LED Device with Embedded Polymer Carrier for Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Light-emitting diode (LED) devices face challenges in luminous efficacy, service life, thermal management, and protection against excessive temperatures and electrostatic discharges, particularly in compact mobile applications like smartphone camera flashes, where space is limited and shading by protective components must be minimized.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting diode device with a carrier having multiple polymer layers, where an electrical component such as an ESD protection element or thermal sensor is embedded in inner layers, allowing for reduced thermal stresses and improved thermal management, and is connected via vias for efficient electrical contact, enabling a space-saving and reliable arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protective components are added to protect LEDs from ESD and thermal stresses, then reliability is improved, but device height and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against ESD and thermal stressesVSAvoiddevice height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds protective components (ESD protection elements, thermal sensors) directly within the carrier structure itself, nesting them inside the polymer layers. This eliminates the need for separate protective components mounted on top of the LED assembly, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing device height and space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the protective functions (ESD protection, thermal management) with the carrier structure by integrating these components into the polymer layers. The carrier serves both as mechanical support and as housing for protective components, merging multiple functions into a single integrated structure that reduces overall device complexity and height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If multiple polymer layers are used to embed electrical components, then thermal stresses are reduced and service life is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidnumber of polymer layers
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the carrier into multiple polymer layers with different material properties, allowing electrical components to be embedded at specific depths. This segmentation enables optimized thermal management and stress distribution, as each layer can be tailored for specific mechanical or thermal characteristics, thereby extending service life through reduced thermal stresses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different polymer layers are assigned different material properties (mechanical strength, thermal conductivity) based on their specific functions. The layer containing the electrical component has optimized properties for thermal management, while other layers provide mechanical support or electrical isolation. This local optimization reduces thermal stresses on sensitive components without requiring uniform complexity throughout the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electrical components are embedded in inner polymer layers, then thermal stresses on components are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stresses on componentsVSAvoidcomponent embedding precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates electrical components during the carrier manufacturing process itself, before final assembly. The components are embedded into recesses or cavities formed in the polymer layers during molding or lamination. This preliminary integration ensures precise positioning and reduces thermal stresses, while the manufacturing process is designed to accommodate this embedding without requiring excessive post-processing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3189547B1Light-emitting diode device
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 TDK ELECTRONICS AG
  • EP3189547B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3189547B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a light-emitting diode device (1) comprising at least one support (2) and a light-emitting diode (3) which is arranged thereon. Said support (2) comprises a plurality of superimposed polymer layers (4, 5, 6). At least one polymer layer (4, 5, 6) comprises a recess (8) in which an electric component (7, 17, 18, 19) is embedded.