LIGHTING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES ONE OR MORE SOLID STATE LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE

• US 20100102697A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cree Lighting Company (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Negley, Gerald H., VAN DE VEN, Antony Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,008,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/56 Materials, e.g. epoxy or silicone resin
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/641 characterized by the materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/642 characterized by the shape

Abstract

There is provided a lighting device which comprises at least one solid state light emitter and a substantially transparent heat sink. The heat sink and the solid state light emitter are positioned and oriented relative to one another such that if the solid state light emitter is illuminated, light emitted by the solid state light emitter which exits the lighting device passes through at least a portion of the heat sink. Also, there is provided a lighting device which comprises at least one solid state light emitter and means for extracting heat from the solid state light emitter.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

a substantially transparent heat sink,

said heat sink and said solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented relative to one another such that if said solid state light emitter is illuminated, light emitted by said solid state light emitter which exits said lighting device passes through at least a portion of said heat sink.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink has a heat conductivity of at least 1 W/m-K.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink has a surface area of at least 10 mm².

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if said solid state light emitter is illuminated, substantially all light emitted by said solid state light emitter which exits said lighting device passes through at least a portion of said heat sink.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one heat sink element.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one luminescent material.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one encapsulant, said encapsulant being in contact with said solid state light emitter.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one heat spreader, said heat spreader having a heat spreader heat conductivity which is higher that a heat conductivity of said heat sink.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of a surface of said heat sink comprises an optical feature.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises a printed circuit board, said solid state light emitter being mounted on said printed circuit board.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device is a back-reflecting device.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device is a front-emitting device.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one substantially transparent region having a first heat conductivity and at least one thermal transfer region having a second heat conductivity, said second heat conductivity being greater than said first heat conductivity.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises metal.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one bar.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one crossbar.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one wire.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal transfer region also functions as an electrical terminal.

19. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

a substantially transparent heat sink, at least some of the light emitted by the solid state light emitter passing through the heat sink.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink has a heat conductivity of at least 1 W/m-K.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink has a surface area of at least 10 mm².

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein if said solid state light emitter is illuminated, substantially all light emitted by said solid state light emitter which exits said lighting device passes through at least a portion of said heat sink.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one heat sink element.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one luminescent material.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one encapsulant, said encapsulant being in contact with said solid state light emitter.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one heat spreader, said heat spreader having a heat spreader heat conductivity which is higher that a heat conductivity of said heat sink.

27. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one portion of a surface of said heat sink comprises an optical feature.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device further comprises a printed circuit board, said solid state light emitter being mounted on said printed circuit board.

29. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device is a back-reflecting device.

30. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said lighting device is a front-emitting device.

31. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one substantially transparent region having a first heat conductivity and at least one thermal transfer region having a second heat conductivity, said second heat conductivity being greater than said first heat conductivity.

32. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises metal.

33. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one bar.

34. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one crossbar.

35. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one wire.

36. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein said thermal transfer region also functions as an electrical terminal.

37. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

means for extracting heat from said solid state light emitter.

38. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said means for extracting heat has a heat conductivity of at least 1 W/m-K.

39. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said means for extracting heat has a surface area of at least 10 mm².

40. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein if said solid state light emitter is illuminated, substantially all light emitted by said solid state light emitter which exits said lighting device passes through at least a portion of said means for extracting heat.

41. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said means for extracting heat comprises at least one heat sink element.

42. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one luminescent material.

43. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one encapsulant, said encapsulant being in contact with said solid state light emitter.

44. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one heat spreader, said heat spreader having a heat spreader heat conductivity which is higher that a heat conductivity of said means for extracting heat.

45. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein at least one portion of a surface of said means for extracting heat comprises an optical feature.

46. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device further comprises a printed circuit board, said solid state light emitter being mounted on said printed circuit board.

47. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device is a back-reflecting device.

48. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said lighting device is a front-emitting device.

49. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said means for extracting heat comprises at least one substantially transparent region having a first heat conductivity and at least one thermal transfer region having a second heat conductivity, said second heat conductivity being greater than said first heat conductivity.

50. A lighting device as recited in claim 49, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises metal.

51. A lighting device as recited in claim 49, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one bar.

52. A lighting device as recited in claim 49, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one crossbar.

53. A lighting device as recited in claim 49, wherein said thermal transfer region comprises at least one wire.

54. A lighting device as recited in claim 49, wherein said thermal transfer region also functions as an electrical terminal.