Flat Luminaire Driver Box Design for Thermal Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat-sensitive components in flat luminaires, such as the driver, are prone to damage due to inadequate heat removal and dissipation, especially in high illumination power scenarios, leading to thermal interference with the light source.

Innovation Solution

The luminaire design separates the driver from the light source by positioning the driver in a driver box on the rear side, with the light source housed in a housing that acts as a heat sink, ensuring thermal decoupling and improved heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the driver is positioned in the surroundings with the light source module, then the luminaire structure is compact and simple, but heat-sensitive components get damaged due to heat generation from the light source

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminaire structureVSAvoiddriver component reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire is divided into distinct functional modules: a housing containing the light source module, and a separate driver box containing the driver. This segmentation physically separates heat-sensitive components from heat-generating components, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and component reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driver is extracted from the housing surroundings and placed into a dedicated driver box. This extraction removes the heat-sensitive driver from the thermal environment created by the light source, protecting it from heat damage while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If the driver is positioned close to the light source, then the luminaire is compact, but heat removal and heat dissipation become inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminaire volumeVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The driver box is positioned at the rear side of the luminaire, utilizing the depth dimension along the extension axis rather than occupying the same lateral space as the light source. This dimensional arrangement allows compactness in the frontal viewing area while providing adequate thermal separation in the rear direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the driver box overlaps with the housing section, then component placement flexibility is improved, but thermal interference may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent placement flexibilityVSAvoidthermal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The driver box is designed with differentiated zones: a housing section that may overlap with the housing for structural integration, and an extension section that protrudes beyond the housing to provide thermal clearance. This local quality variation allows the structure to achieve both flexibility in placement and protection against thermal interference in different spatial zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration effectively isolates heat-sensitive components, preventing thermal interference and enhancing heat removal, allowing for flexible component placement and reduced heat generation, particularly suitable for emergency drivers.

Implementation Method 1

the light source housed in a housing that acts as a heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sink: Heat Sink

Implementation Method 2

the housing that acts as a heat sink, ensuring thermal decoupling and improved heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

The luminaire design separates the driver from the light source by positioning the driver in a driver box on the rear side, with the light source housed in a housing that acts as a heat sink, ensuring thermal decoupling and improved heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal isolation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4610558A1Flat luminaire having a driver box
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP4610558A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4610558A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4610558A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Flat luminaire (1) extending longitudinally along an extension axis (L), wherein the luminaire (1) has a rear side (R) and a front side (F) respectively extending longitudinally along the extension axis (L) at opposite sides of the extension axis (L), wherein the luminaire (1) comprises: a light source (2210); a driver (1220) for driving the light source (2210); a flat housing (2100) defining a lighting space (2120) for housing the light source (2210), wherein the housing (2100) extends longitudinally along the extension axis (L), and wherein the housing (2100) has a body (2101) at the rear side (R) and a light emission section (2102) for emitting light of the light source (2210) being housed in the housing (2100) at the front side (F); a functional box (3000) axially extending from an axial face side of the housing (2100), wherein the functional box (3000) and the housing (2100) together define the rear side (R) and the front side (F) of the luminaire (1); and a driver box (1000) for carrying the driver (1220), wherein the driver box (1000) is mounted to the rear side (R) of the luminaire (1) so as to at least partially overlap the functional box (3000) with a housing section (1301) when seen radially with respect to the extension axis (L), wherein the driver (1220) is housed in the housing section (1301).