Plural Color Lighting Device With Single Parabolic Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plural color lighting devices are bulky, expensive, and inefficient due to the need for multiple large parabolic reflectors to concentrate light of different colors, and lack a mechanism for switching between colors or allowing lateral movement of LED emitters.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting device with a moveable color changer and a single parabolic reflector that positions LED emitters at a focal point for efficient light concentration, using a switching system to energize and de-energize LEDs based on their position relative to the reflector, allowing for selection of multiple colors and enabling lateral movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple large parabolic reflectors are used to concentrate light of different colors, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources of different colors into a single device housing with one parabolic reflector. Instead of using separate reflectors for each color, the invention combines red, green, and blue LED emitters in a common housing, allowing them to share a single reflector system. This reduces the overall device volume while maintaining the ability to concentrate each color's light effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The single parabolic reflector serves multiple functions by working with different LED emitters of various colors. The reflector is designed to concentrate light from any LED position at its focal point, making it a universal optical element that handles multiple colors without requiring separate specialized reflectors for each wavelength.
2Loss of energy
If multiple large parabolic reflectors are used to concentrate light of different colors, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple LED emitters and a single reflector into one integrated housing unit. This merger reduces the total number of optical components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and aligned, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while preserving the light concentration capability for each color.
Solution Approach 2:
The single parabolic reflector is designed to be multi-functional, serving all color channels (red, green, blue) simultaneously. This universality eliminates the need to manufacture and stock multiple specialized reflectors, reducing production complexity and cost while maintaining high efficiency for each color.
3Loss of energy
If LED emitter is positioned very close to the reflector to maximize efficiency, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but lateral movement capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable LED emitter that can be dynamically repositioned relative to the parabolic reflector. The LED is mounted on a movable platform or carriage that allows it to slide along the reflector's axis and laterally, enabling both optimal positioning for maximum light concentration and adjustment for different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting device is segmented into movable and stationary components. The LED emitter is separated from the fixed reflector structure and mounted on an independent movable platform. This segmentation allows the LED to be positioned close to the reflector for efficiency when needed, while also enabling lateral movement when adjustment is required, without compromising either function.
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 solution enables a compact, efficient, and cost-effective plural color lighting device that can emit multiple colors with a single reflector, facilitating easier handling and direction, while maintaining high light concentration and allowing for unencumbered lateral movement of LED emitters.
Implementation Method 1
Light concentrating optics such as parabolic reflectors are well known devices employed to concentrate light into a concentrated beam
Data Source
AI summary
A plural color lighting device incorporating a plurality of LED emitters each emitting a different color of light upon being energized by a power supply. A color changer having an indexing position for each LED emitter for activating a related switch and connecting the power supply to the LED emitter while concurrently positioning a light concentrating optic about the LED emitter to concentrate the light emitted from that LED emitter. The plural color lighting device therefore permitting the user to easily select light of any one color from a plurality of colors and have that light efficiently concentrated about the axis of the light concentrating optic.