Linear LED Lamp Fluid Cooling Omnidirectional Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED lamps with heat sinks block light in certain orientations, limiting their ability to replace traditional tube-type bulbs that emit light in all directions.
Innovation Solution
An LED-based lamp with an optically transmissive fluid medium within a tubular enclosure, eliminating the need for a traditional heat sink, allowing for omnidirectional light emission by positioning LEDs in a linear array and using index matching fluids or substrates like sapphire or silicon carbide to enhance light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional heat sink is used to cool LEDs, then thermal management is improved, but light emission is blocked in certain directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional heat sink component from the LED lamp assembly and replaces it with a fluid-based thermal management system. This extraction eliminates the light-blocking issue while maintaining effective heat dissipation from the LED array through the enclosed optically transmissive fluid medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optically transmissive fluid as an intermediary substance that serves dual functions: it acts as a thermal conduit to transfer heat from the LED array to the enclosure walls for dissipation, and simultaneously allows light to pass through transparently. This intermediary medium resolves the contradiction by providing thermal management without obstructing light emission paths.
2Strength
If LEDs are mounted on a circuit board with packaging materials, then mechanical support and electrical connection are improved, but light distribution in all directions is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional LED packaging materials and circuit board substrates that block light, replacing them with a minimal support structure consisting of electrical leads and a reflective coating on the enclosure. This extraction enables omnidirectional light emission while maintaining necessary mechanical support and electrical connections through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical circuit board substrate with a fluid-based support system where the optically transmissive fluid provides both mechanical suspension of the LED array and thermal management. This substitution eliminates solid mechanical structures that would block light while maintaining structural integrity through the fluid medium.
3Illumination intensity
If a tubular enclosure is filled with optically transmissive fluid, then omnidirectional light emission is achieved, but thermal management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optically transmissive fluid in the enclosure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management by conducting heat from the LED array to the enclosure walls, enables omnidirectional light emission by being transparent to light, and acts as a mechanical support medium for the LED array. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the sophisticated performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the thermal management function and light transmission function into a single integrated system using the optically transmissive fluid and reflective enclosure walls. Instead of separate heat sinks and optical elements, the fluid-filled enclosure combines both functions, simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving the desired performance.
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
Enables a more natural replacement for tube-type bulbs by providing omnidirectional light patterns without the light-blocking effects of traditional heat sinks, supporting LEDs thermally and mechanically while allowing for efficient light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The enclosure is filled with an optically transmissive, fluid medium, which is in thermal communication with the linear array of LED devices
Implementation Method 2
An index matching medium can be used as the optically transmissive fluid medium. The index matching medium can have the same refractive index as the material of the enclosure, the LED device package material or the LED substrate material
Data Source
AI summary
A linear LED lamp is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention can provide an LED-based replacement lamp for a linear or “tube-type” bulb or a bulb with a linear filament or element. By filling the void within the lamp with an optically transmissive fluid to cool the LEDs without the use of a traditional heat sink, the light blocking effects of such a heat sink can be avoided. Thus, the LED replacement lamp can emit light in a substantially omnidirectional pattern. In some embodiments, the optically transmissive fluid medium is a liquid. In some embodiments, the optically transmissive fluid medium is a gel. An index matching medium can be used as the optically transmissive fluid medium. A color mixing treatment can optionally be included to eliminate color tints in cases where multiple LEDs of different colors are used to produce white light.