LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110204790A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Seeley, Charles, Sharma, Rajdeep, Weaver, Stanton, Wolfe, Charles JR., Prabhakaran, Satish, Stecher, Thomas, Kuenzler, Glenn, Arik, Mehmet, Icoz, Tunc, Utturkar, Yogen
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/113
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/63 using electrically-powered vibrating means; using ionic wind
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• 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 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/31 Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/36 Circuits for reducing or suppressing harmonics, ripples or electromagnetic interferences [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology

Abstract

Lighting systems having unique configurations are provided. For instance, the lighting system may include a light source, a thermal management system and driver electronics, each contained within a housing structure. The light source is configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure. The thermal management system is configured to provide an air flow, such as a unidirectional air flow, through the housing structure in order to cool the light source. The driver electronics are configured to provide power to each of the light source and the thermal management system.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a housing structure;

a light source configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure;

a thermal management system configured to provide a unidirectional air flow through the housing structure; and

driver electronics configured to provide power to each of the light source and the thermal management system.

2. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing structure comprises:

a cage having slots therein and configured to contain the driver electronics;

a thermal management system housing configured to contain the thermal management system, and having a plurality of air ports, wherein at least one of the plurality of air ports is configured to entrain ambient air, and at least another of the plurality of air ports is configured to reject warmed air from the lighting system into the ambient air; and

a face plate having the opening formed therethrough.

3. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED).

4. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises 19 blue light emitting diodes arranged in an array.

5. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a heat sink;

a plurality of synthetic jet devices; and

a duct system comprising ducts configured to intake or outtake ambient air.

6. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a base portion and a plurality of fins extending from the base portion, wherein the plurality of fins provide a plurality of air gaps there between.

7. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of fins has one of the plurality of synthetic jet devices coupled thereto.

8. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein when the synthetic jet devices are activated, a unidirectional air flow path is provided along each of the plurality of air gaps, through the length of each of the plurality of fins.

9. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driver electronics comprises a light emitting diode (LED) power supply and a synthetic jet power supply.

10. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the LED power supply and synthetic jet power supply is arranged on a single printed circuit board.

11. A lighting system, comprising:

an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a surface of a lighting plate; and

a thermal management system arranged above the array of LEDs, wherein the thermal management system comprises a plurality of synthetic jet devices, wherein each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is configured to produce a jet stream in a direction parallel to the surface of the lighting plate.

12. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, comprising driver electronics arranged above the thermal management system and configured to provide power to each of the thermal management system and the array of light emitting diodes.

13. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the driver electronics are contained on a single board.

14. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the array of light emitting diodes comprises less than or equal to 19 light emitting diodes.

15. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the lighting system comprises a screw-based structure configured to electrically couple the lighting system to a standard socket.

16. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the lighting system is configured to produce at least approximately 1500 lumens.

17. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the thermal management system comprises a heat sink having a heat-conducting base portion and a plurality of heat-conducting fins extending from the surface of the base portion.

18. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein a synthetic jet device of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is coupled to each of the plurality of heat-conducting fins.

19. A method of cooling a lighting system, comprising:

illuminating a plurality of lighting elements arranged on a planar surface of the lighting system;

transferring heat from the plurality of lighting elements to a heat sink; and

driving air from an area outside of the lighting system through the lighting system and back out to the area outside of the lighting system.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein driving air comprises producing a plurality of synthetic jet flows utilizing a plurality of synthetic jet devices.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of fins and wherein driving air comprises driving air between each of the plurality of fins.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein illuminating comprises illuminating a plurality of light emitting diodes to at least approximately 1500 lumens.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein illuminating the plurality of lighting elements and driving the air are facilitated by electronics arranged on a single board and powered by a utility grid.

24. A lighting system, comprising:

an Edison base configured to couple to electrically couple to a standard light socket;

a light source; and

a thermal management system, comprising;

passive cooling components; and

active cooling components.

25. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 24, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

26. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 24, wherein the passive cooling components comprise a heat sink comprising a base portion arranged in contact with the light source, and a plurality of fins extending from the base portion.

27. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 24, wherein the active cooling components comprise an array of synthetic jet devices.

28. The lighting system, as set forth in claim 24, wherein the passive cooling components comprise a heat sink comprising a base portion arranged in contact with the light source, and a plurality of fins extending from the base portion, and wherein the active cooling components comprise an array of synthetic jet devices, wherein each synthetic jet device is configured to produce an air flow between a respective pair of fins of the plurality of fins.