Optic Homogenizes LED Light for Uniform Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED-based illumination systems face challenges in evenly distributing light, homogenizing color, and compensating for misalignment between LEDs and lightguides, leading to visual inconsistencies and hotspots.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising one or more lightguides, LEDs, and an optic that couples, mixes, and homogenizes light to ensure uniform illumination, even when LEDs are not centered, by using a diffuser optic with microlenses and scattering agents to manage light distribution and color consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light is coupled directly from LEDs to lightguides without an optic, then the system structure is simple, but light distribution is uneven with bright spots and visual inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
An optic element is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED and lightguide. This optic performs multiple functions: it homogenizes the light output from the LED, couples light efficiently into the lightguide, and compensates for misalignment. The optic acts as a mediator that transforms the non-uniform LED light pattern into uniform illumination while maintaining system compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The optic element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: light homogenization, light coupling, and misalignment compensation. By integrating these functions into a single component, the system achieves uniform light distribution without proportionally increasing complexity, as one element accomplishes what would otherwise require multiple separate components.
2Illumination intensity
If LEDs are precisely centered with lightguides, then light distribution is uniform, but manufacturing and assembly precision requirements are high
Solution Approach 1:
The optic is designed with pre-calculated optical properties and geometric configurations that anticipate and compensate for potential misalignments. By incorporating compensation features into the optic's design beforehand, the system becomes tolerant to assembly variations without requiring high-precision alignment during manufacturing and assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optic modifies light propagation parameters through its optical design, changing the angular distribution and spatial characteristics of light before it enters the lightguide. This parameter transformation ensures that even when the LED is not perfectly centered, the light distribution remains uniform by adjusting the light paths optically rather than relying on mechanical precision.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used to increase light output, then illumination intensity increases, but color uniformity and light distribution become more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The optic merges the light outputs from multiple LEDs into a single homogenized beam before coupling into the lightguide. By combining the light paths through the optic's homogenization region, light from multiple LEDs with potentially different colors or characteristics is mixed and uniformed, resulting in consistent color and intensity distribution across the illumination output.
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 provides spatially uniform illumination, eliminates bright spots, and enhances light distribution, allowing for improved LED utilization in lighting applications by compensating for misalignment and varying chromaticity patterns.
Implementation Method 1
The optic can couple light from the light emitting diode(s) to the lightguide(s)
Implementation Method 2
The optic can mix or otherwise manage light emitted from the light emitting diode or diodes so that light enters each lightguide uniformly along edges of the lightguide, thereby eliminating or reducing any bright spots or visual inconsistencies in the lightguide
Data Source
AI summary
A system of light emitting diodes and lightguides can produce and distribute light in a luminaire. Two or more lightguides can be mounted adjacent one another so that their edges extend alongside one another. An optic can couple light between the light emitting diodes and the edges of the adjacent lightguides. The optic, which can be another lightguide in some examples, can mix, blend, or homogenize light received from the light emitting diodes and distribute the light among the adjacent lightguides. The optic can mix light emitted from multiple light emitting diodes so that light enters the adjacent lightguides uniformly along the edges of the lightguide, thereby eliminating or reducing any bright spots or visual inconsistencies. The optic can further allocate light uniformly among the adjacent lightguides.