Recycling Reflector for LED Light Output

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED illumination systems face challenges in achieving high brightness within a limited space and economically, as increasing light output through multiple light sources or large lenses is technologically or economically impractical.

Innovation Solution

The use of a recycling reflector with a curved surface that reflects emitted light back to the LED elements, either through a transmissive aperture or an LED array arranged symmetrically about the center, to increase light output efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple light sources are added to increase brightness, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers light that would otherwise be lost by using a recycling reflector to redirect stray light from LED elements back through the transmissive aperture, thereby increasing brightness without adding more light sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The recycling reflector acts as an intermediary component that captures and redirects light between the LED elements and the transmissive aperture, improving light output without requiring additional light sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If larger lenses are used to collect more light, then light output is improved, but manufacturing cost and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using larger lenses to collect more light, the patent recovers light that would otherwise be lost by redirecting it with a recycling reflector, achieving improved light output without requiring larger or more complex lenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than trying to collect more light at the source with larger lenses, the patent inverts the approach by capturing and redirecting light that would otherwise escape, thereby improving light output through a different optical path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Illumination intensity

If more LED elements are integrated in limited space, then brightness is improved, but space constraints make it technologically impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers stray light from existing LED elements using a recycling reflector, effectively increasing the light output from the same emitting area without requiring additional LED elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The recycling reflector creates a continuous light path by redirecting stray light back through the transmissive aperture, ensuring that light from existing LED elements is utilized more efficiently without requiring additional emitting elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This approach results in a substantial improvement in light throughput, increasing brightness by recovering lost light and allowing for a more economical and efficient method to enhance light output in LED illumination systems.

Implementation Method 1

The recycling reflector has a curved surface adapted to reflect the impinging light back to the LED element for improved light output through the transmissive aperture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8979308B2LED illumination system with recycled light

Publication Date: 2015.03.17

AI summary

An LED illumination system includes at least one LED element and a recycling reflector having a transmissive aperture through which emitted light passes. The recycling reflector has a curved surface adapted to reflect the impinging light back to the LED element for improved light output through the transmissive aperture.