OPTICAL/ELECTRICAL TRANSDUCER USING SEMICONDUCTOR NANOWIRE WICKING STRUCTURE IN A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND PHASE TRANSITION HEAT TRANSFER MECHANISM

• US 20130049018A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: RAMER, David P., Rains, Jack C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,759,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/81
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/046 characterised by the material or the construction of the capillary structure
• 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: H01L 31/024 Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or temperature compensation for photovoltaic devices H01L31/052
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/052 Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells cooling means in combination with the PV module H02S40/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/147 the light sources and the devices sensitive to radiation all being semiconductor devices characterised by potential barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/24 of the light emitting region, e.g. non-planar junction
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/648 the elements comprising fluids, e.g. heat-pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An optical/electrical transducer device has housing, formed of a thermally conductive section and an optically transmissive member. The section and member are connected together to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber. Pressure within the chamber configures a working fluid to absorb heat during operation of the device, to vaporize at a relatively hot location as it absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location. The transducer device also includes a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location. At least a portion of the wicking structure comprises semiconductor nanowires, configured as part of an optical/electrical transducer within the chamber for emitting light through and/or driven by light received via the transmissive member.

Claims

1. An optical/electrical transducer apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a section that is thermally conductive and a member that is at least partially optically transmissive, the optically transmissive member being connected to the thermally conductive section of the housing to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber;

a working fluid within the chamber, wherein pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat during operation of the apparatus, to vaporize at a relatively hot location as the working fluid absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location; and

a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location,

wherein at least a portion of the wicking structure in contact with the working fluid comprises semiconductor nanowires configured as at least part of an optical/electrical transducer within the chamber for emitting light through and/or driven by light received via the transmissive member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a further portion of the wicking structure is comprised of a wick other than semiconductor nanowires.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wick of the further portion is at least partially reflective.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wick of the further portion comprises metallic nanowires.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor nanowires are configured as at least part of an electrical-to-optical transducer for emitting light when driven by an electrical current.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor nanowires are configured as at least part of an optical-to-electrical transducer for producing an electrical current in response to light.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is electrically conductive for carrying an electrical current to or from at least some of the semiconductor nanowires.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing, the chamber, the working fluid and the wicking structure together form a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism for transferring heat away from the optical/electrical transducer within the chamber.

9. An optical/electrical transducer apparatus, comprising:

a semiconductor transducer for converting between optical and electrical energy, wherein the transducer includes semiconductor nanowires;

a housing having a section that is thermally conductive and a member, that is at least partially optically transmissive, the optically transmissive member being connected to the thermally conductive section of the housing to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber, the semiconductor transducer being mounted with at least the semiconductor nanowires within the chamber;

a working fluid within the chamber, wherein pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat from the semiconductor transducer during operation of the apparatus, to vaporize at a relatively hot location at or near the semiconductor nanowires as the working fluid absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location; and

a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location,

wherein the semiconductor nanowires of the semiconductor transducer are configured as a portion of the wicking structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a further portion of the wicking structure is comprised of a wick other than semiconductor nanowires.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wick of the further portion is at least partially reflective.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wick of the further portion comprises metallic nanowires.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transducer having the semiconductor nanowires is configured as an electrical-to-optical transducer for emitting light when driven by an electrical current.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transducer having the semiconductor nanowires is configured as an optical-to-electrical transducer for producing an electrical current in response to light.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the working fluid is electrically conductive for carrying an electrical current to or from at least some of the semiconductor nanowires.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing, the chamber, the working fluid and the wicking structure together form a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism for transferring heat away from the semiconductor transducer.

17. A device for emitting light, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting device, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device includes semiconductor nanowires;

a housing having a section that is thermally conductive and a member that is at least partially optically transmissive, the optically transmissive member being connected to the thermally conductive section of the housing to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber, the semiconductor light emitting device being mounted with at least the semiconductor nanowires within the chamber, the optically transmissive member permitting emission of at least some light from the semiconductor light emitting device as an output;

a working fluid within the chamber, wherein pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat from the semiconductor nanowires during operation of the apparatus, to vaporize at a relatively hot location at or near the semiconductor nanowires as the working fluid absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location; and

a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location, wherein;

the housing, the chamber, the working fluid and the wicking structure together form a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism for transferring heat away from the semiconductor light emitting device, and

the semiconductor nanowires of the semiconductor light emitting device are configured as a portion of the wicking structure.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a heat sink coupled to the cold location of the thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism.

19. A device for producing an electrical signal in response to light, comprising:

a semiconductor transducer responsive to light, wherein the semiconductor transducer includes semiconductor nanowires;

a housing having a section that is thermally conductive and a member that is at least partially optically transmissive, the optically transmissive member being connected to the thermally conductive section of the housing to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber, the semiconductor light emitting device being mounted with at least the semiconductor nanowires within the chamber, the optically transmissive member permitting entry of light as an input for processing by semiconductor transducer;

a working fluid within the chamber, wherein pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat from the semiconductor nanowires during operation of the apparatus, to vaporize at a relatively hot location at or near the semiconductor nanowires as the working fluid absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location; and

a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location, wherein;

the housing, the chamber, the working fluid and the wicking structure together forming a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism for transferring heat away from the semiconductor transducer, and

the semiconductor nanowires of the semiconductor transducer are configured as a portion of the wicking structure.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a heat sink coupled to the cold location of the thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism.