Low-Angle Surface Lighting Device Reducing Light Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional roadway lighting systems, including overhead lights, are inefficient as they absorb a significant amount of light, leading to inadequate illumination of surfaces and often require larger or more LEDs to compensate, while existing reflectors are not designed to illuminate surfaces effectively without directing light into oncoming traffic.
Innovation Solution
A LED-based lighting device with a housing that includes primary and secondary optics, a power generating element, and an ambient light sensor, designed to emit light at a low angle away from oncoming traffic, reducing absorption and enhancing surface illumination while being easy to install and self-powered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If overhead lighting devices are used to illuminate roadways, then the roadways can be illuminated, but the majority of light emitted is absorbed by the roadway and fails to efficiently illuminate the intended objects
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device changes the illumination dimension from vertical (overhead) to horizontal (surface-level), positioning the light source at the surface rather than above it, so light travels along the surface rather than downward into it, reducing absorption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of lighting the roadway from above (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by placing the light source at the surface level, illuminating the roadway from below/alongside rather than from above, fundamentally reversing the illumination geometry
2Illumination intensity
If larger LEDs or an increased amount of LEDs are used to provide sufficient illumination, then the illumination can be sufficient, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from vertical to horizontal illumination geometry, the light distribution pattern changes, allowing for more efficient light utilization across the roadway surface, thereby reducing the total number of LEDs needed
3Illumination intensity
If roadway reflectors are designed to illuminate surfaces, then surface illumination can be provided, but light may be emitted into oncoming traffic causing glare
Solution Approach 1:
The housing and optic assembly creates localized illumination zones that are directed specifically at the roadway surface and adjacent areas, while the geometry and positioning prevent light from entering oncoming traffic lanes, providing local quality control over light distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure and optic assembly act as intermediaries that control and shape the light path, directing light toward the intended surface while blocking or redirecting light that would otherwise enter oncoming traffic, serving as a mediator between the light source and the environment
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 efficient and targeted illumination of thoroughfare surfaces with reduced light absorption, allowing for smaller LED usage and lower energy consumption, while preventing glare for oncoming traffic.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting device may include a photovoltaic device
Implementation Method 2
The first light source may include a light emitting diode (LED)
Implementation Method 3
The first primary optic may direct light outward and in a direction of the taper in the first sidewall. Light emitted from the first light source may be directed through the first primary optic within a range from about parallel to a face of the first primary optic in the direction of the proximal face to skew from the face of the first primary optic to about perpendicular to the face of the first primary optic
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device includes a housing attached to a thoroughfare surface. The housing may have a top surface, a proximal face, a distal face, and first and second opposing sidewalls extending between the proximal face and the distal face and extending downwardly from the top surface. The lighting device may further include a first primary optic that may be carried by the housing adjacent the first sidewall that may define a first optical chamber. The lighting device may also further include a first light source that may be positioned within the first optical chamber and may be carried by the housing adjacent the first sidewall. The first sidewall may taper in a direction of the distal face. The first primary optic may be configured to direct light outward and in a direction of the taper in the first sidewall.