LED Light with Plate-like Light Guide for Direct Indirect Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LED pendant lights require multiple differently oriented circuit boards to achieve both direct and indirect lighting, increasing manufacturing complexity and effort.

Innovation Solution

A pendant or floor lamp design featuring a flat, plate-like light guide arrangement with an opening for the LED light source, allowing light to be emitted both downwards and upwards through the opening and via the light guide's peripheral edge, eliminating the need for multiple circuit boards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple differently oriented circuit boards are used for LEDs to achieve both direct and indirect lighting, then the lighting functionality is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple LED light sources with differently oriented light emission characteristics onto a single circuit board. The circuit board is designed with LED modules arranged to provide both direct downward light and indirect upward light, eliminating the need for separate circuit boards for each lighting function. This merging approach maintains full lighting versatility while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single circuit board is designed to perform multiple lighting functions simultaneously. It accommodates LED modules that can emit light in different directions (downward for direct lighting, upward for indirect lighting) and can be configured to provide various lighting modes including direct lighting, indirect lighting, and combinations thereof. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized separate circuit boards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple differently oriented circuit boards are used for LEDs to achieve both direct and indirect lighting, then the lighting functionality is improved, but the production effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionalityVSAvoidproduction effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple LED modules with different light emission orientations onto a single circuit board, reducing the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This consolidation decreases production effort by eliminating the need to produce, test, and assemble multiple separate circuit boards for different lighting functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board is segmented into multiple LED module regions, each optimized for specific lighting functions (direct, indirect, or combined). This segmentation allows for standardized module design that can be efficiently manufactured and assembled in high volumes, reducing overall production effort compared to custom multi-board assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If a fluorescent lamp is used as light source, then the light emission in all directions is achieved, but the service life is shorter compared to LEDs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emissionVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from fluorescent lamp technology to LED technology, fundamentally changing the light generation parameter. LEDs provide comparable or superior illumination intensity while offering significantly extended service life (typically 25,000-50,000 hours for LEDs versus 8,000-15,000 hours for fluorescent lamps). The multi-directional LED module arrangement compensates for the narrower emission angle of individual LEDs compared to fluorescent lamps.

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

This design simplifies manufacturing, reduces production effort, and allows for efficient directional light emission suitable for both direct and indirect lighting without the need for multiple LED sources, while maintaining space-saving and cost-effective production.

Implementation Method 1

a second part of the light is coupled into the light guide arrangement via a peripheral edge of the opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2796769B1LED light with a light conductor assembly
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP2796769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2796769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2796769B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a luminaire comprising an LED light source (2) for emitting light and a planar, plate-like light guide arrangement (3). The light guide arrangement (3) has an opening (31), and the LED light source (2) is arranged such that a first part (L1) of the light is emitted through the opening (31), and a second part (L2) of the light is coupled into the light guide arrangement (3) via a circumferential edge (32) of the opening (31) and is subsequently emitted via a flat side (37, 38) of the light guide arrangement (3). This design makes it possible, in particular, to emit the light from the LED light source (2) in opposite directions.For example, it may be provided that the light emitted by the LED light source (2) is used by the luminaire for both direct and indirect lighting without requiring multiple differently oriented LED light sources.