Closed-Loop Slit Heatsink for Stable Cylindrical Phosphor Pumping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-intensity lighting systems face issues with heat management and temperature-dependent intensity fluctuations, leading to reliability and spectral instability, especially when using high-power densities.

Innovation Solution

A light generating system comprising a first light generating device, a luminescent body, and thermally conductive bodies with a slit-like opening for efficient heat dissipation and controlled light incoupling, using a luminescent material to convert light and maintain spectral stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high-power density pumping is used to achieve high intensity light output, then illumination intensity is improved, but temperature increases causing spectral instability and reliability degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight output intensityVSAvoidphosphor body temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a liquid cooling system where a coolant flows through channels in thermal contact with the phosphor body. This hydraulic cooling mechanism efficiently removes heat from the high-power density pumping process, maintaining thermal stability while enabling high intensity light output without spectral degradation or reliability loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Illumination intensity

If high-power density pumping is applied to increase brightness, then illumination intensity is improved, but spectral stability deteriorates due to temperature-dependent intensity variations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidspectral stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid cooling system maintains the phosphor body at a stable temperature by continuously removing heat generated during high-power density pumping. This thermal stabilization prevents temperature-dependent intensity variations in the luminescent material, ensuring spectral stability is preserved even at high brightness levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If conventional heat management is used with high-power LEDs, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to poor thermal management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal management structureVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a liquid cooling system with coolant channels in direct thermal contact with the phosphor body and light-generating device. This active thermal management approach, while adding some structural elements, provides superior heat removal compared to passive conventional methods, significantly improving system reliability under high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides high-intensity, spectrally stable light with improved reliability and controlled color characteristics, utilizing simple components for efficient thermal management.

Implementation Method 1

The luminescent body comprises a luminescent material configured to convert at least part of the first device light into luminescent material light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

The one or more thermally conductive bodies comprise: a first thermally conductive body part, in thermal contact with at least part of the first face

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4476477B1Heatsink comprising a closed-loop slit for pumping a cylindrical phosphor body
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP4476477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4476477B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4476477B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides light generating system (1000) comprising a first light generating device (110), a luminescent body (200), one or more thermally conductive bodies (510), and one or more optical elements (400); wherein: (A) the first light generating device (110) is configured to generate first device light (111), wherein the first light generating device (110) comprises a first light source (10) selected from the group of a superluminescent diode and a laser; (B) the luminescent body (200) comprises a luminescent material (210) configured to convert at least part of the first device light (111) into luminescent material light (211); wherein the luminescent body (200) comprises a first face (201), a second face (202), and a bridging face (203) bridging the first face (201) and the second face (202); wherein the second face (202) has an second face equivalent circular diameter D2, wherein the bridging face (203) has a first height (H1), wherein H1/D2<1, and a perimeter (P); (C) the one or more thermally conductive bodies (510) comprise: (C1) a first thermally conductive body part (511), in thermal contact with at least part of the first face (201); and (C2) a second thermally conductive body part (512), in thermal contact with one or more of (i) part of the bridging face (203) and (ii) part of the second face (202); (D) the first thermally conductive body part (511) and the second thermally conductive body part (512) define a slit-like opening (520) along at least part of the perimeter (P) of the bridging face (203); and (E) the first light generating device (110) and the one or more optical elements (400) are configured to provide the first device light (111) via the slit-like opening (520) to the luminescent body (200).