Multiple Beam Shaping Illumination System for Uniform Surveillance Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surveillance illumination systems fail to provide uniform light distribution across wide-angle targets, leading to inefficiencies and reduced image quality due to the inverse square law of illumination, resulting in wasted energy and suboptimal dynamic range utilization by cameras.
Innovation Solution
The Multiple Beam Shaping (MBS) illumination system reshapes light sources into multiple overlapping beams using micro-refractive materials and segmented refractors to create a tailored, three-dimensional light distribution that ensures even illumination across horizontal and vertical planes, optimizing light delivery to the target area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single illumination source with circular Gaussian distribution is used, then the illuminator structure is simple, but the illumination uniformity across the target area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single illumination source is divided into multiple beam sources arranged in an array. Each source is separated and individually directed toward the target area, allowing independent control of light distribution patterns across different spatial zones, thereby achieving uniform illumination across the entire target area.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual light beams from the array of sources are merged into a composite illumination pattern. The beams are spatially overlapped and combined to create a unified uniform illumination field across the target area, merging their individual Gaussian distributions into a collectively uniform pattern.
2Illumination intensity
If the illuminator is positioned to illuminate the farthest target point, then the edge areas receive sufficient light, but the foreground areas become over-illuminated and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the target area are illuminated with locally optimized light intensity. The beam array is configured so that sources closer to the foreground provide stronger illumination to near areas, while sources positioned for the farthest point illuminate distant areas, creating a locally adapted illumination profile that matches the spatial distribution requirements of different target zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination problem is solved by transitioning from a single-point source to a distributed array of sources across a spatial dimension. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous illumination of both foreground and background areas with appropriate intensity levels, as different sources in the array contribute to different spatial zones along the depth dimension.
3Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle lens is used to cover the entire surveillance scene, then the field of view is expanded, but the illumination uniformity deteriorates due to the inverse square law
Solution Approach 1:
The wide-angle field of view is divided into multiple angular zones, each illuminated by specific beams from the array. The beam array is configured to provide zone-specific illumination that compensates for the inverse square law effects across different angular regions, maintaining uniformity despite the expanded field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination parameters (intensity, angle, distribution pattern) are changed and optimized for each spatial zone within the wide-angle field of view. By adjusting the emission characteristics of individual beams in the array, the system compensates for distance-related intensity variations and maintains uniform illumination across the entire expanded field of view.
4Illumination intensity
If the peak of the beam is pointed at the farthest target point, then the background illumination is optimized, but the foreground illumination becomes excessive and dynamic range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The beam array provides locally optimized illumination where different groups of sources are directed to illuminate different depth zones. Background-oriented sources provide appropriate illumination for distant targets, while foreground-oriented sources are controlled to prevent over-illumination, preserving local dynamic range in each spatial region.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system dynamically adapts to different spatial zones by having different sources in the array activate or adjust intensity based on the required illumination level for their respective target zones. This dynamic control prevents foreground over-illumination while maintaining background illumination, preserving overall dynamic range.
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
MBS significantly increases the uniformity and efficiency of light distribution, reducing energy waste and enhancing image quality by ensuring that more light is focused on the target area, thereby improving the dynamic range and sensitivity of surveillance imaging systems.
Implementation Method 1
a beam shaper receives input distributions of light from at least one light source and emits output distributions of light having output pathway angles different than corresponding input pathway angles
Implementation Method 2
The Multiple Beam Shaping (MBS) illumination system reshapes light sources into multiple overlapping beams using micro-refractive materials and segmented refractors
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention provides a multiplicity of light sources – such as a planar array of LEDs – and a corresponding multiplicity of primary optic lenses, the primary optic lenses being curved and positioned to narrow a source light beam emitted from each of the light sources, and a beam shaper -- which could be a beam shaping micro- refractive film or films, or a segmented refractor lens with multiple facets – that is shaped and positioned to receive a light source distribution emitted from the multiplicity of primary optic lenses and to emit an output light path having an angle of distribution different than a corresponding angle of the light source distribution.