TWM677979U - LED devices and their LED modules - Google Patents

Abstract

An LED device and its LED module are disclosed. The LED module includes LED units, a heat-conducting component, and a thermoelectric generator. The LED unit includes a circuit board having opposite front and back sides, and at least one LED electrically connected to the front side of the circuit board. The heat-conducting component is disposed on the back side of the circuit board and conducts heat generated by the LED unit. The thermoelectric generator is disposed on the heat-conducting component and electrically connected to a load module, converting the heat conducted by the heat-conducting component into electrical energy to drive the load module. Through the structural design of this LED module, the thermoelectric generator can convert the heat generated by the LED unit when emitting light into electrical energy, effectively recovering the heat energy of the LED unit and helping to improve energy efficiency.

Description

LED devices and their LED modules

This invention relates to a light-emitting device, and more particularly to an LED light-emitting device.

Because of their low energy consumption and the availability of a variety of light colors, LEDs have been widely used in various lighting applications, including but not limited to light bulbs, flashlights, car lights, streetlights, and decorative lights. However, one of the biggest drawbacks of LEDs is the high temperature generated during the conversion of electrical energy into light energy. To avoid these high temperatures affecting the lifespan of the lighting fixtures, current methods involve incorporating heat dissipation structures into LED lights to dissipate the heat generated by the LEDs into the surrounding environment. While this helps reduce the temperature of the LED lights, it also wastes the energy generated.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an LED device that can recycle and reuse the heat generated by LED light emission.

Therefore, the present novel LED device includes an LED module and a load module electrically connected to the LED module.

The LED module includes an LED unit, a heat-conducting component disposed on the LED unit, and a thermoelectric generator disposed on the heat-conducting component. The LED unit includes a circuit board having a front side and a back side, and at least one LED electrically connected to the front side of the circuit board. The heat-conducting component is disposed on the back side of the circuit board. The thermoelectric generator converts the heat energy conducted by the heat-conducting component into electrical energy. The load module is electrically connected to the thermoelectric generator and can be driven by the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric generator.

Another objective of this invention is to provide an LED module that can recycle and reuse the heat generated by LED light emission.

Therefore, this novel LED module is suitable for electrically connecting a load module. The LED module includes an LED unit, a heat-conducting component, and a thermoelectric chip.

The LED unit includes a circuit board having opposite front and back sides, and at least one LED electrically connected to the front side of the circuit board. A heat-conducting element is disposed on the back side of the circuit board to conduct heat generated by the LED unit. A thermoelectric generator is disposed on the heat-conducting element and electrically connected to the load module, converting the heat conducted by the heat-conducting element into electrical energy to drive the operation of the load module.

The advantage of this new technology is that, through the structural design of the LED module, the thermoelectric chip can convert the heat energy generated when the LED unit emits light into electrical energy, thereby effectively recovering the heat energy of the LED unit and helping to improve energy efficiency.

Referring to Figure 1, one embodiment of the novel LED device 100 is adapted to be installed in a lamp holder (not shown) to construct a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture is, for example, but not limited to, a flashlight, a vehicle light, etc. The LED device 100 includes a support mechanism 2 for mounting in the lamp holder, and an LED module 3 and a load module 4 mounted in the support mechanism 2, wherein the LED module 3 and the load module 4 are electrically connected.

The bracket mechanism 2 allows the LED module 3 and the load module 4 to be arranged and positioned at intervals. Since there are many types of bracket mechanisms 2 that can be used to mount and position the LED module 3 and the load module 4, the bracket mechanism 2 is not limited to the style shown in the drawing during implementation.

The LED module 3 includes an LED unit 31, a heat-conducting component 32, and a thermoelectric generator chip 33 stacked on top of each other. The LED unit 31 has a circuit board 311 and a plurality of LEDs 314 electrically connected to the circuit board 311. The circuit board 311 has a front side 312 and a back side 313 facing away from each other. The LEDs 314 are disposed on the front side 312 of the circuit board 311.

