A Simple Design Approach of a Fresnel Lens for Creating Uniform Light-Emitting Diode Light Distribution Patterns

Abstract

Devising an efficient method for distributing high-radiance light-emitting diode emissions onto target surfaces is a continuing challenge. Most current design methods are mathematically complex and require intricate optimizations. In this article, a simple and highly accurate geometric optics analysis is described for creating a free-form total internal reflection collimator lens and a Fresnel exit lens, which can be fabricated easily for producing a specific intensity distribution. A powerful application is the ability to create various high-efficiency and uniform illumination patterns from a standard widely used MR16 light bulb by simply attaching a Fresnel exit lens onto the face of the bulb.

Keywords:

• collimated illumination
• free-form lens
• light-emitting diode
• MR16 bulb
• total internal reflection lens
• uniform illumination

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liang-Tang Chen

Liang-Tang Chen received his bachelor of engineering from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in Taipei and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering at NTUST. His main research interest is lighting design. He has worked in the photonics industry in Taiwan for 5 years as an optical engineer on devising a variety of systems for distributing high-radiance light-emitting diode emissions onto target surfaces with specific illumination patterns. The main tasks of his profession have been LED secondary lens design, LED light-distribution applications, and pico projector design.

Gerd Keiser

Gerd Keiser received his B.A. and M.S. in physics from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and has a PhD in physics from Northeastern University. He is a research professor at Boston University and an adjunct professor at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei. He has authored over 70 technical papers and wrote 4 books. His professional interests are optical networking and biophotonics. He is an IEEE life fellow, an OSA fellow, and an SPIE fellow.

Yen-Ru Huang

Yen-Ru Huang received his B.S. in electro-physics from National Chiao-Tung University (NCTU) in 2005 and his M.S. and Ph.D. in electronic engineering from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in 2008 and 2012, respectively. He is a postdoctoral researcher at the Networked Communication Program Office and an adjunct professor at Tamkang University. His professional interests include semiconductor devices, nano-materials, optical design, astrophysics, wireless communication, and antenna design.

San-Liang Lee

San-Liang Lee received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), in 1995. He joined the faculty of the Department of Electronic Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in 1988 and became a full professor in 2002. He was the vice president of the university from 2011 to 2014 and chairman of the department from 2005 to 2008. He served as dean of the Academic Affairs Office, NTUST, from 2008 to 2010. He was the director of the program office for the National Innovative Education Program on Image Display Technology, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, from 2005 to 2009. He served as the electronic section editor of the SCI-indexed Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers from 2007 to 2012. He was a visiting scientist in the Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), while taking a sabbatical leave from NTUST from 2010 to 2011. His research interests include semiconductor optoelectronic components, photonic-integrated circuits, nanophotonics, and optical networking technologies. He has published more than 200 referred papers in international journals and conferences and holds 30 patents.