Side-emitting LED Lens for Marine Marker Light Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Side-emitting lenses for LED lamps are limited in redirecting light efficiently for marine luminaire applications, as they are designed primarily for backlighting and do not provide sufficient light intensity for marking obstructions without excessive power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A side-emitting lens with a symmetrically disposed cavity and refracting surfaces, including a planar central section and stepped sidewall, redirects light radially and normal to the lens axis, ensuring a uniform radial distribution and minimizing light loss, suitable for marine environments by mirroring light distribution above and below the horizontal plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If side-emitting lenses are designed for backlighting applications with light guides, then light distribution uniformity is improved, but light intensity for marine markers is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidlight intensity for marine markers

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The lens applies different surface geometries to different regions: a planar central section for uniform light distribution and stepped sidewalls with specific angles for directing light in marine marker applications. This local differentiation allows the lens to simultaneously achieve uniformity where needed and intensity in specific directions for navigation marking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The lens is divided into distinct functional zones: a central planar section and peripheral stepped sections. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specialized function - the central area provides uniform distribution while the stepped periphery concentrates light for marine marker visibility, resolving the contradiction between uniformity and intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional side-emitting lenses are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but light loss increases due to inadequate vertical light redirection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlight loss from vertical directions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The lens employs curved stepped sidewalls with specific angular orientations instead of flat surfaces. These curved surfaces efficiently redirect vertically-directed light into horizontal paths, reducing light loss while maintaining compatibility with conventional molding processes for ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Use of energy by moving object

If LED light sources are used in marine luminaires, then power consumption is reduced, but light intensity requirements for marking obstructions are not met without excessive power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidlight intensity for marking obstructions

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for high-power LED sources with an optical system that uses precisely engineered lens surfaces to concentrate and redirect light. The stepped sidewall geometry acts as an optical concentration mechanism, achieving high intensity output with lower power consumption by optimizing light path geometry rather than increasing source power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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 lens achieves a high degree of uniformity in light distribution, reducing light loss and power consumption, meeting the intensity requirements for marine markers while adhering to U.S. Coast Guard standards with efficient light redirection.

Implementation Method 1

The lens has a base section having a cavity which is symmetrically disposed about the lens axis... The lens redirects light generated by the LED lamp so that the light will be emitted radially and substantially normal to the central lens axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

These lenses employ an internal reflecting surface which is generally conical in overall shape, and which functions to reflect light from the LED to an associated refracting surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS7703950B2Side-emitting lens for LED lamp

Publication Date: 2010.04.27 C R CONTROL SYST

AI summary

A side-emitting lens for use with an LED lamp provides a distribution of emitted light that is substantially normal to an axis of symmetry of the lens; the light can also be symmetrical with respect to a plane normal to the lens axis. The lens has a cavity in which the LED lamp can reside, having a cavity refracting surface with a central section and a stepped cavity sidewall. The lens also has a base external refracting surface surrounding the cavity, an internal reflecting surface spaced apart from the cavity, and a side surface; these surfaces redirect light that enters the lens through the cavity refracting surface. For many applications, the lens axis is vertical in service and the lens is configured to provide a narrow distribution of light in the horizontal plane.