The heat-conducting element 32 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as, but not limited to, aluminum alloy, copper, and steel. The heat-conducting element 32 is attached to and fixed to the back surface 313 of the circuit board 311, and can be used to conduct heat generated by the LEDs 314. In this embodiment, the heat-conducting element 32 is designed as a plate, but in other embodiments of this invention, the heat-conducting element 32 can also be designed as, for example, but not limited to, a fin type. Since there are many structural forms of the heat-conducting element 32, the embodiments are not limited to the above-described forms.

The thermoelectric generator chip 33 is disposed and fixed on the side of the heat-conducting element 32 facing away from the LED unit 31, and has a hot side 331 and a cold side 332 facing away from each other, with the hot side 331 facing the heat-conducting element 32. The hot side 331 of the thermoelectric generator chip 33 is heated by the heat energy conducted by the heat-conducting element 32, and generates electricity through the Seebeck effect based on the temperature difference between the hot side 331 and the cold side 332. Since the thermoelectric generator chip 33 can generate electricity using the temperature difference between the hot side 331 and the cold side 332 is existing technology, it will not be described in detail.

The load module 4 is electrically connected to the thermoelectric chip 33 and can be driven by the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric chip 33.

In this embodiment, the load module 4 is a fan, having an air inlet side 41 facing the LED module 3 and an air outlet side 42 facing away from the air inlet side 41. When the load module 4 is driven to operate, it draws in gas through the air inlet side 41, which means it dissipates heat from the LED module 3.

However, in other embodiments of this invention, the load module 4 may also be other electronic components, such as, but not limited to, automotive negative ion generators and automotive atomizers (humidifiers).

In this embodiment, the support mechanism 2 is used to mount and position the LED module 3 and the load module 4. However, in other embodiments of this invention, it is not necessary to install the support mechanism 2.

In summary, through the structural design of the LED module 3 and the load module 4, the thermoelectric chip 33 can convert the heat energy generated when the LED unit 31 emits light into electrical energy to drive the load module 4. Therefore, the heat energy of the LED unit 31 can be effectively recovered, which helps to improve energy efficiency. Thus, the LED device 100 and the LED module 3 of this invention are indeed innovative and practical creations, and can effectively achieve the purpose of this invention.

However, the above description is merely an embodiment of this invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of this invention.

100: LED device 2: Support structure 3: LED module 31: LED unit 311: Circuit board 312: Front 313: Back 314: LED 32: Heat-conducting component 33: Thermoelectric chip 331: Hot side 332: Cold side 4: Load module 41: Air inlet side 42: Air outlet side

Other features and benefits of this invention will be clearly shown in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of an embodiment of the LED device of this invention.

100: LED Device

2: Support Structure

3: LED Module

31: LED Unit

311: Circuit Board

312: Front

313: Back View

314: LED

32: Thermal conductive components

33: Thermoelectric Chip

331: Hot Noodles

332: Cold Noodles

4: Load Module

41: Air intake side

42: Windward side

Claims (6)

An LED module, suitable for electrically connecting a load module, includes: an LED unit including a circuit board having opposite front and back sides, and at least one LED electrically connected to the front side of the circuit board; a heat conductor disposed on the back side of the circuit board, capable of conducting heat generated by the LED unit; and a thermoelectric chip disposed on the heat conductor and for electrically connecting the load module, capable of converting the heat conducted by the heat conductor into electrical energy for driving the operation of the load module. The LED module as described in claim 1, wherein the LED unit includes a plurality of LEDs electrically connected to the circuit board. An LED device includes: an LED module including an LED unit, a heat-conducting element disposed on the LED unit, and a thermoelectric generator disposed on the heat-conducting element; the LED unit includes a circuit board having a front side and a back side, and at least one LED electrically connected to the front side of the circuit board; the heat-conducting element is disposed on the back side of the circuit board; and the thermoelectric generator can convert the heat energy conducted by the heat-conducting element into electrical energy; and a load module electrically connected to the thermoelectric generator and driven by the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric generator. The LED device as described in claim 3, wherein the LED unit includes a plurality of LEDs electrically connected to the circuit board. The LED device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the load module is a fan having an air intake side facing the LED module and being driven by the electrical energy to draw gas through the air intake side. The LED device as described in any one of claims 3 to 5 further includes a support mechanism for mounting and positioning the LED module and the load module.