Shell Reflector Lighting for Uniform Glare-Free Shelf Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices for illuminating long, narrow surfaces such as goods shelves in supermarkets struggle to provide uniform and glare-free illumination, as they often result in diffuse, contour-swallowing lighting that fails to highlight products effectively and creates uneven light-dark transitions.
Innovation Solution
The use of multichebly curved, shell-shaped reflectors in lighting devices that separate direct and indirect light components, directing indirect light to the wall surfaces and direct light to the floor or opposite walls, with the reflector shells designed to emit a beam that widens in the longitudinal direction to achieve uniform illumination while minimizing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If linear lighting arrangements with extruded profile-like elongated reflectors are used, then the device structure is simple, but the illumination lacks brilliance and products don't stand out with individual sparkle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into multiple individual spotlights, each with its own shell-shaped reflector, instead of using a single continuous linear reflector. Each spotlight independently illuminates a specific section, creating brilliant, focused light spots that make products stand out with individual sparkle while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs shell-shaped (curved) reflectors instead of linear/extruded profile reflectors. The curved geometry of the shell-shaped reflectors focuses and directs light more effectively to create brilliant illumination spots on the wall surface, enhancing product visibility and sparkle while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Illumination intensity
If spotlights with individual shell-shaped reflectors are used to achieve brilliant illumination, then illumination intensity improves, but achieving uniform and glare-free illumination becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different lighting characteristics to different spatial zones: direct unreflected light is directed toward the floor and opposite walls where glare is less problematic, while reflected indirect light from shell-shaped reflectors illuminates the primary wall surface uniformly. This local differentiation of light paths achieves both brilliance and uniformity without glare.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates light distribution into different spatial dimensions and paths: direct light is directed along one path (to floor and opposite walls), while reflected light follows another path (to the illuminated wall surface). This multi-dimensional light distribution strategy achieves uniform glare-free illumination while maintaining high illumination intensity.
3Illumination intensity
If the lighting fixture is mounted at a low position to illuminate shelf depth, then shelf illumination improves, but glare increases for customers walking in the aisles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directs different light components to different locations: reflected indirect light from the shell-shaped reflectors illuminates the shelf and wall surfaces where needed, while unreflected direct light is directed toward the floor and opposite walls away from customer line of sight. This spatial separation eliminates glare for customers while maintaining effective shelf illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple light paths in different spatial dimensions: reflected light travels one path to illuminate shelves, while direct unreflected light travels another path to the floor and opposite walls. This dimensional separation of light paths allows low mounting positions for effective shelf illumination without creating glare for customers.
4Illumination intensity
If the beam is widened in the longitudinal direction to achieve uniform illumination, then illumination uniformity improves, but the beam may spread to unwanted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple individually controllable spotlights with shell-shaped reflectors arranged in a linear fashion. Each spotlight creates a focused beam that can be precisely controlled, and the collective arrangement of multiple spotlights achieves uniform illumination along the longitudinal direction without requiring each individual beam to be overly wide, maintaining beam control precision.
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
This approach ensures uniform, bright, and glare-free illumination along the length of the shelves, effectively highlighting products and maintaining a comfortable viewing experience for customers, while also illuminating the hallway and shopping cart areas.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-axially curved, shell-shaped reflector shell for capturing and emitting the light emitted by the associated light source in the form of a beam of rays
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a lighting device for illuminating wall surfaces such as shelves or bookcases, comprising at least one spotlight, which includes a light source and a multi-axially curved, shell-shaped reflector for capturing and reflecting the light emitted by the associated light source in the form of a beam. According to the invention, the reflector shells are each configured to illuminate a wall surface facing the respective reflector shell only with reflected indirect light, while an unreflected direct light component of the beam is limited to an opposite wall surface, away from which the reflector shell is facing away, and/or to the floor, wherein the beam illuminates an area of 2 x 20° to 2 x 60° in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the main emission direction of the light source.