Lighting Devices Including Thermally Conductive Housings and Related Structures

• US 20110074289A1
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van de Ven, Antony Paul, Ho, Chin Wah, Chan, Wai Kwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/32
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/233 specially adapted for generating a spot light distribution, e.g. for substitution of reflector lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device may include a light emitting device and a sidewall extending away from the light emitting device. In addition, a thermally conductive housing may be spaced apart from the sidewall, and a cavity may be defined between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing. In addition, a lens may be spaced apart from the light emitting device with the sidewall extending away from the light emitting device to the lens to define a mixing chamber adjacent the light emitting device. Moreover, the thermally conductive housing may be outside the mixing chamber, and the sidewall may be reflective.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a light emitting device;

a sidewall extending away from the light emitting device; and

a thermally conductive housing spaced apart from the sidewall, wherein a cavity is defined between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive housing includes openings therethrough providing fluid communication between the cavity inside the thermally conductive housing and space outside the thermally conductive housing.

3. A lighting device according to claim 2 further comprising:

a heat dissipating element in the cavity between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing, wherein portions of the heat dissipating element are spaced apart from both the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing.

4. A lighting device according to claim 3 wherein the heat dissipating element is configured to allow fluid communication between portions of the cavity between the heat dissipating element and the sidewall and portions of the cavity between the heat dissipating element and the thermally conductive housing.

5. A lighting device according to claim 3 wherein the thermally conductive housing and the heat dissipating element are both thermally coupled to the light emitting device.

6. A lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a heat dissipating element in the cavity between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing, wherein portions of the heat dissipating element are spaced apart from both the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing.

7. A lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a lens spaced apart from the light emitting device, wherein the sidewall extends away from the light emitting device to the lens to define a mixing chamber adjacent the light emitting device.

8. A lighting device according to claim 7 wherein the thermally conductive housing is outside the mixing chamber defined by the sidewall and the lens.

9. A lighting device according to claim 1 wherein a cross section of the outside surface of the thermally conductive housing is substantially symmetric with respect to a central axis of the lighting device, wherein a first width nearest the light emitting device is less than a second width more distant from the light emitting device.

10. A lighting device according to claim 9 wherein the outside surface of the thermally conductive housing defines a substantially frustoconical shape.

11. A lighting device according to claim 9 wherein the outside surface of the thermally conductive housing is free of fins.

12. A lighting device according to claim 11 wherein a greatest width of the outside surface of the thermally conductive housing is in the range of about 90 mm to about 110 mm.

13. A lighting device according to claim 12 further comprising:

an Edison screw fitting electrically coupled to the light emitting device, wherein the Edison screw fitting aligned with the central axis of the lighting device.

14. A lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the sidewall comprises a reflective sidewall.

15. A lighting device comprising:

a fitting;

a light emitting device (LED) electrically coupled to the fitting; and

a thermally conductive housing thermally coupled to the light emitting device, wherein the thermally conductive housing extends away from the fitting and away from the light emitting device, and wherein the thermally conductive housing defines an outer surface of the lighting device that is substantially free of fins.

16. A lighting device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a sidewall extending away from the light emitting device, wherein portions of the thermally conductive housing are spaced apart from the sidewall to define a cavity between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing.

17. A lighting device according to claim 16 further comprising:

a base housing providing mechanical coupling and spacing between the fitting and the light emitting device; and

a driver circuit providing electrical coupling between the fitting and the light emitting device.

18. A lighting device according to claim 16 further comprising:

a lens spaced apart from the light emitting device, wherein the sidewall extends away from the light emitting device to the lens to define a mixing chamber adjacent the light emitting device.

19. A lighting device according to claim 16 wherein a widest portion of the thermally conductive housing is in the range of about 90 mm to about 110 mm wide.

20. A lighting device according to claim 16 wherein the thermally conductive housing includes openings therethrough providing fluid communication between the cavity inside the thermally conductive housing and space outside the thermally conductive housing.

21. A lighting device according to claim 20 further comprising:

a heat dissipating element in the cavity between the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing, wherein the heat dissipating element is thermally coupled with the light emitting device, and wherein portions of the heat dissipating element are spaced apart from both the sidewall and the thermally conductive housing.

22. A lighting device according to claim 21 wherein the heat dissipating element is configured to allow fluid communication between portions of the cavity between the heat dissipating element and the sidewall and portions of the cavity between the heat dissipating element and the thermally conductive housing.

23. A lighting device according to claim 15 wherein the fitting comprises an Edison screw fitting.