LED Module with Integrated Thermal Spreader

• US 20120293652A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgelux Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bridgelux Incorporated
• Inventors: Farmer, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

LED module with integrated thermal spreader. In an aspect, an LED module is provided that includes an LED light source, a driver connected to energize the LED light source, and a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader configured to provide a thermal conduction path to conduct heat energy away from the LED module. In another aspect, a lighting device includes a heat sink and an LED module mated with the heat sink. The LED module includes an LED light source, a driver connected to energize the LED light source, and a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader forming a thermal conduction path with the heat sink to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

Claims

1. An LED module comprising:

an LED light source;

a driver connected to energize the LED light source; and

a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader configured to provide a thermal conduction path to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

2. The LED module of claim 1, the LED light source comprising at least one light source selected from a set of light sources comprising an LED, an LED array, and one or more LED emitters mounted on a substrate.

3. The LED module of claim 1, further comprising optics configured to cover the LED light source.

4. The LED module of claim 3, the optics configured to focus light emitted from the LED light source into a selected beam pattern.

5. The LED module of claim 1, the thermal spreader comprising a connector configured to provide at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the LED module.

6. The LED module of claim 5, the connector comprising electrical contacts configured to route electrical signals to the driver.

7. The LED module of claim 1, the thermal spreader comprising thermal interface material (TIM) to facilitate heat conduction from the thermal spreader.

8. The LED module of claim 1, the thermal spreader comprising at least one material selected from a set of materials comprising copper, brass, aluminum, graphite, indium, ceramic, thermoplastic, and composite materials.

9. The LED module of claim 1, the thermal spreader comprising a surface configured to mate with a surface of an external heat sink to form the thermal conduction path through which thermal energy conducts from the thermal spreader to the external heat sink.

10. The LED module of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to the driver.

11. The LED module of claim 10, the antenna configured to transmit and receive communication signals over one or more radio channels.

12. The LED module of claim 1, further comprising an accessory package connected to the driver and comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a camera, a closed circuit television camera (CCTV), and a temperature detector.

13. A lighting device comprising:

a heat sink; and

an LED module mated with the heat sink, the LED module comprising;

an LED light source;

a driver connected to energize the LED light source; and

a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader forming a thermal conduction path with the heat sink to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

14. The lighting device of claim 13, the thermal spreader comprising a connector configured to mate the LED module with the heat sink, the connector comprising at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the heat sink.

15. The lighting device of claim 13, the LED light source comprising at least one light source selected from a set of light sources comprising an LED, an LED array, and one or more LED emitters mounted on a substrate.

16. The lighting device of claim 13, further comprising a diffuser configured to cover the LED module and diffuse light emitted from the LED light source.

17. The lighting device of claim 13, the thermal spreader comprising thermal interface material (TIM) to facilitate thermal conduction from the thermal spreader to the heat sink.

18. The lighting device of claim 13, the thermal spreader comprising at least one material selected from a set of materials comprising copper, brass, aluminum, graphite, indium, ceramic, thermoplastic, and composite materials.

19. The lighting device of claim 13, further comprising an antenna connected to the driver.

20. The lighting device of claim 19, the antenna configured to transmit and receive communication signals over one or more radio channels.

21. The lighting device of claim 13, further comprising an accessory package connected to the driver and comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a camera, a closed circuit television camera (CCTV), and a temperature detector.

22. A lighting fixture, comprising:

a lamp head; and

a lighting device connected to the lamp head, the lighting device comprising a heat sink and an LED module mated with the heat sink, the LED module comprising;

an LED light source;

a driver connected to energize the LED light source; and

a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader forming a thermal conduction path with the heat sink to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

23. The lighting device of claim 22, the thermal spreader comprising a connector configured to mate the LED module with the heat sink, the connector comprising at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the heat sink.

24. The lighting device of claim 22, the LED light source comprising at least one light source selected from a set of light sources comprising an LED, an LED array, and one or more LED emitters mounted on a substrate.

25. The lighting device of claim 22, further comprising a diffuser configured to cover the LED module and diffuse light emitted from the LED light source.

26. The lighting device of claim 22, the thermal spreader comprising thermal interface material (TIM) to facilitate thermal conduction from the thermal spreader to the heat sink.

27. The lighting device of claim 22, the thermal spreader comprising at least one material selected from a set of materials comprising copper, brass, aluminum, graphite, indium, ceramic, thermoplastic, and composite materials.

28. The lighting device of claim 22, further comprising an antenna connected to the driver.

29. The lighting device of claim 28, the antenna configured to transmit and receive communication signals over one or more radio channels.

30. The lighting device of claim 22, further comprising an accessory package connected to the driver and comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a camera, a closed circuit television camera (CCTV), and a temperature detector.

31. A lighting system, comprising:

a central controller; and

one or more lighting fixtures in communication with the central controller, each lighting fixture comprising an LED module comprising;

an LED light source;

a driver connected to energize the LED light source; and

a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader configured to provide a thermal conduction path to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

32. The lighting system of claim 31, each lighting fixture comprising:

a lamp head; and

a lighting device connected to the lamp head, the lighting device comprising a heat sink mated the thermal spreader to form a thermal conduction path to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.

33. The lighting system of claim 31, the thermal spreader comprising a connector configured to mate the LED module with the heat sink, the connector comprising at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the heat sink.

34. The lighting system of claim 31, the LED light source comprising at least one light source selected from a set of light sources comprising an LED, an LED array, and one or more LED emitters mounted on a substrate.

35. The lighting system of claim 31, further comprising a diffuser configured to cover the LED module and diffuse light emitted from the LED light source.

36. The lighting system of claim 31, the thermal spreader comprising thermal interface material (TIM) to facilitate thermal conduction from the thermal spreader to the heat sink.

37. The lighting system of claim 31, the thermal spreader comprising at least one material selected from a set of materials comprising copper, brass, aluminum, graphite, indium, ceramic, thermoplastic, and composite materials.

38. The lighting system of claim 31, further comprising an antenna connected to the driver.

39. The lighting system of claim 38, the antenna configured to transmit and receive communication signals over one or more radio channels.

40. The lighting system of claim 31, the LED module further comprising an accessory package connected to the driver and comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a camera, a closed circuit television camera (CCTV), and a temperature detector.