Stability of glass versus plastics for transmissive high-power LED optics

C. Paßlick; A. Hellwig; U. Geyer; T. Heßling; M. C. Hübner

doi:10.1117/12.2061854

25 September 2014 Stability of glass versus plastics for transmissive high-power LED optics

C. Paßlick, A. Hellwig, U. Geyer, T. Heßling, M. C. Hübner

Proceedings Volume 9192, Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XV; 919210 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2061854
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In the past, the major part of transmissive LED optics was made from injection molded polymers like PMMA or PC. Recent LED developments now show constantly increasing levels of luminous flux and energy densities, which restrict the usability of such polymer optics due to their limitations in thermal stability. Thermal simulations have shown that light guiding/mixing structures (rods) made from polymer materials can easily reach temperatures above their melting point due to the absorption characteristics. However, there is a great demand for such light rods from the automotive and entertainment industry and thus glass is becoming increasingly important as an optical material. Glass has typical transformation temperatures of hundreds of degrees Celsius and therefore withstands the conditions seen with LED without any problems. Square-shaped glass light guides show temperature advantages over round light rods, which are known for being able to produce caustics inside the material causing absorption and temperature hot spots, respectively. This paper presents some comparative thermal simulations by means of the Finite Element Method for a light conductor as an example and gives corresponding assistance for an appropriate material and light guide shape selection for highpower LED optics.

Citation Download Citation

C. Paßlick, A. Hellwig, U. Geyer, T. Heßling, and M. C. Hübner "Stability of glass versus plastics for transmissive high-power LED optics", Proc. SPIE 9192, Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XV, 919210 (25 September 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2061854

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