LED Light Fixture Waveguide Substrate Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waveguide troffers rely on reflectors and backing plates that absorb light, reducing optical efficiency and obscuring the underlying substrate's design, which limits their aesthetic appeal and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design eliminates reflectors and backing plates, using a waveguide that optically couples directly to a substrate, allowing light to be reflected back and enhancing the substrate's visibility and light output, with a transparent diffuser to direct light downwards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If reflectors and backing plates are used in conventional waveguide troffers, then light can be directed downward, but optical efficiency is reduced due to light absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reflector and backing plate components from the conventional waveguide troffer structure. By extracting these light-absorbing elements, the system eliminates the associated optical efficiency losses while maintaining downward light directionality through the waveguide's inherent optical coupling to the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide is designed to optically couple directly to the substrate, allowing the substrate itself to serve the function previously performed by separate reflectors and backing plates. The substrate reflects light back into the waveguide without requiring additional dedicated reflective components.
2Illumination intensity
If reflectors and backing plates are used in conventional waveguide troffers, then light can be directed downward, but the substrate's design is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the opaque backing plate and reflector assembly, the patent eliminates the visual barrier that obscured the substrate's design. The waveguide's transparent or translucent properties allow the substrate's aesthetic features to be visible both when illuminated and when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide utilizes optical properties (transparency, translucency) to control light passage while maintaining visual transparency. This allows the system to direct light functionally while preserving the aesthetic visibility of the substrate, effectively using optical properties to achieve both照明 and aesthetic goals.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional waveguide troffers use reflectors and backing plates, then light can be directed downward, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the device structure by removing multiple separate components (reflector, backing plate, and their associated mounting hardware) and replacing them with a single integrated waveguide-substrate optical coupling interface. This reduces assembly complexity and the number of parts while maintaining optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide is designed to directly optically couple to the substrate, merging the functions of light guidance, light reflection, and structural support into a single integrated interface. This eliminates the need for separate reflector and backing plate assemblies, simplifying the overall device architecture.
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 improves optical efficiency by 2-8% and maintains the substrate's design visibility, providing a unique aesthetic and efficient lighting solution.
Implementation Method 1
the waveguide configured to emit a first portion of the light above the rear surface for reflection by the surface of the substrate back into the waveguide and through the front surface of the waveguide
Implementation Method 2
at least one LED light source disposed on an edge of the waveguide to emit light into the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
LED-based light fixtures are presented that are configured for attachment to a substrate to advantageously function without a reflector and without a backing plate. A light fixture according to an embodiment includes a waveguide having a front surface and a rear surface for emitting light, the waveguide configured to optically couple to a surface of a substrate. The light fixture also includes at least one LED light source disposed on an edge of the waveguide to emit light into the waveguide. The waveguide is configured to emit a first portion of the light above the rear surface for reflection by the surface of the substrate back into the waveguide and through the front surface of the waveguide, and to emit a second portion of the light through the front surface.