Lighting Module with Wide-Beam Optical Component and Reflector

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting modules face challenges in achieving a wide radiation characteristic with high efficiency, often resulting in poor thermal management due to the close arrangement of LED modules and limited beam angles, which can lead to reduced efficiency and service life of optical components.

Innovation Solution

A lighting module design featuring a light source, an optical component with a wide beam emission characteristic, and a reflector, where the optical component directs at least 30% of the incident light onto the reflector, and multiple sets of light sources with differently oriented optical components share a common reflector, allowing for a wide beam radiation pattern while maintaining a compact structure and reducing thermal stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a narrow emission characteristic or sharp light/dark transitions are required, then high technical effort and efficiency losses occur, but good image sharpness is achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage sharpnessVSAvoidefficiency loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting module segments the optical system into distinct functional components: a light source, a wide-beam optical component, and a separate reflector. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the optical component handles wide beam distribution while the reflector creates sharp light/dark transitions, avoiding the efficiency losses associated with forcing a single component to perform multiple functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reflector acts as an intermediary element between the wide-beam optical component and the final light output. It receives the wide beam radiation and redirects it to create sharp transitions, mediating between the wide emission characteristic and the sharp image requirements without causing excessive efficiency loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If LED modules are arranged closely or chip packing is increased, then compact structure is achieved, but thermal management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule compactnessVSAvoidthermal management
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the thermal management function from the optical component by positioning it at a distance from the light source. This separation removes the optical component from the high-temperature zone near the LED, allowing compact overall design while protecting the optical element from thermal damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reflector serves as a thermal intermediary, positioned between the light source and the optical component. It allows the optical component to be located closer to the light source than would otherwise be safe, while the reflector blocks direct thermal exposure, mediating the thermal environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of stationary object

If optical component is placed close to light source, then compact design is achieved, but optical component damage from luminous flux density occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance between optics and light sourceVSAvoidoptical component service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the optical component from the high-luminous-flux-density zone by positioning it at a controlled distance from the light source. This separation protects the optical component from damage while maintaining compact overall module design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reflector provides beforehand cushioning by blocking and redirecting excessive luminous flux before it can reach and damage the optical component. This protective arrangement is built into the module design from the outset, preventing optical component degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Shape

If conventional lenses are used for narrow beam angles, then narrow beam radiation is achieved, but efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam angleVSAvoidradiation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a conventional lens to narrow the beam directly (which is inefficient), the invention inverts the approach: it uses a wide-beam optical component to create wide beam radiation, then uses a reflector to shape and redirect the light into a narrow beam pattern. This inverted sequence achieves narrow beam angles with high efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the dimensional approach to beam control by separating the wide-beam generation function from the narrow-beam shaping function. The optical component operates in one dimensional regime (wide beam), while the reflector operates in another (redirecting to narrow beam), achieving efficient narrow beam radiation through this dimensional transition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 achieves a wide beam radiation characteristic with high efficiency, enabling sharp light/dark transitions and improved thermal management, suitable for applications like signaling, street lighting, and automotive lighting, while extending the service life of optical components.

Implementation Method 1

The optical component is designed and arranged to have a wide beam emission characteristic and to direct a major portion of the light incident on the optical component from the light source onto the reflector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the optical component is designed and arranged to have a wide beam emission characteristic and to direct a major portion of the light incident on the optical component from the light source onto the reflector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2250428B1Lighting module, lamp and lighting method
Publication Date: 2014.11.26 OSRAM OPTO SEMICON GMBH & CO OHG
  • EP2250428B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2250428B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2250428B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting module (1) comprising at least one light source (7), at least one optical component (2) arranged at a distance to the at least one light source and at least one reflector (3). The optical component is designed and arranged to have wide-range emission characteristics and to direct a major part of the light that is incident from the light source onto the optical component to the reflector.