LED Lamp Active Cooling via Vibrating Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid state lamps using LEDs face challenges with heat dissipation, particularly in compact designs where convective thermal resistance is high, leading to elevated operating temperatures and reduced efficiency, and aesthetic issues arise from remote phosphor placement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating active elements such as fans or membrane-type cooling elements to enhance convective heat transfer by agitating air around the lamp components, reducing thermal resistance, and using thermally conductive materials to manage heat effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If compact LED lamp design is used, then lamp size is reduced, but convective thermal resistance increases leading to elevated operating temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibrating membrane element that mechanically vibrates to agitate surrounding air, enhancing convective heat transfer from the LED components. This vibration-based approach actively disturbs the thermal boundary layer, reducing thermal resistance in the compact lamp structure and preventing temperature elevation despite the reduced size.
2Ease of manufacture
If remote phosphor placement is used, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vibrating membrane as an intermediary cooling element positioned between the LED components and the external environment. This membrane actively enhances heat transfer from the LED heat sink to the surrounding air, compensating for the reduced thermal coupling that occurs with remote phosphor placement, thereby maintaining heat dissipation efficiency while preserving aesthetic benefits.
3Device complexity
If natural convection is used for heat dissipation, then device complexity is minimized, but heat transfer efficiency is insufficient for compact designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vibrating membrane element that requires minimal structural complexity while dramatically enhancing heat transfer efficiency. The vibration mechanism actively agitates air flow around the LED components, transforming passive natural convection into active enhanced convection, thereby achieving high heat transfer efficiency suitable for compact designs without introducing complex cooling systems.
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
This approach allows for efficient heat dissipation in compact designs, maintaining reasonable operating temperatures, improving luminous efficiency, and addressing aesthetic concerns by transforming directional LED light into an omnidirectional emission pattern.
Implementation Method 1
an integral diaphragm or membrane pump cooling element arranged to reduce the convective thermal resistance of at least some light source elements
Implementation Method 2
enhance convective heat transfer by agitating air around the lamp components
Implementation Method 3
using thermally conductive materials to manage heat effectively
Data Source
AI summary
Solid state lamp or bulb structures are disclosed that can provide an essentially omnidirectional emission pattern from directional emitting light sources, such as forward emitting light sources. The present invention is also directed to lamp structures using active elements to assist in thermal management of the lamp structures and in some embodiments to reduce the convective thermal resistance around certain of the lamp elements to increase the natural heat convection away from the lamp. Some embodiments include integral fans or other active elements such as diaphragm-pump type active cooling elements, that move air over the surfaces of a heat sink, while other embodiments comprise internal fans or other active elements that can draw air internal to the lamp. The movement of the air over these surfaces can agitate otherwise stagnant air to decrease the convective thermal resistance and increasing the ability of the lamp to dissipate heat generated during operation.