Resin Layer Lighting Device Thickness Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting devices with light guide plates are limited in thickness reduction, flexibility, and light efficiency due to the rigid nature of the plates, leading to design constraints and reduced brightness.

Innovation Solution

The use of a resin layer instead of a light guide plate, combined with a printed circuit board and light reflection units, allows for a thinner design, improved flexibility, and enhanced light efficiency by minimizing light loss and providing a uniform surface light source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light guide plate is used to guide light from LEDs, then light can be uniformly distributed across the surface, but the thickness of the entire device increases and flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform light distributionVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the light guide plate from the device structure entirely. Instead of using a separate light guide plate component, the invention integrates light guiding functionality directly into the resin layer that encapsulates the LEDs, thereby eliminating the thickness contribution of a dedicated light guide plate while maintaining uniform light distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the light guiding function with the resin layer that already serves as an encapsulant and structural element. By integrating multiple functions (light emission, light guiding, and structural support) into a single integrated structure, the device achieves uniform light distribution without requiring additional components that would increase thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If a rigid light guide plate is used, then light can be guided effectively, but the device loses flexibility and design adaptability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight guiding efficiencyVSAvoiddevice flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a resin layer instead of a rigid light guide plate to guide light. The resin layer can be formulated with flexible properties, allowing the device to be bent or conform to different shapes while maintaining effective light guiding performance, thus achieving both light guiding efficiency and device flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If light is emitted from the side of the light guide plate, then the device structure is simplified, but light loss increases and brightness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidlight loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses side light loss by incorporating a reflective layer or reflective structures within the resin matrix. Light that would otherwise be lost through the sides of the device is reflected back into the light path, converting a harmful loss mechanism into a beneficial light redirecting feature that improves overall light efficiency and brightness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This configuration enables a significant reduction in the overall thickness of the lighting device, improves light reflectance and brightness, and allows for various design implementations, including flexible applications and reduced light loss, while maintaining reliability and uniform illumination.

Implementation Method 1

a resin layer which is disposed on the printed circuit board, in which the light emitting unit is embedded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

Light (L) incident to the light guide plate 30 from the LEDs 10 is reflected to an upper part by a minute reflection pattern or a reflection sheet 40

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a light reflection unit (160) disposed on at least any one of one side surface and another side surface of the resin layer (150)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

a diffusion sheet 31, prism sheets 32, 33

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP2636947B1Lighting device
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • EP2636947B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2636947B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2636947B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is a lighting device, including: a printed circuit board; one or more light emitting units formed on the printed circuit board; a resin layer which is formed on the printed circuit board, in which the light emitting units are embedded; a diffusion plate formed on an upper side of the resin layer, whereby an entire thickness of the lighting device can be reduced, and when the product is designed, a degree of freedom in design can be improved because flexibility is secured.