Light emitting diode light source

• US 7,242,028 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optolum Inc
• Original Assignee: Optolum Inc
• Inventors: Dry, Joel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TU TU V
• Application Number:
  US10/984,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 257/88
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/777 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to 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: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light source that utilizes light emitting diodes that emit white light is disclosed. The diodes are mounted on an elongate member having at least two surfaces upon which the light emitting diodes are mounted. The elongate member is thermally conductive and is utilized to cool the light emitting diodes. In the illustrative embodiment, the elongate member is a tubular member through which a heat transfer medium flows.

Claims

1. A light source comprising:

an elongate thermally conductive member having an outer surface;

a plurality of solid state light sources carried on said elongate member outer surface at least some of said solid state light sources being disposed in a first plane and others of said solid state light sources being disposed in a second plane not coextensive with said first plane;

electrical conductors carried by said elongate thermally conductive member and connected to said plurality of solid state light sources to supply electrical power thereto;

said elongate thermally conductive member being configured to conduct heat away from said solid state light sources to fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive member; and

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises one or more heat dissipation protrusions, at least one of said heat dissipation protrusions being carried on said elongate member outer surface.

2. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat away from said solid state light sources to fluid proximate said elongate member outer surface.

3. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said fluid proximate said elongate member outer surface comprises air.

4. A light source in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive member is a cooling medium other than air.

5. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a tube.

6. A light source in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said tube has a cross-section in the shape of a polygon.

7. A light source in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said tube has a cross-section having flat portions.

8. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a channel.

9. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises an extrusion.

10. A light source in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said extrusion is an aluminum extrusion.

11. A light source in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member is a tubular member.

12. A light source in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said tubular member has a polygon cross-section.

13. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said fluid is moved in said elongate thermally conductive member.

14. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a thermal transfer media disposed therein.

15. A light source in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a flow channel for said thermal transfer media.

16. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each of said solid state light sources emits white light.

17. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

at least some of said solid state light sources emit colored light.

18. A light source comprising:

an elongate thermally conductive member having an outer surface;

a plurality of solid state light sources carried on said elongate member outer surface at least some of said solid state light sources being disposed in a first plane and others of said solid state light sources being disposed in a second plane not coextensive with said first plane;

electrical conductors carried by said elongate thermally conductive member and connected to said plurality of solid state light sources to supply electrical power thereto;

said elongate thermally conductive member being configured to conduct heat away from said solid state light sources to fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive member; and

a coating carried on said elongate thermally conductive member, said coating is infused with optically reflective material.

19. A radiation emitting source, comprising:

an elongate thermally conductive member having an outer surface;

a plurality of radiation emitting semiconductor devices carried on said elongate member outer surface at least some of said radiation emitting sources being disposed in a first plane and others of said radiation emitting semiconductor devices being disposed in a second plane not coextensive with said first plane;

electrical conductors carried by said elongate thermally conductive member and connected to said plurality of radiation emitting semiconductor devices to supply electrical power thereto; and

said elongate thermally conductive member being configured to conduct heat away from said radiation emitting semiconductor devices to fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive member;

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises one or more heat dissipation protrusions;

at least one of said heat dissipation protrusions being carried on said elongate member outer surface;

said elongate thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat away from said radiation emitting semiconductor devices to fluid proximate said elongate member outer surface; and

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a tube.

20. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

said tube has a cross-section in the shape of a polygon.

21. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

said tube has a cross-section having flat portions.

22. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19 wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a channel.

23. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises an extrusion.

24. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 23, wherein:

said extrusion is an aluminum extrusion.

25. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 23, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member is a tubular member.

26. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 25, wherein:

said tubular member has a polygon cross-section.

27. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a thermal transfer media disposed therein.

28. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

said elongate thermally conductive member comprises a flow channel for said thermal transfer media.

29. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

each of said radiation emitting semiconductor devices emits white light.

30. A radiation emitting source in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

at least some of said radiation emitting semiconductor devices emit colored light.

31. A radiation emitting source, comprising:

an elongate thermally conductive member having an outer surface;

a plurality of radiation emitting semiconductor devices carried on said elongate member outer surface at least some of said radiation emitting semiconductor devices being disposed in a first plane and others of said radiation emitting semiconductor devices being disposed in a second plane not coextensive with said first plane;

electrical conductors carried by said elongate thermally conductive member and connected to said plurality of radiation emitting semiconductor devices to supply electrical power thereto;

said elongate thermally conductive member being configured to conduct heat away from said radiation emitting semiconductor devices to fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive member; and

a coating carried on said elongate thermally conductive member, said coating is infused with optically reflective material.