Thermal Management Of LED-Based Lighting Systems

An LED-based lighting system, comprising:

• a housing having one or more apertures formed therein;
• one or more LEDs mounted in the one or more apertures to emit light through a front surface of the housing;
• a printed circuit board for controlling the LEDs, the printed circuit board mounted on a back surface of the housing, the printed circuit board including one or more electrical conductors that supply power to the one or more LEDs;
• wherein the one or more electrical conductors thermally couple directly with the housing such that more heat generated by the LEDs dissipates through the one or more electrical conductors into the housing as compared to dissipation through other thermal paths.

A retrofit apparatus for a light fixture, comprising:

• a printed circuit board having one or more electrical conductors on a front-side thereof;
• one or more LEDs mounted with and powered through the one or more electrical conductors;
• and
• a mounting bracket that is configured for attaching to the light fixture,
• wherein when the bracket attaches to the light fixture, heat generated by the one or more LEDs is primarily communicated from the LEDs through the one or more electrical conductors and the mounting bracket to the light fixture.

An LED based retrofit apparatus for a light fixture, comprising:

• a bracket configured for attachment to the light fixture;
• electronics mounted with the bracket, for converting AC line voltage power to low voltage DC power;
• and
• a printed circuit board having one or more LEDs mounted thereon, the printed circuit board mounting with the bracket such that when the printed circuit board is supplied with the low voltage DC power, the LEDs primarily emit light upwardly into the light fixture, and the light reflects from one or more surfaces and exits the light fixture downwardly.