LIGHTING UNIT WITH HEAT-DISSIPATING CHIMNEY

• US 20110199769A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Satco Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Next Lighting Corp.
• Inventors: Pattison, P. Morgan, Pattison, Lisa, Bretschneider, Eric, Sosnick, Randall, Berkowitz, Zach
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• 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: H05B 41/02 Details

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for providing illumination. A lighting unit may have a support structure, and one or more light emitting elements supported by a circuit board contacting the support structure. A first optical element and a second optical element may be provided. A remote luminescent material may be provided on one or more optical elements. Light emitting elements configured to excite the luminescent material such as highly efficient light emitting diodes may be directed towards the luminescent material. The support structure may be a heat dissipating element, which may conduct heat from a heat source to a surface of the support structure. The heat dissipating element may have a passageway permitting the formation of a convection path to dissipate heat from the support structure. Such lighting units may be used to replace conventional fluorescent light tubes or other lighting devices, or may be provided as standalone lighting units.

Claims

1. A lighting unit comprising:

a heat dissipating support structure, having at least one space between portions of the support structure;

a plurality of light emitting elements in thermal communication with the support structure and disposed along a length of said support structure; and

at least one passageway located between at least two light emitting elements and through the heat dissipating support structure to the space.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein said heat dissipating support structure is at least one of the following:

an aluminum heat sink, a copper heat sink, or an alloy thereof.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1 wherein the heat dissipating support structure has a thermal conductivity of 100 W/m°

K or greater.

4. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the passageway is configured to allow a convection path flowing through the passageway.

5. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein said convection path is vertically oriented.

6. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein said heat dissipating support structure comprises one or more of the following heat-dissipating surface features:

fins, grooves, rods, pins, or knobs.

7. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

8. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein said space between portions of the support structure is provided along said length of said support structure.

9. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein said space is open along the length of the support structure, thereby forming a channel within the heat dissipating support structure.

10. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating structure is formed of a single unit.

11. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating structure is formed of multiple units.

12. A method of heat dissipation comprising:

providing a heat dissipating support structure, having at least one space between portions of the support structure;

providing a plurality of light emitting elements in thermal communication with the support structure and disposed along a length of said support structure; and

transferring heat from the light emitting elements to the heat dissipating support structure and the at least one space between portions of the support structure, thereby creating a convection path through the at least one space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said heat dissipating support structure is at least one of the following:

a metal heat sink, or a thermally conductive plastic heat sink.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the convection path through the space permits air to flow through at least one passageway located between at least two light emitting elements and through the heat dissipating support structure to the space.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said convection path is vertically oriented.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said space between portions of the support structure is provided along said length of said support structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said space is open along the length of the support structure, thereby forming a channel within the heat dissipating support structure.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the heat dissipating structure is formed of a single unit.

20. A lighting unit comprising:

a heat dissipating support structure, having at least one space between portions of the support structure;

a plurality of light emitting elements in thermal communication with the support structure and disposed along a length of said support structure; and

at least one thermal conduit for dissipating heat from the lighting unit in fluid communication with the at least one space.