LED Illuminator Sheet with Microlens Array for Dynamic Light Field Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current commercial lighting systems are inefficient, static, and lack flexibility, leading to wasted energy and inadequate light distribution, with existing solutions failing to provide customizable, low-glare, and spectrally optimized illumination.
Innovation Solution
A digitally-controlled LED illuminator sheet using a microlens array and computer-controlled LEDs to create dynamic far-field illumination patterns, allowing for precise light direction and intensity modulation, with the ability to tailor spectral power distribution and integrate sensors for improved efficiency and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional SSL sources are used, then illumination coverage is provided, but the system becomes thick, heavy, and requires expensive installation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional monolithic SSL source into discrete LED chips mounted on a thin substrate. Each LED chip is individually positioned and controlled, allowing the system to maintain illumination coverage while reducing overall thickness and weight. The segmented approach enables flexible arrangement of light-emitting elements on a lightweight substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin flexible substrate to mount LED chips, replacing the thick rigid housing of traditional SSL sources. This thin-film approach allows the lighting system to be lightweight and adaptable to various surfaces while maintaining effective illumination through precise LED positioning and optical design.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional SSL sources are used, then illumination is provided, but the system requires large thermal cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light source into individual LED chips mounted on a thin substrate, the patent distributes heat generation across multiple small, spaced-apart elements rather than a concentrated source. This segmentation facilitates heat dissipation through the substrate and reduces the need for large thermal management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the traditional SSL source housing by using a thin substrate that naturally dissipates heat from individual LED chips. The design separates the illumination function from the thermal management function, allowing heat to be managed at the chip level rather than requiring a bulky cooling system for the entire assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If thin light sheets are used, then placement flexibility is improved, but the system lacks dynamic light direction control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by individually addressing and controlling each LED chip through separate electrical connections. This allows the system to dynamically adjust which LEDs are active, their intensity levels, and their timing, enabling flexible light direction control and dynamic illumination patterns while maintaining the thin, adaptable form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic light direction control by independently varying the operational parameters (intensity, timing, activation state) of individual LED chips. Through digital control of each LED's emission parameters, the system can dynamically steer light distribution and create different illumination patterns without physical movement of the entire fixture.
4Ease of manufacture
If existing thin light sheets are used, then placement is simplified, but sensor integration is not allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal thin substrate platform that can accommodate multiple functions: mounting LED chips for illumination, integrating sensors for environmental sensing, and providing electrical connections for control. This multi-functional substrate enables both simplified placement and sensor integration within a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the illumination function (LED chips) and sensing function (sensors) into a single integrated thin-sheet assembly. Both LEDs and sensors are mounted on the same substrate and controlled through a unified electronic system, allowing the lighting device to simultaneously provide illumination and environmental sensing capabilities.
5Area of stationary object
If commercial lighting systems provide flood illumination, then area coverage is achieved, but energy is wasted in areas that do not need light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination area into discrete zones corresponding to individual LED chips or groups of LEDs. This segmentation allows selective activation of only those LED segments that correspond to areas requiring illumination, eliminating energy waste in unoccupied or adequately lit areas while maintaining comprehensive coverage capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by allowing different regions of the lighting system to have different operational states. Individual LED chips or groups can be activated or deactivated based on local requirements, enabling the system to provide appropriate illumination levels in different areas simultaneously and reduce overall energy consumption.
6Illumination intensity
If traditional SSL sources are used, then illumination is provided, but customization is limited to strut layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible thin substrate to mount LED chips, allowing the lighting system to be customized to fit various surfaces and geometries. The thin-film substrate can be bent, shaped, and positioned to match different architectural features, replacing the rigid strut-based layouts of traditional SSL sources with adaptable custom configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
By using individually addressable LED chips on a flexible substrate, the patent enables granular customization of illumination patterns and device geometry. Each LED chip can be positioned at custom locations, and the substrate itself can be shaped to match desired forms, providing far greater customization flexibility than traditional strut-based SSL installations.
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 achieves high light application efficiency by delivering light precisely where needed, reducing glare, and providing customizable, spectrally optimized illumination with improved thermal management and reduced energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
A dynamic directional solid-state lighting sheet that utilizes LEDs (or other kinds of solid-state light sources) positioned under each lenslet of a microlens array. Individual LED beam pointing direction depends on off-axis position relative to optical axis of lenslet.
Data Source
AI summary
A digitally controlled LED illuminator sheet that produces far-field illumination patterns or light field distributions that increase light utilization and application efficiency. A dynamic directional LEDs (or other kinds of solid-state light sources) sheet is positioned under each lenslet of a microlens array. Individual LED beam pointing direction depends on off-axis position relative to optical axis of lenslet. Individual beams from independent LEDs form illumination pixels at the illumination plane or within a volume space and can be modulated in intensity. Illumination pixels partially overlap in far-field illumination plane and illumination volume. Over a large illumination space many illumination pixels will partially superimposed on neighboring illumination pixels, with the overlap being in increments smaller than the size of a pixel. The LEDs can be digitally turned on or off and/or pulse width or amplitude modulated to produce far-field illumination patterns or light field distributions with spectral efficiency and efficacious intensity.