LED Signal Light Tilted Optical Axis Reduces Phantom Light
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED signal lights in rail traffic face issues with phantom light, which affects their visibility and safety, particularly under strict test requirements, and previous solutions compromise compactness and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The optical axis of light-receiving and bundling components is tilted to homogenize and collimate light, reducing phantom light effects by ±3 to 8 degrees, while allowing for redundant and separately controllable LEDs of different colors, enabling a compact, versatile, and fail-safe universal LED signal light design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If external shields and internal baffles are installed to reduce phantom light effects, then phantom light reduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the circuit board from the light housing entirely, eliminating the source of phantom light reflections. This approach avoids the need for additional shields and baffles, thereby reducing device complexity while still effectively reducing phantom light effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the LEDs and optical components such that the circuit board is located in an area not exposed to incoming light before the light reaches the optical path. This preliminary positioning prevents phantom light from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need for corrective shielding measures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If circuit boards are positioned deep within the light housing to reduce phantom light, then phantom light reduction is improved, but device compactness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is extracted from the light housing and positioned separately in an area not exposed to incoming light. This eliminates the need to deepen the housing to accommodate the circuit board, maintaining compactness while preventing phantom light reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the circuit board deeper within the housing (z-dimension), the patent relocates it to a different spatial arrangement where it is not in the light path. This dimensional repositioning maintains housing compactness while achieving phantom light reduction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If known phantom light reduction measures are applied, then phantom light effects are reduced, but effectiveness under stringent test requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By completely removing the circuit board from the light housing, the patent eliminates the primary source of phantom light reflections. This radical extraction approach provides superior phantom light reduction compared to incremental measures like shields and baffles, ensuring compliance with stringent test requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary design arrangements where LEDs and optical components are positioned to prevent incoming light from reaching the circuit board. This proactive prevention ensures reliable phantom light reduction under all test conditions, including oblique lighting angles.
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 significantly reduces phantom light effects, enhances compactness, and allows for various application scenarios, meeting stringent user requirements while ensuring high reliability and flexibility in signal light generation.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical component (16) having sections (18) for receiving and focusing the light emitted by each LED (14)
Implementation Method 2
a cuboid section integrally formed on the sections (18) for receiving and focusing, for homogenizing the light
Implementation Method 3
a second optical element (22) which has a section for collimating the homogenized light emerging from the first optical element
Implementation Method 4
a retaining disk (20) having a dual function with regard to holding the first optical element (16) and preventing phantom light reflections
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
LED signal lamp (10) particularly for rail transport with a number of LEDs (14) and a number of optical components (16, 22) with sections for receiving and focusing the light emitted by the LEDs during operation, homogenizing the received and focused light, collimating the homogenized light and scattering the homogenized light to achieve a luminous intensity distribution specified with respect to a predefined main emission direction (32), wherein the optical axis (30) of the sections for receiving and focusing, homogenizing and collimating the light emitted by the LEDs in the intended mounting state of the signal lamp (10) deviates by an angle of about ± 3 to 8 degrees, preferably about 5 to 6 degrees vertically from the main emission direction (32).