LED Luminaire Design Process

1. Define Lighting Requirements

The design goals should be based either on an existing fixture¡¯s performance or on the application¡¯s lighting requirements.

2. Define design goals

♠ Specify design goals, which will be based on the application¡¯s lighting requirements.
♠ The designer should specify any other goals that will influence the design, such as special optical requirements or being able to withstand high temperatures.

3. Estimate efficiencies of the optical, thermal & electrical systems

♠ Design goals will place constraints on the optical, thermal and electrical systems.
♠ Good estimations of efficiencies of each system can be made based on these constraints.
♠ The combination of lighting goals and system effiiciencies will drive the number of LEDs needed in the luminaire.

4. Calculate the number of LEDs needed

Based on the design goals and estimated losses, the designer can calculate the number of LEDs needed to meet the design goals.

5. Consider all design possibilities and choose the best

♠ As with any design, there are many different ways to best achieve the design goals.
♠ LED lighting is still a new field, so assumptions that work for conventional lighting sources may not apply to LED lighting design.

6. Complete final steps

Complete circuit board layout.
♠ Test design choices by building a prototype luminaire.
♠ Make sure the design achieves all the design goals.
♠ Use the prototype design to further refine the luminaire design.
♠ Record observations and ideas for improvement.