VAPOR CHAMBER ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention provides a vapor chamber element (1000), wherein the vapor chamber element (1000) comprises a first plate (110) and a second plate (120) with a chamber (100) in between, wherein the chamber (100) has a first height (H1), wherein the vapor chamber element (1000) further comprises bridging elements (150) bridging at least part of the first height (H1), wherein the vapor chamber element (1000) comprises a plurality of sections (130) configured along a first axis (A), wherein the plurality of sections 130) comprises (i) a bending section (131) having a first volume fraction V.sub.1 of bridging elements (150), and (ii) a basic section (133) having a second volume fraction V.sub.2 of bridging elements (150), wherein 2≤V.sub.1/V.sub.2.

Claims

1. A vapor chamber element, wherein the vapor chamber element comprises a first plate and a second plate with a chamber in between, wherein the chamber has a first height, wherein the vapor chamber element further comprises bridging elements bridging at least part of the first height, wherein the vapor chamber element comprises a plurality of sections configured along a first axis, wherein the plurality of sections comprises (i) a bending section having a first volume fraction V.sub.1 of bridging elements, and (ii) a basic section having a second volume fraction V.sub.2 of bridging elements, wherein 2≤V.sub.1/V.sub.2.

2. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the first volume fraction V.sub.1 is selected from the range of 0.1-0.4.

3. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the bridging elements comprise columns.

4. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a wick structure, wherein the wick structure comprises a first wick associated to the first plate and a second wick associated to the second plate.

5. The vapor chamber element according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the bridging elements are at least partly comprised by the wick structure.

6. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the vapor chamber element has an element thickness d.sub.e, wherein the bending section is configured to provide a bend having a bend angle α.sub.b and a bend radius r.sub.b, wherein the bending section has a bending length l.sub.b along the first axis, and wherein the bending length l.sub.b is selected from the range of π*(r.sub.b+d.sub.e)/(360/α.sub.b)+2*5*d.sub.e-π*(r.sub.b+d.sub.e)/(360/α.sub.b)+2*10*d.sub.e.

7. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate have a first thickness d.sub.1 and a second thickness d.sub.2 independently selected from the range of 50-5000 μm.

8. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the vapor chamber element comprises n bending sections, wherein n is selected from the range of 2-4, and wherein basic sections are arranged between each two neighboring bending sections.

9. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the first axis has a first length defining a length of the vapor chamber element, wherein the vapor chamber element has a first width, wherein 0.2≤L1/W1≤5.

10. The vapor chamber element according to claim 1, wherein the vapor chamber element is bent at the bending section, wherein the bending section has a bending radius, wherein the bending radius ≤2 mm.

11. A method for providing a bent vapor chamber element, the method comprising: bending a vapor chamber element according to claim 1, in an unbent state, along the bending section to provide the bent vapor chamber element; filling the bent vapor chamber element with a coolant; sealing the bent vapor chamber element.

12. A device comprising the vapor chamber element of claim 10, wherein the device further comprises an electronic component thermally coupled to the bent vapor chamber element.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises a housing, wherein the housing internally has a rounded corner, wherein the bending section of the vapor chamber element is arranged in physical contact with the rounded corner at a contact interface, wherein the bending section and the rounded corner have the same radius at the contact interface.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises a light generating device.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises a driver unit comprising a driver, wherein the driver is thermally coupled with the bent vapor chamber element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

[0084] FIG. 1A-B schematically depict embodiments of the vapor chamber element.

[0085] FIG. 2A-C schematically depict an embodiment of the device comprising a bent vapor chamber element.

[0086] FIG. 3 schematically depicts embodiments of a luminaire and a lamp comprising the device of the invention.

[0087] The schematic drawings are not necessarily on scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0088] FIG. 1A schematically depicts an embodiment of the vapor chamber element (1000). In the depicted embodiment, the vapor chamber element 1000 comprises a first plate 110 and a second plate 120 with a chamber 100 in between. The chamber 100 has a first height H1. The vapor chamber element 1000 further comprises bridging elements 150 bridging at least part of the first height H1. The vapor chamber element 1000 further comprises a plurality of sections 130 configured along a first axis A. In the depicted embodiment, the plurality of sections 130 comprise a bending section 131 having a first volume fraction V.sub.1 of bridging elements 150. The plurality of sections further comprises a basic section 133 having a second volume fraction V.sub.2 of bridging elements 150, especially wherein the bending section 131 is configured (directly) between two basic sections 133, i.e., in embodiments the bending section 131 may border two basic sections 133.

