Luminous Glazing Light Guide for Uniform Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear lighting systems for decorative and display purposes face challenges in achieving uniform light emission and are sensitive to assembly tolerances, often resulting in inhomogeneous illumination and requiring complex installation processes, which can lead to stray light and increased installation space.
Innovation Solution
A luminous glazing system featuring a transparent pane with an elongated light guide having a core with a higher refractive index than its cladding, incorporating a light scattering area to scatter light laterally and emit it uniformly, reducing the need for precise alignment and additional installation space, and using a transparent adhesive for both mechanical and optical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light is injected into the edge of a glass pane or film, then light can be distributed over a large area, but the illumination appears darker and inhomogeneities in the pane are effective as scattering centers leading to punctiform light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary component between the light source and the glass pane. The light guide receives light from a point source and distributes it uniformly along its length through total internal reflection, then couples this light into the glass pane. This mediator approach transforms the problematic edge injection into a controlled face injection, eliminating the scattering effects caused by pane inhomogeneities and achieving both high brightness and uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional edge light injection to three-dimensional volumetric light distribution within the light guide. By injecting light into the face of the light guide rather than the edge of the glass pane, the system creates a distributed light source along the light guide's length, which then couples uniformly into the glass. This dimensional change allows light to be distributed over a large area without the darkness and inhomogeneity problems of direct edge injection.
2Ease of operation
If injection into the edge of a film is used, then light can be distributed along the film, but the film and light source must be aligned exactly
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as a mediator that decouples the alignment requirements between the light source and the glass pane. The light source only needs to be aligned with the light guide's face, which is a much more tolerant alignment interface. The light guide then handles the light distribution and coupling to the glass pane independently, eliminating the need for exact alignment between the light source and the film edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lighting system into distinct functional components: a light source, a light guide, and a glass pane. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and assembled independently. The light guide acts as a buffer zone that absorbs alignment tolerances, making the overall system easier to manufacture and assemble while maintaining high optical performance.
3Illumination intensity
If complex assembly and fixing during lamination is used to arrange optical fibers, then light can be distributed along the pane, but the installation process becomes complex and the diameter of the optical fiber is limited by the thickness of the intermediate layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light distribution function from the complex lamination process and consolidates it into a single light guide component. Instead of embedding multiple optical fibers during lamination, the system uses one light guide that performs all light distribution functions. This extraction simplifies the assembly process while maintaining effective light distribution along the entire pane length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into the single light guide component: light reception, light distribution along the length, and light coupling into the glass pane. This consolidation eliminates the need for complex multi-fiber arrangements during lamination, reducing assembly complexity while achieving the same light distribution effect through a unified component.
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 system provides more homogeneous and efficient light distribution with reduced sensitivity to assembly tolerances, allowing for a more compact design and easier installation, while avoiding stray light and the need for complex assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the core having a higher refractive index than the cladding, so that the core is capable of guiding light along the longitudinal extension of the light guide
Implementation Method 2
The light guide has at least one light scattering area, so that it is adapted to cause light guided in the core to be scattered out in distributed manner along the longitudinal extent thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A luminous glazing is provided that includes a pane and a light guide. The pane has two opposite faces and is transparent in the visible spectrum. The light guide has a core surrounded by a cladding so that the core is capable of guiding light along the longitudinal extension of the light guide. The light guide includes a light scattering element so that when light is injected into one of the end faces if the light guide, the light guide is a side-emitting light guide and forms a linear light source. The light guide extends along the faces and is disposed on one face such that the light scattering area is spaced apart from the face and so that light guided in the core, scattered, and laterally exiting from the light guide enters the transparent pane through the face and is be transmitted through the pane to the opposite face.