Short-Throw Illumination Lens for Uniform Wide-Angle Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wide-angle illumination systems for short-throw lighting, such as in LCD backlights and refrigerator cabinets, face challenges in achieving uniformity and efficiency due to the small size of LEDs and the difficulty in producing precise illumination lenses, especially with fewer LEDs required by advancements in LED flux output.
Innovation Solution
The development of specific lens configurations using photometric nonimaging optics to generate wide-angle illumination patterns, which involves numerical methods to design lenses with elliptical and aspheric surfaces, and the incorporation of a central cusp to compensate for scattering effects, ensuring uniform illumination with fewer LEDs while minimizing lens size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fewer LEDs are used due to improved LED flux output, then power consumption is reduced, but achieving uniform illumination becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the lens surface profile from conventional designs to specific mathematical functions (e.g., z = c1*r^2 + c2*r^4 + c3*r^6) that optimize light distribution. By adjusting coefficients and higher-order terms in the surface equation, the lens compensates for reduced LED数量 while maintaining uniform illumination across the display panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite optical design by combining multiple functional elements within the lens structure, including aspheric surfaces, free-form profiles, and potentially multi-material construction to achieve both uniform light distribution and compact form factor when using fewer LEDs.
2Volume of moving object
If lens size is reduced for compact displays, then device thickness is decreased, but producing precise illumination patterns becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes advanced curved surface designs including aspheric and free-form profiles described by complex mathematical equations. These curved surfaces enable precise control of light rays within a compact lens volume, achieving accurate illumination patterns despite reduced size constraints for modern displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional 2D lens surfaces to 3D free-form surfaces with varying curvature in multiple directions. By introducing additional dimensional complexity in the surface profile (z = f(r, θ) with multiple terms), the lens achieves precise illumination control in a smaller overall package.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional lens designs are used with fewer LEDs, then manufacturing is simpler, but caustics and illumination non-uniformity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies lens surface parameters using optimized mathematical profiles with multiple coefficients (c1, c2, c3, etc.) that are tuned to eliminate caustics and achieve uniform illumination. These parameter adjustments maintain manufacturability through injection molding while preventing optical defects associated with fewer LED sources.
4Length of moving object
If LED size is reduced for direct-view backlighting, then display thickness is decreased, but uniformity of illumination becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sophisticated curved surface designs including aspheric and free-form profiles that compensate for the punctate nature of smaller LEDs. The complex surface geometry redistributes light from miniaturized LED sources to achieve uniform illumination across the display panel while maintaining thin form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optimized mathematical surface equations with multiple adjustable parameters to tailor the lens performance specifically for small LED sources in direct-view backlighting applications, achieving uniformity despite reduced LED size and increased proximity to the display panel.
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 enables uniform illumination across close planar targets with fewer LEDs, reducing power consumption and manufacturing costs, and effectively addresses the challenges of volume scattering and Fresnel reflections, providing a more efficient and compact lighting solution.
Implementation Method 1
Illumination lenses to do the job
Implementation Method 2
the incorporation of a central cusp to compensate for scattering effects
Implementation Method 3
effectively addresses the challenges of volume scattering and Fresnel reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to wide-angle illumination patterns for short-throw lighting. An illumination lens according to an exemplary embodiment includes a light incident surface that defines a cavity and has a flat top and lateral flanks, the light incident surface being configured to receive light from an underlying light emitting element. The illumination lens also includes a light exiting surface having a central indentation and a surrounding toroid, wherein the flat top faces the central indentation.