Light Guide With Optical Diverter And Channel Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guides that modify light distribution patterns often suffer from direct light propagation paths causing glare and light attenuation due to roughened surfaces, which are undesirable in applications requiring lateral light directionality.
Innovation Solution
A light guide comprising a transparent element with an optical diverter section and an optical channel section, featuring reflective and penetrable surfaces that provide total reflections to direct light laterally, eliminating direct propagation paths and allowing the light source to be positioned apart from the diverter section, thereby reducing glare and maintaining light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a roughened wall is used in the groove to provide scattered light penetration, then light distribution is improved, but light attenuation occurs and light intensity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the roughened wall feature from the groove structure entirely. Instead of using a roughened surface to scatter light, the invention uses a smooth-walled groove that directs light through a separate penetrable surface, eliminating the source of light attenuation while maintaining effective light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate penetrable surface as an intermediary element between the groove and the external environment. This penetrable surface controls light penetration independently from the groove structure, allowing light to be directed laterally without the attenuation caused by roughened surfaces.
2Illumination intensity
If direct light propagation paths are allowed from light source to lateral directions, then light distribution is simplified, but glare is caused and light intensity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the groove structure with smooth walls as an intermediary element between the light source and lateral directions. This groove acts as a light guide that redirects light away from direct propagation paths to lateral directions, eliminating glare while maintaining effective light distribution through the penetrable surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical light propagation paths with an optical guiding mechanism. Instead of allowing direct light to travel from the source to lateral directions, the groove structure uses total internal reflection to guide light along a controlled path, substituting direct propagation with a mediated optical path.
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 effectively eliminates direct light propagation paths, reducing glare and ensuring efficient light distribution in desired directions while maintaining light intensity, making it suitable for applications requiring lateral light directionality.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more reflective surface being shaped to provide total reflections for directing light into directions lateral with respect to a direction in which the notch extends into the diverter section
Implementation Method 2
The optical channel section comprises a side surface shaped to provide total reflections for directing, towards the optical diverter section, at least a part of light falling to the side surface
Implementation Method 3
A light guide according to the invention comprises a transparent element made of transparent material having the refractive index greater than unity
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide (201) including a transparent element is presented. The transparent element includes an optical diverter section (204) including one or more reflective surfaces (205) forming walls of a notch (206) extending into the diverter section, where the reflective surfaces provide total reflections for directing light into directions lateral with respect to an arrival direction of the light. The transparent element includes an optical channel section (208) for receiving the light from a light source and for directing the light to the optical diverter section. The optical channel section includes a side surface (209) shaped to provide total reflections for directing light to the optical diverter section. The optical channel section makes it possible to place the light source a distance apart from the optical diverter section and also to prevent or at least to reduce direct propagation of light from the light source to the lateral directions.