LED Optical Element with Extending Part for Wide Angle Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

LEDs have a narrow lighting range due to their high directivity, making them less suitable for long-distance lighting and increasing power consumption when multiple LEDs are used to compensate, which also raises the cost and reduces the appeal of LED lamps compared to traditional light sources.

Innovation Solution

An optical element with an extending part that guides light from the circumference of the top surface, allowing for refraction or reflection to increase the light-emitting angle, and adjustable included angles between the light-emitting and bottom surfaces to customize luminous intensity distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple LEDs are assembled and arranged to centralize light, then the lighting range is improved, but the power consumption is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting rangeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element is divided into multiple functional regions: a light incident surface for receiving LED light, a light guiding portion with light guiding strips that extend from the circumference of the top surface to guide light, and a light emitting surface. This segmentation allows different parts to perform specialized functions for optimizing light distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical element acts as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the target illumination area. It receives light from the LED, guides it through the light guiding strips, and emits it through the light emitting surface, thereby expanding the lighting range without requiring multiple LEDs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If multiple LEDs are assembled and arranged to centralize light, then the lighting range is improved, but the cost is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting rangeVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element performs multiple functions within a single component: it guides light from the LED, controls light distribution through the light guiding strips, and emits light through the light emitting surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate LEDs, reducing both cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the light guiding function and light emitting function into a single integrated optical element. The light guiding strips and light emitting surface are formed as one piece, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs compared to using multiple separate LED components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If the light guiding strips are extended from the circumference of the top surface, then the light-emitting angle is enlarged, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-emitting angleVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light guiding strips extend from the circumference of the top surface in curved or angled configurations rather than straight lines. This curvature allows the light to be redirected at various angles, enlarging the light-emitting angle while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guiding strips utilize three-dimensional spatial arrangement by extending from the circumference of the top surface at various heights and angles. This dimensional approach allows light to be guided and emitted at multiple angles simultaneously, enlarging the effective light-emitting angle without adding excessive structural complexity.

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

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 optical element effectively enlarges the light-emitting angle and enhances uniformity, allowing for broader and more customizable lighting applications while potentially reducing energy consumption and costs.

Implementation Method 1

the light can be refracted by the extending part or reflected to the light-emitting surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the light can be refracted by the extending part or reflected to the light-emitting surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2541298B1Optical element and illuminant device using the same
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 CHUN KUANG OPTICS CORP
  • EP2541298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2541298B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2541298B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An optical element (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) is assembled to a light emitting diode (LED) (90) to form an illuminative light source. The optical element (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) includes a transparent main body (11,21,31,41,51,61) having a light guiding pillar (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62) and an extending part (14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64). The light guiding pillar (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62) has a top surface (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620) and a bottom surface (122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having a recess (124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624). The extending part (14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64) is extended from the circumference of the top surface (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620) and an end of the extending part (14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64) has at least a light-emitting surface (140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640). Wherein the LED (90) is disposed on the recess (124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) and emits light to the optical element (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60). The extending part (14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64) guides the light and enlarges the light-emitting angle.