Lighting Fixture Visor and Reflector Design for Aerial Illumination
Solution Overview
Problem
Wide area lighting systems face challenges in providing adequate aerial illumination while controlling glare and spill light, often resulting in insufficient illumination of aerial spaces, which affects playability and safety in sports lighting and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A lighting fixture design featuring a shortened visor and a highly reflective louver system that redirects a controlled amount of light upward for aerial illumination, maintaining glare and spill control while minimizing impact on target illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional symmetrical bowl-shaped reflectors with centered HID lamps are used, then adequate aerial illumination is provided, but glare and spill light are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using an asymmetrical reflector design instead of conventional symmetrical bowl-shaped reflectors. The reflector has a first portion and a second portion with different geometries to selectively direct light. The asymmetrical design allows light to be redirected away from glare-prone areas while maintaining aerial illumination, resolving the contradiction between providing adequate aerial light and controlling glare/spill.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the reflector into distinct portions (first portion and second portion) with different functions. The first portion is optimized for directing light to reduce glare and spill, while the second portion maintains aerial illumination. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region to address both requirements simultaneously.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If glare and spill light control methods are applied, then glare and spill restrictions are met, but aerial illumination becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different optical properties to different portions of the reflector. The first portion has characteristics optimized for glare and spill control, while the second portion has characteristics optimized for aerial illumination. This localized differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function effectively, meeting both glare restrictions and aerial illumination requirements.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If light is attenuated to meet glare and spill requirements, then glare control is improved, but playability is affected due to insufficient aerial illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts what would normally be harmful glare and spill light into beneficial aerial illumination. The asymmetrical reflector design redirects light that would otherwise create glare or spill to instead provide useful illumination in aerial spaces. This transforms the harmful factors into a benefit that enhances playability while maintaining glare control.
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 provides consistent and effective aerial illumination with reduced glare and spill light, enhancing playability and safety by maintaining sufficient light levels at higher elevations without significant loss of intensity at the target area.
Implementation Method 1
A lighting fixture design featuring a shortened visor and a highly reflective louver system that redirects a controlled amount of light upward for aerial illumination
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method, and system to provide, as one example, up-light for aerial viewing from downwardly aimed wide area, high intensity, lighting fixtures. The method controls a small percentage of light from the fixture to pass up and away for up-light, with the remainder used to produce a controlled, concentrated beam to a target. Some embodiments include a substantial amount of glare and spill light control. An apparatus can include a lamp and fixture with a visor length that is shorter than most conventional spill and glare control visors. The visor allows a controlled, relatively small percentage of direct light from the fixture for a desired or needed level of aerial illumination, but efficiently directs other light to the target. Optionally, a reflective plate is positioned inside the visor to reflect a small percentage of light from the fixture upwardly for up-light. Another embodiment can shift a fraction of light in direction(s) different than the main light output of the fixture.