Optically Coupled LED Luminaire for Directional and Diffuse Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting systems require multiple luminaires and inefficient halogen lamps to provide both directional and diffuse light, leading to complexity, cost, and glare issues due to high-intensity light contrasts.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire design that optically couples directional and nondirectional light-emitting elements with a single LED light source, using waveguides to emit both directional and diffuse light efficiently, reducing glare and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional approaches use independently illuminating directional and diffuse light-emitting surfaces with two or more different luminaires, then both directional and diffuse light can be provided, but device complexity and cost increase due to discrete lighting sources and driving circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lighting functions (directional and diffuse) into a single luminaire housing. The housing contains both a directional light-emitting surface and a diffuse light-emitting surface that can be independently controlled. This merging approach eliminates the need for multiple separate luminaires while maintaining the ability to provide both types of lighting simultaneously or independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire housing is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple lighting functions through a single device. The housing itself can emit both directional and diffuse light, and can also serve as a reflector or diffuser for light from separate sources. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity while maintaining lighting versatility.
2Illumination intensity
If halogen lamps are configured to emit diffuse light backward for aesthetic purposes, then ambient light can be provided, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to low lumens/W ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from halogen lamp technology to LED technology, representing a fundamental parameter change in the light source. LEDs provide significantly higher lumens per watt efficiency while enabling precise control over light direction and distribution. This parameter change allows the system to achieve the same ambient lighting effect with much lower energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into distinct functional components: a directional light-emitting surface and a diffuse light-emitting surface. This segmentation allows independent control of each surface, enabling the diffuse surface to provide ambient light only when needed, rather than continuously operating inefficient halogen lamps. The segmented approach optimizes energy usage by activating only the necessary lighting functions.
3Illumination intensity
If high-intensity light is directed toward specific work areas, then functional illumination is improved, but glare increases due to stark contrast between light-emitting surface and surrounding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diffuse light-emitting surface as an intermediary element between the high-intensity directional light source and the surrounding environment. This diffuse surface acts as a mediator that softens the transition from bright to dark areas, reducing the stark contrast that causes glare. The diffuse surface can be independently controlled to provide ambient illumination that complements the directional lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire housing is designed with different local qualities: a directional light-emitting surface optimized for focused illumination and a diffuse light-emitting surface optimized for ambient illumination. Each surface has tailored optical properties suited to its specific function. The housing itself can be configured with reflective or diffusive characteristics in different zones to control light distribution and minimize glare in specific areas.
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 enables efficient, cost-effective, and aesthetically improved lighting by using a single LED source for both directional and diffuse light, reducing glare and system complexity while maintaining control over light direction and color.
Implementation Method 1
at least one directional light-emitting element optically coupled to the at least one LED light source to receive at least a portion of the light rays
Implementation Method 2
at least one waveguide optically coupled to the at least one LED light source to receive at least a portion of the light rays
Implementation Method 3
being configured to emit directional light from the luminaire
Implementation Method 4
at least one nondirectional light-emitting element optically coupled to the at least one waveguide and being configured to emit non-directional light
Data Source
AI summary
An LED luminaire comprising: at least one directional light-emitting element configured to emit directional light from the luminaire; at least one nondirectional light-emitting element configured to emit non-directional light from the luminaire, the at least one nondirectional light-emitting element being optically coupled to the at least one directional light-emitting element; and at least one LED light source for emitting light and being optically coupled to at least one of the at least one directional light-emitting element or the at least one nondirectional light-emitting element.