Optimizing spherical light-emitting diode array for highly uniform illumination distribution by employing genetic algorithm

A numerical optimization method (genetic algorithm) is employed to design the spherical light-emitting diode (LED) array for highly uniform illumination distribution. An evaluation function related to the nonuniformity is constructed for the numerical optimization. With the minimum of evaluation function, the LED array produces the best uniformity. The genetic algorithm is used to seek the minimum of evaluation function. By this method, we design two LED arrays. In one case, LEDs are positioned symmetrically on the sphere and the illuminated target surface is a plane. However, in the other case, LEDs are positioned nonsymmetrically with a spherical target surface. Both the symmetrical and nonsymmetrical spherical LED arrays generate good uniform illumination distribution with calculated nonuniformities of 6 and 8%, respectively.