Prismatic Lens Coupling for Seamless Light Rail Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems struggle to provide seamless, continuous illumination across adjacently positioned fixtures without modifying the light engine or fixture, leading to perceptible gaps or under-illumination between adjacent units.
Innovation Solution
A light injected terminal prismatic lensing and coupling device is used, featuring a prismatic lens with angled light injection surfaces and a connection element with yoke securement tabs, to redirect illumination and secure light rail assemblies together, ensuring continuous and uniform lighting across the junction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are placed close to the terminus or angled to extend illumination, then terminal region illumination is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to redesign requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A prismatic lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the terminal region. The lens redirects existing light from the lighting fixture to illuminate the terminal region and gap areas, eliminating the need to modify the light source itself while achieving improved terminal illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into separate functional components: the standard lighting fixture and the add-on prismatic lens assembly. This allows the lens to be designed and installed independently without requiring redesign of the existing light engine or fixture structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard lighting fixtures are used without modification, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but perceptible gaps or under-illumination occur between adjacent fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The prismatic lens acts as an intermediary component that can be added to standard fixtures without modifying them. The lens captures and redirects light to fill gap regions between adjacent fixtures, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving gap illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The prismatic lens is pre-designed and pre-assembled as a separate unit that can be attached to standard fixtures before installation. This preliminary preparation allows the lens to immediately perform its light-redirection function without requiring any field modifications to the fixtures.
3Illumination intensity
If light sources are repositioned or reangled to eliminate terminal dark zones, then illumination uniformity is improved, but fixture complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The prismatic lens serves as an intermediary optical component that achieves illumination uniformity by redirecting existing light rather than requiring repositioning of light sources. This maintains the original fixture configuration and simplifies assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the light source position or angle to achieve uniform illumination, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the light source fixed and using the prismatic lens to redirect light in the necessary directions. This inversion maintains ease of assembly while achieving the desired illumination uniformity.
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 eliminates or significantly reduces the perception of gaps in illumination between adjacent lighting fixtures, providing a seamless and uniformly illuminated transition zone without requiring modifications to the standard light engine or fixture.
Implementation Method 1
prismatic lens for redirecting illumination from the lighting fixture to illuminate the terminal region and gap between adjacent fixtures
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptable coupling device with connection element and prismatic lens functioning as a termination means to provide seamless, integrated and continuous lighting to a distal portion of at least of one end region of a lighting element or light rail assembly.