Optical Element With Segmented Boundary Surface For Wide-Angle Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices using radiation-emitting semiconductor chips face challenges in efficiently emitting a significant radiation portion at large angles, often requiring secondary optical systems and diffusive elements that lead to high radiant power or luminous flux losses.
Innovation Solution
An optical element with a radiation entrance face and a boundary surface featuring distinct regions for reflection and refraction, allowing a first radiation portion to be deflected backwards and a second portion to be emitted forwards, thereby achieving a large angular emission range without the need for secondary optical systems or diffusive elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional lighting devices use radiation-emitting semiconductor chips with simple optical systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the radiation emission at large angles is significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary surface is divided into three distinct regions (first, second, and third regions) with different optical functions. The first region reflects radiation, the second region transmits radiation directly, and the third region refracts radiation. This segmentation allows each region to independently control radiation in specific angular ranges, achieving wide-angle emission without complex multi-component optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the boundary surface are assigned different optical properties (reflective, transmissive, refractive) to control radiation locally. The first region has reflective properties for redirecting radiation, the second region has transmissive properties for direct emission, and the third region has refractive properties for angle control. This local differentiation enables precise angular distribution control across the entire emission pattern.
2Illumination intensity
If secondary optical systems and diffusive elements are added to achieve large angle emission, then the radiation emission at large angles is improved, but luminous flux losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for secondary optical systems and diffusive elements by integrating all necessary optical functions directly into the boundary surface of the single optical element. The three regions collectively perform reflection, transmission, and refraction functions that would otherwise require separate components, thereby removing the sources of luminous flux loss associated with additional optical interfaces and diffusive materials.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple optical functions (reflection, transmission, refraction) that would traditionally be performed by separate optical components are merged into a single integrated boundary surface. The first, second, and third regions work together as one unified optical interface, eliminating the need for multiple discrete elements and reducing cumulative optical losses at each interface.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a single optical element with three-region boundary surface is used, then the radiant power emission at large angles is significantly improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single optical element with the three-region boundary surface performs multiple optical functions (reflection, transmission, refraction) that would traditionally require separate components. This multi-functional design achieves wide-angle radiation emission while maintaining a compact, integrated structure that can be manufactured as a single piece, reducing assembly complexity despite the sophisticated optical functionality.
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 optical element enables a uniform radiant intensity distribution over a large angular range, mimicking the emission pattern of incandescent lamps while reducing losses and eliminating the need for additional components, thus enhancing the efficiency of radiation emission.
Implementation Method 1
a first radiation portion of radiation entering the optical element through the radiation entrance face is reflected in the first region
Implementation Method 2
The first radiation portion is preferably refracted by the second region
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element is provided for beam shaping for radiation emitted by a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip. The optical element includes a radiation entrance face and a boundary surface different from the radiation entrance face with a first region and a second region. The first and second regions are arranged and embodied such that a first radiation portion of radiation entering the optical element through the radiation entrance face is reflected in the first region and after reflection in the first region is deflected in the second region towards a plane defined by the radiation entrance face.