US 6,712,486 · Granted 2004-03-30
The LED Heat-Sink Patent That Made Brighter Lights Last Longer
This patent describes a clever way to arrange light-emitting diodes (LEDs) so they stay cool while working harder. By connecting the LEDs to a heat sink through a special conductive body, engineers can push more electrical current through the lights, making them brighter without burning them out faster.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a modular LED mounting system where multiple pre-packaged LEDs are arranged in a serial array and attached to a heat-conductive body that transfers excess heat to an adjacent heat sink. What's protected here is the specific mechanical and thermal arrangement that allows LEDs to operate at higher currents while maintaining their lifespan. Anyone manufacturing an LED module with this exact heat-conduction-to-heat-sink architecture would infringe on this patent.
Why it matters
In the early 2000s, LEDs were gaining traction as energy-efficient lighting alternatives, but heat management was a serious obstacle. This patent solves a real engineering problem: if you push more current through an LED to make it brighter, heat builds up and degrades the component quickly. By providing a reliable thermal pathway, this innovation allowed LED manufacturers to design brighter, longer-lasting lighting systems without sacrificing durability, opening doors for LED adoption in demanding applications.
Real-world use
When LED light fixtures started appearing in commercial buildings, theaters, and eventually consumer products like desk lamps and backlighting systems, they relied on heat management techniques like this one to prevent premature failure.
Original USPTO abstract
A modular light emitting diode (LED) mounting configuration is provided including a light source module having a plurality of pre-packaged LEDs arranged in a serial array. The module includes a heat conductive body portion adapted to conduct heat generated by the LEDs to an adjacent heat sink. As a result, the LEDs are able to be operated with a higher current than normally allowed. Thus, brightness and performance of the LEDs is increased without decreasing the life expectancy of the LEDs. The LED modules can be used in a variety of illumination applications employing one or more modules.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,712,486
- Filing date
- 2000-10-19
- Grant date
- 2004-03-30
- Assignee
- Permlight Products, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- POPOVICH JOHN, HONEGGER GREGORY W.
- CPC class
- F21V29/70
Want to file your own patent?
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