Displaceable LED Carrier for Light Guide Plate Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The precise positioning of an LED light source relative to a light guide plate during assembly of a lamp is labor-intensive and inefficient, requiring significant effort to achieve effective light coupling.

Innovation Solution

A lamp design featuring a support element for the light guide plate and a displaceable LED light source support element that can move from a mounting position to an operating position, allowing the light guide plate to be easily aligned and securely fixed, with a spring element for latched positioning and a light exit diffuser for uniform light coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the LED light source is rigidly fixed relative to the light guide plate, then the positioning precision is high, but the assembly complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a displaceable LED light source support element that can move from a mounting position to an operating position. This dynamic mechanism allows the support element to be easily positioned during assembly and then securely fixed, achieving both high positioning precision and simplified assembly process. The support element's ability to displace and latch into position eliminates the need for complex rigid fixation while maintaining accurate alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the LED light source is precisely positioned during assembly, then the light coupling efficiency is high, but the assembly time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is designed with preliminary positioning features that guide the LED light source into the correct position during assembly. The displaceable mechanism allows the support element to be easily moved into place and then latched, performing the positioning action in advance before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures high positioning precision without requiring time-consuming adjustment procedures during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the light guide plate is securely fixed to the support element, then the positioning stability is high, but the ease of assembly and disassembly decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidease of assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fixing mechanism into two distinct functional parts: a displaceable support element for easy positioning and a latching mechanism for secure fixation. The support element can be independently moved and positioned, while the latching mechanism provides stable fixation once positioned. This segmentation allows the light guide plate to be easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining high positioning stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the LED light source support element is fixed in position, then the light coupling accuracy is high, but the adaptability to temperature fluctuations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight coupling reliabilityVSAvoidthermal expansion adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The displaceable support element provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the LED light source to adapt to temperature-induced dimensional changes. The support element can move to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of the light guide plate, maintaining accurate light coupling under varying temperature conditions. This dynamic mechanism ensures reliable light coupling while providing adaptability to environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Facilitates easier and more efficient assembly by allowing precise and secure positioning of the light guide plate relative to the LED light source, maintaining alignment even with temperature fluctuations, and ensuring uniform light distribution.

Implementation Method 1

The LED light source support element is positioned in the operating position in a latched manner with the aid of a spring element relative to the support element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring element latched positioning: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the light generated by the LED light source is radiated into the light guide plate via an incident edge surface of the light guide plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight coupling: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 3

a light exit diffuser for uniform light coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP2989380B1LED light fitting having a light-guiding panel
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP2989380B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2989380B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP2989380B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light fitting has an LED light source (2) for generating light, and a light-guiding panel (3), said LED light source (2) being arranged in such a way that the light is coupled into the light-guiding panel (3). In addition, a support element (4) for supporting the light-guiding panel (3) and an LED light source carrier element (5) are provided, said LED light source carrier element (5) being mounted such that it is displaceable relative to the support element (4).