Light Source Guiding Device with Refracting and Reflecting Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical lenses for LED light sources face challenges in efficiently and uniformly projecting light beams onto a receiving surface, particularly in forming a rectangular illuminance distribution, due to the complexity of nonlinear partial differential equations and asymmetrical light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A light source guiding device comprising a light source refracting unit and a light source reflecting unit, which together form overlapping rectangular light spots with enhanced illuminance and uniformity, using a simpler first-order two-dimensional nonlinear ordinary differential equation, and incorporating a light source shielding or side refracting unit to prevent light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical lens is used to project light beam onto a light-receiving surface, then the device structure is simple, but the illuminance uniformity and rectangular light spot quality are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into two independent units: a refracting unit and a reflecting unit. Each unit processes a different portion of the light beam from the LED source, with the refracting unit handling one half and the reflecting unit handling the other half. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently for producing high-quality rectangular light spots with uniform illuminance, while together they cover the entire light beam effectively.
2Shape
If an asymmetric light distribution lens is used to form a rectangular light spot, then the light distribution becomes asymmetric, but the illuminance uniformity deteriorates and hot spots appear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately employs asymmetric optical surfaces in both the refracting and reflecting units. The refracting unit has an asymmetric outer surface, and the reflecting unit has an asymmetric reflective surface, both designed to redirect asymmetric portions of the LED light beam into symmetric rectangular light spots. This controlled asymmetry in the optical components enables the formation of rectangular light spots with uniform illuminance distribution, preventing hot spots while achieving the desired shape.
3Length of moving object
If the LED light source is positioned close to the light-receiving surface to achieve short projection distance, then the projection distance is reduced, but light leakage and hot spots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The light beam from the LED is segmented into two distinct paths: one path goes through the refracting unit and the other path goes through the reflecting unit. This segmentation allows for better control of light trajectories, enabling the system to maintain a short projection distance while preventing light leakage through coordinated design of both optical units. The reflective unit particularly helps in capturing and redirecting light that would otherwise leak.
4Manufacturing precision
If a complex nonlinear partial differential equation is solved to design the optical surface, then the illuminance uniformity can be improved, but the design and manufacturing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The complex optical design problem is segmented into two separate, simpler design tasks: designing the refracting unit with its specific surface profile and designing the reflecting unit with its reflective surface profile. Each unit can be designed and optimized independently using relatively simple mathematical models, avoiding the need to solve complex nonlinear partial differential equations for a single monolithic optical component. This segmentation significantly reduces design and manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired illuminance uniformity.
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 creates an asymmetric rectangular light spot with improved brightness and uniformity on the receiving surface, eliminating light leakage areas and avoiding hot spots, while simplifying the differential equation solution process compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
an inner surface of the light source refracting unit receives a part of a light beam emitted by a light source of a light-emitting diode, and a geometric shape of an outer surface of the light source refracting unit projects the part of the light beam on a light-receiving surface
Implementation Method 2
the light source reflecting unit reflects another part of the light beam emitted by the light source by using a geometric shape of a side facing the light source to form another rectangular light spot
Data Source
AI summary
A light source guiding device comprises a light source refracting unit and a light source reflecting unit. The light source refracting unit receives a part of a light beam emitted by a light source, and the light source refracting unit utilizes geometric shapes disposed on inner and outer surfaces to form a rectangular light spot on a light-receiving surface by the part of the light beam. The light source reflecting unit receives another part of the light beam emitted by the light source, and the light source reflecting unit reflects the other part of the light beam emitted by the light source to form another rectangular light spot by using geometric shapes disposed on its surface, and the two rectangular light spots are overlapped with each other to enhance an illuminance of the rectangular light spot.