Solid State Light Fixture Tunable Angular Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light fixtures with adjustable angular distribution often rely on mechanical movements, which are prone to failure and inconvenient to adjust, and can waste significant light when using apertures to control beam width.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture with a lens divided into zones, each with a specific focal length, and selectively electrically controllable LEDs that emit light into these zones, allowing for independent control of the angular beam width without moving parts, by varying the electrical power to different subsets of LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical movement is used to adjust beam width (moving source relative to reflector or lens), then the angular distribution can be changed, but the fixture becomes prone to failure due to moving parts that wear with time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment system (moving source relative to reflector or lens) with an electrical control system that varies the angular distribution by controlling the illumination of different zones on the reflector or lens. This substitution eliminates moving parts while achieving the same functional result of adjusting beam width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the reflector or lens into multiple zones, each corresponding to a specific angular distribution. By selectively illuminating different zones or combinations of zones, the system can produce various beam widths without mechanical movement. The LED array is also segmented into multiple independently controllable LEDs that map to these zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical movement is used to adjust beam width, then the angular distribution can be changed, but the fixture becomes inconvenient to adjust because the controls may be out of reach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an electrical control system that can be operated remotely. The controller receives electrical signals and translates them into zone illumination patterns, allowing users to adjust beam width from a convenient location rather than requiring physical access to the fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the user and the optical system. This controller processes user input and manages the complex task of selecting and activating appropriate LED zones, simplifying the user interface while maintaining precise control over the angular distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable aperture or iris is used to block light outside desired beam width, then the beam width can be adjusted, but a significant fraction of the output light is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light source into multiple independently controllable LEDs, each illuminating a specific zone. By selectively activating only the zones needed for the desired beam width, the system avoids wasting light that would otherwise be blocked by an aperture or iris. This zonal control allows precise matching of light output to the required angular distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the light source by varying which LEDs are active and their relative intensities. Instead of using a fixed aperture that blocks light, the system dynamically adjusts the angular distribution by modifying the illumination pattern across the reflector or lens zones, thereby eliminating light waste while maintaining adjustable beam width.
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
Enables flexible adjustment of the angular profile of the output light without mechanical parts, reducing the risk of failure and optimizing light usage by electronically varying the beam width, allowing for any desired profile between 'narrow' and 'wide' without wasting light.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of selectively electrically controllable light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed longitudinally adjacent to the lens. The plurality of LEDs emit light in essentially the same direction toward the lens
Implementation Method 2
a lens, which has a lateral area divided into a plurality of zones. Each zone has a respective focal length... Each LED in the plurality emits light that strikes one of the zones. Each zone produces a transmitted beam having a respective angular beam width
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A light fixture (1) may include LEDs (3) that each emits light into a particular zone (A, B, C, D) on a lens (4), where each zone has its own focal properties. Each LED (3) may be grouped into one (or more) subset(s) that corresponds to the zone(s) struck by its emitted light. The LEDs (3) may be selectively electrically controllable, so that the amount of light transmitted through each zone may be controllable by the electrical control system of the fixture (1). Because light transmitted through different zones (A, B, C, D) emerges from the fixture (1) having different widths, the electrical control system can directly control the amount of light emerging at each width. By mixing relatively narrow light with relatively wide light in the proper proportions, the electrical control system of the fixture (1) may produce light having any desired angular profile between "narrow" and "wide".