[0089] In particular, in embodiments, 2≤V.sub.1/V.sub.2≤20.

[0090] In embodiments, the bending section 131 may have a first volume fraction V.sub.1 of bridging elements selected from the range of 0.05-0.5, such as from the range of 0.1-0.4, especially from the range of 0.15-0.35.

[0091] In the depicted embodiment, the bridging elements 150 comprise columns 151, especially columns 151 having a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a plate, and a cylinder, such as especially spherical columns.

[0092] In embodiments, the vapor chamber element 1000, especially the chamber 100, may comprise a wick structure 105. The wick structure may especially comprise a first wick 115 associated to the first plate 110 and a second wick 125 associated to the second plate 120.

[0093] In further embodiments, the bridging elements 150 may be at least partly comprised by the wick structure 105.

[0094] The bending section 131 may have a bending length l.sub.b along the first axis A, especially wherein the bending length l.sub.b≥0.5 mm.

[0095] The first plate 110 and the second plate 120 may, in embodiments, have (respectively) a first thickness d.sub.1 and a second thickness d.sub.2 independently selected from the range of 50-5000 μm.

[0096] In the depicted embodiment, the vapor chamber element 1000 comprises a single bending section 131. However, in further embodiments the vapor chamber element may comprise a plurality of bending sections 131, especially n bending sections 131, especially wherein n is selected from the range of 2-10, such as from the range of 2-4.

[0097] FIG. 1A depicts the vapor chamber element 1000 before bending. FIG. 1B schematically depicts the vapor chamber element 1000 after bending at the bending section 131. In particular, the bending section 131 may have a bending radius r.sub.b, especially an inner bending radius r.sub.bi, or especially an outer bending radius r.sub.bo, and especially wherein the bending radius r.sub.b≤2 mm.

[0098] In the depicted embodiment, the vapor chamber element 1000 has an element thickness d.sub.e. The element thickness d.sub.e is essentially the sum of the first height H1, the first thickness d.sub.1 and the second thickness d.sub.2.

[0099] In embodiments, the bending section 131 may be configured to provide a bend having a bend angle α.sub.b and a bend radius r.sub.b.

[0100] In embodiments, the bending section 131 may have a bending length l.sub.b along the first axis (A), especially wherein the bending length l.sub.b is selected from the range of π*(r.sub.b+d.sub.e)/(360/α.sub.b)+2*5*d.sub.e-π*(r.sub.b+d.sub.e)/(360/α.sub.b)+2*10*d.sub.e.

[0101] In the depicted embodiment, the bending section 131 has a bending length l.sub.b. In particular, the bending section 131 comprises a bending subsection 132 having a bending subsection length l.sub.bs and two support subsections 134 having a support length l.sub.s. Hence, l.sub.b=l.sub.s+2l.sub.bs. The bending subsection length l.sub.bs may especially be π*(r.sub.b+d.sub.e)/(360/α.sub.b).

[0102] FIG. 2A-C schematically depict embodiments of the device 200 comprising a bent vapor chamber element 1100. In particular, FIG. 2A-C depict a device 200 comprising a bent vapor chamber element 1100, wherein the device 200 further comprises an electronic component 210 thermally coupled, especially directly physically coupled, to the bent vapor chamber element 1100.

[0103] FIG. 2A schematically depicts an embodiment of the device wherein the device comprises a plurality of bent vapor chamber elements 1100, especially 2 bent vapor chamber elements 1100. In particular, each of the depicted bent vapor chamber elements 1100 comprises n bending sections 131, wherein n=2.

[0104] In further embodiments, the device 200 may comprise both (unbent) vapor chamber elements 1000 and bent vapor chamber elements 1100.

