LED Luminaire Thermal Management via Embedded Sensor Tab
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting technologies, such as fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent lamps, are inefficient and poorly suited for spot lighting applications, lacking directed light output and suitable color temperatures, while traditional incandescent lighting is inefficient, and ceramic metal halide lamps are costly and non-dimmable, necessitating a more energy-efficient solution for spot lighting.
Innovation Solution
The development of an LED-based luminaire with integrated compact power supply and control components, thermal management, and optical systems, designed to fit standard form factors, utilizing multiple LEDs with different spectra to achieve high color rendering and efficient light distribution, including a PAR38 form factor for spot lighting applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional lighting sources (fluorescent, halogen, incandescent) are used for spot lighting, then they provide adequate illumination, but they suffer from poor energy efficiency and inadequate beam control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple LED chips with different spectral characteristics (blue LED at 450nm and green LED at 530nm) into a single integrated luminaire assembly, merging their light outputs to achieve both high energy efficiency and superior beam control through coordinated optical elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical intermediaries including collimating lenses, reflectors, and beam shaping optics positioned between the LED light sources and the target area, which mediate the light paths to achieve precise beam control while maintaining LED energy efficiency
2Loss of energy
If ceramic metal halide lamps are used for spot lighting, then good beam control and energy efficiency are achieved, but they have high initial costs and are non-dimmable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of LED current through pulse width modulation (PWM) and constant current drivers, enabling the LED luminaire to be dimmable and adaptable to different lighting conditions, unlike fixed-output ceramic metal halide lamps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (current, voltage, pulse duration) of the LED light sources to achieve dimming effects and adaptability, allowing flexible adjustment of light output levels while maintaining energy efficiency
3Device complexity
If LED-based luminaires are designed with integrated power supply and control components, then compactness and efficiency improve, but thermal management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the power supply circuitry, control components, and LED modules within a hierarchical structure where smaller components are integrated into larger assemblies, with thermal pathways designed at each level to conduct heat away from sensitive components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal intermediaries including heat sinks, thermal pads, and heat pipes positioned between the LED chips and the luminaire housing, which mediate heat transfer to dissipate thermal energy effectively while maintaining component integration
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 LED-based luminaire provides a highly efficient, durable, and aesthetically pleasing illumination with a uniform beam pattern, achieving improved energy efficiency and compatibility with existing lighting hardware, offering up to 700 lumens at 70 lumens per watt, surpassing conventional sources in both efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
employing LED-based light sources
Implementation Method 2
illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 3
a heat sink coupled to the LED-based light source
Implementation Method 4
a reflector optic configured to redirect light emitted by the LED module to provide a uniform beam pattern
Implementation Method 5
a collimating lens coupled to the LED-based light source
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an illumination apparatus (100), comprising an LED-based light source (150) mounted to a thermally conductive substrate (130, 420), the thermally conductive substrate having a recess (457) formed therein proximate to the LED-based light source. A printed circuit board (175) has a tab (456) for insertion into the recess (457) formed in the thermally conductive substrate. A temperature sensor (416) is disposed on the tab of the printed circuit board (175) such that when the printed circuit (175) board is inserted into the recess (457) the temperature sensor (416) is embedded in the thermally conductive substrate (130, 420) proximate to the LED-based light source.