LED Matrix Lighting Device with Oblique Refraction for Uniform Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LED lighting devices used in continuous manufacturing processes, such as paper and cardboard machines, often fail to provide uniform illumination due to space constraints, resulting in non-uniform brightness across the illuminated surface, which affects the quality of images captured by cameras monitoring the moving web.

Innovation Solution

An LED matrix lighting device with a collimating lens and a light refracting element that refracts light at different angles for each LED, allowing individual control of current to each LED to ensure even luminous intensity across the illumination pattern, combined with a data processing device for adjusting current based on detected intensity deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If LED lighting device is mounted perpendicular to the paper web, then uniform illumination pattern can be provided, but space constraints prevent mounting above or under the moving web

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of illumination patternVSAvoidspace available for mounting lighting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mounting dimension from perpendicular (above/below) to oblique (side mounting at 30-60 degrees angle), allowing the lighting device to be positioned in available side space while still illuminating the web surface effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies individual current control to each LED or groups of LEDs to compensate for non-uniform illumination caused by oblique mounting, creating uniform brightness across the illuminated area through localized adjustment of lighting parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If LED lighting device is mounted at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees to the paper web, then space constraints are satisfied, but illumination pattern becomes non-uniform with different brightness in different parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace available for mounting lighting deviceVSAvoiduniformity of illumination pattern
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls current individually or in groups for each LED based on its position in the matrix, compensating for the non-uniform illumination pattern caused by oblique mounting by adjusting local brightness to achieve overall uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses captured images to detect intensity deviations in the illumination pattern and uses this feedback to adjust current provided to individual LEDs or groups, automatically correcting non-uniformity in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If very short shutter speed times are used to capture images of the moving web, then motion blur is reduced, but image quality becomes significantly dependent on illumination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshutter speed timeVSAvoiddependency of image quality on illumination
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the illumination parameter from fixed intensity to dynamically adjustable intensity for each LED, allowing optimization of light output to match the requirements of short shutter speed photography and ensuring sufficient illumination for high-speed capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures uniform illumination intensity across the entire surface, improving the quality of images captured by cameras and enhancing the detection of deviations in the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

a collimating lens in front of each LED for collimating light of the LED

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCollimation: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a light refracting element in front of collimating lenses arranged to refract light of at least a first part of the LEDs with a different refraction angle than at least a second part of the LEDs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4062094B1An LED matrix lighting device
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 PROCEMEX
  • EP4062094B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP4062094B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4062094B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The invention relates to an LED matrix lighting device (20) for illuminating a lighting pattern with even intensity. The LED matrix lighting device comprises a plurality of LEDs (22), a collimating lens (23) in front of each LED (22) for collimating light of the LED (22), and a light refracting element (24) in front of collimating lenses (23) arranged to refract light of at least a first part of the LEDs (22) with a different refraction angle than at least a second part of the LEDs (22). The invention further relates to a machine vision system, a method, and a computer program product.