Partitioned heatsink for improved cooling of an LED bulb

• US 8,740,415 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheelock, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US13/068,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20130010480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/249.02, 362/373, 361/719
• US Class Current: 362/294
• 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 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/77 with essentially identical diverging planar fins or blades, e.g. with fan-like or star-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• 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 2107/40 on the sides of polyhedrons, e.g. cubes or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) bulb has a shell. An LED is within the shell. The LED is electrically connected to a driver circuit, which is electrically connected to a base of the LED bulb. The LED bulb also has a heatsink between the shell and base. A thermal break partitions the heatsink into an upper partition adjacent the shell and a lower partition adjacent the base.

Claims

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

a shell;

an LED within the shell;

a driver circuit electrically connected to the LED;

a base electrically connected to the LED driver circuit; and

a heatsink between the base and the shell, wherein the heatsink has a thermal break defining an upper partition adjacent the shell and a lower partition adjacent the base, and wherein the upper partition and the lower partition each conducts heat through the body of the respective partition and dissipates heat from the LED bulb via a surface area of the upper partition and the lower partition exposed to the environment outside of the LED bulb.

2. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heatsink is made of aluminum.

3. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the upper partition has a smaller exposed surface area than the lower partition.

4. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heatsink is made of a metal having a first thermal conductivity and the thermal break is implemented with a connector piece made of a material having a second thermal conductivity that is lower than the first thermal conductivity.

5. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the heatsink has a plurality of fins.

6. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is thermally coupled to the lower heatsink partition.

7. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the LED is thermally coupled to the upper heatsink partition.

8. The LED buld of claim 1, wherein the LED is mounted on an LED mount.

9. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the thermal break is a void.

10. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is within the lower partition and the base.

11. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is thermally coupled to the lower heatsink partition, and wherein the LED is thermally coupled to the upper heatsink partition.

12. A light emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

a shell;

an LED within the shell;

a base; and

a heatsink between the base and the shell, wherein the heatsink has a thermal break defining an upper partition adjacent the shell and a lower partition adjacent the base, and wherein the upper partition and the lower partition each conducts heat through the body of the respective partition and dissipates heat from the LED bulb via a surface area of the upper partition and the lower partition exposed to the environment outside of the LED bulb.

13. The LED bulb of claim 12, wherein the heatsink is made of a metal having a first thermal conductivity and the thermal break is implemented with a connector piece made of a material having a second thermal conductivity that is lower than the first thermal conductivity.

14. The LED bulb of claim 12, wherein the thermal break is a void.

15. The LED bulb of claim 12, further comprising:

a driver circuit, wherein the driver circuit is thermally coupled to the lower heatsink partition, and wherein the LED is thermally coupled to the upper heatsink partition.

16. A light emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

a shell;

an LED within the shell;

a liquid within the shell;

a base; and

a heatsink between the base and the shell, wherein the heatsink has a thermal break defining a first partition adjacent the shell and a second partition adjacent the base, and wherein the first partition and the second partition each conducts heat through the body of the respective partition and dissipates heat from the LED bulb via a surface area of the upper partition and the lower partition exposed to the environment outside of the LED bulb.

17. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein the heatsink is made of a metal having a first thermal conductivity and the thermal break is implemented with a connector piece made of a material having a second thermal conductivity that is lower than the first thermal conductivity.

18. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein the thermal break is a void.

19. The LED bulb of claim 16, further comprising:

a driver circuit, wherein the driver circuit is thermally coupled to the second heatsink partition.

20. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein the LED is thermally coupled to the first heatsink partition.