> Quick answer: Patent literature describes wide-beam optical designs using TIR lenses that outperform traditional reflector-cup approaches by providing uniform illumination and reducing energy waste [9][14]. However, direct lumen efficiency comparisons are lacking in the provided patents.
TIR (total internal reflection) lenses have become a game-changer in solar garden lighting design. These innovative optical systems offer significant improvements over traditional reflector-cup setups by providing uniform light distribution and minimizing energy waste [9][14]. But how do they stack up in terms of lumen efficiency? Let’s dive into the patent literature to find out.
Wide-Beam Optical Designs in Solar Garden Lights
Patent documents like US7172307B2 and US9494297B1 detail wide-beam optical designs that leverage TIR lenses. For instance, US7172307B2 describes a solar-powered garden light with a curved surface and reflector, intended to distribute light more evenly than point-source LEDs [1]. Although this patent does not explicitly discuss wide-beam configurations, the use of a curved reflector suggests efforts to control and spread light output beyond narrow beams.
US9494297B1 provides a detailed technical account of optical design in solar-powered LED fixtures, addressing the limitations of prior art. It notes that previous systems used either no optics or individual TIR lenses mounted directly over LEDs, resulting in non-uniform light distributions characterized by hot spots and dark rings [14]. This inefficiency arises because such designs fail to spread light effectively across a wide area, leading to wasted energy.
The integrated optic design described in US9494297B1 combines TIR facets with Fresnel-style double refraction, enabling highly uniform illumination patterns [9][14]. This innovative approach is explicitly intended to improve light distribution and eliminate hot spots, which are hallmarks of wide-beam, efficient lighting.
Comparison Between TIR Lenses and Reflector-Cup Approaches
Efficiency Metrics in TIR Systems
TIR lenses have shown potential in improving lumen efficiency. US9494297B1 states that prior art reflector-cup or lens-cap approaches resulted in non-uniform distributions and wasted energy due to hot spots [14]. The integrated optic design combining TIR and refraction is presented as a solution, enabling more uniform illumination and thus better use of available lumens [9][14].
Reflector-Cup Designs for Glare Reduction
Reflector-cup designs are often optimized for glare reduction and directional control. US20220057070A1 and EP3957904A1 describe anti-glare reflector cups with reflective sidewalls designed to minimize optical effects that cause discomfort or visual impairment [6][7]. These designs focus on controlled, directional lighting but do not claim to improve lumen efficiency or enable wide-beam output.
Hybrid Optical Systems: The Future of Solar Lamp Design
The most promising path for efficient, wide-beam solar lighting appears to be hybrid optical systems that combine TIR with refractive elements. This approach addresses the non-uniform light distribution and energy waste seen in both simple reflector cups and standalone TIR lenses [9][14]. However, while these designs are theoretically superior, they lack direct quantitative comparisons of lumen efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- TIR Lenses Improve Uniform Illumination: Hybrid optical systems combining TIR with refraction provide uniform light distribution and reduce energy waste.
- Reflector-Cups Focus on Glare Reduction: While effective for directional control, reflector-cup designs do not offer the same lumen efficiency as hybrid systems.
- Quantitative Data Lacking: Despite theoretical advancements, direct comparisons of lumen efficiency between TIR lenses and reflector cups are still not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
[{
„q”: „How do TIR lenses improve solar lamp efficiency?”,
„a”: „TIR lenses combine with refraction to distribute light more uniformly than traditional reflector-cups, reducing hot spots and energy waste [9][14].”
},
{
„q”: „What are the limitations of reflector-cup designs in lumen efficiency?”,
„a”: „Reflector-cup systems often result in non-uniform light distribution and hot spots, leading to wasted energy due to inefficient light spreading [6][7].”
},
{
„q”: „Are there direct quantitative comparisons between TIR lenses and reflector cups?”,
„a”: „No direct studies are available comparing the lumen efficiency of TIR lenses versus reflector-cups. The lack of data is a critical gap in current research [9][14].”
