LED Luminaire Optical Waveguide Light Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor luminaires for large areas, such as parking lots, face challenges in efficiently distributing light while minimizing glare and maintaining a uniform appearance, and are often inefficient due to losses in coupling light from LEDs into waveguides.

Innovation Solution

The luminaire design incorporates multiple optical waveguides disposed in a closed path with angled configurations and optimized extraction features, using coupling and extraction elements to direct and extract light efficiently, reducing glare and enhancing light distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional outdoor luminaires are used to illuminate large areas, then sufficient lighting coverage is achieved, but glare is excessive and light distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidglare

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire is divided into multiple separate light sources (LEDs) arranged in an array, with each LED contributing to the overall illumination. This segmentation allows for better control of light distribution patterns and reduces concentrated glare spots that would occur with a single high-intensity source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each LED in the array has its own optical characteristics and emission pattern tailored to contribute uniformly to the overall illumination. The local quality of each light source is optimized to emit in specific directions and intensities that, when combined, create uniform overall illumination while minimizing glare in any single direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If optical waveguides are used to distribute light, then light distribution is improved, but coupling losses from LEDs to waveguides increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution efficiencyVSAvoidcoupling loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the intermediate waveguide component entirely, extracting the light distribution function directly from the LED array. By removing the waveguide, the coupling losses between LEDs and waveguides are eliminated, while the LED array itself provides sufficient light distribution capability for the application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If traditional luminaire designs are used, then structural strength is adequate, but weight is excessive and ease of installation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidluminaire weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire employs a thin-film or lightweight structural design that maintains adequate structural strength while significantly reducing overall weight. This allows the luminaire to be easily installed and positioned while still providing the mechanical strength needed for outdoor mounting and weather resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If heavy-duty construction is used to withstand outdoor forces, then reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire utilizes composite material construction that combines lightweight components with protective coatings or treatments. This approach achieves the required weather resistance and structural reliability without requiring heavy-duty construction, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing overall complexity while maintaining outdoor durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 efficient light distribution with reduced glare and improved uniformity, achieving high lumen output with minimal material usage and cost, suitable for large area lighting applications.

Implementation Method 1

A parking structure light includes a housing and an optical waveguide disposed on the housing. The optical waveguide includes a light input surface, a light output surface, and a light distributing portion having light extracting features.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The coupling element has a first refractive index that is different from a second refractive index of the light distributing portion of the optical waveguide.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS10379278B2Outdoor and/or enclosed structure LED luminaire outdoor and/or enclosed structure LED luminaire having outward illumination

Publication Date: 2019.08.13 IDEAL IND LIGHTING LLC

AI summary

A luminaire for use in lighting a large open space such as a parking lot or deck of a parking garage includes a plurality of optical waveguides disposed in side-by-side relationship and together defining a closed path and at least one LED associated with each optical waveguide and disposed at a first end of the associated optical waveguide.