LED Lighting Device with Integrated Electrodes and Light Guide Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED-based lighting devices are thick and costly due to the use of dedicated PCBs or wiring boards for connecting LEDs, which also require additional components like heat sinks.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design that uses a light guide plate with LEDs and out-coupling structures, where electrodes on both sides of the plate provide electrical isolation and act as heat spreaders, eliminating the need for a dedicated PCB and heat sink, and allowing for parallel LED connections to ensure reliability and efficient light extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated PCB or wiring board is used to connect LEDs, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the device thickness increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical connection function and mechanical support function into the light guide plate itself. The light guide plate is designed with integrated electrode structures that directly connect to the LEDs, eliminating the need for a separate PCB. This consolidation reduces the overall device thickness while maintaining reliable electrical connections through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light, provides mechanical support, and acts as an electrical connection component through its integrated electrodes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated PCB structures, thereby reducing device thickness while maintaining connection reliability.
2Reliability
If a dedicated PCB or wiring board is used to connect LEDs, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the light guide plate, including light guidance, mechanical support, and electrical connection. This integration eliminates the need for separate PCB components, reducing the total part count and assembly steps, which directly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining connection reliability through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is designed as a multi-functional component that performs light guidance, structural support, and electrical connection functions. This universality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs while ensuring reliable electrical connections through the integrated electrode structures.
3Temperature
If additional heat sink components are used for thermal management, then the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates heat dissipation functionality into the existing light guide plate and electrode structures. The electrodes are designed to act as heat spreaders, utilizing their inherent thermal conductivity to dissipate heat from the LEDs. This integration eliminates the need for separate heat sink components, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions: electrical connection, structural support, and heat dissipation. By making the electrodes multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated heat sink components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective heat management through the electrodes' inherent thermal properties.
4Temperature
If additional heat sink components are used for thermal management, then the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines heat dissipation functionality with the existing light guide plate and electrode structures. The electrodes are designed to serve as heat spreaders, utilizing their inherent thermal conductivity to dissipate heat from the LEDs. This integration eliminates the need for separate heat sink components, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions including electrical connection, structural support, and heat dissipation. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and assembly steps, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining effective thermal management through the electrodes' inherent thermal properties.
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 reduces the thickness and cost of the lighting device while ensuring efficient light distribution and heat management, with the electrodes also serving as a shield to prevent glare and allow for mechanical fixation without additional attachment means.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of LEDs for emitting light into the light guide plate, and a plurality of out-coupling structures adapted to extract light from the light guide plate
Implementation Method 2
first and second electrodes connected to the LEDs, wherein the first electrode is arranged at one side of the light guide plate and the second electrode is arranged at the other side of the light guide plate
Implementation Method 3
the electrodes can be used as a heat spreader on both sides of the light guide plate, thereby removing the need for any dedicated heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) lighting device (10). The device comprises a light guide plate (12), a plurality of LEDs (14) for emitting light into the light guide plate, a plurality of out-coupling structures (20) adapted to extract light from the light guide plate, and first and second electrodes (22, 24) connected to the LEDs. The first electrode is arranged at one side (28) of the light guide plate and the second electrode is arranged at the other side (30) of the light guide plate. Such a lighting device may have a reduced thickness.