LED Lens Body Total Reflection Surfaces for Compact Width
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting units with LED light sources and plate-like lens bodies face challenges in achieving efficient luminous flux utilization while maintaining a compact width, as the need for through holes reduces the lens body's width and affects luminous flux exiting through the first end surface.
Innovation Solution
The lighting unit design eliminates the need for through holes by using a lens body with first and second total reflection surfaces that directly reflect light rays to exit through the central and adjacent regions of the first end surface, allowing for reduced width without compromising luminous flux efficiency, and includes inclined end surfaces to prevent internal reflection and enhance light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If through holes are formed in the lens body to enable linear light emission, then light can be reflected to the central region of the first end surface, but the width of the lens body must be increased to accommodate the through holes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the through hole structure from the lens body design. Instead of forming through holes that require additional width, the patent uses total reflection surfaces formed on the inner surfaces of the lens body that redirect light without requiring穿透 structures. This eliminates the need for width increase while maintaining the light reflection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a three-dimensional through hole structure to a two-dimensional surface reflection approach. By forming total reflection surfaces on the inner surfaces of the lens body, light reflection is achieved through surface geometry rather than volumetric holes, thereby eliminating the width requirement.
2Length of stationary object
If the width of the lens body is reduced for compactness, then the lighting unit becomes more compact, but the luminous flux exiting through the first end surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the optical parameters by introducing total reflection surfaces with specific angles and positions on the inner surfaces of the lens body. These surfaces are designed to intercept and redirect light rays that would otherwise be lost, ensuring that high-angle light rays from the LED are effectively utilized and directed toward the first end surface, thereby maintaining luminous flux output despite reduced width.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical through hole structure with an optical solution using total internal reflection. Instead of relying on physical holes to guide light, the patent uses the optical property of total internal reflection at strategically positioned surfaces within the lens body, achieving light guidance without mechanical penetration structures.
3Ease of operation
If total reflection surfaces are added to redirect light rays, then light distribution is improved, but the structural complexity of the lens body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the lens body multi-functional by integrating total reflection surfaces into the existing lens structure. These surfaces serve dual purposes: maintaining the optical focusing function of the lens while simultaneously providing light redirection and distribution. This eliminates the need for separate reflection components, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite the added optical 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
This configuration achieves luminous flux utilization efficiency equal to or greater than conventional units while reducing the lens body's width, enabling a more compact and flexible lighting unit layout with improved light projection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
total reflection surfaces 215a to 215e each arranged on an optical path of the rays of light emitted from the LED light source 220 and entering the lens body 210
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting unit including a lens body can achieve luminous flux utilization efficiency equal to or greater than a conventional lighting unit even with a reduced width of the lens body. A vehicle lighting unit can be constituted by a plurality of the lighting units. The lighting unit can include an LED light source, and a lens body disposed in front of the LED light source so that light emitted from the LED light source can be incident thereon. The lens body can include a lens portion configured to receive the light from the LED light source to collect the light, a front surface including the lens portion, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a first end surface functioning as a light exiting surface having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface.