초록 ▼

A light source that utilizes light emitting diodes that emit white light is disclosed. The diodes are mounted on an elongate member having at least two surfaces upon which the light emitting diodes are mounted. The elongate member is thermally conductive and is utilized to cool the light emitting di

A light source that utilizes light emitting diodes that emit white light is disclosed. The diodes are mounted on an elongate member having at least two surfaces upon which the light emitting diodes are mounted. The elongate member is thermally conductive and is utilized to cool the light emitting diodes. In the illustrative embodiment, the elongate member is a tubular member through which a heat transfer medium flows. A cooling or fluid movement device coupled with the elongate thermally conductive member enhances cooling of the light emitting diodes.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A light source comprising: an elongate thermally conductive channel; a surface proximate said channel and thermally coupled to said channel a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) carried on said surface, at least some of said light emitting diodes being disposed in a fi

What is claimed is: 1. A light source comprising: an elongate thermally conductive channel; a surface proximate said channel and thermally coupled to said channel a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) carried on said surface, at least some of said light emitting diodes being disposed in a first plane and others of said light emitting diodes being disposed in a second plane not coextensive with said first plane; said elongate thermally conductive channel being configured to conduct heat away from said light emitting diodes to fluid contained by said elongate thermally conductive channel; temperature sensing apparatus providing signals representative of the temperature of said light emitting diodes; and a controller coupled to said LED's and to said temperature sensing apparatus for controlling the temperature of said LED's dependent upon predetermined temperatures. 2. A light source in accordance with claim 1, comprising: a cooling device coupled to said elongate thermally conductive channel to enhance cooling of said LED's, said cooling device being controllable by said controller. 3. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises an electromechanical device. 4. A light source in accordance with claim 3, wherein: said electromechanical device comprises a fan. 5. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises an electronic device. 6. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises a solid state device. 7. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises an piezoelectric device. 8. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said elongate thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat away from said light emitting diodes to fluid proximate said surface. 9. A light source in accordance with claim 7, wherein: said fluid proximate said surface comprises air. 10. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises a fan. 11. A light source in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said cooling device comprises a Peltier device. 12. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said controller controls the amount of power provided to each of said LED's. 13. A light source in accordance with claim 12, wherein: said controller determines the amount of power provided to each of said LED's based upon control signal inputs. 14. A light source in accordance with claim 13, wherein: said controller determines the amount of power provided to each of said LED's in dependence upon signals received from said temperature sensor. 15. A light source in accordance with claim 1, wherein: at least some of said light emitting diodes emit colored light. 16. A light source in accordance with claim 15, wherein: said controller controls each of said light emitting diodes to control the color of the light output of said light source.