Saw Tooth Light Blocker Reflecting Light Back to Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light blockers in devices such as video and lighting systems absorb light, reducing the efficiency of light sources and failing to effectively direct light into preferred directions without mechanical movement.
Innovation Solution
A light blocker with an inner and outer side, made of a material with an optical index, featuring a shape that reflects light back to the source, enhancing light utilization by using a combination of optical index and shape to redirect light in specific directional ranges, such as saw tooth designs for total reflection within certain angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a light blocker absorbs light to block it in non-preferred directions, then the light blocking function is achieved, but the efficiency of the light source is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of light blocking (which would normally require absorption and cause energy loss) into a beneficial reflection process. The light blocker's outer side is designed with a reflective surface that redirects blocked light back toward the light source, allowing the light to be reused and thus converting the energy loss into a useful function that enhances overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light blocker by specifying materials with particular optical indices (e.g., optical index greater than 1.4 or 1.5) and designing specific geometric shapes (such as saw tooth configurations). These parameter changes enable total internal reflection at specific angles, transforming the light blocker from a simple absorbing element into an efficient light redirecting component
2Loss of energy
If a light blocker is designed to reflect light back to the source, then light efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocker is segmented into distinct functional surfaces: an inner side facing the light source and an outer side with reflective properties. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function, with the outer side featuring geometric patterns (such as saw teeth) that create multiple reflection surfaces, thereby achieving complex light redirecting functionality through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved or angled geometric shapes on the outer side of the light blocker, such as saw tooth configurations with specific angles. These curved surfaces are designed to reflect light at specific angles back toward the light source, using geometric optics principles to achieve efficient light redirection without requiring complex mechanical or electronic control systems
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 improved light blocker increases the efficiency of light source usage by reflecting light outside the initial directional range, allowing it to support original light, thus enhancing the overall performance of light-directed devices without mechanical movement.
Implementation Method 1
the optical index being larger than 1.4 and total reflection taking place for the first light in the part of the first directional range when incoming at an angle smaller than 40° with a first side or a second side of a saw tooth of the saw tooth shape
Implementation Method 2
a combination of a shape of the outer side and the optical index being arranged to reflect the first light in the part of the first directional range at the outer side
Data Source
AI summary
Devices (100) comprise light sources (1) for producing light into directional ranges (70) and light blockers (10) for blocking the light in parts (71) of the directional ranges (70). The light blockers (10) have inner sides (11) and outer sides (12), and are made of materials having optical indices. Combinations of shapes of the outer sides (12) and the optical indices will reflect the light in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70) at the outer sides (12), for example back to the light sources (1). The shapes of the outer sides (12) may be saw tooth shapes, the optical indices may be larger than 1.4, total reflection may take place for the light in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70) when incoming at angles smaller than 40° with sides (14, 15) of saw teeth (13) of the saw tooth shapes. Shapes of the inner sides (11) may correspond with shapes of light output graphs of the light sources (1) in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70).