Linear Light Fixture Gap Filler for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Troffer-style lighting fixtures face challenges in managing heat generated by high power LEDs, especially in modern structures with limited plenum space, where the temperature is warmer than the room environment, making it difficult for heat to escape effectively.
Innovation Solution
A linear light fixture design featuring an elongated base with end panels, a removably attached light engine comprising a mount plate with light sources and an elongated lens, and a gap filler element made of light-transmissive material to fill gaps between the light engine and end panels, ensuring continuous appearance and preventing direct imaging of light sources, along with optional external reflectors to shape the output beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heat dissipation is improved by extending fixture elements into the plenum, then thermal management is enhanced, but the fixture structure becomes more complex and requires more plenum space
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is divided into modular components including a base, light engine, and separate gap filler elements. This segmentation allows the heat dissipation structure to be optimized independently while maintaining overall fixture functionality, resolving the contradiction between thermal management requirements and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Gap filler elements serve as intermediary components between the light engine and end panels. These elements provide thermal management benefits by extending into the plenum space while maintaining a simple overall fixture structure, as the gap fillers can be easily installed and removed without complicating the main fixture design
2Illumination intensity
If gap filler elements are added to eliminate direct imaging of light sources, then appearance uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gap filler elements are designed as simple, inexpensive components that can be easily manufactured and installed. Rather than integrating complex optical systems into the main fixture, the patent uses simple gap fillers filled with diffuse reflective material to achieve uniform lighting appearance, minimizing device complexity while improving illumination 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 design effectively manages heat dissipation, eliminates direct imaging of light sources, and provides a uniform lighting output, enhancing the efficiency and appearance of LED-based troffer-style fixtures while accommodating varying lens lengths and improving thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
The gap filler elements are filled with a diffuse reflective material and shaped to reflect light and eliminate any direct imaging of light sources outside the fixture
Implementation Method 2
A gap filler element is between the light engine and the end panels at an end of the fixture, made of light-transmissive material
Data Source
AI summary
A linear light fixture with gap filler elements. The fixture comprises two primary structural components: a base and a light engine, which may be removably attached. The base comprises a body with end panels at both ends and is mountable to an external structure. The light engine comprises the light sources, an elongated lens, and any other optical elements that tailor the outgoing light to a particular profile. A gap filler element is disposed between the light engine and the end panels at one or both ends of the base to fill the space between those elements, giving the appearance that the light engine extends continuously to the end panel and eliminating direct imaging of the light sources outside the fixture. External reflectors may also be included to further shape the output beam.