Modular Lighting Device with Interchangeable Reflectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lighting devices for road lighting lack specific standards for installation geometry, leading to ambiguity in selecting the appropriate configuration, and existing solutions like tilting or using lenses are inefficient and prone to issues like dazzling and light pollution, with high costs due to the need for multiple devices.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a modular design that uses interchangeable reflectors with snap-fitting mechanisms, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and accommodating various curvature and symmetry options to adapt to different installation conditions without affecting the LED light source, thus providing flexible and efficient lighting configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lenses are used to adapt the radiation diagram, then the light radiation source can be kept fixed, but the lenses are subject to yellowing due to ultraviolet rays and other disadvantages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability of optical componentsVSAvoidyellowing due to ultraviolet rays
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the lens component from the optical system entirely, replacing it with a reflector-based solution. The reflector is integrated into the housing and works directly with the LED light source to shape the radiation diagram, eliminating the harmful effect of UV-induced yellowing that affects lenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical mechanism (lens) with a geometric-mechanical mechanism (reflector with specific curvature and shape). The reflector uses its physical geometry to redirect and shape the light radiation, substituting the optical refraction principle with a mechanical reflection principle that is more resistant to UV degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lighting device is tilted to vary the inclination of the radiation diagram, then the radiation diagram inclination can be varied, but phenomena of dazzling and light pollution of the sky may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariation of radiation diagram inclinationVSAvoiddazzling and light pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different local qualities to different zones of the reflector surface. The reflector is designed with specific curvature variations in different areas to control the direction and distribution of reflected light, ensuring that light is directed where needed while avoiding areas that would cause dazzling or sky pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a reflector with specific curved surfaces (spheroidal or parabolic geometry) to shape the radiation diagram. The curvature of the reflector surface allows precise control over the reflected light direction, enabling adaptation to different installation conditions without tilting the entire device, thus avoiding dazzling and light pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If an entire range of different devices is provided to satisfy different optical requirements, then different optical requirements can be met, but the costs are not efficient in terms of a modular system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesatisfaction of different optical requirementsVSAvoidprovision of multiple different devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal housing and LED light source assembly that can work with multiple types of reflectors. By making the housing and light source modular and interchangeable with different reflector types, a single base device can satisfy multiple optical requirements, eliminating the need for entirely different devices for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the lighting device into separate modular components: a universal housing, an LED light source, and interchangeable reflectors. This segmentation allows the reflector to be changed independently to meet different optical requirements while keeping the rest of the system the same, reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If fixed optical criteria are used for designing lighting devices, then the radiation diagram can be determined, but the devices may be installed in unsuitable road settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed optical criteriaVSAvoidsuitability for different road settings
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability to an otherwise fixed optical system. While the housing and LED source provide a stable base with fixed optical criteria, the interchangeable reflectors allow the system to dynamically adapt to different road settings, post heights, and installation conditions by selecting the appropriate reflector type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables adaptable lighting configurations for different road settings, avoiding the limitations of lenses and reducing costs by allowing the same housing to accommodate multiple reflector types, ensuring effective and symmetrical or asymmetrical lighting as needed, while maintaining the LED light source's integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a reflector (18) which is coupled to said support fixture (16) and to said housing (14) and which is able to receive the light radiation emitted by said light source (12) to reflect it toward the outside of the housing (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2823218B1Lighting device
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 SITECO GMBH
  • EP2823218B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2823218B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9
  • EP2823218B1 patent drawingFigure 10~11

AI summary

A lighting device may include a channel-shaped housing having two ends with a main axis of the housing extending between the ends, a pair of mounting fixtures for a pair of light radiation sources within the housing with the light radiation sources radiating light radiation in opposite directions along the main axis, and a pair of reflectors each facing a respective one of the mounting fixtures to receive light radiation along the main axis and reflect it to the outside of the housing.