Prism Plate with Varying Flank Angles for Glare Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lamp covers fail to effectively control glare and adjust light distribution curves, especially when light is not uniformly coupled over the entire surface, and do not account for the positioning of various light sources such as lamps, fluorescent tubes, LEDs, or OLEDs.

Innovation Solution

A transparent cover with a surface structure featuring structural elements that vary in angle of inclination relative to the base area, allowing for different spatial refraction of light and enabling targeted adjustment of the light distribution curve by separating the cover into distinct sub-areas with different inclination ranges and transition areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a transparent cover with uniform surface structure is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the light distribution cannot be adjusted for non-uniform light sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution adjustmentVSAvoidsurface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the transparent cover into multiple zones, each with different structural element characteristics (spacing, orientation, angle of inclination) tailored to the local light source distribution. This allows each region to optimize light extraction independently, adapting to non-uniform light coupling while maintaining an integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The surface structure is segmented into distinct zones with different optical properties. Each zone contains structural elements with specific characteristics optimized for its location, enabling independent control of light distribution in different regions of the cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If structural elements have high angle of inclination, then glare control is improved, but light extraction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglare controlVSAvoidlight extraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Different zones of the transparent cover have structural elements with different angles of inclination optimized for their specific function. Zones requiring glare control have higher angles, while zones prioritizing light extraction have lower angles, eliminating the need to compromise either objective across the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The angle of inclination of structural elements is varied as a continuous or discrete parameter across different regions of the cover. This parameter optimization allows each zone to achieve the desired balance between glare control and light extraction efficiency based on local requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If structural elements are densely spaced, then light distribution uniformity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidstructural element spacing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into zones with different structural element spacing. Some zones use denser spacing for uniform light distribution, while other zones use coarser spacing where uniformity is less critical, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining necessary optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly dense spacing across the entire cover, the patent applies dense spacing only in regions where it is necessary to achieve uniform light distribution, accepting coarser spacing in other areas where the optical requirements are less stringent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 allows for improved glare control and uniform light distribution, enabling a surface that appears uniformly bright and allowing for precise setting of the light distribution curve, even with non-uniform light sources, by varying the angle of inclination of structural elements across the cover.

Implementation Method 1

the angle of inclination of the first flank limbs of the structural elements of the first family being in the first sub-area and in the third sub-area in a first angle of inclination range and wherein the angle of inclination of the first flank limbs of the structural elements of the first family in the second sub-area lies in a second angle of inclination range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2647904B1Prism plate with varying flank angles
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 SITECO BELEUCHTUNGSTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP2647904B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2647904B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2647904B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4d

AI summary

The transparent cover (2) has a surface region with a surface structure on a base surface. The surface structure is defined by groups of structure elements following a base line. The structure elements have edge flanks in a cross-section perpendicular to the base line. The surface region has three sub-areas (21,23,25). The inclination angle of the former edge flank of the structure element of former group lies in the former and third sub-areas in an inclination angle range. An independent claim is included for a lamp with a light unit.