1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a lighting apparatus, and in particular, to a lighting apparatus having more efficient heat dissipation.
2. Description of Related Art
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that is fabricated by using a compound of chemical elements selected from the groups III-V, such as GaP, GaAs, and so forth. This kind of semiconductor material has the property of converting electrical energy into light. More specifically, electrons and holes in the semiconductor material are combined to release excessive energy in the form of light when a current is applied to the semiconductor material. Hence, an LED can emit light.
As the light generated by an LED is a form of cold luminescence instead of thermal luminescence or electric discharge luminescence, the lifespan of LED devices is up to one hundred thousand hours. Furthermore, LED devices do not require idling time. LED devices have the advantage of fast response speed (about 10−9 seconds), compact size, low power consumption, low pollution (mercury-free), high reliability, and the capability for mass production. Hence, the applications of LED devices are fairly extensive. For example, LEDs can be used in large-sized display boards, traffic lights, cell phones, scanners, light sources for fax machines, and so forth.
In recent years, as the brightness and light-emitting efficiency of LEDs are being improved and the mass production of white light LEDs is carried out successfully, white light LEDs are increasingly used in illumination devices, such as indoor and outdoor illuminators. Generally speaking, high-power LEDs all encounter a heat dissipation problem. When an LED is operated at an overly high temperature, the brightness of the LED lamp may be reduced and the lifespan of the LED may be shortened. For these reasons, how to design a proper heat dissipation system for LED lamps has become a focus of researchers and designers in this field.
The invention provides a lighting apparatus having more efficient heat dissipation.
The invention provides a lighting apparatus including a heat dissipation module and a light-emitting diode (LED) module. The heat dissipation module comprises heat sinks assembling each other, and each heat sink comprises air channels formed therein for air convection. The LED module is mounted on at least one of the heat sinks.
In one embodiment of the invention, a first connection element is assembled to the heat sinks, each heat sink comprises a base having a plurality of openings and heat dissipation fins disposed on the base extending upwardly from the base, and the air channels each existing between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins communicate with the openings.
In one embodiment of the invention, an interval exists between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins.
In one embodiment of the invention, a width of the interval between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins from closer to the base towards farther from the base is not a constant.
In one embodiment of the invention, the width of the interval farther from the base is larger than that of the interval closer to the base.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first connection element has a pair of first sliding connection portions extended alongside two opposite sidewalls of the first connection element, the base of the heat sink has a second sliding connection portion extended alongside one sidewall of the base, and the second sliding connection portion is engaging with one of the first sliding connection portions so as to make the heat sink slide relatively to the first connection element.
In one embodiment of the invention, each first sliding connection portion is a sliding rail, and the second sliding connection portion is a sliding groove.
In one embodiment of the invention, each first sliding connection portion is a sliding groove, and the second sliding connection portion is a sliding rail.
In one embodiment of the invention, the heat dissipation module further includes a second connection element disposed above the first connection element and having a pair of third sliding connection portions extended alongside two opposite sidewalls of the second connection element. One of the heat dissipation fins of each heat sink that is closer to the first connection element further includes a fourth sliding connection portion. The fourth sliding connection portion engages with one of the third sliding connection portions so as to make each heat sink slide relatively to the second connection element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the heat sinks, the first connection element and the second connection element form a first containing space.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes a power supply slidingly disposed in the first containing space and located between the first connection element and the second connection element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes a supporting element disposed on the second connection element and having an accommodating opening at one side of the supporting element.
In one embodiment of the invention, each third sliding connection portion is a sliding rail, and the fourth sliding connection portion is a sliding hook.
In one embodiment of the invention, each third sliding connection portion is a sliding hook, and the fourth sliding connection portion is a sliding rail.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first connection element has a first surface, the base of the heat sink has a second surface, and the second lower surface of the base and the first lower surface of the first connection element are substantially aligned to each other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the openings of the base are arranged in array.
In one embodiment of the invention, the heat dissipation fins extend upwardly from the base and bend toward a space above the first connection element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the heat dissipation fins extend upwardly from the base and bend toward a space far from above the first connection element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second lower surface of the base has a recess, and each LED module is disposed in the recess of the base.
In one embodiment of the invention, the LED module comprises a plurality of LED arrays and a plurality of lenses. Each LED arrays includes a carrier and a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed on the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier. The lenses respectively cover the corresponding LED arrays.
In one embodiment of the invention, each lens comprises a flat portion and a protrusion portion, the flat portion has a rough surface surrounding the protruding portion.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes a protecting cover having a plurality of sliding hooks at the sides of the protecting cover. One of the heat dissipation fins of each heat sink farther from the first connection element includes a sliding rail. The sliding hooks respectively lock the sliding rails so as to make the protecting cover slide relatively to the heat dissipation module.
In one embodiment of the invention, the protecting cover has a main plate and a side plate disposed around and connecting to the main plate. The main plate, the side plate and the heat dissipation fins of the heat sinks form a second containing space. The side plate has a plurality of gas circulation holes.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes two side covers respectively overlaying two ends of the heat dissipation module.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes two side sealing slices respectively located between the side covers and the ends of the heat dissipation module.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatus further includes a plurality of fasteners. The side covers respectively have a plurality of first fastening holes and the side sealing slices respectively have a plurality of second fastening holes. The second fastening holes are respectively corresponding to the first fastening holes. The fasteners are suitable to go through the first fastening holes and the second fastening holes to fasten the side covers on the heat dissipation module.
