LED Lighting Device Frame Structure for Optical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting devices face challenges in precisely aligning optical components, such as light guides, with respect to light emitting elements, particularly in matrix LED arrangements used in vehicular applications, where precise alignment is crucial for optimizing light distribution and minimizing glare.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design that incorporates a frame structure mounted to a base structure, such as a printed circuit board, to securely align optical elements laterally and vertically with respect to light emitting elements, using spacer elements and alignment openings to ensure precise positioning and stability, allowing for close proximity of optical elements to the LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If optical components are placed in close proximity to LEDs to maximize light direction onto the road, then light coupling efficiency is improved, but lateral alignment precision requirements increase and become more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary optical component between the LED and the road surface. This light guide serves as a mediator that captures light from the LED and redirects it, allowing the system to achieve both close proximity placement for efficient light coupling and manageable alignment requirements through the light guide's optical properties and geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from relying solely on precise lateral alignment in the horizontal plane to utilizing vertical positioning and optical design in the third dimension. By placing the light guide in close vertical proximity to the LED and designing its optical path, the system achieves effective light direction without requiring extremely precise lateral alignment, thus resolving the contradiction between close proximity placement and alignment precision
2Productivity
If support elements are soldered onto substrate using surface-mount technology for rapid manufacturing, then manufacturing speed is improved, but subsequent precise alignment of optical components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary alignment actions during the PCB manufacturing process itself, incorporating alignment features and positioning structures into the base structure before optical components are mounted. This preliminary preparation enables both rapid surface-mount manufacturing and subsequent precise alignment of optical components, as the alignment infrastructure is already in place
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces alignment structures and positioning features as intermediary elements between the PCB and optical components. These intermediaries facilitate both the rapid mounting process and the precise alignment requirement, acting as a bridge that reconciles the speed of surface-mount technology with the precision needed for optical component positioning
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the invention a lighting device (100) is provided, comprising: a base structure (110); at least one light emitting element (120) arranged on the base structure (110); at least one optical element (130) assigned to the at least one light emitting element (120); a frame structure (140) configured to define at least a lateral position of the at least one optical element (130) relative to the at least one light emitting element (120); wherein the frame structure (140) is mounted to the base structure (110) and configured to support the at least one optical element (130) at least in lateral alignment with the at least one light emitting element (120).