LED Lamp Assembly with Current Regulator Heat Sink
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lamp assemblies for vehicles using resistor-driven LEDs face challenges with poor light output at low voltages and excessive heat production at higher voltages, leading to inadequate heat dissipation and protection from over-current.
Innovation Solution
A lamp assembly design featuring a housing with heat-dissipating fins and a circuit board assembly with linear current regulators to drive LEDs, reducing heat generation and using a flame-resistant FR4 material for the circuit board, optimizing the housing as a heat sink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a resistor drive is used to drive LEDs in lamp assemblies, then the circuit is simple to implement, but excessive heat is produced at higher input voltages and light output is poor at low voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the driving parameter from voltage-based resistor drive to current-based constant current drive. This parameter change allows the LEDs to be driven with a regulated current source that maintains optimal current levels across varying input voltages, thereby reducing excessive heat production at higher voltages while ensuring adequate light output at lower voltages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a constant current driver circuit as an intermediary between the power source and the LEDs. This intermediary component regulates the current flowing through the LEDs, acting as a buffer that prevents both excessive heat generation at high voltages and insufficient light output at low voltages, while maintaining circuit simplicity.
2Device complexity
If a resistor drive is used to drive LEDs, then the circuit design is simple, but the housing cannot be sufficiently sized to accommodate the excessive heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from voltage-based resistor drive to current-based constant current drive, the overall power consumption and heat generation are reduced. This parameter change allows the housing to be sized appropriately without requiring excessive volume for heat dissipation, while maintaining simple circuit design.
3Device complexity
If a resistor drive is utilized, then the circuit implementation is straightforward, but the LEDs are not adequately protected from over-current
Solution Approach 1:
The constant current driver circuit serves as an intermediary that actively regulates and limits the current flowing through the LEDs. This intermediary component provides over-current protection by maintaining a predetermined maximum current level, preventing damage to the LEDs while keeping the circuit implementation straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The constant current driver incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the current flowing through the LEDs and adjust the driving signal accordingly. This feedback control ensures that the LEDs are protected from over-current conditions while maintaining simple circuit implementation through integrated control logic.
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 reduces heat dissipation needs, allowing for a more efficient and sized heat sink, protecting LEDs from over-current, and improving light output consistency across voltage ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a housing with an interior surface and an exterior surface that has at least one fin for use in dissipating heat from the housing. The housing functions as a heat sink.
Implementation Method 2
at least one fin for use in dissipating heat from the housing
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of light emitting diodes are present and are carried by the housing
Implementation Method 4
light emitting diodes configured to be driven by a current source
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp assembly is provided. The lamp assembly has a housing that functions as a heat sink for the dissipation of heat therefrom. A circuit board assembly is carried by the housing and has a drive circuit that has a current regulator. A plurality of light emitting diodes are also present and are configured to be driven by a current source regulated by the current regulator so as to decrease the amount of heat generated through driving the plurality of light emitting diodes such that the housing is optimally sized to still function effectively as a heat sink.