Wide Light Distribution Lens with Total Reflection Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wide light distribution lenses for LED lamps are bulky and difficult to process due to their complex shape, making them unsuitable for small-sized LED lamps and increasing manufacturing costs, while also facing challenges in achieving a sufficient light distribution angle.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical element with a rotationally symmetrical design featuring a through-hole, an entrance surface, an exit surface, and a total reflection surface that totally reflects light from the entrance surface to the exit surface, allowing for a wider light distribution without the need for a conically recessed shape, enabling the lens to be housed in smaller LED lamp designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the second exit surface is inclined to diametrically spread from the outer circumferential edge of the entrance surface toward the outer circumferential edge of the first exit surface, then the light distribution angle becomes wider, but the size of the wide light distribution lens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design approach by eliminating the conically recessed first exit surface and instead using a substantially flat entrance surface combined with a total reflection surface. This inversion allows light to be reflected and redirected without requiring the lens to spread outward, thus achieving wide light distribution without increasing size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light redistribution function from the complex conical shape and relocates it to a total reflection surface. By separating the functions of light entry (flat entrance surface) and light redirection (total reflection surface), the design eliminates the need for a bulky conically recessed structure while maintaining wide light distribution capability
2Illumination intensity
If the first exit surface is conically recessed toward the center of the entrance surface, then the light distribution angle becomes wider, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a simpler, more manufacturable design by replacing the complex conically recessed surface with a substantially flat entrance surface and a total reflection surface. This simplification makes the lens easier and cheaper to manufacture while still achieving the desired wide light distribution effect through total internal reflection
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a conically recessed first exit surface to redirect light, the patent inverts the approach by using a flat entrance surface with a total reflection surface that redirects light through reflection. This inversion simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the light distribution function
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 provides a wider light distribution angle comparable to incandescent bulbs while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs by eliminating the need for complex shaping, allowing the lens to be integrated into smaller LED lamp designs such as those resembling chandelier bulbs.
Implementation Method 1
a total reflection surface which connects the distal edge of the exit surface and the inner circumferential edge of the entrance surface facing the through-hole to define the through-hole. The total reflection surface is configured to totally reflect, toward the exit surface, the light of the light source that has entered the optical element from the entrance surface.
Data Source
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AI summary
An illumination apparatus includes a light source(4) having a light emitting surface(14), and an optical element(16) which has a shape rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis line and which transmits the light of the light source. The optical element includes a through-hole(18) provided along the axis line, an entrance surface(19) which faces the light emitting surface and in which the through-hole is open, an exit surface(20) extending from the outer circumferential edge of the entrance surface, and a total reflection surface(21) which connects the distal edge of the exit surface and the inner circumferential edge of the entrance surface to define the through-hole. The total reflection surface is configured to totally reflect the light of the light source that has entered the optical element from the entrance surface.