Microprism Light Transmissive Structure for Uniform Batwing Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting systems struggle to achieve uniform illumination over large areas using Lambertian light sources, as they often result in excessive brightness at the center and inadequate illumination at angles, requiring multiple luminaires and leading to energy wastage and visibility of light sources.
Innovation Solution
A light transmissive structure with an array of microprism elements on a substrate, configured to receive Lambertian light and distribute it in a 2D batwing pattern, providing uniform illumination by reducing intensity at the nadir and increasing it at angles, thus reducing the number of required luminaires and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Lambertian light sources are used to illuminate large areas, then the light sources can be simple and inexpensive, but the illumination becomes non-uniform with excessive brightness at the center and inadequate illumination at angles
Solution Approach 1:
A light transmissive structure with microprism elements is introduced as an intermediary component between the Lambertian light source and the target surface. This structure modifies the light distribution by redirecting rays through refraction, transforming the non-uniform Lambertian pattern into a uniform batwing distribution without changing the light source itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light distribution parameters by using microprism elements with specific geometric characteristics (prism angle, height, spacing) to transform the angular distribution of light rays. The microprisms redirect light at controlled angles to achieve uniform illumination across the target area.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple luminaires are used to achieve uniform illumination, then the illumination uniformity improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light distribution parameters are changed by introducing microprism elements that create a batwing pattern with controlled angular spread. This parameter transformation allows a single luminaire to achieve uniform illumination over a large area, eliminating the need for multiple luminaires and reducing system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If Lambertian light sources are used, then the light sources are simple, but energy is wasted due to excessive brightness at the center and inadequate illumination at angles
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmissive structure acts as an intermediary that redistributes light energy from the Lambertian source. By redirecting rays through refraction at the microprism elements, the structure moves energy from the over-illuminated center region to the under-illuminated peripheral regions, achieving uniform distribution and eliminating energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular distribution parameters of light are changed by the microprism structure, transforming the Lambertian pattern into a batwing pattern. This parameter change optimizes energy distribution across the target area, ensuring uniform illumination without wasting energy on over-illuminated regions.
4Ease of manufacture
If Lambertian light sources are used, then the light sources are simple, but the light sources become visible to viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmissive structure with microprism elements serves as an intermediary that obscures the light sources from view. By scattering and redirecting light through the microprism array, the structure prevents direct viewing of the light source while maintaining uniform illumination, effectively hiding the source's location and appearance.
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 enables efficient and uniform illumination of large areas with fewer luminaires, minimizing energy wastage and obscuring light sources, while maintaining aesthetic appeal through customizable light distributions.
Implementation Method 1
Each microprism element is configured to refract incident light at a respective angle. The array of microprism elements is configured to transform a Lambertian light distribution into a batwing light distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A light transmissive structure includes a light transmissive substrate having first and second opposing faces and array of microprism elements on the first face. A respective microprism element includes at least one ring comprising a plurality of microstructure pyramids that is rotated randomly and/or pseudorandomly on the first face about an axis that is orthogonal to the substrate relative to at least one other microprism element. The light transmissive structure is configured to receive light from a light source facing the first face and distribute the light emerging from the second face in a 2D batwing distribution.