Cycling LED Heat Spreader

• US 20070103875A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NeoGraf Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Graftech International Holdings Inc (Graftech International Limited)
• Inventors: Laser, Brian, Kostyak, Gary, Getz, Matthew, Reis, Bradley, Frastaci, Michael, Skandakumaran, Prathib, Smale, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,365,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/719
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A graphite heat spreader is provided for use with a flash LED light source for a camera of a handheld device such as a cell phone. Dramatically reduced operating temperatures are provided at substantially increased power levels thus providing both improved lighting and improved operating life of the electronic components.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a light source assembly disposed in the housing, the light source including;

a substrate including an electrical circuit which provides the capability to cycle the light source on and off, the substrate having first and second major surfaces;

a light emitting diode light source located adjacent the first major surface of the substrate and connected to the electrical circuit; and

a heat spreader including a sheet of graphite, the heat spreader being in heat conducting association with the second major surface of the substrate wherein the light source can be cycled on and off within 10 seconds for at least two cycles without an appreciable rise in the maximum temperature from cycle to cycle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sheet of graphite is selected from the group consisting of a sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite and a graphitized polymer film.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 to about 1.5 mm.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate is a flexible substrate; and

the heat spreader is a flexible heat spreader so as to aid in installation of the circuit assembly in the handheld electronic device.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a thermal via extending through the substrate into thermal engagement with the heat spreader, the LED being mounted upon the thermal via.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat spreader is sized such that the light source can operate in a flash mode with a flash duration of at least about 250 ms with a recovery time of no greater than about 2 seconds, at ambient temperature of at least about 20°

C., while maintaining a temperature at a junction between the LED and the substrate of no greater than about 135°

C.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the sheet of graphite has an in plane thermal conductivity of at least about 220 W/mK.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate comprises a flex circuit having a dielectric layer formed of a polymer material.

9. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a camera disposed in the housing; and

a light source assembly disposed in the housing adjacent the camera, the light source including;

a substrate;

a light emitting diode light source which is capable of cycling on and off mounted on one side of the substrate; and

a graphite heat spreader attached to an opposite side of the substrate, the graphite heat spreader having an in plane thermal conductivity substantially greater than a through plane thermal conductivity thereof.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the substrate and the heat spreader are both flexible so as to aid in installation of the light source assembly in the device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the graphite heat spreader has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the in plane thermal conductivity of the graphite heat spreader is at least about 220 W/mK.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the graphite heat spreader is sized such that the light source can operate in a flash mode with a flash duration of at least about 250 ms with a recovery time of no greater than about 2 seconds, at ambient temperature of at least about 20°

C.