LED lighting assembly and method of lighting for a merchandise display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescent lighting fixtures in retail stores inefficiently direct light to merchandise display shelves, leading to uneven illumination, high maintenance costs, and environmental concerns due to mercury-containing lamps.
Innovation Solution
An LED lighting assembly with reflective surfaces and lenses is used to project light beams in specific directions, ensuring more efficient light distribution and reduced energy consumption, featuring adjustable housing and varied lens configurations to optimize illumination across shelves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluorescent lighting fixtures are used to illuminate merchandise display shelves, then the shelves can be illuminated, but the light distribution is uneven with higher shelves being too brightly illuminated and lower shelves receiving very little light
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple LED modules positioned at different heights and angles along the shelving unit. Each module independently illuminates a specific zone, allowing precise control over light distribution to different shelf levels rather than using a single overhead fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different LED modules are configured with specific beam angles, orientations, and positions tailored to illuminate particular areas of the shelving unit. This localized optimization ensures that each region receives appropriate illumination intensity, with lower shelves receiving sufficient light without over-illuminating upper shelves.
2Illumination intensity
If fluorescent lamps are used for lighting, then illumination can be provided, but maintenance costs are high due to frequent lamp replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, fragile fluorescent lamps with solid-state LED modules that have significantly longer operational lifespans (50,000+ hours vs. 10,000 hours for fluorescent). The modular LED design allows individual modules to be easily replaced if needed, reducing both maintenance frequency and labor costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system transitions from fluorescent technology to LED technology, fundamentally changing the operational parameters including lifespan, energy consumption, and maintenance requirements. This parameter change results in reduced maintenance costs and extended service intervals.
3Illumination intensity
If fluorescent lamps are replaced in large retail chains, then lighting can be maintained, but environmental harm occurs due to mercury content in fluorescent lamps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the harmful mercury substance entirely by replacing fluorescent lamps with LED modules. This conversion transforms a harmful lighting system into an environmentally benign one, eliminating mercury pollution risks while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
LED modules operate without harmful substances, creating an inert environmental profile. The solid-state LED technology uses no mercury, halogen gases, or other environmentally harmful materials, making the lighting system environmentally safe throughout its lifecycle.
4Illumination intensity
If traditional fluorescent fixtures are used, then lighting can be provided, but energy consumption is high with low illuminance per watt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gas-discharge mechanism of fluorescent lamps with solid-state LED electroluminescence. This substitution fundamentally changes the energy conversion process, achieving higher luminous efficacy (lumens per watt) and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining or improving illumination output.
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 higher illuminance per watt, reduces energy usage, and lowers maintenance needs, resulting in improved product visibility and sales, while minimizing environmental impact by extending LED lifespan and reducing service calls.
Implementation Method 1
the reflective surfaces are positioned such that the LED projects a first light beam in a first direction and the reflective surface directs a second light beam in a second direction different than the first direction
Implementation Method 2
the lenses capture the light from a respective LED, modify the beam pattern, and re-project the light
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a lighting assembly and method for illuminating a vertical planar area, such as a merchandise display. The lighting assembly can comprise two opposing support arms and a lighting bar extending between the two opposing support arms, a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs mounted to the inside of the lighting bar; and a plurality of reflective surfaces located adjacent to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces are positioned such that the LEDs project a first light beam in a first direction and a second light beam in a second direction different than the first direction.