Rotating Slit Beam Lighting Fixture for Continuous Omnidirectional Illumination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current lighting technologies, such as incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, and LEDs, fail to provide omnidirectional lighting effectively, often resulting in light pollution, inefficient energy conversion, and health concerns due to flickering frequencies and hazardous materials like mercury, while existing LED-based solutions struggle to emulate continuous omnidirectional lighting.

Innovation Solution

A lighting fixture comprising a light source, an optical system with a concentrating and shaping elements, and a motor that rotates the optical system to create a slit beam, synchronized with a pulse-modulated feed current to ensure continuous omnidirectional lighting, minimizing energy waste and health risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a rotating optical system with LED is used to create omnidirectional lighting, then light distribution is improved, but the lighting appears flickering and discontinuous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveomnidirectional light distributionVSAvoidcontinuity of lighting appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing the LED pulse modulation frequency with the rotational frequency of the optical system. The LED is activated in periodic pulses at specific angular positions during rotation, creating a consistent lighting pattern that appears continuous to observers. This periodic synchronization ensures that light is emitted at regular intervals corresponding to the rotation cycle, eliminating flickering while maintaining omnidirectional distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-synchronizing the LED activation timing with the rotational position of the optical system. Before the rotation begins or during steady-state operation, the control system establishes the precise phase relationship between the rotational motion and LED pulsing, ensuring that light emission occurs at the optimal moment in the rotation cycle to create continuous apparent illumination without gaps or flicker.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If conventional lighting sources like incandescent bulbs or fluorescent lamps are used, then continuous spectrum and high CRI are achieved, but energy efficiency is poor and hazardous materials are present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidhazardous materials and light pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing LED technology which fundamentally changes the light generation mechanism from thermal incandescence or phosphorescence to electroluminescence. This parameter change in the physical process enables much higher energy conversion efficiency (converting electrical energy directly to light with minimal heat loss) while eliminating hazardous materials like mercury. The LED's ability to be precisely controlled in pulse width modulation further optimizes energy usage by activating only when needed during the rotation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the optical system rotates at high speed to create continuous lighting appearance, then flickering is reduced, but synchronization with pulse modulation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual flickering and health impactsVSAvoidsynchronization control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using sensors or encoders to detect the actual rotational position and speed of the optical system, then using this information to dynamically adjust the LED pulse timing and frequency. This closed-loop control ensures that the LED activation remains precisely synchronized with the rotation even at varying speeds, maintaining the illusion of continuous lighting while accommodating speed variations without requiring overly complex open-loop timing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 provides efficient, flicker-free, omnidirectional lighting that reduces light pollution and health hazards, while maximizing light yield and compliance with environmental regulations, offering adaptable intensity and color temperature for various applications.

Implementation Method 1

a stationary part (21) of the optical system (20) adapted to concentrate light from the light source (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight concentration: Focusing

Implementation Method 2

an optical system (20) adapted to direct and shape an incident beam of light from the light source (10) into an output slit beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight shaping and direction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

a motor (30) coupled to a revolvable part (25) of the optical system (20), thereby enabling rotation of the revolvable part (25), and accordingly the output slit beam, around a rotational axis (y)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical rotation:

Data Source

PatentEP2401545B1Fixture for emulation of omnidirectional or directed continuous lightning
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 SKARET
  • EP2401545B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2401545B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4
  • EP2401545B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5d

AI summary

A fixture for providing omnidirectional continuous lighting comprises a light source (10). an optical system (20) adapted to concentrate, direct and shape an incident into an output slit beam, a motor (30) coupled to a revolvable part (25) of the optical system (20), thereby enabling rotation of the output slit beam, around a rotational axis (y), with such an angular velocity (f) and in such a manner that the provided lighting appears continuous to a spectator.