Lighting device with flexibly coupled heatsinks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9395057-B2
Application number	US-201113022542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2011
Priority date	Feb 7, 2011
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

Lighting devices include multiple heatsink elements arranged to dissipate heat generated by the multiple solid state emitters, with non-rigid coupling between heatsink elements. At least a portion of each heatsink element is preferably exposed to an ambient environment. Each heatsink element may include a switching element, may be addressable, and may receive wired or wireless control signals. A modular solid state lighting unit includes a heatsink and at least one solid state light emitter, with at least one flexible element secured to the heatsink element and to multiple electrical couplings. Flexible rope lights and two-dimensional arrays of emitters are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solid state lighting device comprising:
multiple solid state emitters; and
multiple heatsink elements arranged to dissipate heat generated by the multiple solid state emitters;
wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is substantially rigid and is coupled to at least one other heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements solely via a non-rigid connection;
wherein a portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is exposed to an ambient air environment; and
wherein the solid state lighting device comprises at least one of the following features (A) or (B):
(A) the non-rigid connection comprises an electrical conductor and a tubular flexible protective covering element that comprises a light-transmissive material and extends in a longitudinal direction over an entirety of each solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters and extends over a first portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements, wherein a second portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is not covered with the tubular flexible protective covering element; or
(B) the non-rigid connection comprises an electrical conductor and a flexible tube that comprises a light-transmissive material and extends in a longitudinal direction over an entirety of each solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters.

2. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is substantially rigid.

3. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid connection comprises an electrical conductor and a tubular flexible protective covering element that comprises a light-transmissive material and extends in a longitudinal direction over an entirety of each solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters and a first portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements, wherein a second portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is not covered with the tubular flexible protective covering element.

4. The solid state lighting device of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements protrudes in a lateral direction through the tubular flexible protective covering element.

5. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is spaced apart from each other heatsink element.

6. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements comprises stamped metal with an electrically insulating material arranged on at least a portion of at least one surface of the heatsink element.

7. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board is exposed to the ambient air environment.

8. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is not in substantial conductive thermal communication with any other heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements.

9. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein at least some solid state emitters of the multiple solid state emitters are adapted to output emissions perceived as white.

10. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple solid state emitters include at least two solid state emitters with peak emissions at wavelengths at least about 50 nm apart.

11. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is in conductive thermal communication with at least two solid state emitters of the multiple solid state emitters.

12. The solid state lighting device of claim 11 , wherein the at least two solid state emitters are independently controllable.

13. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple solid state emitters include solid state emitters facing in different directions when the multiple heatsink elements are arranged in a straight line.

14. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical cable extending between the multiple heatsink elements.

15. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is electrically isolated from the multiple solid state emitters.

16. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements comprises at least one electrically conductive trace in electrical communication with at least one solid state emitter supported by the heatsink element.

17. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , comprising at least one spacer element arranged to maintain separation between at least two heatsink elements of the multiple heatsink elements.

18. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lumiphor arranged to receive emissions from at least one solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters.

19. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is sized and arranged to dissipate at least about 2 watts to the ambient air environment while maintaining a junction temperature of at least one solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters arranged in conductive thermal communication with the heatsink element at or below 85° C.

20. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein:
the multiple solid state emitters are contained in multiple solid state emitter packages each including at least two solid state emitters and at least one of the following features (a) to (c): (a) a single leadframe including multiple conductive leads arranged to supply current to the at least two solid state emitters; (b) a single substrate arranged to structurally support the at least two solid state emitters; or (c) a single reflector arranged to reflect light emissions of each solid state emitter of the at least two solid state emitters; and
each heatsink element of the multiple heatsink elements is arranged to support at least one solid state emitter package of the multiple solid state emitter packages.

21. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , operatively connected to at least one sensor, wherein operation of the solid state lighting device is controlled responsive to an output signal of the at least one sensor.

22. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , having a luminous efficiency of at least about 100 lumens per watt.

23. The solid state lighting device of claim 22 , having a color rendering index of at least 90.

24. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser arranged to receive and diffuse emissions from the multiple solid state emitters.

25. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid connection comprises an electrical conductor and a flexible tube that comprises a light-transmissive material and extends in a longitudinal direction over an entirety of each solid state emitter of the multiple solid state emitters.

26. The solid state lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular flexible protective covering element or the flexible tube co

Assignees

• Van De Ven Antony Paul
• Cree Inc

Inventors

• Van De Ven Antony Paul

Classifications

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• F21S4/26

  of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form · CPC title

• F21Y2101/02

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F21V23/002

  Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm · CPC title

• H01L2224/48091

  Electricity · mapped topic