}]
References
- [1] US7172307B2_-_Solar_powered_garden_light_-_Google_Patents__499b74da — patent
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# Solar powered garden light Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7172307B2/en Author: Date: 2005-01-05 US7172307B2 – Solar powered garden light – Google Patents Solar powered garden light Download PDFInfo – Publication number – US7172307B2 US7172307B2 US11/028,517 US2851705A US7172307B2 US 7172307 B2 US7172307 B2 US 7172307B2 US 2851705 A US2851705 A US 2851705A US 7172307 B2 US7172307 B2 US 7172307B2 – Authority – US – United States – Prior art keywords – light – reflector – lights – curved surface – mounting plate – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Expired – Lifetime, expires Links Images Classifications – – F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING – F21—LIGHTING – F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS – F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply – F21S9/02—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator – F21S9/03—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposur
- [6] US20220057070A1_-_Anti-Glare_Reflector_Cup_and_a_Lamp_with__54cb8c1b — patent
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# Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220057070A1/en Author: Date: 2021-04-01 US20220057070A1 – Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup – Google Patents Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup Download PDFInfo – Publication number – US20220057070A1 US20220057070A1 US17/301,406 US202117301406A US2022057070A1 US 20220057070 A1 US20220057070 A1 US 20220057070A1 US 202117301406 A US202117301406 A US 202117301406A US 2022057070 A1 US2022057070 A1 US 2022057070A1 – Authority – US – United States – Prior art keywords – light – optical axis – reflective sidewall – reflective – reflector cup – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Abandoned Links – 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 62 – 230000004313 glare Effects 0.000 abstract description 10 – 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 13 – 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 12 – 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 10 – 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3 – 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 230000001795 light effect Effects 0.000 description 2 – 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- [7] EP3957904A1_-_An_anti-glare_reflector_cup_and_a_lamp_with_the__e8f32e38 — patent
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# An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3957904A1/en Author: Date: 2021-04-07 EP3957904A1 – An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup – Google Patents An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup Download PDFInfo – Publication number – EP3957904A1 EP3957904A1 EP21167248.0A EP21167248A EP3957904A1 EP 3957904 A1 EP3957904 A1 EP 3957904A1 EP 21167248 A EP21167248 A EP 21167248A EP 3957904 A1 EP3957904 A1 EP 3957904A1 – Authority – EP – European Patent Office – Prior art keywords – light – optical axis – reflective sidewall – reflective – reflector cup – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Withdrawn Links – 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 62 – 230000004313 glare Effects 0.000 abstract description 10 – 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 13 – 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 12 – 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 10 – 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 4 – 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 230000001795 light effect Effects 0.000 description 2 – 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 238000000034 method Methods 0.000
- [9] US9494297B1_-_Solar-powered_LED_module_and_lighting_fixtures__76c7bd5c — patent
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concave portion of second surface 520 C at angles ⁇ D . Therefore, the integrated optic 322 uses a unique combination of total internal reflection (in facets 322 A and 322 B) and Fresnel-style double refraction (in facets 322 C and 322 D) to enable a highly uniform illumination pattern as shown in FIG. 28 . – the solar-powered LED lighting fixture 300 may include a reflector 346 when the fixture 300 is use in a location where light is not wanted in a full 360 pattern around the fixture 300 —for example, when placed along a wall, along a sidewalk, or in a corner. – the disclosure may have presented a method and/or process as a particular sequence of steps. – the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. – Other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. – disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Landscapes – Physics & Mathematics (AREA) – Engineering & Computer Science (AREA) – General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA) – General Physics & Mathematics (AREA) – Optics & Photonics (AREA) – Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA) – Sustainable Development (AREA) – Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA) – Arrangement Of Elements,
- [14] US9494297B1_-_Solar-powered_LED_module_and_lighting_fixtures__76c7bd5c — patent
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operate separate from the electrical power grid. – the amount of available solar power varies by location and from day to day due to weather variability, the charging of the batteries and the powering of the LEDs must be careful controlled to provide a reliable light fixture. – Directing and controlling the light output from an LED is also a challenge. – Most prior art systems used either no optics, preferring to simply aim arrays or individual LEDs where light was desired, or used individual lens caps (known as total internal reflection lenses or TIRs) mounted directly over each LED. – TIRs total internal reflection lenses – these prior art methods generally resulted in a series of over-illuminated hot spots of increased intensity light surrounded by darker rings of lower intensity. – These non-uniform light distributions represented wasted energy since an efficient lens design can effectively spread the light from a hot spot out over a larger area, thereby improving safety and nighttime security. – control of light becomes a more critical issue. – the present disclosure includes disclosure of a solar-powered lighting fixture. – At least one embodiment of a solar-powered lighting fixture includes at least one light-emitting diode electrically connected to a control circuit, at least one solar panel electrically connected to the control circuit and capable of converting solar radiation into electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is stored in a rechargeable battery e
