Light Engine with Distributed Remote Phosphors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light engines face challenges in efficiently illuminating large areas with uniform lighting patterns, as they often suffer from high efficiency losses and uneven illumination due to the difficulty in controlling the spatial distribution of surface features on light guides.
Innovation Solution
A light engine design incorporating a light source, a light guide, and a plurality of extraction optical elements with phosphors, where the extraction efficiency is controllable, allowing for precise tuning of luminance distribution, using diffractive or refractive optical elements and phosphors to achieve desired color characteristics and omni-directional lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple LED chips are used to illuminate large area, then the lighting coverage is improved, but the cost increases due to large number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light extraction function into multiple discrete optical elements (lens arrays, diffusers, reflectors) positioned at specific locations within a single light guide structure. This allows large area illumination to be achieved by distributing light extraction across multiple segments rather than using multiple complete light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple optical elements (lens arrays, diffusers, reflectors) within a single light guide structure. These nested optical components work together to distribute light from one source across a large area, replacing the need for multiple separate LED chips.
2Area of stationary object
If light guide with multiple surface features is used to spread light, then the lighting pattern coverage is improved, but the extraction efficiency decreases with more than 20% loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical characteristics to different regions of the light guide by positioning specific optical elements (lens arrays with varying focal lengths, diffusers with different scattering properties, reflectors with varying reflectivity) at different locations. This local optimization of optical properties maximizes extraction efficiency at each position while maintaining overall large area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies optical parameters (refractive index, focal length, scattering angle, reflectivity) of the embedded optical elements to optimize light extraction efficiency at different positions along the light guide, thereby reducing total energy loss while achieving broad area illumination.
3Area of stationary object
If surface features are added to light guide to create lighting pattern, then the area coverage is improved, but the luminance uniformity deteriorates due to uncontrolled extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical elements with precisely controlled local optical properties (lens arrays with specific focal lengths, diffusers with controlled scattering angles, reflectors with defined reflectivity) to regulate light extraction at each position. This enables accurate control of luminance distribution across the entire lighting surface, achieving uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates optical elements designed to provide feedback control of light extraction, where the optical design inherently compensates for variations in light propagation to maintain uniform luminance distribution across the lighting surface.
4Loss of energy
If extraction optical elements are placed on light guide surface, then the light extraction efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (focusing, diffusing, reflecting) into an integrated light guide structure with embedded optical elements. This merging of functions into a single unified device achieves high extraction efficiency without the complexity of multiple separate optical components or systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: light transmission, light extraction, color conversion (via phosphors), and luminance distribution control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high extraction efficiency.
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 enables highly efficient, tunable, and uniform lighting patterns with controlled luminance distribution and color characteristics, suitable for various applications including general lighting, displays, and signage, by optimizing the extraction efficiency and beam angle of light through the use of diffractive and refractive optical elements and phosphors.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide receives the light
Implementation Method 2
The extraction optical elements extract at least a portion of the light out of the light guide
Implementation Method 3
The phosphors are disposed on top of at least some of the extraction optical elements
Data Source
AI summary
There is herein described a light engine that emits a light. The light engine includes a light source, a light guide, a plurality of extraction optical elements, and a plurality of phosphors. The light guide receives the light. The extraction optical elements are on the surface of the light guide. The extraction optical elements extract at least a portion of the light out of the light guide. The phosphors are disposed on top of at least some of the extraction optical elements.