Light Guiding Member Segmentation for Illuminated Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating illuminated surfaces using LEDs or laser light guides suffer from high manufacturing costs and inefficiencies due to light leakage and absorption, particularly in signage and decorative applications.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting arrangement featuring a solid body with a light guiding member having discrete outcoupling and non-outcoupling regions, where the light guiding member is partially embedded, allowing light to be coupled in at multiple sites and emitted at various points along its length, reducing light loss and enabling versatile illumination patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are arranged in a desired pattern on or beneath the surface to be illuminated, then the surface can be illuminated, but very large numbers of LEDs are required which adds to manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The light guiding member is segmented into multiple discrete outcoupling regions distributed along its longitudinal direction. Each region can independently outcouple light to specific areas of the surface, replacing the need for numerous individual LEDs with a single integrated light guide that provides distributed illumination through its segmented structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding member acts as an intermediary between the light source and the surface to be illuminated. It receives light at incoupling regions and transports it through total internal reflection to multiple outcoupling regions, efficiently distributing light across the surface without requiring direct placement of multiple light sources.
2Illumination intensity
If laser light is coupled into a light guide to illuminate a surface, then illumination is provided, but efficiency is reduced due to leakage of light from the light guide and absorption of light by the surface material
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light guiding member have different optical properties: incoupling regions are designed to efficiently receive and couple light into the guide, while outcoupling regions are specifically designed to extract light at desired locations. This localized functional differentiation minimizes unwanted light leakage and optimizes light delivery to the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameters are optimized at different locations along the light guide. The incoupling regions have parameters optimized for light entry, while outcoupling regions have parameters optimized for light extraction. This parameter variation along the longitudinal direction enables efficient light management and reduces overall light loss.
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 solution provides efficient and versatile illumination with minimal light loss, allowing for uniform and adaptable lighting patterns on surfaces, reducing manufacturing costs and improving light intensity distribution.
Implementation Method 1
Light emitted by the solid state light source can thus be coupled into the light guiding member via the light incoupling region, propagate through the light guiding member by total internal reflection, according to Snell's law, and subsequently be outcoupled at the outcoupling regions
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting arrangement (100, 200, 300) is provided, comprising: —a body (10) of solid material having a surface (11); —a light guiding member (101, 110) partially embedded into said body, having a plurality of discrete light outcoupling regions (103) comprising light outcoupling means (230, 730, 830, 930) distributed along a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member, and a plurality of discrete, non-outcoupling regions (102) distributed along a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member, wherein said plurality of light non-outcoupling regions of the light guiding member are embedded by said body and said plurality of light outcoupling regions of the light guiding member are exposed on the surface of said body, wherein said non-outcoupling regions (102) form light incoupling regions comprising light incoupling means (220, 320, 420, 520, 620); and —a plurality of solid state light sources (12) embedded within said body (10) of solid material arranged to emit light towards said light incoupling regions. The light emitting arrangement provides a body with an illuminated surface, and the plurality of light outcoupling regions enables efficient lighting, with no or little loss of light.