Neodymium Composite Optical Components for LED Color Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LED-based lighting systems face challenges in achieving a desirable color filtering effect, particularly in the yellow light wavelength range, and in minimizing or promoting optical scattering to enhance light distribution and color rendering.

Innovation Solution

The use of composite materials comprising a polymeric matrix and an inorganic particulate material containing neodymium compounds with Nd3+ ions, which can be present as discrete particles or dopants, to create optical components that either match or mismatch refractive indices, thereby imparting a low-haze or diffusive optical effect and filtering visible light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional LED-based lighting systems are used to produce white light, then energy efficiency and longevity are improved, but the ability to achieve desirable color filtering effect (particularly in yellow wavelength range) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcolor filtering capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials comprising a polymeric matrix combined with inorganic particulate materials containing neodymium compounds. This composite structure enables the material to simultaneously provide structural integrity, optical transparency, and specific color filtering properties in the yellow wavelength range, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and color filtering capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes neodymium ions (Nd3+) which exhibit specific optical absorption characteristics at certain wavelength parameters. By incorporating these ions into the polymeric matrix, the material achieves enhanced color filtering effects in the yellow range while maintaining the energy efficiency of LED-based lighting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If optical scattering is minimized to enhance light distribution, then light directionality is improved, but color rendering in certain wavelengths (yellow range) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distributionVSAvoidcolor rendering

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different optical properties within the polymeric matrix. The inorganic particulate materials are distributed to provide localized color filtering effects in the yellow wavelength range while allowing other wavelength ranges to pass through with minimal scattering, thus achieving both good light distribution and color rendering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If refractive index matching is achieved to reduce optical scattering, then light transmission is improved, but optical diffusive effect deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidoptical diffusive effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent exploits changes in refractive index parameters by selecting inorganic particulate materials with refractive indices that differ from the polymeric matrix. This refractive index mismatch creates optical diffusive effects that enhance color rendering while maintaining adequate light transmission, resolving the contradiction between these two optical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach allows for tailored optical scattering effects, providing a color filtering effect that enhances light distribution and color rendering, particularly in the yellow light range, while maintaining minimal or significant optical scattering depending on the composition, thereby improving the overall lighting performance.

Implementation Method 1

an inorganic particulate material that contributes a color filtering effect to visible light passing through the composite material, and the particulate material comprises a neodymium compound containing Nd3+ ions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the neodymium compound can be present as discrete particles (or as a dopant in the particulate material) to promote refractive index matching of the particulate material and the polymeric matrix material sufficient to impart a low-haze optical effect to visible light emitted by the lighting apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10910212B2Materials and optical components for color filtering in a lighting apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Materials and optical components formed thereof that are suitable for use in a lighting apparatus to impart a color filtering effect to visible light. At least a portion of such an optical component is formed of a composite material comprising a polymeric matrix material and an inorganic particulate material that contributes a color filtering effect to visible light passing through the composite material, and the particulate material comprises a neodymium compound containing Nd3+ ions.