Optical Element Specular Edge Wall for Skylight Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements used to create a skylight appearance suffer from non-uniform light emission due to limited raster size and side walls, leading to visible edge effects and disruptions in the desired color and intensity distribution.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specularly reflective edge wall perpendicular to the raster structure, which extends between the raster and diffuser, creating an infinite raster effect and maintaining angular light distribution uniformity, while ensuring spatial brightness uniformity by reflecting light back as if it comes from a continuous raster beyond the edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a limited size raster structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the uniformity of light emission deteriorates due to visible edge effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the two-dimensional raster structure into the third dimension by adding a light-reflecting side wall that extends from the raster structure to the diffuser. This vertical extension creates an additional optical path for light to travel through, allowing light to be reflected from the side wall and redirected toward the exit, thereby maintaining uniform light emission at the edges without increasing the horizontal footprint of the raster structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-reflecting side wall acts as an intermediary element between the raster structure and the diffuser. It mediates the light distribution by reflecting light that would otherwise escape at the edges back into the optical path, ensuring that light from the light source is evenly distributed across the entire exit surface including the edge regions.
2Strength
If side walls between raster and diffuser are used, then the structural integrity is improved, but the color and intensity distribution uniformity deteriorates due to light scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different optical properties to different parts of the side wall structure. The inner surface of the side wall that faces the raster structure is designed with high light reflectivity to redirect light back into the optical path, while the outer surface may have different properties. This localized differentiation of optical qualities allows the side wall to maintain structural integrity while optimizing light distribution and preventing unwanted scattering.
3Manufacturing precision
If a larger raster structure is used, then the light emission uniformity is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the horizontal size of the raster structure to improve edge light emission, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the side wall upward from the raster structure to the diffuser. This creates additional light reflection paths without expanding the footprint, thereby maintaining compact device size while achieving uniform light emission across the entire exit surface.
4Manufacturing precision
If the edge wall is made specularly reflective, then the light distribution uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the optical parameter of the side wall by making it specularly reflective rather than diffuse. This parameter change causes light to reflect at predictable angles, creating a mirror-like effect that preserves the angular light distribution from the raster structure. The specular reflectivity ensures that light rays maintain their directional information while being redirected, thereby improving light distribution uniformity without requiring complex additional components.
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 solution enhances the uniformity and homogeneity of the skylight appearance by preserving brightness and color over angle effects, providing a more immersive and natural daylight simulation without altering existing light sources or luminaires.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitting channel for collimating a part of light emitted by the light source
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the wall being transmissive in a predefined spectral range for obtaining a colored light emission at relatively large light emission angles
Implementation Method 3
a surface of the edge wall arranged perpendicular to the raster structure is specularly reflective for specularly reflecting light emitted from the raster structure and impinging on said surface of the edge wall towards said diffuser
Implementation Method 4
a diffuser situated at the element light exit window opposite of the raster structure
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element for use in front of a light source for obtaining a skylight appearance, and a luminaire are provided. The optical element comprising a plurality of light transmitting cells in a raster structure, a diffuser and an edge wall. A light source emits light towards the raster structure. The raster structure collimates a part of the light and transmits a further part of the light in a predetermined spectral range. White light and colored light that is transmitted by the raster structure may impinge upon the side wall of the optical element. One face of the side wall is a region of specular reflectivity and will reflect the light that impinges upon it back into the chamber that is formed by the cooperation of the raster structure, the diffuser and the edge wall. Light exits the optical element through the diffuser.