Troffer Fixture Pan Structure with End Reflectors for Heat and Light Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current troffer-style lighting fixtures face challenges in efficiently managing heat from high power LEDs and achieving uniform color mixing with solid state lighting sources, particularly due to heat dissipation issues in reduced plenum spaces and optical losses from diffusive materials.
Innovation Solution
A pan structure with a door frame assembly and end reflectors that provide structural support, alignment, and light reflection, combined with a back reflector to enhance light output and reduce heat management challenges, while using a less diffusive design to maintain optical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If diffusive materials are used to achieve uniform color mixing, then color uniformity is improved, but optical efficiency deteriorates due to light scattering losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective surface as an intermediary between the LED light source and the viewing area. This reflector redirects light paths to achieve color mixing without using diffusive materials that cause optical losses. The reflective surface mediates the light distribution while maintaining optical efficiency by avoiding absorption and scattering losses associated with diffusers.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using diffusive materials to scatter light for color mixing, the patent inverts the approach by using reflective surfaces to redirect light. Rather than allowing light to scatter randomly through diffusers, the system strategically reflects light along controlled paths to achieve uniform color distribution without the optical penalties of diffusive materials.
2Productivity
If high power LEDs are used to increase luminous flux, then lighting efficiency is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult in reduced plenum spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the plenum space and relocates it to integrated heat sinks directly coupled to the LED modules. By taking the heat management function out of the constrained plenum environment and embedding it within the fixture structure, the system can effectively dissipate heat from high power LEDs without being limited by reduced plenum space.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sinks are nested within the fixture structure, with thermal management components integrated into the housing and mounting assemblies. This nesting approach allows efficient heat dissipation pathways to be incorporated within the compact fixture design, enabling high power LED operation without requiring extensive plenum space for heat management.
3Area of stationary object
If elongated fluorescent bulbs are used to span the length of the troffer, then illumination coverage is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates compared to solid state lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination function into multiple discrete LED modules distributed along the troffer length. Instead of using a single elongated fluorescent bulb, the system employs multiple smaller LED units spaced throughout the fixture, each contributing to the overall illumination coverage. This segmentation enables the use of energy-efficient solid state lighting while maintaining comprehensive area coverage through strategic module placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental lighting parameters by transitioning from fluorescent technology to LED technology. This involves changing the light source type, operating voltage, color temperature characteristics, and efficiency parameters. The parameter changes enable significantly improved energy efficiency while maintaining or enhancing illumination coverage through optimized LED module configuration and optical design.
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 effectively manages heat dissipation and improves color uniformity by aligning light sources for direct emission, reducing optical losses, and providing structural stability, thus enhancing the performance of troffer-style fixtures with solid state lighting sources.
Implementation Method 1
first and second end reflectors in said interior space extending at an angle away from said first and second end caps and removably attaching to said base, wherein said end reflectors, said end caps, and said base define a first and second compartments at said ends of said housing, said end reflectors providing structural support to said pan
Implementation Method 2
LEDs are solid state devices that convert electric energy to light and generally comprise one or more active regions of semiconductor material interposed between oppositely doped semiconductor layers. When a bias is applied across the doped layers, holes and electrons are injected into the active region where they recombine to generate light
Implementation Method 3
blue emitting LEDs have been used to generate white light by surrounding the blue LED with a yellow phosphor, polymer or dye, with a typical phosphor being cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG). The surrounding phosphor material 'downconverts' some of the blue light, changing it to yellow light
Data Source
AI summary
A direct troffer-style fixture for solid state light sources and pan structures for use in these fixtures. The fixture comprises a door frame assembly that is attached to the pan. The pan housing is defined by a base and two angled side walls. End caps are attached to the side walls. End reflectors extend at an angle away from the end caps and attach to the base. The end caps, the end reflectors, and the base define compartments at both ends of the housing in which components can be housed. A light board is attached to the base using alignment holes in the base and cutout portions of the end reflectors. The multifunctional end reflectors retain elements within the compartments, provide added structural stability to the pan, aid in aligning a light board, and they reflect light that impinges on them toward the open end of the fixture.