Flexible LED Carrier for Uniform Light and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
LED-based retrofit lamps face challenges in achieving uniform light intensity distribution and efficient heat transport, leading to potential overheating and reduced lifespan, while existing chimney configurations may not provide adequate cooling and uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A lighting module with a flexible elongated member that allows fluid flow through a light-guiding region, facilitating convection cooling and featuring a carrier arrangement where light-emitting elements are mounted on one side, enabling uniform light distribution and efficient heat transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a chimney configuration is used to transport heat away from LEDs, then heat transport efficiency is improved, but light intensity distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into multiple segments or sections along its length, with light-emitting elements distributed across different segments. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain efficient heat transport pathways while creating multiple light emission zones that contribute to uniform overall light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional linear chimney structure to a three-dimensional folded configuration. By folding the carrier back on itself, the structure creates multiple spatial dimensions for light emission while maintaining the continuous heat transport pathway, thereby achieving both uniform light distribution and efficient cooling.
2Illumination intensity
If LEDs are mounted on a flexible carrier arranged in a folded configuration, then light intensity distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a flexible thin-film carrier that can be easily folded and shaped. This flexible substrate simplifies the manufacturing process compared to rigid complex structures, as the folding configuration can be achieved through simple bending and shaping of the thin film rather than assembling multiple rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple functions into the single folded carrier structure: it serves as the mounting substrate for LEDs, provides the light-guiding region, enables fluid flow pathways for cooling, and creates the folded geometric configuration for uniform light distribution. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a folded carrier configuration is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but heat transport efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The folded carrier structure is designed to be self-supporting and self-cooling. The folding configuration itself creates the fluid flow channels, eliminating the need for additional complex cooling components. The structure serves its own cooling needs through its geometric design, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining heat transport efficiency.
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 solution achieves a more uniform light intensity distribution and efficient heat transport, reducing the risk of overheating while being cost-effective to manufacture, thus extending the lifespan of LED-based lighting devices.
Implementation Method 1
facilitating cooling of the tubular carrier and the LEDs by way of convection taking place within the chimney
Implementation Method 2
an inner surface that at least in part delimits a light-guiding region within the elongated member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A lighting module (100) is disclosed, comprising an elongated member (110) having an inner surface (112) at least in part delimiting a light-guiding region (114) within the elongated member, wherein the elongated member has a first end (116) a second end (118) and is configured to permit passage of fluid through the light-guiding region (114) and into and out of the first end and the second end, respectively. Light can be out-coupled from the light-guiding region (114) via at least one of the first end (116) and the second end (118). The elongated member (110) includes a carrier which is at least in part flexible and has a first side (131) and a second side (132) opposite to the first side (131). At least one light-emitting element (120) is coupled to the first side (131) of the carrier on a first portion (151) of the carrier. The carrier is arranged such that the second side (132) of the first portion (151) of the carrier at least partially faces the second side (132) of a second portion (152) of the carrier, such that the first side (131) of the first portion (151) of the carrier at least in part constitutes the inner surface (112) of the elongated member (110). By way of such arrangement of the carrier, the at least one light-emitting element (120) can be arranged within the elongated member (110), and may hence emit light into the light-guiding region (114). A lighting device (200) comprising the lighting module (100) is also disclosed.