Waveguide Lighting Unit with Segmented Luminescent Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting units, such as edge-lit light guides, do not easily allow the generation of beams of light with different optical properties, particularly varying color temperature and CIE x,y-color points, limiting their versatility in producing diverse spectral distributions.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit comprising a waveguide with a first and second light exit surface and an edge, where a light source provides incoupled light, and combinations of luminescent materials and reflectors to produce light with distinct spectral distributions, allowing for different beams of light to be emitted in opposite directions with varying color temperatures and saturation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single light guide structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to produce different spectral distributions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is divided into multiple segments along its length, with each segment containing different luminescent materials or reflector configurations. This segmentation allows each segment to produce different spectral distributions, enabling the overall device to generate multiple types of light without requiring multiple separate light guides, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide are equipped with different luminescent materials (e.g., red, green, blue phosphors) or reflector types (specular vs. diffuse) at specific locations. This local differentiation enables spatial variation in spectral output, allowing the device to produce diverse spectral distributions from a single unified structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple luminescent materials are used to achieve different spectral distributions, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple luminescent materials are combined within integrated luminescent layers or coatings applied directly to the light guide substrate. Rather than requiring separate components for each material, the invention merges multiple phosphors or luminescent compounds into unified layers, reducing the number of discrete manufacturing steps and minimizing precision requirements while still achieving diverse spectral outputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite luminescent materials or multi-layer luminescent coatings that combine different phosphors in single integrated structures. These composite approaches allow multiple spectral characteristics to be achieved through material composition rather than spatial arrangement, significantly reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining spectral diversity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different reflector types are implemented in the light guide, then the spectral distribution control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide structure is designed with multi-functional regions that can serve multiple purposes. For example, certain zones can function as both luminescent material carriers and reflector surfaces, or the same structural feature can provide both light extraction and spectral modification. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate components needed, improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional reflector surface patterns to three-dimensional integrated structures where reflectors, luminescent materials, and light extraction features are combined in vertical stacking or layered configurations. This dimensional approach allows complex spectral control functions to be achieved through vertical integration rather than horizontal expansion, reducing overall device complexity.
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
Enables the generation of two distinct beams of light with different spectral distributions, including different color temperatures and saturation levels, enhancing the versatility and application range of lighting units by allowing for tailored light emission in various directions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more of a first luminescent material, a second luminescent material... the first luminescent material and the second luminescent material are excitable by the (outcoupled) light source light
Implementation Method 2
the first luminescent material adjacent to the first light exit surface and configured to provide first luminescent material light, and a second luminescent material adjacent to the second light exit surface and configured to provide second luminescent material light
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of first reflectors and a plurality of second reflectors... the first reflectors and a plurality of second reflectors
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a waveguide for providing first light (111) having a first spectral distribution and second light (121) having a second spectral distribution emanating from a waveguide (100) in different directions, wherein the first spectral distribution and second spectral distribution differ. For instance, the first light (111) and the second light (121) have different color temperatures.