The invention further provides a lighting apparatus including a light-emitting diode (LED) module being assembled on a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base having a first surface for the LED module being mounted thereon and having a plurality of openings making a plurality of air channels that communicate with intervals between each of a plurality of heat dissipation fins extending upwardly from the base.
In one embodiment of the invention, the width of the interval between each two adjacent heat dissipation fins that is farther from the base is larger than the interval that is closer to the base.
The invention further provides a lighting apparatus including a heat sink and a light-emitting diode (LED) module. The heat sink has a base and fins disposed on the base extending toward a direction, and an air channel each formed between any two adjacent fins. The LED module is disposed on the base.
As described above, the lighting apparatus of the invention has the heat dissipation fins extending upwardly from the base, and an air channel exists between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins and communicates with the openings of the base. Consequently, the heat generated by the LED module disposed on the lower surface of the base can be dissipated by thermal-conduction and thermal-convection. As a result, the heat dissipation efficiency of the lighting apparatus is improved.
In order to the make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, a preferred embodiment accompanied with figures is described in detail below.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
To be more specific, with reference to
The second sliding connection portion 224 of the corresponding base 220a engages with the first sliding connection portions 212 of the first connection element 210 so as to make each heat sink 220 slide relative to the first connection element 212 and assembled with the first connection element 212. The second lower surface 226 of the corresponding base 220a and the first lower surface 214 of the first connection element 210 are substantially aligned to each other.
It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the implementation structure of the first connection element 210 and the heat sinks 220, although the first connection element 210 herein is implemented by having the first sliding connection portions 212 and the heat sinks 240 herein is implemented by having the second sliding connection portions 224, and the second sliding connection portions 224 are engaging with the first sliding connection portions 212 so as to make the heat sinks 240 slide relatively to the first connection element 210. Any known structure able to have the same fixing effect still falls in the technical scheme adopted by the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. In other words, in other unshown embodiments, anyone skilled in the art can select in their wills the above-mentioned structure according to the application need so as to reach the required technical effect.
The LED module 300 includes a plurality of LED arrays 300a and a plurality of lenses (not shown) is mounted on the second lower surfaces 226 of the corresponding bases 220a of the corresponding heat sinks 220, as shown in
Particularly, an air channel 232 exists between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins 220b and communicates with the openings 222. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, referring to the
Note that the first sliding connection portions 212 of the first connection element 210 are sliding rails and the second sliding connection portions 224 of the corresponding heat sinks 220 are sliding grooves according to the present embodiment. However, the present embodiment does not limit the types of the first sliding connection portions 212 and the second sliding connection portions 224. In another embodiment, the first sliding connection portions 212 may be sliding grooves and the second sliding connection portions 224 may be sliding rails, which still belong to a technical choice adoptable in the present embodiment and fall within the protection scope of the present embodiment. In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention may be embodied in other fashions, as long as the first sliding connection portions 212 are respectively engaged with the second sliding connection portions 224, the applications and variations of which should be known to those of ordinary skill in the art and is thus not described herein.
Referring to
Note that the third sliding connection portions 242 of the second connection element 240 are sliding rails and the fourth sliding connection portions 236 of the corresponding heat sinks 220 are sliding hooks according to the present embodiment. However, the present embodiment does not limit the types of the third sliding connection portions 242 and the fourth sliding connection portions 236. In another embodiment, the third sliding connection portions 242 may be sliding hooks and the fourth sliding connection portions 236 may be sliding rails, which still belong to a technical choice adoptable in the present embodiment and fall within the protection scope of the present embodiment. In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention may be embodied in other fashions, as long as the third sliding connection portions 242 are respectively engaged with the fourth sliding connection portions 236, the applications and variations of which should be known to those of ordinary skill in the art and is thus not described herein.
It is noted that, in this embodiment, with reference to
Furthermore, referring to
Particularly, the main plate 510, the side plate 520 and the heat dissipation fins 220b of the heat sinks 220 form a second containing space S2. The main plate 510 of the protecting cover 500 has an opening 512, and the side plate 520 of the protecting cover 500 has a plurality of gas circulation holes 522. The heat generated by the LED module 300 can be dissipated from the openings 222 of the base 220a to the outside environment sequentially through the air channels 232, the gas circulation holes 522 and the opening 512. Since the heat generated by the LED module 300 is dissipated by thermal-conduction and thermal-convection, the heat of the LED modules 300 is discharged and the heat dissipation efficiency of the lighting apparatus 100a is advanced.
Moreover, the lighting apparatus 100a in the present embodiment further includes two side covers 700, two side sealing slices 800 and a plurality of fasteners 900, as shown in
Based on the above, the lighting apparatus of the invention has heat dissipation fins extending upwardly from the base, and an air channel exists between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins which communicates with the openings of the base. Consequently, the heat generated by the LED module disposed on the lower surface of the base can be dissipated by thermal-conduction and thermal-convection. Furthermore, since the interval between any two adjacent heat dissipation fins from closer to the base towards farther from the base is not a constant, the thermal-convection of the air can be accelerated to dissipate the heat generated by the LED module. As a result, the heat dissipation efficiency of the lighting apparatus is improved.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/225,712, filed on Jul. 15, 2009. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61225712 | Jul 2009 | US |