LED Lamp Light Pipe Radial Reflector Incandescent Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional B10 retrofit lamps using solid-state lighting technology do not resemble conventional incandescent lamps due to the need for a thermal management system, which affects their appearance.
Innovation Solution
An optical design that uses a transparent light pipe and reflector to create a sparkling emission pattern similar to incandescent bulbs, with LEDs concealed in the base of a lamp shaped like a conventional incandescent B10 lamp, guiding light through total internal reflection to a reflector that directs light in a radial direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thermal management system with a metallic pedestal is used to dissipate heat from LEDs, then heat dissipation is improved, but the appearance of the lamp deteriorates as it no longer resembles a conventional incandescent lamp
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the visible pedestal structure and relocates it to the base of the lamp, where it is concealed. This allows the bulb portion to maintain its conventional incandescent appearance while the heat dissipation function is preserved through the base structure that extends into the bulb but remains hidden from view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary element between the LED and the observer. The light guide transmits light from the concealed LED through the transparent bulb wall, creating the appearance of a filament suspended in the bulb. This intermediary allows the lamp to maintain conventional appearance while using solid-state lighting technology.
2Reliability
If LEDs are mounted on a metallic pedestal for thermal management, then heat dissipation is improved, but the lamp fails to resemble a conventional B10 incandescent lamp
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the LED and its thermal management structure within the base of the lamp, nesting it within the conventional B10 bulb shape. The light guide is nested within the bulb wall, and the entire assembly is contained within the standard lamp envelope, allowing the lamp to fit conventional sockets while maintaining appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a transparent light guide material that allows light to pass through while maintaining the visual appearance of a conventional bulb. The transparency of the light guide creates the illusion that light is emanating from a filament point source, preserving the visual characteristics of incandescent lighting.
3Illumination intensity
If a transparent light pipe with reflector is used to guide light, then the emission pattern is improved to create a sparkling appearance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved surfaces in the light guide and reflector design to control light propagation. The light guide has a specific curvature that directs light toward the reflector, and the reflector uses a curved surface to redirect light in a radial pattern, creating the sparkling appearance through geometric optics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy of the conventional incandescent bulb appearance using the light guide and reflector system. Instead of using an actual filament, the system optically replicates the visual characteristics of an incandescent bulb by guiding light through the bulb wall and reflecting it to create a point source appearance.
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 design effectively mimics the appearance of a conventional incandescent B10 lamp, providing a visually appealing and energy-efficient lighting solution while managing heat effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitted by the LED/LEDs is guided by total internal reflection through a light pipe to a reflector that directs the light into a desired emission pattern
Implementation Method 2
the reflector reflects the directed light in a radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
An LED lamp including a light guide/light pipe, and a method of reflecting light using same, are disclosed. The LED lamp includes a transparent light pipe enclosed in an envelope, where the light pipe has a lower section and an upper section. The lamp also includes an LED in a recess at a lower end of the lower section, and a reflector formed by an indentation in an upper end of the upper section. The lower section may be a compound parabolic concentrator, and the upper section may be a tapered cylinder. The lower section of the light pipe collects light emitted from the LED, the upper section of the light pipe directs the collected light onto the reflector, and the reflector reflects the directed light in a radial direction.