Luminaire With Segmented Channels For Electronic Beam Width Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional luminaires with mechanical zoom mechanisms face challenges such as difficulty in sealing against dust and water ingress, require significant space, and have suboptimal light distribution due to mechanical adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A luminaire with a sequence of channels producing light cones of progressively greater or smaller opening angles, where the intensity of each channel is controlled electronically using an actuator, allowing for smooth transitions in light distribution without mechanical movement, enabling optimal light distribution independent of zoom settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mechanical zoom mechanism is used to change the distance between light source and collimator, then the light distribution width can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and sealing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution width adjustmentVSAvoidmechanical zoom mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire is divided into multiple independent channels, each with its own light source and collimator fixed at optimal distance. Each channel produces light cones with different opening angles, allowing electronic mixing to achieve variable light distribution without mechanical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical zoom mechanism is replaced with an electronic control system that adjusts the intensity of each channel independently. This substitution eliminates moving parts, simplifying the device and improving sealability while maintaining the ability to vary light distribution width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a mechanical zoom mechanism is used, then the light distribution can be changed, but the space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution width adjustmentVSAvoidluminaire housing space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adjusting the distance between light source and collimator in one dimension (mechanical zoom), the invention uses multiple channels with different opening angles and electronically mixes their intensities. This transitions the problem from spatial adjustment to intensity modulation in a different control dimension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical zoom is used to adjust light distribution, then the beam width can be changed, but the handling force required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam width adjustmentVSAvoidhandling effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous, smooth adjustment of light distribution by dynamically controlling the intensity of each channel through electronic means, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and associated handling forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical zoom is used, then the light distribution width can be adjusted, but the light distribution quality becomes suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution width adjustmentVSAvoidlight distribution quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each channel is pre-configured with its light source and collimator at the optimal fixed distance for that channel's specific opening angle. This preliminary optimization ensures that each channel produces the best possible light distribution for its designated angle, and electronic mixing combines these optimized outputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12038152B2Luminaire

Publication Date: 2024.07.16 LEDLENSER GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

Luminaire with channels Kn, each have a light source and a collimator. Each channel produces a light cone having different opening angles. The channels form a sequence (Kn)n−1, . . . ,N, the light cones having progressively greater or smaller opening angles αn. The intensity ln(x) of the channels, controlled by a manipulated variable x by an actuator, are dependent on the manipulated variable and each follow a curve having a maximum and a rising edge and/or a falling edge. The curves of adjacent channels Kn−1, Kn, Kn+1 are shifted in relation to one another such that a reduction in the intensity of a channel, controlled by the actuator, is associated with an increase in the intensity of an adjacent channel Kn±1 and an increase in intensity of a channel, controlled by the actuator, is associated with a reduction in intensity of an adjacent channel Kn±1.