LED Assembly Refractor Light Directionality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED lighting solutions, particularly in direction lighting applications like street lighting, are inefficient in directing light towards the intended area due to high costs and suboptimal use of optical, electronic, and thermal efficiencies, with existing Total Internal Reflection (TIR) solutions not effectively addressing these issues.
Innovation Solution
An LED assembly incorporating a reflector within the void between the lens and the LED, along with an optical element shaped to bend light in a preferred direction, is used to enhance light directionality and efficiency by reflecting non-preferred light back towards the desired area, potentially using both a reflector and optical element in combination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If TIR lenses are used to direct house-side light toward the street, then light directionality is improved, but optical efficiency remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical control function into multiple components: a TIR lens for primary light direction and additional optical elements (reflectors, prisms, or secondary lenses) positioned at specific locations to capture and redirect house-side light. This segmentation allows each component to optimize a specific aspect of light control, improving overall optical efficiency while maintaining directionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary optical elements between the LED and the environment - specifically reflectors positioned in the housing and additional lens elements that act as mediators to capture stray light and redirect it toward the street. These intermediaries recover light that would otherwise be lost, converting harmful stray illumination into useful directed light and improving optical efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If LEDs are used for street lighting, then energy consumption is reduced, but cost per lumen remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: the refractive indices of lens materials, the geometric parameters of optical elements (curvature radii, positions, angles), and the arrangement configuration to maximize light extraction efficiency and directional control. By carefully tuning these parameters, the system achieves higher lumen output from the same LED input, effectively reducing cost per lumen while maintaining low energy consumption.
3Productivity
If light is directed only toward the street, then illumination efficiency improves, but light control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs optical elements that perform multiple functions simultaneously: the primary TIR lens both shapes the main beam and controls house-side light; additional reflectors and optical elements serve both to redirect stray light and to maintain beam uniformity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, controlling complexity while improving illumination efficiency through integrated optical design.
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 configuration increases the efficiency of LED lighting by ensuring that generated light is directed towards the target area, improving the overall performance and reducing wastage of light in non-preferred directions.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction
Implementation Method 2
an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction
Data Source
AI summary
An LED assembly that includes optics and optical arrangements for light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction. In other embodiments, an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction. In some embodiments, both a reflector and optical element are provided in the LED assembly to control the directionality of the emitted light. Such embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of an LED by ensuring that generated light is being directed to the target area of choice.