Luminaire Driver Thermal Management via Spatial Separation

Solution Overview

Problem

Luminaires with high lumen output generate excessive heat, which can damage the driver by directing heat towards it, leading to increased size and material requirements to isolate the driver from heat, compromising compactness and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Positioning the driver on the side opposite to the heatsink and light source, with further components also placed away from the heatsink, ensures that heat generated by the light source is directed away from the driver and other components, allowing for a compact design while minimizing heat influence and improving component longevity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driver is positioned at the rear side of the luminaire with respect to the light emitting direction, then the driver can be placed at a position not being affected by the heat of the luminaire, but the size of the luminaire increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver protection from heatVSAvoidluminaire size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The driver is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the heat flow path. By placing the driver on the side of the light source opposite to the heatsink, the driver is located in a region where heat does not propagate, effectively using spatial dimensionality to separate the driver from thermal influence without increasing overall luminaire volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a localized thermal environment where different regions of the luminaire have different thermal characteristics. The region around the heatsink experiences high temperature, while the region where the driver is positioned (opposite side) maintains lower temperature, allowing the driver to be protected through strategic local positioning rather than requiring comprehensive thermal isolation structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the driver is positioned to avoid heat influence, then the driver lifetime is improved, but the luminaire dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver lifetimeVSAvoidluminaire dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The driver is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the heat flow path. By placing the driver on the side of the light source opposite to the heatsink, the driver is located in a region where heat does not propagate, effectively using spatial dimensionality to separate the driver from thermal influence without increasing overall luminaire volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a localized thermal environment where different regions of the luminaire have different thermal characteristics. The region around the heatsink experiences high temperature, while the region where the driver is positioned (opposite side) maintains lower temperature, allowing the driver to be protected through strategic local positioning rather than requiring comprehensive thermal isolation structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If further components are positioned away from the heatsink, then they are not affected by heat generated by the light source, but the layout complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperature stabilityVSAvoidlayout complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Further components are positioned in the same spatial region as the driver (opposite side of the light source), creating a thermal zone that is naturally protected from heat propagation. This dimensional positioning strategy allows multiple components to be grouped together in a thermally favorable location without requiring individual thermal management for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver and further components are positioned together in the same spatial region (opposite side of the light source), merging their thermal protection requirements into a single strategic location. This consolidation simplifies the overall layout by creating a unified component zone that is naturally protected from heat without requiring separate isolation structures for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces the impact of heat on the driver and other components, enabling a more compact and efficient luminaire design with improved longevity and reduced size, while maintaining high lumen output and ambient temperature performance.

Implementation Method 1

a heatsink (1), a light source (2) mounted to the heatsink (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heat flow coming from the light source (2) in the direction of the heatsink (1) and of a rear side of the luminaire is pointing away from the driver (3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3279558B1luminaire

Publication Date: 2019.01.02 ZG LIGHTING BENELUX

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Figure 2

AI summary

A luminaire (10) having a main beam direction (B) comprising a heatsink (1), a light source (2) mounted to the heatsink (1), and a driver (3) configured to drive the light source (2), wherein the driver (3) is at least partially positioned on a side of the light source (2) being opposite to the heatsink (1).