THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND PHASE TRANSITION HEAT TRANSFER MECHANISM INCLUDING OPTICAL ELEMENT TO BE COOLED BY HEAT TRANSFER OF THE MECHANISM

• US 20140217272A1
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: RAMER, David P., RAINS, Jack C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/238
• 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 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/046 characterised by the material or the construction of the capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/024 Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or temperature compensation for photovoltaic devices H01L31/052
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/052 Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells cooling means in combination with the PV module H02S40/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/648 the elements comprising fluids, e.g. heat-pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02423 Liquid cooling, e.g. a liquid cools a mount of the laser
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 : Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism incorporates an active optical element. Examples of active optical elements include various phosphor materials for emitting light, various electrically driven light emitters and various devices that generate electrical current or an electrical signal in response to light. The thermal conductivity and phase transition between evaporation and condensation, of the thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism, cools the active optical element during operation. At least a portion of the active optical element is exposed to a working fluid within a vapor tight chamber of the heat transfer mechanism. The heat transfer mechanism includes a member that is at least partially optically transmissive to allow passage of light to or from the active optical element and to seal the chamber of the heat transfer mechanism with respect to vapor contained within the chamber.

Claims

1. A thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism comprising:

an integral active optical element to be cooled by phase transition of the mechanism, at least a portion of the active optical element being exposed to a working fluid within a vapor tight chamber of the heat transfer mechanism; and

a member that is at least partially optically transmissive serving both to seal the working fluid within the chamber and to allow passage of light to or from the active optical element.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active optical element comprises a phosphor.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein, the phosphor is an opto-luminescent type of phosphor.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the phosphor is electroluminescent type of phosphor.

5. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the phosphor is carried by the working fluid within the chamber.

6. The mechanism of claim 2, further comprising a wicking structure within the chamber, wherein the phosphor is formed in at least a portion of the wicking structure.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active optical element comprises an opto-electrical transducer.

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the opto-electrical transducer is a light emitter.

9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein the light emitter is a type of emitter selected from the group consisting of:

a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a laser diode, a nanowire light emitter, and an electroluminescent device.

10. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the opto-electrical transducer is a light-to electricity converter.

11. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein the light-to electricity converter is a sensor or a photovoltaic device.

12. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein the working fluid is electrically conductive for carrying electrical current to or from a portion of the opto-electrical transducer during operation of the opto-electrical transducer.

13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat during operation of the active optical element, to vaporize at a relatively hot location of the mechanism as it absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at relatively cold location of the mechanism, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location of the mechanism.

14. The mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location of the mechanism to the hot location of the mechanism.

15. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the wicking structure comprises grooves, sintered powder, mesh, wires or nanowires on an inner surface of the chamber.

16. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the wicking structure is at least substantially reflective.