Optical Mixer Body Segmentation for LED Light Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for mixing light from multiple LEDs are inefficient when using discrete LED components, as they can no longer be considered a single point source, leading to a decrease in efficiency and requiring oversized systems for optimal performance, which is aesthetically and functionally undesirable in contexts like architecture and theatrical lighting.
Innovation Solution
An optical system with a transparent mixer body divided into multiple longitudinal portions, each associated with a LED, featuring an inlet and outlet window, and a reflector device with concave surfaces to collect and mix light efficiently, allowing for optimal light mixing and concentration with reduced dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If discrete LED components are used instead of integrated LED components, then flexibility in LED component choice and color combination is improved, but light mixing efficiency deteriorates because discrete LEDs cannot be considered a single point source
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple longitudinal portions, each associated with a specific LED component. Each longitudinal portion has its own optical axis passing through the corresponding LED, allowing individual optimization of light collection for each discrete LED while maintaining overall mixing efficiency. This segmentation enables the system to handle discrete LED components effectively without requiring them to form a single point source.
2Productivity
If the optical system dimensions are increased to fit the single-point-source approximation for discrete LEDs, then light mixing efficiency is improved, but the system size becomes oversized and aesthetically undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
Different longitudinal portions of the optical system have different optical characteristics optimized for their specific LED sources. Each portion's optical axis and focus are locally optimized for its associated LED, allowing efficient light collection from each discrete source without requiring the entire system to be oversized. This local optimization enables compact overall dimensions while maintaining high mixing efficiency.
3Productivity
If integrated LED components are used, then light mixing efficiency is improved by approximating a single point source, but flexibility in color combination and LED configuration is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal portions act as intermediary optical elements between the discrete LED components and the mixing region. Each longitudinal portion collects light from its associated LED and directs it toward the common mixing area, enabling efficient mixing of light from multiple discrete sources with different colors and configurations. This intermediary structure preserves the flexibility of discrete LED selection while achieving effective light mixing.
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 system achieves high light mixing efficiency, up to 75%, with a concentrated light spot and flexibility in LED component choice, enabling precise control of color and intensity, while maintaining compact dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
The body has a lateral outer surface, the curvature of which is such as to intercept and reflect, by total internal reflection, the rays of light collected by the inlet window in such a way that they will be conveyed in directions slightly divergent with respect to the optical axis.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An optical system (4) for mixing the light emitted by a plurality of light sources (2), the optical system (4) being provided with an optical mixer body (5) made of transparent material, presenting an inlet window (7) for collecting the light emitted by the light sources (2) and an outlet window (8) for supplying mixed light, and being constituted by a plurality of longitudinal portions (9) contiguous to one another, each of which is associated to a respective light source (2), extends between the inlet window (7) and the outlet window (8), has a respective optical axis (10) parallel to a longitudinal axis (6) of the mixer body (5) and a respective focus (11) lying on the optical axis (10) in a position corresponding to the inlet window (7) and centred on the corresponding light source (2) so that the light emitted by the latter will be collected and conveyed, towards the outlet window (8), by the longitudinal portion (9) itself.