Torsional Synthetic Jet Cooling for Compact LED Heat Sinks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices, such as lamps and circuit boards, face challenges in heat dissipation due to the limitations of passive heat sinks, which can lead to increased size and aesthetic issues, and do not provide uniform light distribution effectively.
Innovation Solution
A torsional oscillating synthetic jet active cooling device that uses oscillating fins to create air flow for cooling, allowing for compact integration within various heat sink sizes and configurations, and providing omnidirectional air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the size of the heat sink is increased to improve heat dissipation, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but the overall size of the electronic device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink incorporates movable fins that can dynamically change their configuration from a compact stored position to an extended cooling position. This dynamic mechanism allows the heat sink to provide large surface area for heat dissipation only when needed, while maintaining a compact form factor during storage or when high cooling is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating mechanism periodically extends the fins to maximize heat dissipation surface area, then retracts them to minimize device size. This periodic action between extended and retracted states allows the system to alternate between high heat dissipation mode and compact storage mode, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation capability and device size.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light emitting devices are used to increase light intensity, then light output is improved, but thermal power increases making heat dissipation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic fin mechanism allows the heat sink to adapt its surface area in response to varying thermal loads. When multiple LEDs are activated producing high thermal power, the fins extend to maximize heat dissipation. When fewer LEDs are used or light intensity requirements are lower, the fins can be partially retracted, matching the cooling capacity to the actual thermal load.
3Ease of manufacture
If LED devices are flat-mounted on circuit board for directional light output, then manufacturing is simplified, but uniform omnidirectional light distribution is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating fin mechanism adds temporal and spatial variation to the heat sink structure, creating multiple orientations of heat dissipation surfaces over time. This dimensional approach to heat dissipation mirrors the need for multiple orientations of light emission, allowing the system to achieve omnidirectional light distribution while maintaining simple flat mounting of LEDs on the circuit board.
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 active cooling device effectively manages heat dissipation without increasing the device size or compromising aesthetics, enabling efficient cooling of electronic devices like lamps and circuit boards while maintaining optimal light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of fins are connected with the oscillating device. The oscillating device is structured for causing the plurality of fins to rotate back and forth along the circumferential direction so as to create air flow through the openings in each chamber.
Implementation Method 2
Active cooling device in the form of a torsional oscillating synthetic jet
Data Source
AI summary
An active cooling device in the form of a torsional, oscillating synthetic jet is provided. Fins are oscillated in a manner that creates a flow of air that can be used to cool an electronic device such as a lamp. Embodiments of the active cooling device can be compact and readily incorporated within heat sinks of different sizes and configurations. The flow of air can be provided as jets of air distributed over multiple directions as may be desirable with certain electronics such as an omnidirectional lamp.