LED Light Cone Control for Wear-Free Adjustable Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor-based lighting devices for applications like reading lamps are either mechanically complex, prone to wear, or require numerous light sources, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance issues, while also being bulky and difficult to adjust for optimal illumination.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting device using semiconductor-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit collimated light into differently directed cones, allowing for adjustable lighting direction through a control circuit and adjusting device, which sets intermediate stages to align the light field's center of gravity between adjacent cones, enabling continuous adjustment without mechanical parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a movable head with mechanical elements is used to pivot the light cone, then the illumination direction is adjustable, but the mechanical elements are subject to wear and tear and require maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pivot system with an electronic control system. Instead of physically moving the light source, multiple stationary LEDs with different emission directions are selectively activated and adjusted in intensity to achieve the desired illumination direction. This eliminates mechanical wear and maintenance requirements while preserving adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic illumination system where the light field can be continuously adjusted in direction and intensity. By varying the intensity of individual LEDs and their combinations, the system achieves smooth transitions between different illumination directions without mechanical movement, enabling dynamic adaptability without mechanical components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used to illuminate different areas, then the illumination coverage is expanded, but the device becomes large and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each LED in the array serves multiple functions: it can illuminate different areas individually, contribute to intermediate illumination positions when combined with neighbors, and be adjusted in intensity for continuous positioning. This multi-functionality allows a compact array to achieve versatile illumination coverage without requiring a large number of specialized light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple LED light cones to create intermediate illumination positions. By merging adjacent light cones and adjusting their relative intensities, the system generates new illumination directions that lie between the individual LED directions, effectively expanding coverage while using a limited number of light sources.
3Ease of operation
If discrete light sources are switched on or off to achieve specific illumination directions, then the control is simple, but the alignment precision is limited to discrete positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the intensity parameter of individual LEDs to achieve continuous adjustment of the light field center. By varying the intensity of adjacent LEDs and their combinations, the system can position the illumination field at any intermediate location between discrete LED directions, achieving high alignment precision while maintaining simple electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, discrete illumination positions to dynamic, continuous positioning. By continuously adjusting the intensity parameters of multiple LEDs, the light field center can be smoothly moved to any desired position within the illumination range, achieving both operational simplicity and high precision alignment.
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 provides a robust, low-maintenance, and compact lighting solution that allows for precise alignment of the lighting field with minimal fluctuation in brightness, eliminating the need for mechanical components and enabling easy cleaning, suitable for applications like aircraft cabins.
Implementation Method 1
a light source arrangement with a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources in the form of light-emitting diodes
Implementation Method 2
which are collimated such that they each emit light in differently directed light cones
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention is based on the objective of providing a lighting device that is compact, robust, and requires little maintenance, and allows for easy adjustment of the lighting field. For this purpose, a lighting device (1) is provided with a light source arrangement (3) comprising several semiconductor-based light sources in the form of LEDs (31, 32, 33), which are collimated such that they each emit light in differently directed light cones (41, 42, 43) such that adjacent light cones overlap. The lighting device (1) includes an actuating device (5) for issuing an actuating signal for adjusting the direction of illumination and a control circuit (7) which is connected to the actuating device (5).With the adjusting device (5) intermediate stages can be set in which the light-emitting diodes (31, 32, 33) of adjacent and overlapping light cones (41, 42, 43) can be operated jointly by the control circuit (7) in varying light intensity such that the center of gravity of the light field (9) generated by the light-emitting diodes lies between the centers of gravity (410, 420, 430) of adjacent light cones (41, 42, 43) in the intermediate stages.