Solid state area light and spotlight with light guide and integrated thermal guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354386-B2
Application number	US-201314063395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2013
Priority date	Oct 25, 2013
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A solid state area light and spotlight having a solid state light source such as LEDs, tapered light guides, and external thermal guides. The area light includes a flared light guide, and the spotlight includes a light guide with a closed end. The light guides are coupled to the light source for receiving and distributing light from the light source with the distribution being based in part upon the shape and taper of the light guides. The thermal guide provides for thermal conduction from the light source and dissipating heat through convection and radiation for cooling the light.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light with integrated light and thermal guides, comprising:
a light source;
a light section having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
a light guide, coupled to the second side of the light section, comprising a material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a first end at a first edge between the first and second surfaces and a second open end at a second edge between the first and second surfaces opposite the first end, wherein the light guide is in communication to the light source for receiving and distributing light from the light source, and the light is transported within the light guide until the light exits from the first or second surface, wherein the light source is located at the first edge of the light guide in order to optically couple the light into the light guide at the first edge, wherein the light guide has a flared shape where the light guide diverges outward from the first end to the second end with the second end having a larger opening at the second edge to an area created by the second surface than the first end at the first edge; and
a thermal guide coupled to the light section external to the light guide for providing thermal conduction from the light source for cooling the light.

2. The light of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more of the following: a light emitting diode; and an organic light emitting diode.

3. The light of claim 1 , wherein the thermal guide is coupled to the first side of the light section, and further comprising a base coupled to the thermal guide on a side opposite the light section and configured for connection to a power source.

4. The light of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is tapered with a thickness of the light guide decreasing from the first end to the second end.

5. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective film on the second end of the light guide.

6. The light of claim 1 , wherein the thermal guide has a central core with external fins.

7. The light of claim 1 , further comprising an optical coupling material between and in contact with the light source and the first edge of the light guide.

8. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a cover on the second side of the light section and adjacent the first end of the light guide.

9. The light of claim 8 , wherein the entire cover has no apertures allowing passage of air into an interior of the light section.

10. The light of claim 8 , further comprising connectors securing the cover to the light section, wherein the cover has mechanical interference with the light guide to hold the light guide on the light section, and the mechanical interference comprises a portion of the cover that fits against the second surface of the light guide.

11. The light of claim 1 , wherein the material of the light guide comprises polycarbonate.

12. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a driver electrically connected with the light source, wherein the driver comprises a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving commands to control operation of the light.

13. A light with integrated light and thermal guides, comprising:
a light source;
a light section having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
a light guide, coupled to the second side of the light section, comprising a material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and an edge between the first and second surfaces, wherein the light guide is in communication to the light source for receiving and distributing light from the light source, and the light is transported within the light guide until the light exits from the first or second surface, wherein the light source is located at the edge of the light guide in order to optically couple the light into the light guide at the edge, wherein the light guide has a first end at the edge and a second closed end opposite the first end with the second surface forming an enclosed interior volume where the light guide is aperture-free; and
a thermal guide coupled to the light section external to the light guide for providing thermal conduction from the light source for cooling the light.

14. The light of claim 13 , wherein the light source comprises one or more of the following: a light emitting diode; and an organic light emitting diode.

15. The light of claim 13 , wherein the thermal guide is coupled to the first side of the light section, and further comprising a base coupled to the thermal guide on a side opposite the light section and configured for connection to a power source.

16. The light of claim 13 , wherein the light guide is tapered with a thickness of the light guide decreasing from the first end to the second end.

17. The light of claim 13 , wherein the thermal guide has a central core with external fins.

18. The light of claim 13 , further comprising an optical coupling material between and in contact with the light source and the edge of the light guide.

19. The light of claim 13 , further comprising a heat spreading dome adjacent the second surface of the light guide, wherein the heat spreading dome is located within the interior volume and has a surface facing the second surface of the light guide.

20. The light of claim 19 , wherein an air gap is formed between at least a portion of the surface of the heat spreading dome and the second surface of the light guide.

21. The light of claim 19 , further comprising connectors securing the heat spreading dome to the light section, wherein the first and second surfaces of the light guide are held between a portion of the light section and a base portion of the heat spreading dome.

22. The light of claim 13 , wherein the light guide has at least a partial cone shape.

23. The light of claim 13 , wherein the material of the light guide comprises polycarbonate.

24. The light of claim 13 , further comprising a driver electrically connected with the light source, wherein the driver comprises a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving commands to control operation of the light.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Johnston Raymond P
• Humpal Paul E
• Brott Robert L
• Geisler Karl J L
• Vos Martin J

Classifications

• F21V29/773

  the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis · CPC title

• F21Y2103/022

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• G02B6/0045

  by shaping at least a portion of the light guide · CPC title

• F21K9/135

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F21K9/52

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic