LED Lighting Unit with Adjustable Cavity Lens for Road Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing street and road lighting luminaires face challenges in adapting light distribution to ensure uniform illumination over the entire length of the road, requiring complex optical components and inefficient use of light sources, especially when weather or road conditions change.

Innovation Solution

A lighting unit with an LED light source and a primary optics lens having a cavity that exceeds the size of the LED, allowing multiple positioning within the cavity to adjust light distribution, providing symmetric light in one direction and asymmetric light in another, enabling flexible and efficient adaptation of light emission characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional luminaires use fixed reflector systems with HID lamps, then a desired light distribution can be obtained, but the utilization factor is limited to 0.45-0.5 and the range of light distribution adaptation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution adaptation rangeVSAvoidutilization factor
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple LED modules with independently controllable light intensity, replacing the fixed HID lamp system. Each LED module can be individually adjusted in brightness, enabling dynamic adaptation of light distribution patterns without changing the physical position or configuration of the components. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize light utilization across different road lighting scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters by using LED technology with adjustable current drive for each module. By varying the electrical parameters (current) supplied to each LED module, the system can continuously adjust light output intensity independently for each module, thereby achieving a wide range of light distribution adaptations while maintaining high energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional optical elements are added to change light distribution characteristics, then significant change in light distribution can be obtained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution characteristicsVSAvoidoptical components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/optical adjustment mechanisms (such as movable reflectors or additional optical elements) with electronic control of LED modules. Instead of physically changing the optical path or adding complex optical components, the system achieves light distribution adaptation through electronic dimming and selective activation of different LED modules, thereby reducing mechanical and optical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention achieves different light distribution characteristics by changing the electrical parameters (current intensity) of existing LED modules rather than adding optical elements. By adjusting the drive current to each module, the system can modify light output patterns without requiring additional optical components, thus maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If multiple LED modules with different orientations are used to achieve desired light distribution, then uniform road illumination can be obtained, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of road illuminationVSAvoidLED module arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement of LED modules with different orientations (some facing forward, some facing sideways) to achieve uniform road illumination. This asymmetric configuration allows different modules to contribute to different areas of the road, with forward-facing modules illuminating the longitudinal direction and sideways-facing modules illuminating lateral areas, creating uniform overall illumination while maintaining a relatively simple modular structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention divides the lighting system into multiple independent LED modules, each responsible for a specific lighting zone. By segmenting the overall illumination task into discrete modules with specific orientations, the system achieves uniform road coverage through coordinated operation of simple individual units rather than requiring a single complex lighting assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If the position of the lamp is changed with respect to the reflector, then light distribution can be adapted, but the range of adaptation is limited and utilization factor remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution adaptationVSAvoidutilization factor
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment of lamp position relative to a reflector with electronic control of multiple LED modules. Instead of physically moving the light source to change distribution patterns, the system uses electronic dimming and selective activation of different LED modules to achieve the same effect, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical repositioning and maintaining optimal energy utilization at all times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements dynamic control of light distribution through electronic adjustment of LED module intensities rather than static mechanical repositioning. Each LED module can be independently controlled in real-time, allowing the system to dynamically adapt light distribution to match changing road lighting requirements while maintaining high energy utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution allows for efficient and adaptable light distribution, ensuring uniform road illumination with high utilization of light sources, reducing complexity and the need for multiple optical components, and enabling adjustments based on changing conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a primary optics formed by a lens (10), wherein that lens (10) comprises a light entry region formed by a cavity (15)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

said lens (10) provides a symmetric light distribution in a first direction (C90-C270) and an asymmetric light distribution in a second direction (C0-C180)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3470730B1Lighting unit and luminaire for road and/or street lighting
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 ZG LIGHTING FRANCE SAS
  • EP3470730B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3470730B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7
  • EP3470730B1 patent drawingFigure 8a~10

AI summary

A lighting unit for use in a luminaire (100), in particular in a luminaire for road and/or street lighting, comprises an LED light source (30) and a primary optics formed by a lens (10), wherein said lens (10) comprises a light entry region formed by a cavity (15), at least a light emitting portion of the LED light source (30) being arranged within said cavity (15), and wherein the size of the cavity (15) of the lens (10) exceeds the size of the LED light source (30) allowing multiple positioning of the LED light source (30) within the cavity (15).