LED Lighting Module with Freeform Lenses and Angled Reflector Strips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional street lighting systems using LEDs often emit light radiation in undesirable directions, such as onto house facades, and require adaptable light distribution for various traffic conditions like pedestrian crossings and adjacent sidewalks, which existing technologies fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A lighting module comprising an arrangement of LEDs with free-form lenses and reflector strips, where the free-form lenses utilize light refraction and reflection to create a customizable light distribution, and the reflector strips are angled between 3° and 30° relative to the LEDs' optical axis to redirect or block light, allowing for tailored illumination patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional LED street lights use standard lenses, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the light distribution cannot be adapted to specific lighting tasks such as pedestrian crossings or illuminating adjacent sidewalks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution adaptabilityVSAvoidoptical system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into multiple independent optical units, each comprising an LED, a freeform lens, and reflector strips. Each unit can be independently configured to achieve different light distribution patterns, enabling adaptability without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Freeform lenses with asymmetric surfaces are used to generate non-uniform light distributions tailored to specific applications. The asymmetric lens geometry, combined with angled reflector strips, enables directional light control for tasks such as illuminating pedestrian crossings or adjacent sidewalks while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Manufacturing precision

If freeform lenses are used to create specific light distribution, then light distribution precision is improved, but light is still emitted in undesirable directions such as onto building facades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution precisionVSAvoidunwanted light emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Reflector strips are selectively positioned at specific locations around the freeform lens to control light direction in different regions. By locally adjusting the orientation and placement of reflector strips, unwanted light emission toward building facades is blocked while maintaining the desired precision light distribution in target areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The reflector strips capture light that would otherwise be emitted in undesirable directions and redirect it toward useful areas. This converts potentially harmful light emission into beneficial illumination, improving overall system efficiency while eliminating glare and light pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If reflector strips are added to control light distribution, then light direction control is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight direction controlVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical system is divided into multiple independent optical units, each comprising an LED, a freeform lens, and reflector strips. Each unit can be independently configured to achieve different light distribution patterns, enabling adaptability without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The orientation angle of reflector strips is adjusted as a key parameter to control light direction. By changing the angular parameter of reflector strips relative to the optical axis, precise light direction control is achieved while maintaining simple geometric shapes that are easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables a flexible and efficient light distribution that can be adapted for specific lighting tasks, reducing unwanted light emission and enhancing illumination of streets, pedestrian crossings, and adjacent areas, while maintaining even illumination across the street surface.

Implementation Method 1

The freeform lenses can produce a light distribution that is particularly suitable for street lighting through a combination of light refraction and light reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

through a combination of light refraction and light reflection, in particular total internal reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

each of the free-form lenses has a light entry surface facing the assigned LED and at least one light exit surface opposite it, and has a first section in which light passing from the light entry surface to the light exit surface is deflected by reflection, in particular total reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

with an arrangement of reflector strips or absorption strips, wherein each of the reflector strips or absorption strips is arranged laterally to a free-form lens in order to deflect or block part of the light exiting from the light exit surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3211297B1Lighting module in particular for road lights
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 SITECO GMBH
  • EP3211297B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3211297B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3211297B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5c

AI summary

The invention relates to a luminaire module with an arrangement of several LEDs and an arrangement (4) of several freeform lenses (5), each of which is assigned to one of the LEDs, wherein each of the freeform lenses (5) has a light-entry surface facing the assigned LED and at least one light-emission surface opposite it, and has a first section (52) in which light traveling from the light-entry surface to the light-emission surface is deflected by reflection, in particular total internal reflection, and a second light-directing section (51) which has a light-directing interface that forms part of the light-emission surface, and with an arrangement (1) of reflector strips (3) or absorption strips (10), wherein each of the reflector strips or absorption strips is arranged laterally to a freeform lens (5).to deflect or block a portion of the light exiting the light-exiting surface of the respective freeform lens (5).