Retrofit Lamp Shell Using Polyatomic Gas for Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

LED-based retrofit lamps require large heat sinks for cooling, which occupy space and are aesthetically unappealing, and rely on expensive noble gases like helium that have low heat storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

The use of a single large molecular gas with at least three atoms as a heat transfer medium inside the lamp's shell, which absorbs and dissipates thermal energy, eliminating the need for massive heat sinks and noble gases, and allowing for more cost-effective and efficient heat dissipation through the existing shell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If large heat sinks are used for cooling LED components, then heat dissipation is improved, but the lamp design becomes aesthetically unappealing and occupies excessive space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidlamp design
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heat dissipation function with the existing transparent shell of the lamp. Instead of adding a separate heat sink component, the shell itself is designed to perform both protective and thermal management functions, merging the structure and cooling system into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent shell serves itself by performing multiple functions including structural protection, light transmission, and heat dissipation. The shell utilizes the thermal properties of the filling gas to passively dissipate heat without requiring additional active cooling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Temperature

If noble gases like helium are used as heat transfer medium, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to expensive materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive noble gases with cheaper alternative gases such as air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide. These common gases provide sufficient heat transfer capability for the application while dramatically reducing material costs, making the lamp more economically viable for mass production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the heat transfer medium by selecting gases with different thermal properties. Instead of using high-performance but expensive noble gases, the patent optimizes for cost-effective gases and compensates through optimized shell design and surface area-to-volume ratio to achieve adequate heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If noble gases like helium are used, then heat transfer is improved, but heat storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transferVSAvoidheat storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves similar heat transfer performance to noble gases by using alternative gases combined with an optimized shell design. The transparent shell is engineered to maximize thermal exchange efficiency, compensating for the lower thermal conductivity of common gases like air or nitrogen, thereby achieving comparable heat management without the need for expensive noble gases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 solution enables the production of cost-effective LED lamps with improved heat dissipation, maintaining high luminous efficacy while providing a more appealing design by eliminating visible heat sinks and utilizing cost-effective gases with higher heat storage capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a single gaseous heat transfer medium which is introduced inside the shell and which is designed to transfer thermal energy generated by the lamp arrangement to transport the shell acting as a heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the molecules of the gaseous heat transfer medium each having at least three atoms

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2824379B1Lamp
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 VOSLA GMBH
  • EP2824379B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2824379B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2824379B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a lamp, in particular a retrofit lamp, comprising a lamp base, a closed shell connected to the lamp base and configured to act as a heat sink for the lamp, a light source arrangement containing a plurality of optoelectronic components arranged within the shell in a 4π arrangement such that they act in all spatial directions, and a gaseous heat transfer medium introduced inside the shell and configured to transport thermal energy generated by the light source arrangement to the shell acting as a heat sink, wherein the gaseous heat transfer medium is the only gas in the shell and the molecules of the gaseous heat transfer medium each have at least three atoms.