LED LAMP

• US 20150131293A1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Progl, Curt, Bucklen, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 9,651,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/294
• 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: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis

Abstract

A lamp includes an enclosure that is at least partially optically transmissive and a base. One or more LEDs are located in the enclosure and are operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. A heat sink having a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion that is thermally coupled to the at least one LED transfers heat from the LEDs to the ambient environment. The heat sink includes fins that are located in the enclosure. A housing is press fit between the heat dissipating portion and the heat conducting portion and forms part of the heat sink. The housing is thermally coupled to the heat sink and is made of thermally conductive material and is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment. The housing defines at least a portion of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure being at least partially optically transmissive;

a base;

at least one LED located in the enclosure and operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base;

a heat sink comprising a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion that is thermally coupled to the at least one LED;

a housing press fit between the heat dissipating portion and the heat conducting portion.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the base comprises an Edison connector.

3. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED is mounted on the heat sink in a center of the enclosure.

4. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED is attached to a submount and the submount is thermally and mechanically coupled to the heat sink.

5. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing supports at least a portion of the enclosure.

6. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing is at least partially exposed to an exterior of the lamp.

7. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing supports a lens.

8. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing supports a reflective surface.

9. The lamp of claim 8 wherein the reflective surface is part of a reflector component mounted inside of the housing.

10. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the heat conducting portion comprises fins that engage the housing.

11. The lamp of claim 10 wherein the housing comprises a flange that is trapped between the fins and a wall of the heat sink.

12. The lamp of claim 10 wherein a thermal path is created between the heat conducting portion and the housing through the fins.

13. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a portion of the enclosure.

14. The lamp of claim 14 wherein the housing is made of a thermally conductive material.

15. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure being at least partially optically transmissive;

a base;

at least one LED located in the enclosure and operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base;

a heat sink comprising a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion that is thermally coupled to the at least one LED;

a housing press fit to the heat sink such that a thermal path is created between the heat sink and the housing where at least a portion of the housing is external to the enclosure.

16. The lamp of claim 15 wherein the housing is press fit between a first portion of the heat sink and a second portion of the heat sink.

17. The lamp of claim 15 wherein the housing is made of a thermally conductive material.

18. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure being at least partially optically transmissive;

a base;

at least one LED located in the enclosure and operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base;

a heat sink comprising a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion comprising a tower that extends into the enclosure and that is thermally coupled to the at least one LED, and at least one fin thermally coupled to the tower within the enclosure;

a housing thermally coupled to the heat sink, the housing being made of thermally conductive material and being at least partially exposed to the ambient environment, the housing defining at least a portion of the enclosure.

19. The lamp of claim 18 wherein the housing is press fit to the heat sink.

20. The lamp of claim 19 wherein the housing is press fit between a first portion of the heat sink and a second portion of the heat sink.

21. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure being at least partially optically transmissive;

a base comprising electrical connections;

at least one LED located in the enclosure and operable to emit light when energized through the electrical connections in the base;

a heat sink comprising a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion comprising a tower that extends into the enclosure and that is thermally coupled to the at least one LED, and at least one fin thermally coupled to the tower within the enclosure; and

the at least one fin extending from said tower to an exterior of the enclosure.