Apparatus for using heat pipes in controlling temperature of an LED light unit

• US 9,578,716 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Inventors: Burton, Thomas R., Curran, John W., Peck, John Patrick, Zimmer, Kenneth J., Balczarek, Gregory K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Y M
• Application Number:
  US14/094,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• 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: F21S 45/30 Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/42 Forced cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/49 Attachment of the cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/54 using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 : involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) light unit is disclosed. For example, the LED light unit includes at least one support plate having one or more inner openings. At least one LED array may be coupled to an LED board. The LED light unit also includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the LED board, wherein said LED board is coupled to the at least one support plate.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a temperature of at least one light emitting diode (LED) in a vehicle comprising:

receiving a predefined temperature threshold selected by a driver of the vehicle via a controller located in a display console of the vehicle;

receiving a temperature reading of said at least one LED;

comparing said temperature reading to the predefined threshold selected by the user; and

adjusting a temperature of said at least one LED via at least one heat pipe that removes heat away from the at least one LED via a metal portion of the vehicle connected to the at least one heat pipe based upon said comparing, wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises an interior volume filled with a working fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said temperature reading is received from a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is above the predefined temperature threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said adjusting comprises:

lowering said temperature of said at least one LED via at least one of;

a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED or the at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one LED.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is below the predefined temperature threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said adjusting comprises:

increasing said temperature of said at least one LED via a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving and said comparing are performed continuously.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a controller, cause the processor to perform operations for controlling a temperature of at least one light emitting diode (LED) in a vehicle, the operations comprising:

receiving a predefined temperature threshold selected by a driver of the vehicle via a controller located in a display console of the vehicle;

receiving a temperature reading of said at least one LED;

comparing said temperature reading to the predefined threshold selected by the user; and

adjusting a temperature of said at least one LED via at least one heat pipe that removes heat away from the at least one LED via a metal portion of the vehicle connected to the at least one heat pipe based upon said comparing, wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises an interior volume filled with a working fluid.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said temperature reading is received from a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said receiving and said comparing are performed continuously.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is above the predefined temperature threshold.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said adjusting comprises:

lowering said temperature of said at least one LED via at least one of;

a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED or the at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one LED.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is below the predefined temperature threshold.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said adjusting comprises:

increasing said temperature of said at least one LED via a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED.

15. A controller, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for controlling a temperature of at least one light emitting diode (LED) in a vehicle, the operations comprising;

receiving a predefined temperature threshold selected by a driver of the vehicle via a controller located in a display console of the vehicle;

receiving a temperature reading of said at least one LED;

comparing said temperature reading to the predefined threshold selected by the user; and

adjusting a temperature of said at least one LED via at least one heat pipe that removes heat away from the at least one LED via a metal portion of the vehicle connected to the at least one heat pipe based upon said comparing, wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises an interior volume filled with a working fluid.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein said temperature reading is received from a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one LED.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein said receiving and said comparing are performed continuously.

18. The controller of claim 15, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is above the predefined temperature threshold.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein said adjusting comprises:

lowering said temperature of said at least one LED via at least one of;

a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED or the at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one LED.

20. The controller of claim 15, wherein said comparing comprises:

determining if said temperature reading is below the predefined temperature threshold; and

wherein said adjusting comprises;

increasing said temperature of said at least one LED via a thermoelectric cooler coupled to said at least one LED.