Polygonal Lens Array Homogenizes Illumination Without Power Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems using diffuse scattering components to homogenize inhomogeneous luminance or color distributions suffer from power losses and etendue deterioration, and round microlenses result in incomplete coverage and ghost images.
Innovation Solution
An optical component with a carrier plate featuring non-congruent, polygonal lens elements that completely cover the surface, allowing for homogeneous luminance distribution by projecting different images of a light source, thereby avoiding power losses and ghost images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If diffuse scattering components are used to homogenize inhomogeneous luminance or color distribution, then luminance homogeneity is improved, but power losses and etendue deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The optical component segments the light homogenization function into multiple discrete lens elements arranged in an array. Each lens element individually refracts and redirects light rays, collectively achieving homogeneous luminance distribution without the energy losses associated with diffuse scattering materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/optical scattering mechanism with a refractive lens-based system. Instead of relying on random surface or volume scattering that dissipates energy, the structured lens array deterministically redirects light through refraction, maintaining etendue and reducing power losses while achieving the same homogenization effect.
2Illumination intensity
If round microlenses are used to produce round light distribution, then light distribution shape is improved, but complete surface coverage cannot be achieved and ghost images occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs polygonal lens elements with asymmetric geometries (such as hexagons or other n-gons) instead of circular lenses. These polygonal shapes can be tightly packed in tessellating patterns that achieve complete surface coverage without gaps, eliminating the regions that cause ghost images while maintaining controlled light distribution shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
While the lens elements have polygonal footprints for complete coverage, the optical surfaces maintain appropriate curvature to control light refraction and produce the desired round or homogeneous light distribution pattern, combining the benefits of both polygonal packing efficiency and curved optical functionality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If regions not covered by round microlenses are blackened to avoid ghost images, then ghost image elimination is improved, but emitted power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the surface into complete polygonal tessellation, every region of the surface is productively utilized by a lens element. This eliminates the need for blackened regions entirely, as there are no uncovered areas to generate ghost images, and all incident light is refracted through functional lens material, maximizing emitted power.
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 component achieves a more homogeneous luminous impression and complete coverage, reducing power losses and eliminating ghost images, while maintaining efficient light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the first lens structure has at least a first lens element having a first polygonal form and a second lens element having a second polygonal form
Data Source
AI summary
An optical component comprises a carrier plate (1) having a first main surface (2) and a second main surface (3) facing away from the first main surface (2), and a first lens structure (4) on the first main surface (2), wherein the first lens structure (4) has at least a first lens element (41) having a first polygonal form and a second lens element (42) having a second polygonal form, the first lens structure (4) completely covers the first main surface (2), and the first lens element (41) and the second lens element (42) are non-congruent with respect to one another and/or differ in terms of their orientation on the first main surface (2) of the carrier plate (1).