Solid State Lighting Devices with Adjustable Melatonin Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solid state lighting devices fail to effectively adjust melatonin suppression characteristics while maintaining high color rendering index values and luminous efficacy, which is essential for reducing circadian rhythm disorders and improving nighttime alertness and sleep cycles.

Innovation Solution

The development of solid state lighting devices with multiple LED components that can be controlled to adjust melatonin suppression effects, featuring a combination of LED components with different melatonin suppression characteristics but similar chromaticities, allowing for aggregated emissions to be adjusted to achieve desired melatonin suppression levels without significantly altering the correlated color temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional solid state lighting devices use fixed LED components, then device complexity is low, but melatonin suppression characteristics cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelatonin suppression adjustmentVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is divided into multiple LED component groups (first, second, third, fourth groups) with different spectral characteristics. Each group can be independently controlled to adjust melatonin suppression levels while maintaining color rendering, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity through modular segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple LED component groups serve multiple functions simultaneously: some groups are optimized for melatonin suppression while others maintain color rendering index. This multi-functionality allows the device to adjust melatonin suppression characteristics without sacrificing other lighting performance aspects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If LED components with different melatonin suppression characteristics are combined, then melatonin suppression adjustability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelatonin suppression adjustabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different LED component groups are assigned specific spectral qualities tailored to their functions. First and second groups have characteristics optimized for melatonin suppression, while third and fourth groups are optimized for color rendering. This local quality differentiation enables precise control over melatonin suppression effects while maintaining overall lighting quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device combines multiple types of LED components with different spectral emission characteristics into a composite lighting system. This composite approach allows the aggregation of emissions to be tuned for desired melatonin suppression levels while maintaining high color rendering index values through the complementary characteristics of different LED groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LED components are used to adjust melatonin suppression, then melatonin suppression effects improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelatonin suppression effectsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LED components into distinct groups that can be manufactured and tested independently. Each group targets specific spectral ranges, allowing for standardized manufacturing processes and simplified quality control, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention varies key spectral parameters (peak wavelengths, bandwidths) across different LED component groups to achieve different functional characteristics. By systematically designing these parameter variations, the patent enables scalable manufacturing approaches where component specifications can be adjusted through parameter changes rather than requiring entirely different manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

These devices provide adjustable melatonin suppression effects while maintaining high color rendering index values and luminous efficacy, enhancing user alertness and sleep quality by allowing for tailored lighting modes based on specific needs.

Implementation Method 1

a first light emitting diode (LED) component and a second LED component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

Solid state light sources such as organic or inorganic light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers may be used to provide colored (e.g., non-white) or white light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2954252B1Solid state light emitting devices including adjustable melatonin suppression effects
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 WOLFSPEED INC
  • EP2954252B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4B
  • EP2954252B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2954252B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects. Multiple LED components may be operated simultaneously according to different operating modes according to which their combined output provides the same or similar chromaticity, but provides melatonin suppressing effects that differ by at least a predetermined threshold amount between the different operating modes. Switching between operating modes may be triggered by user input elements, timers / clocks, or sensors (e.g., photosensors). Chromaticity of combined output of multiple LED components may also be adjusted, together with providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects at each selected combined output chromaticity.