Rotating Catadioptric Lens for Multi-Color LED Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color changing lighting devices are inefficient and bulky due to the need for multiple large catadioptric lenses to concentrate light of different colors, lack a mechanism for unencumbered movement of LED emitters, and do not effectively switch between colors using a single lens.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting device with a moveable color changer and a single catadioptric lens that positions the lens's focal point over each LED emitter, accompanied by a switching system to energize and de-energize emitters based on their alignment with the lens, allowing for efficient concentration of light into a parallel beam across multiple colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple large catadioptric lenses are used to concentrate light of different colors, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single catadioptric lens is designed to serve multiple functions by concentrating light from multiple LED emitters of different colors (red, green, blue) through rotational positioning, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lenses for each color while maintaining efficient light concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotational mechanism that allows the single catadioptric lens to be dynamically repositioned between different LED emitters, enabling the lens to concentrate light from any selected emitter at its focal point while maintaining optimal optical alignment for each color
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple large catadioptric lenses are used to concentrate light of different colors, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions into a single catadioptric lens that can concentrate light from different colored LEDs through rotational positioning, merging what would traditionally require multiple separate lenses into one compact component that reduces overall device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The single lens serves as a universal optical element that can concentrate light from any of the multiple LED emitters at its focal point, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated lenses and significantly reducing the volume required for the lighting device
3Use of energy by moving object
If LED emitters are positioned close to the lens to maximize efficiency, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but movement freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions LED emitters at a predetermined clearance distance from the lens and uses a rotational mechanism to move the lens between emitters, maintaining optimal optical alignment while providing sufficient clearance for unencumbered movement and assembly
4Device complexity
If a single catadioptric lens is used to concentrate light from multiple LED emitters, then device complexity is reduced, but light concentration efficiency for multiple colors decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The single catadioptric lens is made rotatable to dynamically reposition itself between different LED emitters, ensuring that the lens is always optimally aligned with the selected emitter at its focal point, thereby maintaining high light concentration efficiency for each color while using only one lens
Solution Approach 2:
The lens is pre-positioned at a predetermined clearance distance from the LED emitters, and the rotational mechanism is pre-configured to align the lens with the selected emitter before light concentration occurs, ensuring optimal optical alignment is achieved automatically during operation
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 color changing lighting device that can emit multiple colors with improved handling and reduced bulk, allowing for unencumbered movement of LED emitters and efficient light concentration using a single lens.
Implementation Method 1
Light concentrating lenses such as catadioptric lenses are well known devices employed to efficiently concentrate light into a concentrated beam
Implementation Method 2
Light concentrating lenses such as catadioptric lenses are well known devices employed to efficiently concentrate light into a concentrated beam
Data Source
AI summary
A color changing lighting device incorporating a plurality of led emitters having a plurality of colors each emitting a distinct 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 a power supply to the led emitter while concurrently positioning a light concentrating lens about the led emitter to concentrate the light emitted from that led emitter. The color changing lighting device therefore permitting the user to easily select light of a distinct color from a plurality of colors and have that light efficiently concentrated about the axis of the light concentrating lens.