Light emitting diode (LED) lighting system

• US 9,677,752 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esjonsson Ehf
• Original Assignee: Esjonsson Ehf
• Inventors: Jonsson, Sturla, Kristjansson, Jon, Jonsson, Thorgeir
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/654,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20150316246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/777 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/50 on planar substrates or supports, but arranged in different planes or with differing orientation, e.g. on plate-shaped supports with steps on which light-generating elements are mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system including a first heat dissipation structure having a front side acting as a contact area to at least one LED and a back side. At least one second heat dissipation structure is positioned adjacent to the backside of the first heat dissipation structure. At least one thermoelectric module is positioned between the first heat dissipation structure. At least one second heat dissipation structure for conducting heat is produced from the at least one LED during operation from the first heat dissipation structure towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure. The front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure extending distally away from the at least one second heat dissipation structure and the at least one upwardly protruding structure acts as the contact point to the at least one LED.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system, comprising:

a first heat dissipation structure having a front side and a back side, the front side acting as a contact area to at least one LED;

at least one second heat dissipation structure positioned adjacent to the backside of the first heat dissipation structure; and

at least one thermoelectric module positioned between the first heat dissipation structure and the at least one second heat dissipation structure for conducting heat produced from the at least one LED during operation from the first heat dissipation structure to towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure,

wherein the front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure extending distally away from the at least one second heat dissipation structure and where the at least one upwardly protruding structure acts as at least one contact point to the at least one LED, and

wherein the front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises a plurality of upwardly protruding structures forming an array like front side of upwardly protruding structures, where the upwardly protruding structures act as at least one contact point to at least one LED selected from plurality of LEDs.

2. The LED system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one upwardly protruding structure has a conical shape.

7. The LED system according to claim 1, where the number of repetition between a second dissipation structures and thermoelectric modules is adapted to the geometrical size and or the power of the LED lighting system, where the larger or the more power the LED lighting system is the more will the repetition be between the second dissipation structure and thermoelectric modules.

8. The LED system according to claim 1, wherein the surface/volume ratio of the first and/or the at least one second heat dissipation structure is two or more.

9. The LED system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second heat dissipation structure defines at least one plate structure.

10. A heat dissipation structure having a front side and a back side adapted to be used in relation to a light emitting diode (LED) lighting system according to claim 1, where the heat dissipation structure has a front side adapted to act as a contact area to at least one LED and a back side, where the front side comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure adapted to act as at least one contact point to the at least one LED.

3. A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system, comprising:

a first heat dissipation structure having a front side and a back side, the front side acting as a contact area to at least one LED;

at least one second heat dissipation structure positioned adjacent to the backside of the first heat dissipation structure; and

at least one thermoelectric module positioned between the first heat dissipation structure and the at least one second heat dissipation structure for conducting heat produced from the at least one LED during operation from the first heat dissipation structure to towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure,

wherein the front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure extending distally away from the at least one second heat dissipation structure and where the at least one upwardly protruding structure acts as at least one contact point to the at least one LED, and

wherein the respective one of the at least one thermoelectric module comprises at least one thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a first side and a second side, where the at least one TEC is connected to a power source that supplies electrical current and thus electrical energy into the at least one TEC, where the TEC converts the electrical energy into a temperature gradient between the first and the second side along a vertical axis through the heat dissipating structures so as to allow the heat conduct from the first heat dissipation structure towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure.

4. The LED system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one TEC are controlled by a control unit and where the controlling includes adapting the supplied electrical energy to the ambient temperature.

5. The LED system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one TEC are controlled by a control unit and where the controlling includes adjusting the current into the TEC such that the heat flow from the first heat dissipation structure towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure remains substantially constant.

6. The LED system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one TEC are controlled by a control unit and where the controlling includes maintaining stable temperature around the at least one LED by means of reversing the temperature gradient between the first and the second side of the at least one TEC, and vice versa, by means of reversing the temperature gradient between the second and the first side of the at least on TEC, by means of reversing the current applied to the TEC.