Optic Beam Waist Design for Smooth Illumination Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light management approaches often result in inefficient illumination patterns due to interference from the periphery of apertures in luminaires, leading to visually distracting and inefficient light distributions, especially when LED light sources are recessed, causing excessive stray light and unsightly beam edges.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire design incorporating an optic that condenses light from an LED source to create a beam with a waist, providing an annular separation from the aperture, thus avoiding interference and achieving a Gaussian distribution for improved illumination efficiency and smooth beam edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If LED light source is recessed in cavity or behind aperture, then compact reflector can be used, but periphery of cavity or aperture interferes with passage and output of illumination pattern causing visually distracting distributions and inefficient light management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful peripheral interference by designing the illumination beam to converge to a point source that passes through the aperture center, separating the useful central beam from the harmful peripheral regions of the aperture that cause visual distraction and inefficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from managing light in two dimensions (planar reflector surfaces) to three dimensions by creating a converging conical beam that passes through the aperture, adding the depth dimension to achieve smooth edges and eliminate peripheral interference
2Device complexity
If large light emitting surface (LES) of LED array is used with compact reflector, then integration is improved, but direct flux management becomes inadequate resulting in excessive field lumens, stray light, and unsightly beam edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-condensing the light from the LED array into a converging beam before it reaches the aperture, so that the light is already organized into a controlled pattern with smooth edges, preventing stray light and field lumen issues before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light distribution parameters by using an optic to transform the extended source emission into a converging beam with specific angular distribution, changing the radiation pattern from omnidirectional LED emission to a controlled conical beam with Gaussian-like intensity distribution
3Measurement precision
If small, square, or pinhole apertures are used in luminaires, then precise light control is achieved, but diverging rays cause poor efficiency and trapezoidal beam/image clipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a converging beam that actively adapts its shape as it travels through the aperture, with the beam continuously focusing toward a point source, allowing the beam to maintain efficiency while passing through small apertures without the static clipping problems of diverging rays
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 effectively manages illumination by eliminating stray light and tangential clipping, resulting in a visually pleasing and efficient delivery of light with reduced field lumens and smooth beam edges, enhancing both general and recessed lighting applications.
Implementation Method 1
The optic can receive light from the light emitting diode and form a beam of illumination. The optic can condense the received light, so that the illumination beam has a beam waist.
Implementation Method 2
The solution effectively manages illumination by eliminating stray light and tangential clipping, resulting in a visually pleasing and efficient delivery of light with reduced field lumens and smooth beam edges
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system can comprise a light emitting diode that emits light, an optic mounted to process the emitted light, and an aperture disposed on the light-emitting side of the optic. The optic can comprise a cavity that receives the light. A portion of the received light can pass through a sidewall of the cavity, while another portion passes through a bottom of the cavity and out a front of the optic. The optic can comprise curved sides that receive the light passing through the cavity sidewall and reflect that light through the front of the optic. This reflection can condense the light to form a light beam having a beam waist. The beam waist can provide an annular separation or a radial gap between the beam of light and the aperture, with the separation providing clearance to avoid interference with the light beam.