Light Guiding Lens Reflecting Cuts for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination devices with light guiding lenses suffer from luminance unevenness and reduced luminous flux utilization efficiency due to direct light entry and air gaps between light guiding and emission portions, respectively.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device incorporates a light guiding lens with multiple plate-shaped emission and guiding portions, featuring reflecting cuts and inclined configurations to internally reflect light, preventing direct entry and enhancing light distribution to the opposite end, thus improving luminance uniformity and flux efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the light guiding portion is integrally connected to the light guiding lens, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but luminance unevenness occurs because light directly enters the light guiding lens near the end face
Solution Approach 1:
A light shielding portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the light guiding portion and the light guiding lens. This shielding portion blocks direct light entry into the lens while allowing guided light to reach the opposite end, thereby eliminating luminance unevenness without complicating the overall structure
2Illumination intensity
If a gap (air layer) is provided between the light guiding portion and the light guiding lens, then luminance unevenness is suppressed by facilitating light guiding to the opposite tip end, but luminous flux is lost when light enters the lens via the air gap
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding portion serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for an air gap while still achieving uniform light distribution. By strategically positioning the shielding portion, light is guided to the opposite end without direct entry into the lens, maintaining both luminance uniformity and luminous flux efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The light shielding portion is selectively positioned only at specific locations where it is needed to block direct light entry, while other areas maintain full light transmission. This localized approach ensures uniform luminance distribution without causing unnecessary luminous flux loss
3Illumination intensity
If the light guiding portion projects beyond the light guiding lens, then light can be effectively guided to the opposite end, but the light source positioning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding portion acts as a mediator that simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for a projecting light guiding portion. The shielding portion blocks direct light paths while allowing guided light to reach the opposite end, achieving effective light guiding without complex positioning requirements
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
This configuration effectively suppresses luminance unevenness and maintains high luminous flux utilization efficiency by guiding light uniformly along the surface of the light guiding lens, enhancing both luminance and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a light guiding lens (3) configured to receive light emitted from the light source (2) and guide the light to project light along a surface of the light guiding lens (3)... a first light emission portion (41) in a plate shape that extends in a predetermined direction and has a main surface with a plurality of reflecting cuts (41a) formed therein
Implementation Method 2
The first light guiding portion (51) can be configured to project only on a side of the main surface of the first light emission portion (41) in the thickness direction... The other end face of the first light guiding portion (51) can include a reflecting face that can internally reflect light
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device can include a light source; and a light guiding lens for receiving light from the light source. The light guiding lens includes a light emission portion that extends in a predetermined direction and has a main surface with reflecting cuts, and a light guiding portion provided to the light emission portion at an end portion thereof in the predetermined direction. The light guiding portion is configured to project more than the light emission portion in a thickness direction of the light emission portion and extend along the end portion of the light emission portion. The light source is disposed to face to an end face of the light guiding portion in an extending direction of the light guiding portion, the end face projecting more than the light emission portion. An end face of the light guiding portion has reflecting cuts arranged in the extending direction.