[0105] In the depicted embodiment, the bending section 131 is bent at a bending radius r.sub.b, wherein the bending radius r.sub.b≤2 mm. In particular, the bending radius r.sub.b corresponds to the radius of a circle matching the circle section defined by the bending section (after bending). For explanatory purposes, a matching circle is depicted in FIG. 2A. In particular, in the depicted embodiment, the bending angle α.sub.b may be about 90°.

[0106] FIG. 2B schematically depicts an embodiment of a device 200 comprising a single bent vapor chamber element 1100, wherein the bent vapor chamber element 1100 comprises n bending sections 131, wherein n=4.

[0107] In the depicted embodiment, the device 200 comprises a housing 220. The housing may comprise the bent vapor chamber element 1100 and the electronic component 120. In particular, in the depicted embodiment, the housing 220 internally has a rounded corner 221 (or: “has a rounded internal corner 221”), wherein the bending section 131 of the vapor chamber element 1100 is arranged in physical contact with the rounded corner 221 at a contact interface. In the depicted embodiment the bending section and the rounded corner have (essentially) the same radius at the contact interface, i.e., there is (essentially) no empty space between the housing 220 and the bent vapor chamber element 1100 at the rounded corner 221. In particular, the rounded corner is configured for hosting the bent section 131 of the bent vapor chamber element 1100.

[0108] FIG. 2C also schematically depicts an embodiment of the device wherein the device comprises a plurality of bent vapor chamber elements 1100, especially 2 bent vapor chamber elements 1100. In particular, each of the depicted bent vapor chamber elements 1100 comprises n bending sections 131, wherein n=2. In particular, in this embodiment, the bent vapor chamber elements 1100 are arranged at those areas of the device where heat-generating elements are located.

[0109] FIG. 3 schematically depicts an embodiment of a luminaire 2 comprising a light generating device 250 comprising the device 200 described above. Reference 300 indicates a control system 300, especially a control system comprising a user interface. The control system may especially be functionally coupled with the light generating device 250. FIG. 3 also schematically depicts an embodiment of a lamp 1 comprising the light generating device 250.

[0110] In embodiments, the device 200 may comprise a light generating device.

[0111] In further embodiments, the device 200 may comprises a driver unit 230 comprising a driver 231, wherein the driver 231 is thermally coupled with the bent vapor chamber element 1100.

[0112] The term “plurality” refers to two or more. Furthermore, the terms “a plurality of” and “a number of” may be used interchangeably.

[0113] The terms “substantially” or “essentially” herein, and similar terms, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The terms “substantially” or “essentially” may also include embodiments with “entirely”, “completely”, “all”, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially or essentially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term “substantially” or the term “essentially” may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. Moreover, the terms “about” and “approximately” may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. For numerical values it is to be understood that the terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “about”, and “approximately” may also relate to the range of 90%-110%, such as 95%-105%, especially 99%-101% of the values(s) it refers to.

[0114] The term “comprise” also includes embodiments wherein the term “comprises” means “consists of”.

[0115] The term “and/or” especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after “and/or”. For instance, a phrase “item 1 and/or item 2” and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term “comprising” may in an embodiment refer to “consisting of” but may in another embodiment also refer to “containing at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.

[0116] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0117] The devices, apparatus, or systems may herein amongst others be described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation, or devices, apparatus, or systems in operation.

[0118] The term “further embodiment” and similar terms may refer to an embodiment comprising the features of the previously discussed embodiment, but may also refer to an alternative embodiment.

[0119] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0120] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

[0121] Use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

[0122] The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0123] The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a device claim, or an apparatus claim, or a system claim, enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0124] The invention also provides a control system that may control the device, apparatus, or system, or that may execute the herein described method or process. Yet further, the invention also provides a computer program product, when running on a computer which is functionally coupled to or comprised by the device, apparatus, or system, controls one or more controllable elements of such device, apparatus, or system.

[0125] The invention further applies to a device, apparatus, or system comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. Moreover, if a method or an embodiment of the method is described being executed in a device, apparatus, or system, it will be understood that the device, apparatus, or system is suitable for or configured for (executing) the method or the embodiment of the method respectively.

[0126] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be combined, and that also more than two embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.