Heat Sink Fins for Solid State Light Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operational power of solid state lights, such as LEDs, is limited by their ability to dissipate heat, with excess heat reducing performance and operational life, necessitating improved heat dissipation methods.
Innovation Solution
A heat sink apparatus with an elongated portion and a plurality of fins is affixed or integrated with the solid state light to enhance heat dissipation, providing increased surface area for convective heat transfer and allowing for brighter and more efficient lighting without requiring redesign of traditional fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the current of solid state light is increased to achieve higher power output, then the brightness and efficiency are improved, but the heat generated increases which reduces performance and operational life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the solid state light itself by attaching a separate heat sink apparatus. The heat sink with its fins and elongated portion removes heat from the solid state light, allowing the light to operate at higher currents without excessive heat buildup, thus resolving the contradiction between power output and temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink extends the heat dissipation into another dimension by adding vertical fins and an elongated portion that project outward from the solid state light. This three-dimensional heat sink structure increases the surface area for heat transfer to the surrounding air, enabling better heat management while maintaining high power output
2Temperature
If traditional light fixtures are redesigned to improve heat dissipation, then heat management is enhanced, but the complexity and cost of fixture redesign increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat dissipation function into a separate, modular heat sink apparatus that can be attached to existing solid state lights without redesigning the entire fixture. The heat sink is a standalone component with specific heat dissipation features (fins, elongated portion) that can be independently designed and attached, simplifying the overall system while enhancing heat management
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink acts as an intermediary component between the solid state light and the fixture environment. It mediates the heat transfer process by providing a dedicated heat dissipation interface with increased surface area, allowing existing fixtures to work with improved heat management without requiring complex redesign
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 effectively increases heat dissipation, enabling higher power output and improved performance of solid state lights by shifting the burden of heat management to a separate or integrated heat sink, thus optimizing lighting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fins for dissipating heat generated by the solid state light, the fins extending from the elongated portion
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the current invention seek to increase heat dissipation by affixing a separate or integrated heat sink to the solid state light, thus accomplishing increased heat dissipation via another device, instead of altering the solid state light itself. In this manner, embodiments of the invention increase the amount of heat dissipated from solid state lights without requiring any redesign of the solid state lights themselves.