Patterned Luminescent Conformal Coating for LED Light Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED pattern devices appear as a series of dots of light, which can be misinterpreted and are not aesthetically pleasing, limiting their usefulness and attractiveness due to the inherent point-source nature of individual LEDs.
Innovation Solution
A flexible lighting device is designed with multiple light-emitting elements arranged beneath a luminescent conformal layer, where the first conformal layer is doped with a luminescent material to diffuse light, making it appear to come from a diffuse area rather than individual points, while the second conformal layer is not doped to allow direct light passage without diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If multiple LEDs are placed together to form patterns, then the lighting device can display recognizable patterns, but the pattern appears as discrete dots of light rather than a contiguous shape
Solution Approach 1:
A luminescent conformal layer is introduced as an intermediary between the LEDs and the observer. This layer diffuses the point-source light from individual LEDs, transforming the discrete dot pattern into a contiguous illuminated shape that reveals the underlying pattern without showing individual light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The conformal layer is applied with varying local properties - different thicknesses and luminescent material concentrations in different regions. This allows certain areas to diffuse light more than others, enabling the revelation of specific patterns while maintaining overall contiguity of the light display.
2Illumination intensity
If a conformal luminescent layer is added to diffuse light, then the pattern becomes contiguous and aesthetically pleasing, but the device structure and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conformal layer's optical properties are controlled by varying parameters such as luminescent material concentration and layer thickness across different regions. This allows precise control over light diffusion characteristics to achieve uniform illumination and pattern revelation while managing structural complexity.
3Shape
If the conformal layer is made thicker to improve light diffusion, then the pattern becomes more visible and contiguous, but the light intensity and energy efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly increasing layer thickness, the invention varies the thickness parameter locally within the conformal layer. This allows optimal light diffusion in regions where pattern definition is needed while maintaining thinner sections in areas where light transmission and energy efficiency are priorities.
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 creates a contiguous and aesthetically pleasing pattern of light that is more easily visible, enhancing the functionality and attractiveness of LED displays by eliminating the appearance of individual dots, allowing for various patterns and gradations of light intensity.
Implementation Method 1
the first conformal layer is doped with a luminescent material to diffuse light
Implementation Method 2
diffuse the light from the light-emitting elements such that the light appears to be emitted from the first conformal layer rather than from the light-emitting elements
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting device is provided, comprising: a substrate; two or more light-emitting elements formed over the substrate; a first transparent conformal layer formed over the two or more light-emitting elements in a pattern, the first transparent conformal layer being doped with a luminescent material; a second transparent conformal layer formed over a portion of the substrate not covered by the two or more light-emitting elements, the second transparent conformal layer not being doped with the luminescent material.