Light Engine With Flexible LED Circuit and Thermal Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting solutions, such as incandescent lamps and fluorescent lights, lack the flexibility to provide tailored light distribution patterns and efficient heat dissipation, which are essential for various lighting applications.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture with a thermally conductive base and heat-dissipating element, incorporating a light guide with an opening for LEDs to inject light and a controller to adjust LED characteristics based on sensor inputs, allowing for customizable light distribution and efficient heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LEDs are used as light sources, then energy efficiency is improved and heat radiation is reduced, but heat dissipation control and light distribution flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The LED module is divided into multiple independently controllable LED elements arranged in a matrix pattern. Each LED element can be individually addressed and controlled, allowing different regions to emit light with different characteristics (intensity, color temperature, directionality) simultaneously, thereby achieving flexible light distribution patterns while maintaining high energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of LED elements through a controller that receives input signals and adjusts the operation of individual LEDs in real-time. This enables the light distribution pattern to be dynamically changed based on application requirements, transforming the static lighting system into an adaptive one that can provide various light distribution patterns on demand
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independently addressable LEDs are used to achieve flexible light distribution, then light distribution flexibility is improved, but device complexity and heat management challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can individually control multiple LED elements with different parameters (intensity, color temperature, directionality). A single control circuit handles all LED elements rather than requiring separate control mechanisms for each, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining the ability to provide flexible light distribution patterns
3Illumination intensity
If LEDs are mounted around a circumference of a base, then light injection into light guide is improved, but heat accumulation at the mounting location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the mounting base by introducing a dedicated heat-dissipating element that is thermally coupled to the base. This separate heat dissipation pathway removes heat away from the LED mounting location, preventing heat accumulation while maintaining the circumferential mounting arrangement that enables effective light injection into the light guide
4Temperature
If a heat-dissipating element is added to manage heat from LEDs, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-dissipating element is merged with the mounting base structure, forming an integrated assembly where the base serves both as the mounting platform for LEDs and as part of the heat dissipation system. This integration eliminates the need for completely separate heat dissipation components, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining effective heat management
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
Enables flexible and efficient light distribution patterns and effective heat dissipation, enhancing the performance and adaptability of lighting systems for diverse applications.
Implementation Method 1
A heat-dissipating element may be disposed over the illumination source, the heat-dissipating element being thermally coupled to the base to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs that is supplied to the heat-dissipating element via the thermally conductive base
Implementation Method 2
an illumination source at least partially disposed in the opening and a plurality of independently addressable LEDs that are configured to inject light into the light guide through the interior edge of the light guide
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed comprising: a light guide having an opening formed thereon; an illumination source at least partially disposed in the opening, the illumination source including a plurality of LEDs disposed on a flexible circuit that is wrapped around a base, which may be thermally conductive, the base having a central opening, and the flexible circuit including a plurality of legs, each leg including electrical wiring for independently operating a different one of the LEDs, each leg being wrapped around a bottom edge of the base, and into the central opening, to come above the illumination source and connect to a control board that is situated above the illumination source; and a heat-dissipating element disposed over the illumination source, the heat-dissipating element being thermally coupled to the base to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs that is supplied to the heat dissipating element via the base.