Light Guide With Conical Elements For Uniform Luminance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light guides suffer from non-uniform luminance distribution, enlarged illuminating angles, and light leakage, which hinder their application in various lighting devices due to the inefficiencies in deflecting and guiding light rays from light sources.

Innovation Solution

A light guide featuring a body with a plurality of light guiding elements arranged on a deflecting portion, each element having a conical surface and a bottom face connected to the deflecting portion, which increases light receiving probability and reduces light leakage by controlling the light output angles and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional light guides with planar deflecting surfaces are used, then the structure is simple, but the luminance distribution is non-uniform and the illuminating angle is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance distribution uniformityVSAvoiddeflecting portion structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deflecting portion is segmented into multiple independent light guiding elements (conical structures) arranged in an array. Each element has a specific orientation and conical angle, dividing the light deflection function into discrete units that can be independently optimized to achieve uniform luminance distribution across the light emitting portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different light guiding elements are assigned different local properties, specifically different conical angles and orientations, according to their position in the array. Elements closer to the light source have different characteristics than those farther away, creating a gradient structure that compensates for the natural light intensity decay and achieves uniform luminance distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional light guides are used, then the structure is simple, but light leakage occurs at the lateral sides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight guiding efficiencyVSAvoidbody structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light guiding elements are designed with conical (curved) surfaces instead of planar surfaces. The conical geometry provides gradual light redirection and better confines light rays within the body, reducing light leakage at the lateral sides while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Illumination intensity

If conventional light guides are used, then the illuminating angle is large, but light rays can be emitted in multiple directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight output directionalityVSAvoidlight output angle control
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each light guiding element is oriented at a specific local angle relative to the light source, creating a controlled distribution of light output directions. By carefully designing the orientation and conical angle of each element, the overall light output is concentrated within a specific angular range, achieving directional control while maintaining ease of operation.

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 enhances uniform luminance distribution, reduces the illuminating angle of the light emitting portion, and minimizes light leakage, thereby improving the light guiding efficiency and adaptability of the light guide for different lighting applications.

Implementation Method 1

The curved face is a conical surface or a part of the conical surface... the apex of the conical surface faces a light emitting portion opposite to the deflecting portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The body includes a first end face... a light emitting portion, a deflecting portion... The plurality of light guiding elements is arranged on the deflecting portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2829897B1Light guide
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 LEE IN OK
  • EP2829897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2829897B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2829897B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A light guide includes a body (1) transmittable to light and a plurality of light guiding elements (2). The body (1) includes a first end face (11) on an end thereof. The body (1) further includes a light emitting portion (12), a deflecting portion (13), and two lateral sides (14, 15). The light emitting portion (12) and the deflecting portion (13) are opposite to each other. Each of the two lateral sides (14, 15) is connected to the light emitting portion (12) and the deflecting portion (13). The first end face (11) is connected to the deflecting portion (13) and each of the two lateral sides (14, 15). Each light guiding element (2) includes a curved face (21). The curved face (21) is a conical surface or a part of the conical surface. The curved face (21) is coupled to the deflecting portion (13). The light guiding elements (2) can be arranged on the deflecting portion (13) in one or more rows to control the light output directions and to reduce the illuminating angle.