Microstructured light guiding plate for single-sided light emission as light source for room illumination

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Lighting

Background:

• Microstructured light guiding plates (LGPs) are emerging as key components for energy-efficient and flexible lighting systems.
• Facade-integrated LGPs are a promising solution for uniform office room illumination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate optical microstructures for facade-integrated LGPs to achieve ideal light distribution for uniform room lighting.
• To meet specific lighting requirements, including a maximum light distribution at 96° from the vertical.

Main Methods:

• Numerical ray tracing was employed to design and analyze optical microstructures.
• The study focused on integrating these microstructures into facade elements for lighting applications.

Main Results:

• The designed micro-system achieved a light distribution maximum at 98° from the vertical, closely matching the target of 96°.
• A light cone width of 25° was achieved, ensuring effective light distribution.
• The proposed LGP demonstrated high light emission efficiency with 80% coupling efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Facade-integrated microstructured LGPs can effectively provide uniform room lighting.
• The designed optical microstructures meet the stringent requirements for ideal light distribution in office environments.
• The high coupling efficiency of the proposed LGP design contributes to energy-efficient lighting solutions.