Waveguide Grid Luminaire for Simultaneous Illumination and Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional luminaires fail to combine effective general illumination with controllable image display capabilities, as they either lack sufficient illumination intensity or have inefficient light distribution, and existing display technologies are not optimized for general lighting applications.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire system that integrates a general illumination device with a light waveguide grid and an image display device, where the light waveguide grid couples illumination light sources with pixel light emitters, allowing for simultaneous wide light distribution and display through the same area, using a matrix of pixel light emitters and light diffusion optics to enhance illumination and image output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional luminaires use fixed optical elements for light distribution, then the light distribution pattern is stable and predictable, but the luminaire cannot provide both effective general illumination and controllable image display capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is segmented into distinct functional zones: illumination light sources positioned at perimeter locations and display light sources positioned at central locations. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system, resolving the contradiction by enabling both illumination and display capabilities without compromising light intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both illumination and display capabilities within a single device. The controller enables the luminaire to operate in different modes (illumination-only, display-only, or combined mode), providing versatility while maintaining adequate illumination intensity through the perimeter-positioned illumination sources
2Adaptability or versatility
If display devices are mounted in ceiling to provide variable lighting, then image output variability is achieved, but the white light intensity and coverage area at floor or ceiling height are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the luminaire are assigned different qualities and functions: perimeter regions contain illumination light sources optimized for producing high-intensity white light for general illumination, while central regions contain display light sources optimized for image output variability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring each region excels at its designated function
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire utilizes vertical positioning and angular distribution to enhance illumination coverage. By positioning illumination sources at the perimeter and using optical elements to direct light at various angles, the system achieves wide coverage area and sufficient intensity at floor height, while display sources provide variability in the central viewing plane
3Adaptability or versatility
If LCD displays are used as lighting products, then display functionality is achieved, but the efficiency is too low as backlights have to produce almost ten times the amount of light that is actually delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the inefficient backlight component from traditional LCD displays. Instead of using a backlight unit that requires excessive light production, the luminaire uses direct LED light sources for both illumination and display functions, achieving display functionality without the energy-wasting backlight layer
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex, inefficient LCD backlight systems with simpler, more efficient LED-based light sources. This substitution uses more energy-efficient components (LEDs with longer lifespan and higher efficiency) to achieve the same display functionality without the ten-fold light production requirement of LCD backlights
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 system achieves efficient and flexible lighting and display capabilities, providing both general illumination and controllable image output with improved light distribution and intensity, meeting industry standards for general lighting applications.
Implementation Method 1
waveguide housing that includes an input interface optically coupled to the respective illumination light source emitter to steer illumination lighting from the illumination light source emitter
Implementation Method 2
Each waveguide has a housing that includes an input interface optically coupled to the respective illumination light source emitter to steer illumination lighting from the illumination light source emitter. The housing also includes an output interface opposing the input interface and optically coupled to the at least one respective gap between the pixel light emitters
Implementation Method 3
The housing also includes at least one reflective wall having an internal reflective surface encompassing and extending from the input interface and the output interface
Data Source
AI summary
A luminaire includes a light waveguide grid including an array of waveguides coupling respective illumination light source emitters of a general illumination device with respective gaps between respective pixel light emitters of an image display device. Each waveguide has a housing that includes an input interface optically coupled to the respective illumination light source emitter to steer illumination lighting from the illumination light source emitter. The housing also includes an output interface opposing the input interface and optically coupled to one or more gaps between pixel light emitters. The housing further includes at least one reflective wall having an internal reflective surface encompassing and extending from the input interface and the output interface. The structure of the waveguide may be optimized and/or additional technologies added to reduce optical losses and improve overall illumination efficiency of the luminaire.