LED LAMP WITH ACTIVE COOLING ELEMENT

• US 20110215697A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: HE, YEJIN, YOUMANS, MARK, TONG, TAO
• Granted Patent: US 9,625,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/46
• 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 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/40 on the sides of polyhedrons, e.g. cubes or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Solid state lamp or bulb structures are disclosed that can provide an essentially omnidirectional emission pattern from directional emitting light sources, such as forward emitting light sources. The present invention is also directed to lamp structures using active elements to assist in thermal management of the lamp structures and in some embodiments to reduce the convective thermal resistance around certain of the lamp elements to increase the natural heat convection away from the lamp. Some embodiments include integral fans or other active elements that move air over the surfaces of a heat sink, while other embodiments comprise internal fans or other active elements that can draw air internal to the lamp. The fan'"'"'s movement of the air over these surfaces can agitate otherwise stagnant air to decrease the convective thermal resistance and increasing the ability of the lamp to dissipate heat generated during operation.

Claims

1. A solid state light source, comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED);

a heat sink with said LED in thermal contact with said heat sink; and

a integral fan arranged to reduce the convective thermal resistance of at least some lamp elements.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan is adjacent to said heat sink.

3. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan flows air over one or more surface of said heat sink.

4. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan reduces convective thermal resistance by agitating the air over at least some of said lamp elements.

5. The light source of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser dome over on said heat sink and over said LED.

6. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan is internal to one of said lamp components and draws ambient air internal to said lamp.

7. The light source of claim 5, wherein said fan is internal to said heat sink and draws air into said heat sink and flows air into said diffuser dome.

8. The light source of claim 1, further comprising a phosphor carrier arranged so that at least some of light from said LED passes through said phosphor carrier.

9. The light source of claim 8, wherein said phosphor carrier is a three-dimensional structure.

10. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan is modular.

11. The light source of claim 1, further comprising a base for connecting to a source of electrical power.

12. The light source of claim 11, further comprising drive electronics integral to said base.

13. The light source of claim 11, wherein said fan is between said base and said heat sink.

14. The light source of claim 5, wherein said diffuser dome disperses light from said LED.

21. The light source of claim 1, wherein said fan is modular.

15. A solid state light source, comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED);

a heat sink with said LED in thermal contact with said heat sink; and

an integral active air agitation mechanism arranged to reduce the convective thermal resistance of at least some lamp elements.

16. A solid state light source, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a heat sink arranged in relation to said LEDs so that said LEDs are in thermal contact with said heat sink; and

a integral fan arranged to flow air over the surfaces of said heat sink to reduce the convective thermal resistance of said heat sink.

17. The light source of claim 16, further comprising a base, wherein said fan is adjacent to said heat sink between said base and said heat sink.

18. The light source of claim 16, further comprising a diffuser dome over on said heat sink and over said LEDs.

19. The light source of claim 16, further comprising a phosphor carrier arranged so that at least some of light from said LEDs passes through said phosphor carrier.

20. The light source of claim 19, wherein said phosphor carrier is a three-dimensional structure or planar.

22. The light source of claim 17, wherein said base further comprises drive electronics.

23. The light source of claim 22, wherein said drive electronics provide electrical inputs to said fan and said LEDs.

24. The light source of claim 18, wherein said diffuser dome disperses light from said LEDs.

25. A solid state light source, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a heat sink arranged in relation to said LEDs so that said LEDs are in thermal contact with said heat sink; and

a fan internal to said lamp and arranged flow air over surfaces of said lamp to reduce the convective thermal resistance at said surfaces.

26. The light source of claim 25, wherein said fan is internal to said heat sink.

27. The light source of claim 25, wherein said fan draws air from external to the internal of said heat sink.

28. The light source of claim 25, further comprising a diffuser cavity over said LEDs, said fan arranged to flow air into said diffuser cavity.

29. The light source of claim 25, wherein said heat sink comprises heat sink fins, said fan moving air over and between said heat sink fins.

30. The light source of claim 28, further comprising an outlet to allow air to exit from said diffuser cavity.

31. The light source of claim 28, further comprising a phosphor carrier arranged in said diffuser cavity over said LEDs.

32. The light source of claim 31, wherein said phosphor carrier is three-dimensional and said fan flows air into said phosphor carrier.

33. The light source of claim 25, further comprising a base for connecting to a source of electrical power.

34. The light source of claim 33, wherein said base is at least partially internal to said heat sink.

35. The light source of claim 34, wherein said fan flows air over said base.

36. A solid state light source, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a heat sink having a heat sink core, said LEDs on and in thermal contact with said heat sink;

a fan internal arranged within said heat sink core;

a base having drive electronics, said base mounted to said heat sink at least partially within said heat sink core; and

a diffuser dome mounted to said heat sink over said LEDs, said fan drawing air into said heat sink core and flowing air into said diffuser cavity.

37. A solid state light source, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a heat sink with said LEDs on and in thermal contact with said heat sink;

a fan arranged adjacent to said heat sink;

a base having drive electronics, said base mounted to said heat sink with said fan mounted between said base and said heat sink; and

a diffuser dome mounted to said heat sink over said LEDs, said fan flowing air over the surfaces of said heat.

38. A solid state light source, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a heat sink arranged in relation to said LEDs so that said LEDs are in thermal contact with said heat sink; and

an active element internal to said lamp and arranged to flow air over surfaces of said lamp to reduce the convective thermal resistance at said surfaces.