Light Emitting Device Sparkling Elements Glare Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Directional light emitting devices often cause discomfort due to glare from bright regions outside the intended beam, especially with sharp intensity cut-offs, which can lead to sudden transitions in brightness and discomfort for observers.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a plurality of sparkling elements in the optical path of the light emitting device, arranged to be visible from secondary directions, which reduces glare and provides a warning for observers of impending increased brightness, thereby alleviating discomfort and the 'smack' effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a sharp intensity cut-off is used in directional light emitting devices, then the peak intensity in the first direction is maximized, but the observer experiences sudden brightness transitions and discomfort when entering the beam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak intensityVSAvoidglare and discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sparkling elements that create preliminary visual warnings before the observer enters the high-intensity beam. These elements produce scattered light spots that alert the observer to approaching brightness, allowing gradual adaptation before encountering the full peak intensity, thus resolving the sudden transition problem while maintaining the sharp cut-off for beam focus

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sparkling elements are added to reduce glare, then the perceived brightness of unwanted regions is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidoptical path elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sparkling elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they scatter light to reduce glare from bright regions, create aesthetic visual effects, and provide preliminary warnings to observers. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of elements to the optical path, as they address multiple problems with a single feature rather than requiring separate solutions for each issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 addition of sparkling elements minimizes glare and discomfort by reducing the perceived brightness of unwanted bright regions, allowing observers to adapt to higher brightness levels before entering the beam's intense area, while maintaining a sharp intensity cut-off.

Implementation Method 1

If the intensity distribution is not sharply cut-off, for instance by scattering or uncontrolled reflections inside the optics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

asymmetrically reflecting particles, lenslet arrays, prismatic structures and reflector facets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3948065B1A light emitting device
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3948065B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3948065B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3948065B1 patent drawingFigure 8~13

AI summary

A light emitting device (1) comprising a light exit surface (41) and at least one light source (5) configured to, in operation, emit light, wherein the light emitting device is configured to provide a light output at the light exit surface (41), the light output comprising at least one peak intensity in a first direction (A) and an intensity cut-off in at least one second direction (B), where the intensity in the at least one second direction (B) is less than 10 % of the peak intensity in the first direction (A), and wherein the light emitting device (1) comprises a plurality of sparkling elements (6) arranged in the optical path of at least a part of the light emitted by the at least one light source (5), at least two sparkling elements of the plurality of sparkling elements (6) being configured and arranged to be visible when observed from a viewing position corresponding to the at least one second direction (B).