Trim Element Heat Dissipation in Solid State Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in creating a lighting device that incorporates solid state light emitters, such as LEDs, which are energy-efficient but often require additional components to address issues like varying intensity due to temperature changes, aging, and the need for color balance, while also considering heat dissipation and glare reduction, all while maintaining a lightweight and compact design suitable for retrofitting and new installations.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a lighting device with a trim element that serves multiple functions, including heat dissipation and acting as a mixing chamber, where solid state light emitters are mounted directly on the trim element to minimize thermal interfaces and reduce the number of components, allowing for efficient heat transfer and color mixing, while also incorporating a driver sub-assembly and power supply modules to manage power conversion and adjust light output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional components are added to address challenges with solid state light emitters, then reliability and color consistency are improved, but weight and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the housing structure: the housing serves as both the structural enclosure and the heat dissipation component, eliminating the need for separate heat sinks. The trim element integrates mixing chamber functionality into the housing, reducing the need for additional mixing components. This merging approach maintains color consistency and reliability while minimizing weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: structural support, heat dissipation, and light mixing. The trim element serves both as a structural component and as a mixing chamber. This multi-functionality allows the device to maintain reliability and color consistency without adding unnecessary weight from dedicated components for each function.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple solid state light emitters with different colors are used, then general illumination quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light emitters of different colors into a single integrated housing structure, eliminating the need for separate fixtures or complex mounting arrangements. The housing itself serves as the mixing chamber, integrating the light mixing function directly into the structural component rather than requiring a separate mixing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing performs the dual function of structural enclosure and light mixing chamber, while also serving as the heat dissipation system. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function, while still supporting multiple color emitters for high-quality general illumination.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If heat dissipation structure is added, then LED lifetime is improved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function into the housing structure itself, eliminating the need for separate heat sinks or thermal management components. The housing is designed with thermal conductivity and geometry optimized for heat dissipation, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves simultaneously as the structural enclosure, the heat dissipation system, and the light mixing chamber. This multi-functionality allows effective heat dissipation for extended LED lifetime without adding the weight and bulk of dedicated heat sinking components.
4Reliability
If light mixing structure is added, then color consistency is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light mixing function directly into the housing structure, which serves as the mixing chamber. This integration eliminates the need for separate mixing components, diffusers, or reflectors that would otherwise be required to achieve consistent color output from multiple emitters.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing performs multiple functions including structural support, heat dissipation, and light mixing. By integrating the mixing chamber function into the housing itself, the patent achieves consistent color output without adding the complexity and size of dedicated mixing 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 approach results in a lighting device that achieves high wall plug efficiency, consistent color quality, and extended LED lifetimes, emitting bright white light with reduced glare, and is lightweight enough for easy installation and retrofitting, maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
solid state light emitters (e.g., light emitting diodes)
Implementation Method 3
heat dissipation and acting as a mixing chamber, where solid state light emitters are mounted directly on the trim element to minimize thermal interfaces and reduce the number of components, allowing for efficient heat transfer
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting device (100) comprising a trim element (109), an electrical connector (106) and at least one solid state light emitter, the lighting device weighing less than one kilogram. If power of about 12 Watts (or in some cases about 15 Watts, or in some cases not more than about 15 Watts) is supplied to the electrical connector, the at least one solid state light emitter will illuminate so that the lighting device will emit white light of at least 500 lumens. Also, a lighting device that weighs less than one kilogram and can generate white light of at least 500 lumens using a power of not more than about 15 Watts. Also, a lighting device (100) for mounting in a recessed housing, comprising a unitary structure trim element (109) that conducts heat away from at least one solid state light emitter and dissipates at least some of the heat outside of the recessed housing.