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US 9,429,302 B2Granted
Lighting system with thermal management system having point contact synthetic jets
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMehmet Arik, Stanton Earl Weaver, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Charles Franklin Wolfe, Jr., Rajdeep Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lighting systems having unique configurations are provided. For instance, the lighting system may include a light source, a thermal management system and driver electronics, each contained within a housing structure. The light source is configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure. The thermal management system includes a plurality of synthetic jets. The synthetic jets are arranged within the lighting system such that they are secured at contact points.
Claims17
A method of manufacturing a lighting system, the method comprising:
- providing a housing structure configured to house a light source and a thermal management system therein, the thermal management system comprising a plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure such that the plurality of synthetic jet devices are positioned to provide cooling to the light source, wherein mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices further comprises:
- providing a base bracket configured to hold each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure;
- positioning the plurality of synthetic jet devices on the base bracket;
- and
- coupling a bridge to the housing structure such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is retained between the bridge and the base bracket, wherein positioning the plurality of synthetic jet devices on the base bracket comprises sliding the plurality of synthetic jet devices into a plurality of slots formed in the base bracket, such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is positioned in a pair of slots.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a lighting system, the method comprising:
- providing a housing structure configured to house a light source and a thermal management system therein, the thermal management system comprising a plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure such that the plurality of synthetic jet devices are positioned to provide cooling to the light source, wherein mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices further comprises:
- providing a base bracket configured to hold each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure;
- positioning the plurality of synthetic let devices on the base bracket;
- and coupling a bridge to the housing structure such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is retained between the bridge and the base bracket wherein coupling the bridge to the housing structure comprises snapping the bridge into a slot formed in the housing structure;
- wherein coupling the bridge to the housing structure comprises snapping the bridge into a slot formed in the housing structure.
3 more elements
A lighting system comprising a light source configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in a housing structure and a thermal management system configured to cool the light source, wherein the lighting system is formed by:
- providing a light source configured to provide illumination;
- positioning the light source within a housing structure, the housing structure configured to house both the light source and a thermal management system therein, the thermal management system comprising a plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure such that the plurality of synthetic jet devices are positioned to provide cooling to the light source, wherein mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices further comprises:
- providing a base bracket configured to hold each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure;
- positioning the plurality of synthetic jet devices on the base bracket;
- and coupling a bridge to the housing structure such that each of the plurality;
- of synthetic jet devices is retained between the bridge and the base bracket;
- wherein the lighting system is further formed by sliding the plurality of synthetic jet devices into a plurality of slots formed in the base bracket, such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is positioned in a pair of slots so as to be held at two contact points.
5 more elements
A lighting system comprising a light source configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in a housing structure and a thermal management system configured to cool the light source, wherein the lighting system is formed by:
- providing a light source configured to provide illumination;
- positioning the light source within a housing structure, the housing structure configured to house both the light source and a thermal management system therein, the thermal management system comprising a plurality of synthetic let devices;
- mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure such that the plurality of synthetic jet devices are positioned to provide cooling to the light source, wherein mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices further comprises:
- providing a base bracket configured to hold each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure;
- positioning the plurality of synthetic jet devices on the base bracket;
- and coupling a bridge to the housing structure such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is retained between the bridge and the base bracket, wherein the lighting system is further formed by snapping the bridge into a slot formed in the housing structure, so as to coupe the bridge to the housing structure.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a lighting system, the method comprising:
- providing a housing structure configured to house a light emitting diode (LED)
- light source and a thermal management system therein, the thermal management system comprising a plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- positioning the LED light source within the housing structure so to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure;
- positioning a heat sink adjacent a backside of the LED light source, the heat sink comprising a base portion and a plurality of fins extending from the base portion so as to provide a plurality of air gaps therebetween;
- and
- mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices within the housing structure such that longitudinal lengths of the plurality of synthetic jet devices are aligned with longitudinal lengths of the plurality of fins of the heatsink, with the plurality of synthetic jet devices being mounted within the housing structure independent from the heat sink such that the plurality of synthetic jet devices are free of contact with the heat sink;
- wherein mounting the plurality of synthetic jet devices further comprises:
- providing a base bracket comprising a plurality of slots configured to hold the plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- positioning the plurality of synthetic jet devices in the plurality of slots of the base bracket;
- and
- coupling a bridge to the housing structure such that each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices is retained between the bridge and the base bracket, the bridge comprising a plurality of slots configured to hold the plurality of synthetic jet devices;
- wherein the plurality of synthetic jet devices are retained between the base bracket and the bridge by the plurality of slots in a point contact configuration comprising a plurality of contact points.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.