Narrow Angle Light Engine Rectangular Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light engines have a wide light emitting angle, making them unsuitable for miniaturized display and projection devices, which require a narrow angle of light emission and a rectangular cross-sectional beam shape to accommodate smaller display or projection areas.
Innovation Solution
A narrow angle light engine design featuring a housing with a rectangular aperture, a polarizer, a light emitting diode (LED) array, and a light guide configured to collimate and polarize light, converting a circular or oval light beam into a rectangular beam, suitable for miniaturized display and projection devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional light engines are used, then they provide sufficient illumination, but they have a wide light emitting angle making them unsuitable for miniaturized devices
Solution Approach 1:
The light engine is segmented into distinct functional components: LED array for light generation, light guide for directional control, polarizer for light filtering, and rectangular aperture for beam shaping. Each component addresses specific requirements, allowing the system to achieve narrow angle emission while maintaining illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from omnidirectional light emission (360 degrees) to controlled directional emission by introducing spatial constraints through the light guide and rectangular aperture. This dimensional transformation converts wide-angle emission into a focused narrow beam suitable for miniaturized devices.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional light engines are used, then they provide adequate light output, but they produce circular or oval beam shapes instead of rectangular shapes required for small displays
Solution Approach 1:
The rectangular aperture is positioned at the specific location where light exits the light guide, creating a local geometric constraint that shapes the beam. This localized shape control transforms the circular/oval LED emission into a rectangular beam profile without compromising overall light output.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary component between the LED array and the rectangular aperture. It receives light from the LEDs and guides it through its internal structure to the aperture, where the rectangular shape is imposed. This intermediary enables the transformation from circular source to rectangular output while maintaining illumination efficiency.
3Volume of moving object
If the light engine is miniaturized for small devices, then device size is reduced, but light distribution becomes unfocused and angle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide pre-collimates and directs light from the LED array before it reaches the rectangular aperture. This preliminary action of light guidance ensures that even in a miniaturized configuration, the light maintains a focused distribution pattern and narrow emission angle, preventing the unfocused spread that would otherwise occur in smaller devices.
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 narrow angle light engine achieves a high nits output with a rectangular cross-sectional beam shape, suitable for integration in small size display and projection devices such as pico-projectors and smart glasses, providing efficient illumination with a focused light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide configured to guide light emitted from the LED array toward the aperture
Implementation Method 2
a polarizer disposed in the housing facing the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A light engine includes a housing containing a rectangular aperture, a polarizer disposed in the housing facing the aperture, a light emitting diode (LED) array disposed in the housing, and a light guide configured to guide light emitted from the LED array toward the aperture, such that light is emitted through the aperture.