Light Guide Plate Deflection Structures for Compact Luminaire Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backlit lighting arrangements struggle to achieve a flat luminaire design while maintaining homogeneous light emission, requiring a minimum distance between light sources and diffuser plates, which increases space requirements and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light guide with two flat sides connected via a circumferential end face, featuring depressions that act as deflection structures to redirect light orthogonally, allowing for efficient light mixing and distribution over a large area without the need for a defined distance between light sources and diffuser plates, thus enabling a compact luminaire design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a backlit arrangement with distributed light sources and a diffuser plate is used, then light can be emitted onto the diffuser plate, but a defined minimum distance must be maintained between light sources and diffuser plate to ensure sufficient light mixing, which increases space requirements and prevents flat luminaire design
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a vertical light path (backlit arrangement requiring distance) to a lateral light path within the light guide plate. Light is coupled into the light guide plate from the side and distributed through the plate's thickness and area, eliminating the need for vertical spacing between light sources and diffuser plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary medium that receives light laterally from light sources and redistributes it uniformly across its surface. This mediator enables homogeneous light emission without requiring direct vertical spacing between light sources and the emitting surface.
2Illumination intensity
If the pitch between individual light sources is reduced to achieve higher light diffusion, then light distribution improves, but the number of light sources must be increased, which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented with multiple recesses at different heights and positions. Each recess serves as an independent light coupling zone, allowing light to be introduced at multiple discrete locations and then distributed uniformly throughout the plate, achieving high diffusion without increasing the total number of light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate have different recess height configurations. Some recesses have greater depth than others, creating localized variations in light coupling efficiency and distribution patterns. This non-uniform local structure optimizes overall light diffusion while minimizing the number of light sources required.
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 good light mixing and a low overall height of the luminaire while maintaining high efficiency, as light is distributed homogeneously across the light guide without air gaps, enhancing the luminaire's compactness and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The light typically propagates through the light guide plate by total internal reflection, distributing itself evenly and then being emitted to the outside over a large area
Implementation Method 2
featuring depressions that act as deflection structures to redirect light orthogonally, allowing for efficient light mixing and distribution
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2(a)~2(e)
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical fiber (10) comprising two planar sides (11, 12) connected to each other via a circumferential end face (13), wherein at least one of the planar sides (11, 12) has a plurality of recesses (14) extending towards the other planar side (12, 11), wherein each recess (14) viewed in a lateral cross-sectional view of the optical fiber (10) has two flanks (140, 141) extending at least partially transversely to the area of the planar side (11, 12) having the recess (14) and converging towards each other, in order to deflect light incident on one of the planar sides (11, 12) laterally in the direction of the extension of the optical fiber (10) or of the optical fiber section (15) surrounding the recess (14), in order to distribute the deflected light planarly in the optical fiber (10) or in the optical fiber section (15). to be distributed by means of total internal reflection.The invention further relates to a lamp with the optical fiber (10) according to the invention.