# US 8,541,958 B2 · LED light with thermoelectric generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,958 B2 - Document ID: US8541958B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/071,698 - Filed: 2011-03-25 - Published: 2011-09-29 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-26 - Assignees: iLumisys, Inc. - Applicants: David L. Simon; John Ivey; James R. Scapa - Inventors: David L. Simon; John Ivey; James R. Scapa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541958B2 ## CPC - F21K 9/27: Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes - F21V 29/70: characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks - H05B 45/3574: Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of incandescent lamps - H10N 10/00: Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects (integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00) - F21S 9/04: the power supply being a generator - F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21Y 2115/15: Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract An LED based light and a method of providing power to the LED are disclosed. The LED based light includes at least one LED and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side. The first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side. The at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An LED based light comprising: at least one LED; and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential; wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator has an electrical connection to the at least one LED, wherein the electrical energy produced by the at least one thermoelectric generator is provided to the at least one LED. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LED based light of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy produced by the at least one thermoelectric generator is voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The LED based light of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is electrically connected in series with the at least one LED. ### Claim 4 An LED based light comprising: at least one LED; and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential; wherein the at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs and the at least one thermoelectric generator is a plurality of thermoelectric generators, each of the plurality of LEDs being thermally coupled to a respective one of the plurality of thermoelectric generators. ### Claim 5 An LED based light comprising: at least one LED; and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential; wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is a plurality of thermoelectric generators electrically connected to each other in series. ### Claim 6 An LED based light comprising: at least one LED; at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential; and a heat sink adjacent to the second side of the at least one thermoelectric generator and configured to increase the temperature differential between the first side and the second side; wherein the heat sink is disposed in thermally conductive relation to the second side of the at least one thermoelectric generator; and wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator is disposed in thermally conductive relation to the at least one LED, and the at least one thermoelectric generator is disposed between the at least one LED and the heat sink. ### Claim 7 An LED based light for use in a conventional lighting fixture comprising: a circuit board; at least one LED mounted on the circuit board and configured to receive electrical energy from a power source; at least one thermoelectric generator configured to generate an electrical energy in response to heat received from the at least one LED; and a power converter circuit connected to the power source and configured to electrically connect the least one thermoelectric generator to the least one LED and to power the at least one LED with the electrical energy provided by the at least one thermoelectric generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The LED based light of claim 7, wherein the at least one thermoelectric generator includes a first side and a second side and is configured to produce an electrical energy from a temperature differential between the first side and the second side, wherein the electrical energy produced is a voltage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The LED based light of claim 7, wherein the at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs and the at least one thermoelectric generator is a plurality of thermoelectric generators, each of the plurality of thermoelectric generators in thermally conductive relation with a respective LED. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The LED based light of claim 8 further comprising: a heat sink in thermally conductive relation with one of the first side and the second side of the at least one thermoelectric generator, wherein the at least one LED is in thermally conductive relation with an other of the first side and the second side, the heat sink configured to increase the temperature differential between the first side and the second side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The LED based light of claim 7 further comprising: a housing including a light transmitting portion, the circuit board being disposed within the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The LED based light of claim 11, wherein the housing extends along a longitudinal axis of the light and includes a first end opposing a second end, the first and second ends each including a bi-pin end cap configured for at least physical engagement with a conventional fluorescent light fixture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The LED based light of claim 12, wherein the housing has one of a cylindrical cross section or a semi-cylindrical cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The LED based light of claim 10 further comprising: a base defining a mounting platform for mounting the circuit board; a light transmitting cover adjacent to the base and enclosing the at least one LED; and a connector configured for at least physical engagement with a conventional incandescent light fixture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The LED based light of claim 14 wherein the base includes the heat sink. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The LED based light of claim 7, wherein the power converter circuit comprises a thermoelectric generator conversion circuit and an LED power input circuit, wherein the electrical energy from the at least one thermoelectric generator is converted in the thermoelectric generator conversion circuit and provided to the LED power input circuit to power the at least one LED. ### Claim 17 A method of providing power to an LED in an LED based light comprising: supplying power provided by a power source to at least one LED; converting heat generated by the at least one LED to electrical energy with at least one thermoelectric generator in thermally conductive relation with the at least one LED; electrically connecting the at least one thermoelectric generator to the least one LED; and supplying the electrical energy to the at least one LED from the electrically connected at least one thermoelectric generator to supplement the power supplied by the power source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical energy is a voltage and the at least one thermoelectric generator is a plurality of thermoelectric generators, the method further comprising: electrically connecting the plurality of thermoelectric generators in series. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical energy is voltage, the method further comprising: providing a power conversion circuit configured to condition the voltage prior to supplying the voltage to the at least one LED.