Lighting Device Hole Geometry for Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices using LED point light sources suffer from low light extraction efficiency due to the emission of light beams in directions other than the intended path, leading to wasted light and uneven illuminance.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring a point light source, a light guide body with branching units, and a connecting member with a hole that widens from the point light source to the light guide body, where the hole's side surface is inclined to reflect and direct off-axis light beams onto the light guide's reflecting surface, ensuring that both direct and off-axis light are utilized effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional light guide body is used with an LED point light source, then the lighting device can be compact and simple in structure, but the light extraction efficiency is low due to light beams emitted in directions other than the intended path leaking outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the connecting member with the specifically shaped hole) between the point light source and the light guide body. This intermediary structure serves as a mediator that captures off-axis light beams and redirects them into the light guide body, preventing light loss while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by designing the hole in the connecting member with specific geometric characteristics (elliptical cross-section, inclined side surface) that transform the three-dimensional light emission pattern of the point source into a controlled two-dimensional light distribution that enters the light guide body efficiently.
2Loss of energy
If the hole in the connecting member is made wider to capture more off-axis light, then light extraction efficiency improves, but the structure becomes more complex and may cause uneven illuminance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform hole structure with specific geometric characteristics (elliptical cross-section, inclined side surface) that locally transforms the light distribution. The hole's specific shape is designed to capture off-axis light while maintaining uniform illuminance, demonstrating that localized geometric optimization can simultaneously achieve multiple objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by carefully designing the hole's geometric parameters (eccentricity, inclination angle, cross-sectional shape) to optimize the balance between light extraction efficiency and illuminance uniformity. The specific parameter values are selected to achieve the desired optical performance.
3Loss of energy
If the hole's side surface is inclined to reflect off-axis light onto the light guide body, then light extraction efficiency improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the hole with an elliptical cross-section and inclined side surface, using curved and angled geometries to achieve the desired light reflection and redirection. The curved surface of the ellipse and the inclined plane work together to capture and redirect off-axis light efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by designing the hole with an elliptical cross-section rather than a circular one, and by inclining the side surface at a specific angle. This asymmetric geometry is specifically tailored to match the light emission characteristics of the point source and the requirements of the light guide body, optimizing light extraction while managing manufacturing complexity.
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 design enhances light extraction efficiency and reduces uneven illuminance by ensuring that all emitted light is directed into the light guide body, resulting in improved illuminance distribution and reduced light loss.
Implementation Method 1
the hole's side surface is inclined to reflect and direct off-axis light beams onto the light guide's reflecting surface
Implementation Method 2
a light guide body which emits light from the point light source in a linear manner
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device includes: a point light source; a light guide body which emits light from the point light source in a linear manner; and a connecting member provided on an end on a side of the point light source of the light guide body, wherein the light guide body includes a plurality of rods and a branching unit which branches an entering light beam, the connecting member includes a hole penetrating the connecting member, and the hole becomes wider toward the light guide body and a side surface of the hole inclines with respect to an extending direction of the rods such that a portion in which the light beam reflected by the side surface to enter the light guide body is concentrated on the reflecting surface and a portion in which the light beam is concentrated on the reflecting surface are not overlapped with other.