Method 2

The lens may, for example, be a Fresnel lens or a partial TIR lens or a combination thereof. TIR stands for total internal reflection.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3568631B1Array with light emitting diodes and varying lens
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 LUMILEDS LLC
  • EP3568631B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3568631B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3568631B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention describes a light emitting diode array module (50) comprising at least two light emitting diodes (10) and a lens (55), wherein the lens (55) comprises one common lens segment, wherein the common lens segment comprises a multitude of sections (56) at least partly encompassing an axis perpendicular to the lens (55), wherein the sections (56) shape an uneven surface of the lens (55), wherein the light emitting diodes (10) are arranged to illuminate at least two non-overlapping target areas (112, 113, 122) in a reference plane, and wherein the sections (56) are arranged such that at least one light emitting diode (10) illuminates one respective target area (112, 113, 122) of the target areas (112, 113, 122). The invention further describes a flash light comprising at least one light emitting diode array module (50).