# US 8,783,894 B2 · LED lamp assembly with thermal management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,894 B2 - Document ID: US8783894B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/403,853 - Filed: 2012-02-23 - Published: 2012-12-06 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-12 - Assignees: Lumenetix, Inc. - Applicants: Robert Hitchcock; James Kingman; Matthew D. Weaver; Dustin Cochran; Sanjoy Ghose - Inventors: Robert Hitchcock; James Kingman; Matthew D. Weaver; Dustin Cochran; Sanjoy Ghose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783894B2 ## CPC - F21V 25/10: coming into action when lighting device is overloaded, e.g. thermal switch - F21V 29/51: using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes - F21V 29/85: characterised by the material (liquid coolants F21V29/56) - H05B 45/30: Driver circuits - H05B 45/56: involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - 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 - 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 A lighting system is described. The lighting system includes a lamp and a first container including a first phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the first phase change material. The system also includes a second container including a second phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is also conducted to the second phase change material, and the second phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the first phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. The lighting system also includes a temperature sensor for reducing lamp power if the lamp becomes too hot, and a mounting bracket which may also conduct heat away from the lamp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting system comprising: a first container, containing a phase change material, thermally connected to a lamp of the lighting system, wherein heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the phase change material; a mounting bracket connected to the first container, wherein an angle between the mounting bracket and the lamp can be adjusted to redirect light from the lighting system in a new direction; and a second container thermally connected to the lamp, wherein the second container contains a phase change material having a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the connection between the mounting bracket and the first container includes a thermal path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a light emitting diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the lamp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lighting system of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The lighting system of claim 4, wherein the lighting system is configured to reduce the power driving the lamp if the temperature exceeds a limit temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, wherein a transition point temperature of the phase change material is designed to be lower than a desired lamp operating temperature to account for a temperature drop between the lamp and the phase change material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a lens for creating illumination patterns. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser for creating uniform illumination. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first container is configured to contain pressure generated by the phase change material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface for reflecting light from the lamp. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the phase change material includes sodium sulphate, magnesium chloride, or barium hydroxide. ### Claim 13 A lighting system comprising: a light emitting diode; a lens configured to create an illumination pattern utilizing the light from the light emitting diode; a first container, containing a phase change material, thermally connected to the light emitting diode, wherein a portion of the heat generated by the light emitting diode during operation is conducted to the phase change material; a mounting bracket connected to the first container, wherein an angle between the mounting bracket and the light emitting diode can be adjusted to redirect light from the lighting system in a new direction; and a second container thermally connected to the light emitting diode, wherein the second container contains a phase change material having a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the connection between the mounting bracket and the first container includes a thermal path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the lamp. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lighting system of claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The lighting system of claim 15, wherein the lighting system is configured to reduce the current driving the lamp if the temperature exceeds a limit temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The lighting system of claim 13, wherein a transition point temperature of the phase change material is designed to be lower than a desired light emitting diode operating temperature to account for a temperature drop between the light emitting diode and the phase change material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the first container is configured to contain pressure generated by the phase change material during heat absorption. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a reflective surface for reflecting light from the light emitting diode. ### Claim 21 A lighting array comprising: a lamp; a first container including a first phase change material thermally connected to the lamp, wherein heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the first phase change material; and a second container including a second phase change material thermally connected to the lamp, wherein heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the second phase change material, and wherein the second phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the first phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The lighting array of claim 21, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the lamp. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The lighting array of claim 22, wherein the lighting array is configured to reduce the current driving the lamp if the temperature exceeds a limit temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The lighting array of claim 21, wherein the transition point temperature of the first phase change material is designed to be lower than a desired lamp operating temperature to account for a temperature drop between the lamp and the first phase change material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The lighting array of claim 21, wherein the first container is configured to contain pressure generated by the first phase change material during heat absorption. ### Claim 26 A method comprising: operating a lamp that produces light and heat; conducting the heat from the lamp to a first container including a first phase change material; absorbing a portion of the heat into the first phase change material, wherein the first phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the operating temperature of the lamp; conducting a portion of the heat from the first container to a second container including a second phase change material; and absorbing a portion of the heat into the second phase change material, wherein the second phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the first phase change material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the lamp is a light emitting diode.