Optical Inserts for Waveguide Light Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard optical housings often disrupt the desired light distribution of waveguide optics, making them incompatible for specific applications, as they are designed to accommodate only certain types of light distributions, limiting the use of waveguide optics in lighting fixtures.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of optical inserts with reflective sidewalls that redirect light emitted from waveguide optics, allowing them to maintain desired light distributions even when used with standard or universal optical housings, by covering at least a portion of the waveguide optic sidewalls and redirecting light to pass through the extraction face at specific angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard optical housings are used to simplify manufacturing and enhance cost efficiencies, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but compatibility with waveguide optics and light distribution quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical housing is divided into two separate components: a standard universal housing and a customizable optical insert. The insert contains the waveguide optic and extraction elements, while the housing provides structural support and mounting. This segmentation allows the housing to remain standardized for cost-effective manufacturing, while the insert can be customized for different waveguide optic types and light distribution requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical insert acts as an intermediary component between the standard housing and the waveguide optic. It includes reflective sidewalls that redirect light from the waveguide optic at specific angles, enabling compatibility between standard housings and various waveguide optic designs. The insert mediates the interaction between light and housing, ensuring desired light distribution regardless of housing design.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard optical housings are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but light distribution control and optical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the housing from the optical functionality (embedded in the insert), the housing can be manufactured simply as a standardized component, while the insert contains the precision-engineered extraction elements and reflective surfaces that control light distribution with high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical insert introduces localized optical features (extractor elements, reflective sidewalls) within the standardized housing. These local features control light distribution precisely at critical locations without requiring the entire housing to be custom-designed, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise light control.
3Reliability
If waveguide optics are designed for specific light distributions, then optical performance is improved, but compatibility with standard housings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical insert serves as a mediator that adapts various waveguide optic designs to work within standard housings. It includes reflective sidewalls positioned to redirect light from different waveguide optic types at angles that achieve desired light distributions, enabling compatibility across multiple waveguide optic designs without requiring custom housings for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical insert is designed with universal applicability to work with multiple types of waveguide optics (Type 2, Type 3, Type 5, etc.). The reflective sidewalls and extractor elements are configured to handle different light distribution requirements, allowing a single insert design to support multiple waveguide optic types within the same standard housing platform.
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
Enables the use of waveguide optics with optical housings that were previously incompatible, ensuring consistent and desired light distributions across various applications by redirecting light to achieve peak emission at specific angles, thereby enhancing the versatility and compatibility of lighting devices.
Implementation Method 1
the optical insert comprising one or more reflective sidewalls for redirecting light emitted from the waveguide optic
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, lighting devices are described herein. A lighting device comprises an optic housing, a waveguide optic and an optical insert positioned in the housing, the optical insert comprising one or more reflective sidewalls for redirecting light emitted from the waveguide optic. The waveguide optic comprises sidewalls and a light extraction face including extraction elements, wherein the reflective sidewalls of the optical insert cover at least a portion of the sidewalls of the waveguide optic.