Light Fixture Lens Total Internal Reflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting fixtures often require reflectors to direct light effectively, which can be bulky and consume more power, whereas they lack efficient solutions for achieving uniform light distribution and minimizing glare.

Innovation Solution

A light fixture design featuring a housing with a support surface and a lens having a refractor portion with an inner surface oriented at an angle for total internal reflection, eliminating the need for a reflector and providing focused, uniform light distribution through a lens extending over the light-emitting element, such as LEDs, which are oriented parallel to the fixture's longitudinal axis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a reflector is used to direct light effectively, then light distribution is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distributionVSAvoidfixture structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the reflector component from the lighting fixture and replaces it with a lens that utilizes total internal reflection. This extraction of the reflector simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective light distribution through the lens mechanism alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical reflector system with an optical lens system that achieves light directionality through total internal reflection. This substitution eliminates the need for separate reflector components and reduces both structural complexity and power consumption while maintaining illumination effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Illumination intensity

If a reflector is used to direct light effectively, then light distribution is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distributionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Illumination intensity

If conventional lighting fixtures are used, then light emission is achieved, but glare and non-uniform light distribution occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emissionVSAvoidglare

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a specific local quality to the lens inner surface by orienting it at a precise angle to enable total internal reflection. This localized angular configuration ensures that light is directed uniformly in the desired direction while minimizing glare, creating uniform illumination without the harmful effects of conventional fixtures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 efficient light distribution along a linear path, reducing power consumption and minimizing glare, while maintaining a compact fixture design that mimics natural light sources like skylights, providing desired illuminance with lower power usage.

Implementation Method 1

The inner surface is oriented at an angle such that the light generated by the light-emitting element exhibits total internal reflection within the lens until the light reaches the outer surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10948161B2Light fixture

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 HUBBELL LIGHTING INC

AI summary

A light fixture includes a housing, a light-emitting element, and a lens extending over the light-emitting element. The housing includes a support surface, and the light-emitting element is coupled to the support surface. The lens includes a refractor portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is positioned proximate the light-emitting element. The inner surface is oriented at an angle such that the light generated by the light-emitting element exhibits total internal reflection within the lens until the light reaches the outer surface.