Illumination assembly with enhanced thermal conductivity
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJohn C. Schultz, Nelson B. O'Bryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Illumination assemblies include a substrate having a first and second electrically conductive layer separated by an electrically insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a polymer material loaded with thermally conductive particles. At least a portion of the thermally conductive particles simultaneously contact both the first and second electrically conductive layers. A plurality of light sources such as LEDs or other miniature light sources are preferably disposed on the first conductive layer.
Claims18
An illumination assembly, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a first and second electrically conductive layer separated by an electrically insulating layer, the insulating layer comprising a polymer material loaded with thermally conductive particles, wherein at least a portion of the thermally conductive particles simultaneously contact both the first and second electrically conductive layers and extend partially into at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers, wherein the thermally conductive particles are not deformed and at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers are deformed by the thermally conductive particles sufficiently to eliminate an interface of the polymer material between the thermally conductive particles and the at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers into which the portion of the thermally conductive particles extend, and wherein the thermally conductive particles penetrate the at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers beyond the eliminated interface;
- and
- a plurality of light sources disposed on the first conductive layer.
A method of making an illumination assembly, the method comprising:
- supplying a substrate comprising a first and second electrically conductive layer separated by an electrically insulating layer, the insulating layer comprising thermally conductive particles, wherein at least a portion of the thermally conductive particles simultaneously contact both the first and second electrically conductive layers and extend partially into at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers, wherein the thermally conductive particles are not deformed and at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers are deformed by the thermally conductive particles sufficiently to eliminate an interface of the polymer material between the thermally conductive particles and the at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers into which the portion of the thermally conductive particles extend, and wherein the thermally conductive particles penetrate the at least one of the first and second electrically conductive layers beyond the eliminated interface;
- patterning the first electrically conductive layer;
- and
- providing a plurality of light sources on the patterned first electrically conductive layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.