APPARATUS FOR USING HEAT PIPES IN CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF AN LED LIGHT UNIT

• US 20100084979A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Inventors: BURTON, THOMAS R., Balczarek, Gregory K., Curran, John W., Peck, John Patrick, Zimmer, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,596,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• 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 45/30 Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/42 Forced cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/49 Attachment of the cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 : involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) light unit is disclosed. For example, the LED light unit includes at least one support plate having one or more inner openings. At least one LED array may be coupled to an LED board. The LED light unit also includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the LED board, wherein said LED board is coupled to the at least one support plate.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) light unit, comprising:

at least one support plate;

at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one support plate;

at least one LED coupled to said at least one support plate;

at least one thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED; and

at least one temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

2. The LED light unit of claim 1, wherein said LED light unit comprises a headlight for a vehicle.

3. The LED light unit of claim 2, wherein said at least one heat pipe is coupled to a part of said vehicle.

4. The LED light unit of claim 3, wherein said part comprises at least one of:

a bumper or a chassis.

5. The LED light unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller coupled to said at least one thermoelectric cooler and said at least one temperature sensor.

6. The LED light unit of claim 5, wherein said controller, said at least one thermoelectric cooler and said at least one temperature sensor form a feedback control loop for controlling a temperature of said at least one LED.

7. The LED light unit of claim 5, wherein said controller is located remotely on a display console of a vehicle.

8. The LED light unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one thermoelectric cooler comprises a Peltier device.

9. The LED light unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing coupled to said at least one heat pipe, wherein said at least one heat pipe dissipates heat away from said at least one LED and to said housing.

10. A method for controlling a temperature of at least one light emitting diode (LED) comprising:

receiving a temperature reading of said at least one LED;

comparing said temperature reading to a predefined threshold; and

adjusting a temperature of said at least one LED based upon said comparing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said temperature reading is received from a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is above a predefined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said adjusting comprises:

lowering said temperature of said at least one LED via at least one of;

a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED or at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one LED.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is below a predefined threshold.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said adjusting comprises:

increasing said temperature of said at least one LED via a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving and said comparing are performed continuously.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein heat dissipated away from said at least one LED in said adjusting step is transferred to an exterior side of a housing covering said at least one LED.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for controlling a temperature of at least one light emitting diode (LED), comprising:

receiving a temperature reading of said at least one LED;

comparing said temperature reading to a predefined threshold; and

adjusting a temperature of said at least one LED based upon said comparing.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein said temperature reading is received from a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein said receiving and said comparing are performed continuously.