Handheld Lighting Device Heat Sink Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held lighting devices lack effective heat dissipation and mechanical protection, especially when used with power tools, leading to potential damage from falls and reduced reliability due to inadequate thermal management and structural vulnerabilities.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held lighting device with a heat sink having a thermal resistance of less than 8 Kelvin/Watt, integrated with a pivoting mechanism and electronics housing, featuring a transilluminated outer surface for efficient heat dissipation and protection, along with a diffuser optics system for uniform light distribution, and a rubber-like fastening means for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the lighting device is integrated with power tool battery coupling and heat sink, then the device achieves compact handheld form factor and improved portability, but the device becomes more vulnerable to mechanical impacts especially from falls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidmechanical protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the heat sink between the light source and the battery coupling interface, creating a protective barrier that absorbs and dissipates impact energy before it reaches the fragile light source. This structural arrangement provides beforehand cushioning against mechanical shocks and drops, protecting the light source while maintaining the compact integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Temperature

If the heat sink is positioned to dissipate heat efficiently, then thermal management is improved, but the structural protection against mechanical impacts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidmechanical protection
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heat sink's thermal management function with its mechanical protection function into a single integrated component. The heat sink is positioned to simultaneously dissipate heat from the light source through its thermally conductive structure and provide mechanical protection by absorbing impact energy, thus combining two functions that typically require separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If the lighting device uses high power LED for high luminosity, then the light output is improved, but the heat generation increases requiring more complex thermal management

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminosityVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the high-power LED into a manageable thermal flow by designing the heat sink to efficiently conduct and dissipate this heat. The heat sink transforms the problematic heat generation into a controlled thermal management system, allowing the high-power LED to operate at full luminosity while maintaining safe operating temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 provides enhanced mechanical protection, efficient heat dissipation, and reliable long-lasting lighting with high luminosity, ensuring the device remains functional and durable even under mechanical stress and prolonged use.

Implementation Method 1

the heat sink have at least one outer surface arranged behind at least one outer surface of the lighting device that is illuminated during operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heat sink dissipates the heat to the surrounding air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the lighting device include at least one light source designed as a light-emitting diode (LED), thereby enabling a long operating time with a hand-held power tool battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode effect: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3081844B1Hand held lighting device
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3081844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3081844B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3081844B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a handheld lighting device comprising a power tool battery coupling means (12a; 12b), a heat sink (14a; 14b), and a lighting device (16a; 16b) having a direction of emission (18a; b). It is proposed that the heat sink (14a; 14b) has at least one outer surface (20a; 20b) which is arranged in the direction of emission (18a; 18b) behind at least one outer surface (22a; 22b) of the lighting device (16a; 16b) which is illuminated during operation.