Light Irradiating Device Thermal Management via Wind Tunnel Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Light irradiating devices using LEDs for ultraviolet curing in printing face challenges with heat management, leading to reduced luminous efficiency and shortened lifespan due to excessive heat generation, which becomes more pronounced with multiple LEDs, and also affects the size and weight of the device.
Innovation Solution
A thin light irradiating device configuration that includes a substrate with LEDs, a cooling unit with heat transporting elements and radiating pins, and a driver circuit housed in a structure that forms a wind tunnel to efficiently dissipate heat, utilizing a combination of heat pipes and heat radiating pins to manage heat from both the LEDs and the driver circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large size heat radiating member is used to efficiently radiate heat from multiple LEDs, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the size of the entire apparatus is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The heat radiating member is nested within the housing structure, utilizing the internal space of the housing to accommodate the heat dissipation components. This allows the heat radiating surface to be positioned inside the housing rather than extending externally, thereby improving heat dissipation performance without increasing the external dimensions of the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat radiating member is configured to extend in a direction along the light emitting direction, utilizing the third dimension (depth) rather than only expanding in the lateral dimensions. This dimensional transition allows efficient heat dissipation through increased surface area in the light emission direction while maintaining compact external dimensions.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used to provide sufficient ultraviolet light output, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat generation increases reducing luminous efficiency and lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is designed to convert the harmful heat generated by multiple LEDs into a manageable thermal flow pattern. By configuring the heat radiating member to extend along the light emitting direction and positioning it within the housing, the design creates a natural heat dissipation pathway that transforms the heat problem into an controlled thermal management solution, maintaining high ultraviolet output while preventing excessive heat accumulation.
3Temperature
If the heat radiating member is positioned to optimize heat dissipation, then thermal management is improved, but the distance between heads must be increased affecting device compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The heat radiating function is merged with the housing structure itself, eliminating the need for separate heat dissipation components that would occupy additional space. The housing serves dual purposes as both structural enclosure and heat dissipation pathway, allowing optimized thermal management without increasing the distance between printing heads or other critical components.
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 configuration effectively cools both the LEDs and the driver circuit, maintaining luminous efficiency and extending their lifespan while minimizing the device's size and weight, enabling efficient heat dissipation and maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transporting unit which at least partially abuts against a rear surface of the substrate, extends in an opposite direction to the third direction from the substrate, and transports heat generated from the LED light source to the opposite direction to the third direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat radiating pins which is mounted on the heat transporting unit to radiate heat of the heat transporting unit into the air
Implementation Method 3
a housing which has an opening sucking and exhausting an external air on one surface of the second direction, accommodates the cooling unit and the LED driver circuit, and forms a wind tunnel in an area where the cooling unit and the LED driving circuit are disposed
Data Source
AI summary
The light irradiating device which irradiates linear light includes: a substrate which is parallel to first and second directions; a plurality of LED light sources which emits light in a third direction intersecting a surface of the substrate; a heat transporting unit which extends in a direction opposite to the third direction from the substrate; a cooling unit which has a heat radiating pin radiating the heat of the heat transporting unit into the air, an LED driver circuit which drives the LED light source; a housing which has an opening sucking and exhausting external air on one surface of the second direction, accommodates the cooling unit and the LED driver circuit, and forms a wind tunnel in an area where the cooling unit and the LED driver circuit are disposed; and a fan which is provided at a side opposite to the third direction of the cooling unit.