Light emitting diode (LED) bulb

• US 8,567,990 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Betsuda, Nobuhiko, Suwa, Takumi, Kawano, Hitoshi, Saito, Akiko, Bessho, Makoto, Shibano, Nobuo, Shimizu, Keiichi, Shibahara, Yusuke, Tamai, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THAI N
• Application Number:
  US13/595,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 313/45, 313/46, 313/318.01, 313/318.09, 315/32, 315/113, 315/309, 362/184, 362/240, 362/294, 362/351, 362/800, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• 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 23/0492 the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch
• 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 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• 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]

Abstract

A lighting device may include a substrate attached to one edge side of a radiator and a cover may be attached to cover the substrate. Heat-radiating fins may be provided on the other edge side of the radiator and an air-cooling unit may be rotatably provided inside the heat-radiating fins, thereby enabling freely rotation. In one or more examples, a case storing a circuit part is attached to the other edge side of the radiator and a cap is provided to the case. By the air flow from the air-cooling unit, the heat-radiating fins are caused to be a part of the ventilation path to allow for ventilation of the inside of the radiator.

Claims

1. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

an LED module;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on a surface of the LED module;

a heat dissipating unit having the LED module mounted thereon and configured to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs, the heat dissipating unit comprising a surface; and

a cover configured to externally pass through radiant light from the LEDs and comprising an outer surface at a side adjacent to the heat dissipating unit,

wherein the heat dissipating unit and at least a portion of the outer surface of the cover define opposing surfaces of a heat dissipation path extending from an interior of the heat dissipating unit to an exterior of the LED bulb, wherein the heat dissipating path is different from a space between the cover and the LEDs.

2. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating unit further includes an air intake path extending from a periphery of the heat dissipating unit to a central portion of the heat dissipating unit, wherein the air intake path is disposed below the heat dissipating path.

3. The LED bulb of claim 2, wherein the heat dissipating unit is configured to direct air flow from the air intake path in a direction toward the plurality of LEDs.

4. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating unit further defines an interior heat dissipating path extending through a central portion of the heat dissipating unit, wherein the interior heat dissipating path connects to the heat dissipating path.

5. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the LED module is supported on a first surface of a supporting member and wherein at least a portion of the heat dissipating path is defined by a second surface of the supporting member.

10. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating unit and at least a portion of the outer surface of the cover define the heat dissipation path therebetween.

6. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

an LED substrate including a central hole;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on a surface of the LED substrate;

a heat dissipating unit having the LED substrate mounted thereon and configured to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs;

a cover covering the LED substrate and configured to externally pass through radiant light from the LEDs; and

an air-cooling unit including a fan arranged at one side opposite to a side on which the LED substrate is mounted on the heat dissipating unit,

wherein the heat dissipating unit defines a heat dissipation path in which radiated air flows by driving of the fan of the air-cooling unit, wherein the heat dissipation path extends along a center axis of the heat dissipating unit and through the central hole of the LED substrate, and

wherein the heat dissipating path extends to an exterior of the LED bulb.

7. The LED bulb of claim 6, wherein the heat dissipating unit is configured to dissipate heat from a first end of the heat dissipating unit to a second end of the heat dissipating unit, wherein the second end corresponds to an end of the heat dissipating unit located proximate to the cover and wherein the first end is located opposite to the second end.

8. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

an LED module;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on a surface of the LED module;

a heat dissipating unit having the LED module mounted thereon and configured to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs through a heat dissipating path;

a supporting member on which the LED module is supported;

a cover covering the LED module and configured to externally pass through radiant light from the LEDs; and

an air-cooling unit including a fan arranged at one side opposite to a side on which the LED module is mounted on the heat dissipating unit, and configured to direct radiated air through the heat dissipating path by driving of the fan,

wherein the LED module is supported on a first surface of the supporting member and wherein at least a portion of the heat dissipating path is defined by a second surface of the supporting member, and

wherein the heat dissipating path extends to an exterior of the LED bulb.

9. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

an LED substrate comprising a hole;

a plurality of LEDs mounted directly on a surface of the LED substrate and around the hole in a circumferential direction relative to the hole, and wherein the hole penetrates the surface of the LED substrate on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted;

a heat dissipating unit having the LED substrate mounted thereon and configured to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs; and

a cover covering at least a portion of the LED substrate and configured to externally pass through radiant light from the LEDs,

wherein the heat dissipating unit is configured to provide heat dissipating airflow from an interior of the heat dissipating unit to the hole of the LED substrate.