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US 7,344,279 B2Granted
Thermal management methods and apparatus for lighting devices
AssigneePhilips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGeorge G. Mueller, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, Edward Nortrup
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for providing active and passive thermal or cooling facilities for LED lighting systems, including radiating and convective thermal facilities, including fans, phase change materials, conductive polymers, potting compounds, vents, ducts, and other thermal facilities.
Claims60
An apparatus, comprising:
- an LED-based lighting device;
- a lighting fixture platform having at least one thermally conductive portion;
- a lighting socket mounted to the at least one thermally conductive portion and configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the LED-based lighting device;
- and
- at least one mechanical cover configured to exert a force on the LED-based lighting device so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and the lighting socket by pushing the lighting device into the lighting socket,
- wherein the lighting socket is configured to facilitate a transfer of heat generated by the lighting device from the lighting device to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform, via the lighting socket, when the lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket and operated to generate light.
3 more elements
A lighting fixture, comprising:
- an LED-based lighting device;
- a lighting fixture platform having at least one thermally conductive portion;
- a lighting socket mounted proximate to the at least one thermally conductive portion and configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the LED-based lighting device;
- and
- at least one mechanical cover configured to exert a force on the LED-based lighting device so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and the lighting socket by pushing the LED-based lighting device into the lighting socket,
- wherein the lighting socket is configured to facilitate a transfer of heat generated by the LED-based lighting device from the LED-based lighting device to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform when the LED-based lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket and operated to generate light.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- an LED-based lighting device;
- a lighting fixture platform having at least one thermally conductive portion;
- a lighting socket mounted proximate to the at least one thermally conductive portion and configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the LED-based lighting device;
- and
- at least one mechanical cover configured to exert a force on the LED-based lighting device so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and the lighting socket by pushing the lighting device into the lighting socket,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate a transfer of heat generated by the lighting device from the lighting device to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform via a solid thermal conduction path when the lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket and operated to generate light.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- an LED-based lighting device including a thermally conductive housing to facilitate the transfer of heat generated by the lighting device;
- a lighting fixture platform having at least one thermally conductive portion;
- a lighting socket mounted proximate to the at least one thermally conductive portion and configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the LED-based lighting device;
- and
- at least one mechanical cover configured to exert a force on the LED-based lighting device so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and the lighting socket by pushing the LED-based lighting device into the lighting socket,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate a transfer of the heat generated by the lighting device from the lighting device to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform when the lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket and operated to generate light.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- an LED-based lighting device;
- a lighting fixture platform having at least one thermally conductive portion;
- a lighting socket mounted proximate to the at least one thermally conductive portion and configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the LED-based lighting device;
- and
- at least one mechanical cover configured to exert a force on the lighting device so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and the lighting socket by pushing the lighting device into the lighting socket,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate a transfer of heat generated by the lighting device from the lighting device to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform when the lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket and operated to generate light;
- the apparatus further comprising a thermally conductive material configured to thermally associate the lighting device and the at least one thermally conductive portion of the lighting fixture platform via a contact thermal conduction path when the lighting device is engaged in the lighting socket.
4 more elements
A method, comprising acts of:
- exerting a force on an LED-based lighting device with at least one mechanical cover so as to facilitate a positive mechanical mating of the lighting device and a lighting socket by pushing the LED-based lighting device into the lighting socket;
- and
- facilitating a transfer of heat generated by the LED-based lighting device that is mechanically and electrically engaged in the lighting socket, the lighting socket being mounted proximate to at least one thermally conductive portion of a lighting fixture platform, the transfer of the heat being from the LED-based lighting device to the lighting fixture platform via a solid thermal conduction path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.