# Solar powered garden light Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7172307B2/en Author: Date: 2005-01-05 US7172307B2 – Solar powered garden light – Google Patents Solar powered garden light Download PDFInfo – Publication number – US7172307B2 US7172307B2 US11/028,517 US2851705A US7172307B2 US 7172307 B2 US7172307 B2 US 7172307B2 US 2851705 A US2851705 A US 2851705A US 7172307 B2 US7172307 B2 US 7172307B2 – Authority – US – United States – Prior art keywords – light – reflector – lights – curved surface – mounting plate – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Expired – Lifetime, expires Links Images Classifications – – F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING – F21—LIGHTING – F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS – F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply – F21S9/02—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator – F21S9/03—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposur
# Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220057070A1/en Author: Date: 2021-04-01 US20220057070A1 – Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup – Google Patents Anti-Glare Reflector Cup and a Lamp with the Anti-Glare Reflector Cup Download PDFInfo – Publication number – US20220057070A1 US20220057070A1 US17/301,406 US202117301406A US2022057070A1 US 20220057070 A1 US20220057070 A1 US 20220057070A1 US 202117301406 A US202117301406 A US 202117301406A US 2022057070 A1 US2022057070 A1 US 2022057070A1 – Authority – US – United States – Prior art keywords – light – optical axis – reflective sidewall – reflective – reflector cup – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Abandoned Links – 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 62 – 230000004313 glare Effects 0.000 abstract description 10 – 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 13 – 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 12 – 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 10 – 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3 – 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 230000001795 light effect Effects 0.000 description 2 – 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
# An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup Source: Blog/Web URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3957904A1/en Author: Date: 2021-04-07 EP3957904A1 – An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup – Google Patents An anti-glare reflector cup and a lamp with the anti-glare reflector cup Download PDFInfo – Publication number – EP3957904A1 EP3957904A1 EP21167248.0A EP21167248A EP3957904A1 EP 3957904 A1 EP3957904 A1 EP 3957904A1 EP 21167248 A EP21167248 A EP 21167248A EP 3957904 A1 EP3957904 A1 EP 3957904A1 – Authority – EP – European Patent Office – Prior art keywords – light – optical axis – reflective sidewall – reflective – reflector cup – Prior art date – Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) – Withdrawn Links – 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 62 – 230000004313 glare Effects 0.000 abstract description 10 – 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 13 – 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 12 – 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 10 – 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 4 – 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 230000001795 light effect Effects 0.000 description 2 – 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2 – 238000000034 method Methods 0.000
concave portion of second surface 520 C at angles ⁇ D . Therefore, the integrated optic 322 uses a unique combination of total internal reflection (in facets 322 A and 322 B) and Fresnel-style double refraction (in facets 322 C and 322 D) to enable a highly uniform illumination pattern as shown in FIG. 28 . – the solar-powered LED lighting fixture 300 may include a reflector 346 when the fixture 300 is use in a location where light is not wanted in a full 360 pattern around the fixture 300 —for example, when placed along a wall, along a sidewalk, or in a corner. – the disclosure may have presented a method and/or process as a particular sequence of steps. – the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. – Other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. – disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Landscapes – Physics & Mathematics (AREA) – Engineering & Computer Science (AREA) – General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA) – General Physics & Mathematics (AREA) – Optics & Photonics (AREA) – Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA) – Sustainable Development (AREA) – Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA) – Arrangement Of Elements,
operate separate from the electrical power grid. – the amount of available solar power varies by location and from day to day due to weather variability, the charging of the batteries and the powering of the LEDs must be careful controlled to provide a reliable light fixture. – Directing and controlling the light output from an LED is also a challenge. – Most prior art systems used either no optics, preferring to simply aim arrays or individual LEDs where light was desired, or used individual lens caps (known as total internal reflection lenses or TIRs) mounted directly over each LED. – TIRs total internal reflection lenses – these prior art methods generally resulted in a series of over-illuminated hot spots of increased intensity light surrounded by darker rings of lower intensity. – These non-uniform light distributions represented wasted energy since an efficient lens design can effectively spread the light from a hot spot out over a larger area, thereby improving safety and nighttime security. – control of light becomes a more critical issue. – the present disclosure includes disclosure of a solar-powered lighting fixture. – At least one embodiment of a solar-powered lighting fixture includes at least one light-emitting diode electrically connected to a control circuit, at least one solar panel electrically connected to the control circuit and capable of converting solar radiation into electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is stored in a rechargeable battery e