Integrated Optical Element With Removable Insert For Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices employing solid-state light sources, such as LEDs, face inefficiencies due to the separate management of optical elements and their accessories, which require distinct characteristics for optimal performance, leading to complex and inefficient implementations.
Innovation Solution
An integrated optical element comprising a light-permeable body and a removable insert, where the insert's shape, material, and texture determine the optical characteristics, allowing for various radiation patterns and beam angles without altering the basic structure of the optical element, enabling different optical characteristics using a single structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate optical elements and accessories are used, then optimal optical characteristics can be achieved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical element body and accessories into a single integrated component. The optical element includes a body with an insert that can be removed and replaced, merging previously separate components into one unified structure that maintains optimal optical characteristics while simplifying management.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element is divided into a body and a removable insert. The insert contains the accessories and can be independently removed from the body, allowing for easy replacement and maintenance while maintaining the integrated structure. This segmentation enables simplified management of optical characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical elements with different characteristics are produced, then versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element body is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different inserts with varying optical characteristics. A single body design can work with multiple inserts, providing versatility in optical characteristics while maintaining consistent manufacturing processes for the body.
Solution Approach 2:
Different optical characteristics are achieved by changing the insert parameters (material, shape, texture) rather than changing the entire optical element structure. This allows versatility in optical characteristics while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for the body component.
3Reliability
If the entire optical element is replaced to change characteristics, then optimal performance is achieved, but loss of time and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is segmented into a body and a removable insert. Only the insert needs to be replaced when changing optical characteristics, not the entire optical element. This reduces loss of time and resources by allowing selective replacement of only the necessary component.
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 allows for flexible and efficient adjustment of lighting beams by changing the insert, simplifying management and enabling diverse optical characteristics without replacing the entire optical element, suitable for various lighting applications both internally and externally.
Implementation Method 1
a body (12) of a light-permeable material adapted to define a light radiation propagation path
Implementation Method 2
an insert (16), adapted to be coupled with the body (12) so as to be interposed in the light propagation path
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
An optical element (10), such as a lens and/or a reflector for lighting devices (L, 10), e.g. LED devices, includes: - a body (12) of the optical element (10), the body (12) providing a light propagation path towards a light emitting surface (14), and - an insert (16) coupled with said body (12), the insert (16) being interposed in the light propagation path, so that the optical characteristics of the light emitted from said light emitting surface (14) are a function of at least one among shape, position, material and texture of said insert (16).