LED Lens Beam Diverging and Converging Portions for Short Mixing Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting devices require long light mixing distances due to their directional optical output, leading to increased space requirements in display applications, and the increasing LED power efficiency results in larger LED-to-LED pitches, necessitating longer light mixing areas.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting assembly with a lens featuring a beam diverging portion co-axial with the optical axis of the light-emitting source and adjacent beam converging portions to broaden the light radiating pattern, allowing for efficient light mixing over a shorter distance, and collimating lenses to confine optical output onto a thin light guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If directional LED optical output is used, then LED power efficiency increases, but light mixing distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is segmented into multiple functional portions: a beam diverging portion for spreading light, at least one beam converging portion for compressing light away from the optical axis, and optionally beam collimating portions. This segmentation allows each portion to perform a specific optical function, transforming the directional LED output into a broader light distribution pattern that achieves efficient mixing over shorter distances.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the lens are given different optical properties to address specific needs: the beam diverging portion has properties for spreading light in the viewing angle direction, the beam converging portions have properties for compressing light away from the optical axis, and beam collimating portions have properties for parallelizing light propagation. This local differentiation of optical qualities enables the lens to simultaneously achieve broad light distribution and efficient coupling.
2Device complexity
If LED-to-LED pitch is increased, then device complexity decreases, but light mixing area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens transforms the light distribution in multiple dimensions: the beam diverging portion affects the angular distribution in the viewing angle direction, while the beam converging portions affect the spatial distribution away from the optical axis. This multi-dimensional transformation allows light from LEDs with larger pitch to be redistributed effectively, achieving uniform mixing without requiring proportionally larger mixing areas.
3Productivity
If beam spreading is applied, then light mixing efficiency improves, but light coupling onto light guide deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lens dynamically adapts the light beam characteristics through its different portions: it first diverges the beam to improve mixing, then converges portions of the beam away from the optical axis, and finally collimates the light in specific directions to enable precise coupling onto the light guide. This dynamic transformation of beam characteristics allows the system to achieve both efficient mixing and precise coupling.
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 configuration enables more efficient light mixing between LEDs in a reduced distance, minimizing unused space on display panels and optimizing light coupling onto thin light guides, thereby enhancing display efficiency and reducing thermal loading.
Implementation Method 1
a beam diverging portion for diverging or spreading light about said output axis
Implementation Method 2
at least one beam converging portion for converging or compressing light away from said optical axis
Implementation Method 3
collimating lenses to confine optical output onto a thin light guide
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting assembly for conditioning the light output of at least one light-emitting source for light guide coupling, comprising a lens and at least one light-emitting source, the light-emitting source having an optical output axis and the lens comprising a beam diverging portion for diverging or spreading light about the output axis, wherein the beam diverging portion of the lens is along the optical output axis and forward of the light-emitting source, and at least one beam converging portion for converging or compressing light away from the optical axis is adjacent the beam diverging portion.