UV LED Lighting System with Reflector Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting systems fail to provide sufficient UV light indoors, leading to low vitamin D levels in individuals, as they do not replicate the full electromagnetic spectrum of natural sunlight, and UV light can degrade polymer components used in lighting applications.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising UV LEDs and visible light LEDs, where UV LEDs emit directly through a light exit window and visible light LEDs reflect onto the exit window, using a reflector arrangement to avoid beam shaping component deterioration and ensure UV light is directed only through the exit window, with optional beam shaping to prevent polymer degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV LEDs are used to provide UV light for vitamin D synthesis, then the health benefits of natural sunlight are achieved, but the UV light degrades polymer components in the lighting system
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a UV light generation area with UV LEDs, a visible light generation area with visible LEDs, and a light exit window. This spatial segmentation allows UV light to be directed only where needed (through the exit window) while isolating it from polymer components that would degrade upon exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light exit window acts as an intermediary element that allows UV light to pass through to the external environment while blocking UV light from reaching internal polymer components. The housing structure serves as another intermediary barrier, creating a controlled path for UV light that prevents its interaction with degradable materials.
2Illumination intensity
If beam shaping components are used to direct UV light, then light distribution is improved, but the beam shaping components degrade due to UV exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam shaping function from separate physical components and integrates it directly into the housing structure. The housing is designed with reflective surfaces and geometric features that inherently direct UV light toward the exit window, eliminating the need for separate beam shaping components that would be vulnerable to UV degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure merges multiple functions: it provides mechanical support, defines the light path, directs UV light through geometric design, and protects internal components. By combining structural and optical functions into a single UV-resistant housing, the system eliminates vulnerable intermediate beam shaping components.
3Illumination intensity
If natural sunlight is used for lighting, then the full electromagnetic spectrum including UV is provided, but natural sunlight cannot be effectively introduced into indoor office environments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing actual natural sunlight into indoor environments, the system creates an artificial copy of sunlight's beneficial properties by using UV LEDs to generate the UV component and visible LEDs to generate the visible spectrum component. This replicated sunlight can be delivered indoors without the logistical challenges of actual sunlight introduction.
4Productivity
If UV light is directed through polymer components, then light distribution is achieved, but the polymers degrade over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recognizes that UV light is harmful to polymers but beneficial for human health (vitamin D synthesis). By designing a system where UV light is directed only through UV-transmissive materials (like the exit window) and reflected by UV-resistant surfaces (housing interior), the harmful aspect is contained while the beneficial aspect is preserved and delivered to users.
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
This system effectively provides UV and visible light without degrading polymer components, ensuring a significant portion of UV light reaches the exit window for vitamin D synthesis while minimizing damage to other components, thus addressing the need for indoor UV lighting that mimics natural sunlight.
Implementation Method 1
an arrangement of UV LEDs mounted on the support structure, wherein the UV LEDs face the light exit window
Implementation Method 2
a reflector arrangement, wherein the visible light LEDs face the reflector arrangement, and the reflector arrangement is for reflecting the visible light output from the visible light LEDs to the exit window
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A lighting system combines an arrangement of UV LEDs which face a light exit window and an arrangement of visible light LEDs which face a reflector arrangement. The reflection can be used to provide desired beam shaping or diffusion so that beam shaping components are not needed at the exit window. In this way, UV deterioration of beam shaping components is avoided.