Enabling new LED designs through advanced cooling technology

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly being designed into lighting products for general illumination and are now gaining traction in the market. Several LED products are already available, but have generally been accepted only for low light level applications because of the low lumen output and poor quality of light for many of the products. Much of the reason for the low lumen output is the limited cooling capacity of natural convection which is most commonly used. Unlike incandescent, halogen based, or other traditional lighting technologies, LEDs need proper thermal management to increase the lumen output, maintain quality of light and ensure high reliability and useful life. This paper investigates synthetic jet technology as a viable option for forced convection cooling as an alternative for natural convection in LED products to enable higher lumen designs without compromising form factor, quality of light and reliability.