Segmented LED Arrays with Diffusing Elements for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Segmented LED arrays with imaging optics face challenges in achieving uniform illumination due to discernible patterned illumination caused by walls between segments, which can be imaged onto a scene, leading to undesirable lighting patterns.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating diffusing elements such as columns or dome-shaped structures made of diffuser material over the LEDs, positioned between the light emitter or wavelength-converter structures and optical elements, to diffuse light and enhance uniformity in luminance distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If walls are used to separate LED segments, then optical separation between segments is improved, but uniformity of illumination is worsened due to visible patterned illumination
Solution Approach 1:
A diffuser layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED segments and the optical elements. This diffuser mediates the light transmission by scattering the light from individual LED segments, thereby maintaining the optical separation function of the walls while eliminating the visible patterned illumination and achieving uniform luminance distribution across the illuminated area.
2Illumination intensity
If diffusing elements are added to improve uniformity, then illumination uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film diffuser layer to achieve light diffusion and uniformity improvement. This thin film approach provides the necessary optical diffusion function while adding minimal structural complexity and maintaining a compact device design, as the diffuser can be integrated as a thin coating or layer within the existing LED assembly structure.
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 use of diffusing elements helps achieve more uniform illumination and improves luminance distribution by reducing the visibility of segment patterns, resulting in superior lighting performance in applications like strobe and video illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of columns of a diffuser material provided over the light emitter arrangement or the wavelength-converter structure and configured to diffuse light emerging from the light emitter arrangement or the wavelength-converter structure
Data Source
AI summary
Segmented LED arrays with various diffusing elements are disclosed. An example segmented LED array includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a plurality of sections where a given section may include one or more LEDs and where each section may be aligned with a different respective optical element such as a lens. Each LED may be a wavelength-converting LED in that it may include a light emitter arrangement and a wavelength-converter structure. In various embodiments, diffusing elements in the form of one or more structures of a diffuser material may be provided over the wavelength-converter structure of one or more LEDs, the one or more structures being in a light path between the wavelength-converter structure and at least one of the plurality of optical elements, and configured to diffuse light emerging from the wavelength-converter structure.