Teardrop Translucent Member for Omnidirectional LED Filament Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) struggle to provide omnidirectional illumination similar to incandescent bulbs, as they are strongly directional and lack reverse illumination, making it difficult to replicate the filament-like illumination effect of traditional incandescent light bulbs.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting apparatus featuring a teardrop-shaped translucent member with a bottom portion for light input, a lateral portion for total internal reflection, and an image formation portion that focuses light to create a virtual light-emitting effect away from the actual source, allowing for diffused illumination and hiding the actual light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a light-emitting diode is used as a light source, then energy efficiency and longevity are improved, but directional illumination and lack of reverse illumination worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A translucent member is introduced as an intermediary between the LED light source and the surrounding environment. This mediator transforms the directional light from the LED into omnidirectional illumination through total internal reflection at its curved surface, while maintaining energy efficiency by utilizing the LED as the light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The curvature radius of the translucent member is specifically designed to be equal to or greater than the distance from the LED to the bottom surface of the translucent member. This parameter change enables total internal reflection of light rays, transforming the illumination pattern from directional to omnidirectional while preserving the energy efficiency of LED operation.
2Illumination intensity
If a translucent surrounding member with frosting processing is used, then diffused illumination is improved, but reverse direction illumination remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent member is designed with a curved surface having a specific radius of curvature. This curvature enables total internal reflection of light rays incident from the LED, directing them toward the rear side of the member and achieving effective reverse direction illumination that frosting processing alone cannot provide.
3Ease of operation
If a light reflector is used to emit light in reverse direction, then reverse illumination is improved, but filament-like illumination effect is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent member acts as an optical intermediary that preserves the point-source characteristics of the LED while enabling reverse direction illumination. The curved surface geometry maintains the concentrated light emission pattern that creates the filament-like effect, unlike flat reflectors that distribute light uniformly across their surface.
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 solution enables the creation of a virtual light-emitting filament effect similar to incandescent bulbs, providing omnidirectional illumination and facilitating the design of high-luminance lighting systems without the need for complex reflectors or special bases, while allowing for efficient heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a lateral portion configured to provide total internal reflection of light input via the bottom portion
Implementation Method 2
an image formation portion at which the light subjected to total internal reflection by the lateral portion is focused so as to form an image
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting apparatus includes a light-emitting diode that functions as a light source, and a teardrop-shaped translucent member formed of a translucent material. The teardrop-shaped translucent member includes a bottom portion via which the light emitted from the light-emitting diode is input, a lateral portion configured to provide total internal reflection of the light input via the bottom portion, and a top portion configured to focus the light subjected to total internal reflection by the lateral portion so as to form an image.