Led thermal management system and method

A thermal control system adapted for operation with one or more LED(s), said thermal control system comprising a thermal controller arranged to respond to an LED operating condition, and responsively limit temperature in said one or more LED(s).

An LED thermal management system for an LED, said system comprising:

• a thermal protection assembly including a bypass circuit coupleable with a main circuit including the LED;
• and
• said bypass circuit including a bypass control element arranged to maintain the bypass circuit in a current non-flow condition when the LED is energized and at temperature below a threshold temperature, wherein said threshold temperature is in a range of from 75° to 95° C., and to at least partially re-route current in the main circuit through the bypass circuit around the LED and back to the main circuit, to an extent maintaining said LED below said threshold temperature when current flow through the LED in the main circuit would otherwise cause the LED to operate at or above said threshold temperature.

A method of extending operating life of an LED that is susceptible to thermally mediated degradation at temperature above a threshold temperature, when power supplied to said LED would otherwise cause said LED to generate heat that would raise temperature of the LED above said threshold temperature, said method comprising at least one of the techniques of (I) at least partially attenuating said power supplied to said LED so as to reduce heat generation in said LED and maintain the LED in operation at or below the threshold temperature and (II) removing heat from said LED to maintain the LED in operation at or below the threshold temperature.

A thermally controlled LED assembly, comprising:

• one or more LED(s);
• and
• a thermal management system arranged to respond to at least one LED operating condition that if unresponded to would produce heat damage to said one or more LED(s), said thermal management system in the absence of said at least one LED operating condition being inactive, and upon occurrence of said at least one LED operating condition being activated to reduce or prevent said heat damage.