English
Consumer
Life in Light

reflectors

You are in: Home Technology Reflectors

Technology

Reflectors

Reflectors

Reflectors in a new light

It is well established that energy efficient lighting needs to combine efficient light sources with efficient distribution of the light they produce.

For that reason, MEGAMAN® spotlight LEDs use a parabolic reflector to control light distribution, rather than the lenses favoured by some manufacturers.

MEGAMAN®’s unique geometry

In order to reproduce the precise light control you get from parabolic reflectors, MEGAMAN® position their multi-chip LED arrays using a unique axial geometry both replicating the traditional approach and allowing the optimum thermal control with MEGAMAN® TCH technology.

This unique approach facilitates the use of reflectors with all the associated advantages of precise beam control and allows lumens to be where they are wanted with less glare.Making optimum use of the lumen output through precise optical configuration, MEGAMAN® LED delivers the performance that lighting designers and their clients expect from spotlights. This is particularly important when replacing halogen spotlights with LED alternatives.

Aesthetics are also important as spotlights tend to be very visible. By using the compact-profile reflector design with its innovative LED multi-chip geometry, MEGAMAN® maintains the attractive appeal of traditional reflectors while offering all the advantages of LED technology.

MEGAMAN® goes even further achieving colour tolerances of just 100K and offers linear dimming from 1% - 100% with the designated driver and standard DC1-10V dimmer. MEGAMAN® ’s unique approach with axial LED geometry, parabolic reflector, glare shield and patented TCH thermal control offers the best solution for precise comfortable low energy lighting for accent and display applications.

megaman-reflector2t

MEGAMAN®'s unique geometry allowing optimum thermal control with MEGAMAN® TCH Technology

 megaman-reflector1t

MEGAMAN®'s unique reflector technology

Superb light sources with precision control

Why Reflectors?

There are many reasons for using reflectors in these applications, including:

Efficiency

  • The parabolic reflector has been proven over many years to be the most efficient method for directing the light from a point source, so that maximum use is made of the lumen output (optical efficiency up to 98%).
  • Lenses absorb light and have an efficiency <90%
 megaman-reflector3t

Diagram 1: Illustrates even Light Distribution using tradtional light source and parabolic reflector

Control of Light

  • With lenses the light is concentrated in the middle, creating high candela levels, but in practice giving dots of lights with too much contrast on the outer diameter of the beam. Beam quality is not measured in candela, such numbers while important can be misleading.
  • To give light levels similar to halogen, a lens solution typically uses several lenses in array overlapping the output to try to create an even distribution of light within the beam, however in the process this creates a lot of side glare.
  • Single parabolic reflectors using multi-chip LED arrays create a soft but precise beam which gives much more comfort than the high contrast beams created with lenses.
  • Lenses over LED arrays create uneven edges with striations, compromising the effect of the lighting.
  • Reflectors allow better glare control with a clear cut off angle, compared to lenses, because the source is directly shielded outside of the beam.
  • The use of a glare shield in combination with a parabolic reflector reduces direct uncontrolled light and ensures the light is precisely controlled
megaman-reflector5t

Diagram 2: Illustrates LED light source using lens Technology

Thermal Control

  • Lenses need to be quite thick to refract light, and thus trap more heat therefore requiring larger heat sinks.
  • MEGAMAN® Reflectors have an open style, allowing more heat to escape so that smaller heat sinks are possible, enabling a smaller fixtures.
  • Even when glass covers are used on MEGAMAN® LED reflectors they do not control the light but purely protect them from collecting dust. As such the covers can be very thin and thermally more efficient as they trap less heat compared to lenses.
  • Reflectors plus MEGAMAN®’s exclusive TCH technology enable higher power units in smaller modules for direct replacement of higher energy sources.
megaman-reflector2t

Diagram 3: MEGAMAN®'s unique geometry allowing optimum thermal control with MEGAMAN® TCH Technology

True replacement for existing halogen lamps

  • When replacing halogen spotlights with LED spotlights, the use of a reflector provides the same light distribution, so the lighting does not need to be reconfigured.
  • LED spotlights with reflectors are more aesthetically pleasing and conform to the expected appearance of a spotlight.
 megaman-reflector1t

Diagram 4: Illustrates MEGAMAN®'s unique reflector technology
Download PDF
Back to Top
MEGAMAN® 2011. All Rights Reserved.