Modular Refractive Display Case Lighting for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting assemblies for display cases face issues with efficiency, lighting uniformity, consumer appeal, customization, and maintenance, including light leakage, uneven illumination, visible optics and light sources, and the need for costly replacement of entire assemblies when components fail.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting assembly with an elongated frame and removably connected LED modules, featuring an optical lens that uses refraction and total internal reflection to control light emission, ensuring uniform illumination and hiding the optics and light sources within a visibility envelope, allowing for easy component replacement and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional lighting assemblies are used, then light sources can illuminate the display case, but light escapes and bleeds out into the external environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reflective surfaces and optical guides as intermediary elements between the light source and the display case interior. These intermediaries redirect escaped light back into the display case, converting lost light into useful illumination and improving overall lighting efficiency.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting assemblies are used, then light sources can illuminate the display case, but illumination is uneven with much higher luminance in front of mullions compared to the center
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different optical characteristics in different regions of the lighting assembly. Reflective surfaces, diffusers, and optical guides are strategically positioned to redirect light specifically to under-illuminated areas like the center of the display case, creating locally optimized illumination that achieves overall uniformity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional lighting assemblies are used, then optics and light sources can perform their function, but they are visible to consumers which reduces appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light sources and optical components from the visible field of view of consumers. Lighting elements are positioned in recesses, behind panels, or in areas not visible from the customer perspective, allowing the visible portions to present a clean aesthetic while the extracted functional elements perform their illumination duties.
4Ease of repair
If conventional lighting assemblies are used, then the assembly can be constructed, but when a component fails the entire lighting assembly needs to be replaced which is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting assembly into modular, independently replaceable components. Each light source, optical element, or functional module can be accessed and replaced separately without replacing the entire assembly, reducing waste and lowering maintenance costs while improving repairability.
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 improved lighting uniformity, reduces costs by allowing individual module replacement, enhances consumer appeal by concealing optics, and adapts to various configurations, optimizing light usage and reducing the number of light sources required.
Implementation Method 1
The optical lens is disposed over and/or around the LED light source and fashioned to control light emitted from the LED light source using refraction
Implementation Method 2
The optical lens is disposed over and/or around the LED light source and fashioned to control light emitted from the LED light source using refraction and total internal reflection
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case, where the lighting assembly is mounted to a display case and includes a visibility envelop within which an onlooker of the display case cannot see. The lighting assembly includes an elongated frame provisioned to receive modular inserts and at least one modular insert operatively connected to the elongated frame. The at least one modular insert includes a light module, where the light module includes an optical lens and a light source. The optical lens is disposed over and/or around the light source and is disposed exclusively within the visibility envelope. The optical lens is fashioned to control light emitted from the light source using refraction and total internal reflection.