Shelf Lamp Optical Element Using Total Reflection for Three-Sided Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf lighting systems require multiple light sources and wires, leading to wire entanglement issues and increased costs, while aiming to provide uniform illumination on shelves and labels.
Innovation Solution
A three-sided light-emitting optical element with a rectangular light guide plate, a light source setting portion, parallel light lens group, and total reflection lens group, which uses total internal reflection to emit light on three sides from a single light source, improving lighting efficiency and reducing the need for multiple light sources and wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to illuminate shelves and labels, then the lighting coverage is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to more wires and components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lighting functions into a single light source system. The light guide plate integrates label illumination, shelf illumination, and side surface illumination into one unified structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate light sources and their associated wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the side surfaces of the light guide plate as additional light emission surfaces. By making the side surfaces light-emitting, the system achieves three-dimensional illumination coverage without adding more light sources, effectively using spatial dimensions to distribute light.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are installed to provide uniform illumination on shelves and labels, then the lighting effect is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple illumination functions into a single light guide plate structure. One light source coupled with the light guide plate provides label illumination, shelf illumination, and side surface illumination simultaneously, reducing component count and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions: it guides light for label illumination, emits light for shelf illumination, and emits light from side surfaces for additional coverage. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate lighting components.
3Illumination intensity
If light is introduced into labels and light guide plates to illuminate multiple areas, then the lighting coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide plate with the label structure, integrating label illumination and shelf illumination into one component. This integration reduces the number of separate optical components needed in the system.
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 optical element allows for uniform illumination of shelves and labels with a single light source, enhancing the lighting effect and reducing wire entanglement and costs by emitting light on three sides, thus improving the overall lighting performance.
Implementation Method 1
a total reflection lens group, disposed between the parallel light lens group and the first side surface; characterized in that the parallel light lens group is disposed at a side of the light source setting portion near the rectangular light guide plate; and in that the total reflection lens group comprises a first total reflection surface, disposed on a side of the parallel light lens group away from the light source and totally reflecting the parallel light from the parallel light lens group
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention discloses an optical element, comprising a rectangular light guide plate, a light source setting portion, a parallel light lens group, and a total reflection lens group, disposed between the parallel light lens group and the first side surface, a part of the parallel light from the parallel light lens group is subjected to total reflection at least once to form a first parallel light parallel to the front surface, and the first parallel light enters the first side surface to make the second side surface emit light; another part of the parallel light from the parallel light lens group is totally reflected at least twice to form a second parallel light oblique to the front surface, and the second parallel light enters the first side surface to make the front surface emit light.