STRUCTURES SUBJECTED TO THERMAL ENERGY AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT METHODS THEREFOR
First Claim
1. A structure having a surface in proximity to a source of thermal energy and required to have at least one of thermal property chosen from the group consisting of thermal conductivity and flame retardance, the structure comprising:
- a substrate formed of a metallic material or a thermally conductive plastic material; and
a white fluoropolymer layer directly on a surface of the substrate without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween, the white fluoropolymer layer defining an outermost surface of the structure, having a reflectivity of greater than 95%, and having a thickness sufficient to inhibit degradation of the thermal property of the structure resulting from impingement of the surface by the thermal energy.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Thermal management techniques and methods for various types of structures that require a thermal property, such as thermal conductivity and/or flame retardance, and have a surface in proximity to a source of thermal energy. Such a structure includes a substrate formed of a metallic material or a thermally conductive plastic material, and a white fluoropolymer layer directly on a surface of the substrate without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween. The white fluoropolymer layer defines an outermost surface of the structure, has a reflectivity of greater than 95%, and has a thickness sufficient to inhibit degradation of the thermal property of the structure resulting from impingement of the surface by the thermal energy.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A structure having a surface in proximity to a source of thermal energy and required to have at least one of thermal property chosen from the group consisting of thermal conductivity and flame retardance, the structure comprising:
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a substrate formed of a metallic material or a thermally conductive plastic material; and a white fluoropolymer layer directly on a surface of the substrate without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween, the white fluoropolymer layer defining an outermost surface of the structure, having a reflectivity of greater than 95%, and having a thickness sufficient to inhibit degradation of the thermal property of the structure resulting from impingement of the surface by the thermal energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An LED-based lighting unit comprising:
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a housing; a translucent portion coupled to the housing; at least one LED adapted to emit visible light through the translucent portion, the LED generating thermal energy within the housing; a structure disposed in the LED-based lighting unit so as to be heated by the thermal energy generated by the LED, the structure having a surface within the housing in proximity to the LED such that light emitted by the LED impinges the surface of the structure; and a white fluoropolymer layer directly on the surface of the structure without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween, the white fluoropolymer layer having a reflectivity of greater than 95% and reflecting the light that impinges the surface of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thermal management method for an LED-based lighting unit, the LED-based lighting unit comprising a housing, a translucent portion coupled to the housing, at least one LED emitting visible light through the translucent portion and generating thermal energy within the housing, and a structure disposed in the LED-based lighting unit so as to be heated by the thermal energy generated by the LED, the structure having a surface within the housing in proximity to the LED such that light emitted by the LED impinges the surface of the structure, the method comprising:
providing the surface of the structure with a white fluoropolymer layer that directly contacts the surface thereof without a discrete adhesive layer therebetween, the white fluoropolymer layer having a reflectivity of greater than 95% and reflecting the light that impinges the surface of the structure.
Specification