Ion Fan Cooling for Solid-State Light Source Noise and Heat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional projection apparatuses using high-pressure mercury lamps suffer from short lifespan due to heat emission and generate noise from motor fans, while solid-state light sources require effective cooling and noise reduction.

Innovation Solution

An illumination system incorporating a solid-state light source group and an ion fan for forced convection cooling, eliminating friction loss and noise, allowing for a compact design with extended lifespan and reduced noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a motor fan is used to cool the light source, then cooling efficiency is improved, but friction loss occurs between shaft and bearing and noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight source coolingVSAvoidfriction loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical motor fan system with an ion fan that uses ion wind generation. Instead of mechanical rotation causing friction between shaft and bearing, the ion fan creates airflow through electrostatic forces acting on ions in the air, eliminating mechanical friction loss while maintaining cooling capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes ion wind generation to create forced convection airflow. The ion fan generates ions that are accelerated by electric fields, creating a pneumatic flow that cools the light source without mechanical contact, thus avoiding friction loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Temperature

If a motor fan is used to cool the light source, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise is generated from magnetic shearing and wind shearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight source coolingVSAvoidoperation noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical motor fan system with an ion fan that generates airflow through electrostatic ion wind. This eliminates magnetic shearing noise from motor rotation and wind shearing noise from blade-air contact, as there are no rotating mechanical parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ions as an intermediary medium to transfer momentum from the electric field to the air molecules. The ions are accelerated by electric fields and collide with neutral air molecules, creating a noiseless airflow that cools the light source without mechanical noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If oil-contained bearing is used in motor fan, then friction is reduced, but pollution is caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction lossVSAvoidpollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the mechanical bearing system entirely by using an ion fan. Since the ion fan has no rotating shaft or bearing, there is no need for oil lubrication, thus eliminating both friction loss and oil pollution simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the oil-containing bearing component from the cooling system by adopting an ion fan design. This extraction eliminates the source of both friction loss and pollution, achieving a clean and efficient cooling solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 ion fan-based cooling system prolongs the lifespan of the illumination system, reduces operation noise, and enables a more compact projection apparatus design.

Implementation Method 1

an ion fan. The cooling module is located on a path of a forced convection air generated by the ion fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon wind: Ion Wind

Implementation Method 2

a cooling module, and an ion fan. The cooling module is thermally coupled to the solid-state light source group. The cooling module is located on a path of a forced convection air generated by the ion fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9261760B2Projection apparatus having illumination system and associated ion fan

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 CORETRONIC CORPORATION

AI summary

An illumination system disposed in a projection apparatus includes a solid-state light source group, a cooling module, and an ion fan. The cooling module is thermally coupled to the solid-state light source group. The cooling module is located on a path of a forced convection air generated by the ion fan. The projection apparatus avails prolonging a life time of the illumination system, and the ion fan does not have a magnetic shearing sound of a motor and a wind shearing sound of fan blades to avail reducing an operation noise of the illumination system.