HEAT REMOVAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODE LIGHTING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A heat removal assembly for a lighting apparatus, the heat removal assembly comprising:
- a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light source of the lighting apparatus, wherein adjacent fins of the plurality of fins are separated by a gap width, and wherein each of the plurality of fins has a fin length, and each fin extends in a first direction along the fin length, and the gap width is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and
a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow substantially in the first direction past the plurality of fins through the gap widths to remove heat from the plurality of fins, wherein the gap width separating adjacent fins is selected to reduce interference between neighboring boundary layers that form along each of the fins within the duct for a particular duct and fin configuration for the lighting apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described. In one embodiment, the lighting apparatus can be installed in a recessed can in which incoming and outgoing flows of a stack-effect airflow are separated. Methods for removing heat from a light emitting diode are also described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat removal assembly for a lighting apparatus, the heat removal assembly comprising:
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a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light source of the lighting apparatus, wherein adjacent fins of the plurality of fins are separated by a gap width, and wherein each of the plurality of fins has a fin length, and each fin extends in a first direction along the fin length, and the gap width is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow substantially in the first direction past the plurality of fins through the gap widths to remove heat from the plurality of fins, wherein the gap width separating adjacent fins is selected to reduce interference between neighboring boundary layers that form along each of the fins within the duct for a particular duct and fin configuration for the lighting apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A light emitting diode lighting apparatus comprising:
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a light emitting diode; a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode, wherein a gap width separates adjacent fins, and wherein each fin has a fin length that extends in a first direction, and the gap width is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow substantially in the first direction along the fin length past the plurality of fins through the gap widths to remove heat from the plurality of fins, wherein the gap width is selected to reduce boundary layer choking between neighboring boundary layers that form along each of the plurality of fins within the duct for a particular duct and fin configuration for the lighting apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of removing heat from a light emitting diode, the method comprising:
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conducting heat away from the light emitting diode to a plurality of fins, wherein adjacent fins of the plurality of fins are separated by a gap width, and wherein each of the plurality of fins has a fin length, and each fin extends in a first direction along the fin length, and the gap width is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and convecting heat from the plurality of fins to a stack-effect airflow, wherein a duct draws the stack-effect airflow through the duct and past the plurality of fins through the gap widths, wherein a substantial portion of the stack-effect airflow flows substantially in the first direction along the fin length, and further wherein the gap width separating adjacent fins of the plurality of fins is configured to reduce boundary layer choking along the plurality of fins. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification