LED Light Fixture Heat Sink Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED light fixtures for outdoor applications face challenges in directing light downward while minimizing upward and rearward illumination to comply with 'dark-sky' specifications and reduce light pollution, often resulting in complex and costly structures.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a heat sink with downwardly-extending shield members and an optical member configured to direct light forward, along with a rearward shield member with a reflective coating to minimize upward and rearward illumination, integrated into the LED light fixture's structure for simplicity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If shields and reflectors are added to direct light downward and minimize upward and rearward illumination, then dark-sky compliance and light pollution reduction are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shielding function with the heat sink structure by integrating downwardly-extending shield members directly into the heat sink body. This merging eliminates the need for separate shielding components while maintaining effective light direction control, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while still achieving dark-sky compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management for the LED illuminator, acts as a structural support element, and functions as a light-shielding component through its integrated shield members. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the fixture
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shields and reflectors are added to direct light downward and minimize upward and rearward illumination, then dark-sky compliance and light pollution reduction are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding function is merged with the heat sink structure, eliminating the need for separate shielding components and their associated manufacturing and assembly costs. The integrated design allows for fewer parts to be produced, stored, and assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink serves multiple functions including thermal management, structural support, and light shielding. By making the heat sink multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated shielding components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost
3Illumination intensity
If separate shielding components are added to the LED light fixture, then light direction control is improved, but structural simplicity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shield members are integrated directly into the heat sink structure as downwardly-extending portions of the same component. This merging maintains effective light direction control while preserving structural simplicity by avoiding additional separate shielding components
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
This solution effectively addresses 'dark-sky' and 'light-trespass' issues by integrating shielding into the fixture's essential structure, enhancing both structural simplicity and functional efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The rearward shield member may include a reflective coating redirecting rearward light away from unintended areas
Implementation Method 2
The optical member is configured for directing emitter light predominantly toward the forward side
Implementation Method 3
a heat sink secured with respect thereto
Implementation Method 4
a heat sink secured with respect thereto and an LED illuminator secured with respect to the heat sink
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An LED light fixture (10) including a housing (17), a heat sink (42) secured with respect to the housing and an LED illuminator (41) secured with respect to the heat sink. The heat sink includes cental and peripheral portions (45, 46). The central portion has an LED-supporting surface and forward, rearward and lateral sides, the LED illuminator being at the LED-supporting surface. The peripheral portion (46) extends laterally from the lateral sides (50). The central portion (45) of the heat sink has downwardly-extending shield members (65) at the lateral sides thereof configured and dimensioned to block illumination in a direction opposite the LED illuminator. In embodiments where the optical member is configured for directing emitter light predominantly toward the forward side, the central heat-sink portion has a downwardly-extending shield member at the rearward side thereof configured and dimensioned to block rearward illumination.