Illumination Device

• US 20070201233A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Yuji, Kawaguchi, Yoshifumi, Saigo, Takehiko, Shoda, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illumination device can be configured to be capable of radiating light generated from a light emitting element while efficiently dissipating heat from the light emitting element. The illumination device can also efficiently utilize the light from the light emitting element. The illumination device can include a light emitting element, and a plurality of radially disposed radiation fins for dissipating heat generated by the light emitting element. An aperture for allowing light from the light emitting element to pass therethrough can be formed between adjacent ones of the radiation fins. In addition, a reflection surface for reflecting light which is blocked by the radiation fins when passing through the aperture can be formed on a surface of each of the radiation fins.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a light emitting element; and

a plurality of radiation fins located adjacent the light emitting element and configured to dissipate heat generated by the light emitting element, the radiation fins being radially disposed about the light emitting element, wherein

an aperture is located between adjacent ones of the radiation fins and is configured to allow light from the light emitting element to pass therethrough, and the radiation fins include a reflection surface configured to reflect light which is incident thereon.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of radiation fins are disposed radially outside of the light emitting element.

3. The illumination device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first bridge structure configured to bridge the plurality of radiation fins, the first bridge structure including a reflection surface configured to reflect light which is incident thereon, the first bridge structure reflecting surface configured to face the plurality of radiation fins.

4. The illumination device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second bridge structure, wherein the first and second bridge structures are disposed at central axial ends of the plurality of radiation fins, respectively.

5. The illumination device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a lens configured to guide the light from the light emitting element, the lens being press-fitted inside an inner peripheral surface of one of the first and second bridge structures.

6. The illumination device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a lens configured to guide the light from the light emitting element, the lens being press-fitted inside an inner peripheral surface of one of the first and second bridge structures.

7. The illumination device according to claim 3, wherein the first bridge structure and the plurality of radiation fins are integrally formed as a single component.

8. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the first bridge structure and the plurality of radiation fins are integrally formed as a single component.

9. The illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the first bridge structure and the plurality of radiation fins are integrally formed as a single component.

10. The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the first bridge structure and the plurality of radiation fins are integrally formed as a single component.

11. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second bridge structures and the plurality of radiation fins are integrally formed as a single component.

12. The illumination device according to claim 3, wherein the first bridge structure is an annular structure.

13. The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for bridging the plurality of radiation fins.

14. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device includes an optical axis along which the light emitting element emits light, and the plurality of radiation fins and the light emitting element are located at substantially the same position along the optical axis.

15. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device includes an optical axis along which the light emitting element emits light in a light emitting direction, and the plurality of radiation fins extend from a position adjacent the light emitting element to a position spaced from the light emitting element and in the light emitting direction along the optical axis of the illumination device.

16. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is a light emitting diode.

17. An illumination device comprising:

a light emitting element configured to emit light in a light emitting direction and along an optical axis of the illumination device; and

a plurality of radiation fins located adjacent the light emitting element and configured to dissipate heat generated by the light emitting element, the radiation fins being disposed in front of the light emitting element in the light emitting direction and extending in the light emitting direction, wherein

an opening is located between adjacent ones of the radiation fins and is configured to allow light from the light emitting element to pass therethrough, and the radiation fins include a reflection surface configured to reflect light incident thereon.

18. The illumination device according to claim 17, further comprising:

a first bridge structure configured to bridge the plurality of radiation fins, the first bridge structure including a reflection surface.

19. The illumination device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a second bridge structure, wherein the first and second bridge structures are disposed at central axial ends of the plurality of radiation fins, respectively.

20. The illumination device according to claim 17, further comprising:

a lens located adjacent the radiation fins and configured to guide the light from the light emitting element along the optical axis of the illumination device.