TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed generally to lighting. More particularly, various embodiments disclosed herein relate to adjustable recessed lighting apparatus with obliquely-angled heat sinks.

BACKGROUND

Digital lighting technologies, i.e., illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, lower operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full- spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications. Some of the fixtures embodying these sources feature a lighting module, including one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, e.g., red, green, and blue, as well as a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs in order to generate a variety of colors and color-changing lighting effects, for example, as discussed in detail in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,016,038 and 6,211,626, incorporated herein by reference.

Adjustable recessed lighting units (sometimes referred to as“downlights” though they are not required to point downward necessarily) are used to aim light at objects or certain areas. Some adjustable recessed lighting units include one or more LED emitters. Many LEDs include heat sinks that are designed to draw heat generated by the LED emitter(s) away, e.g., so that the heat can be dissipated in the environment. Heat sinks often include a series of heat-conducting“ribs” or“fins” constructed with various types of metals. In cases in which the LED emitter(s) generate a relatively large amount of heat, the accompanying heat sinks may be rather large. These heat sinks are typically thermally coupled with the LED emitters, and the LED emitters themselves are often contained within what will be referred to herein as an“optical cup” or alternatively as a“lighting cup” or simply as a“reflector. An optical cup may include an optical element— such as one or more lenses or an open space defined by one or more interior reflective surfaces— that is designed to direct electromagnetic radiation (i.e. light) emitted by the LED emitter(s) in a particular direction. Often the optical cup has a cup or cone shape that defines a central axis that is parallel to (typically coaxial with) the direction in which the optical cup induces the electromagnetic radiation. The heat sink typically extends from the optical cup in the opposite direction, i.e. parallel to the central axis defined by the optical cone in a direction away from the emitted light.

Large heat sinks may present a variety of challenges. Spaces in which adjustable recessed lighting units are installed are often constrained, e.g., in the space between a ceiling and the floor above. Often some sort of compartment or housing is first preinstalled in the ceiling (or other surface), and then the adjustable recessed lighting apparatus is installed within this compartment. Oftentimes the optical cone may need to be angled within the ceiling, e.g., to better align with a baffle (an architectural feature that directs light in a particular direction) and/or to point in a particular direction, such as a wall painting, a sculpture, or some other object/area of interest. A relatively large heat sink that extends straight from a back of the optical cone as described previously may limit how much the optical cone can be angled, e.g., because of space constraints in the ceiling or a pre- installed compartment. Additionally, suppose the optical cone is rotatable about its central axis. If the optical cone is tilted to a relatively large degree, , e.g., forty five degrees, a relatively large heat sink extending straight from the back of the optical cone imposes a large rotation radius as the optical cone is rotated. This may impose a requirement that a preinstalled compartment for the optical cone and its heat sink be relatively large, which again may not be ideal in a constrained space. Moreover, if the optical cone is tilted to a relatively large angle, e.g., forty five degrees, the heat sink may be substantially offset from a center of gravity of the recessed adjustable lighting unit as a whole, putting strain on various mechanical components that secure the recessed adjustable lighting unit to building structure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to adjustable recessed lighting apparatus with obliquely-angled heat sinks. For example, in various embodiments, an adjustable recessed lighting apparatus may include an optical cone with a first end and a second end. A central axis (“CA” in the figures) of the optical cone may extend from the first end to the second end along its center. A heat sink assembly may be thermally coupled with one or more LEDs (or other types of heat-generating light sources) at the first end of the optical cup, and may extend from the first end of the optical cup in a direction away from the second end of the optical cup. In various embodiments, the heat sink assembly, which may include, for instance, a plurality of thermally-conductive ribs or fins, may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the optical cup, rather than in line with the central axis.

Consequently, the optical cone may be tilted in various directions to a greater degree while occupying less of a constrained space in which recessed lighting apparatus are typically installed. Moreover, due to its oblique angle relative to the central axis of the optical cup, when the optical cup is tilted away from straight up and down, the heat sink assembly is more closely aligned with a center of gravity of the adjustable recessed lighting apparatus, reducing strain on various components. Additionally, the oblique angle between the lighting cone and the heat sink allows for the lighting cone to be rotated about its central axis while requiring less rotational radius for the heat sink than would be required with conventional lighting apparatus in which the heat sink extends along the central axis of the optical cone.

Generally, in one aspect, an adjustable recessed lighting apparatus may include: a housing that is pivotally mounted to a base structure; at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) mounted to a front side of a substrate; an optical cup fixedly contained within the housing and luminously coupled with the at least one LED at a first end of the optical cup, wherein the optical cup includes one or more optical elements configured to direct at least some light emitted by the at least one LED from the first end of the optical cup towards a second end of the optical cup along a central axis of the optical cup; and a heat sink assembly thermally coupled with the at least one LED, wherein the heat sink assembly includes a plurality of parallel fins that extend away from the first and second ends of the optical cup at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the optical cup.

In various embodiments, the base structure may include a first ring that is rotatably mounted to a second ring. In various embodiments, rotation of the first ring may rotate the housing about an axis of rotation of the first ring. In various embodiments, the housing may be pivotally mounted to the first ring via a hinge. In various embodiments, the oblique angle may be between 20° and 25°. Lor example, in various embodiments, the oblique angle may be approximately 22.5°.

In various embodiments, the housing may include a lateral surface extending across the housing orthogonal to the central axis of the optical cup. In various embodiments, the first end of the optical cup may be mounted on a first side of the lateral surface. In various embodiments, the plurality of fins may extend from a second side of the lateral surface. In various embodiments, the plurality of fins may extend obliquely from the second side of the lateral surface. In various embodiments, the plurality of fins and the housing may form a unitary component, and the plurality of fins may protrude obliquely from the second side of the lateral surface. In various embodiments, the housing may include six exterior surfaces such that the housing has a side profile with a substantially hexagonal shape. In various embodiments, the lateral surface may extend between a point along one of the six side surfaces to an intersection between two others of the six side surfaces. In various

embodiments, the plurality of fins may extend parallel to a diameter of the substantially hexagonal shape, and the central axis of the optical cup is oblique to the diameter of the substantially hexagonal shape.

In another aspect, an adjustable recessed lighting apparatus may include: a housing that is pivotally and rotatably mounted to a base structure; at least one light source mounted to a front side of a substrate; an optical cup fixedly contained within the housing and luminously coupled with the at least one light source at a first end of the optical cup, wherein the optical cup includes one or more optical elements configured to direct at least some light emitted by the at least one light source from the first end of the optical cup towards a second end of the optical cup along a central axis of the optical cup; and a heat sink assembly thermally coupled with the at least one light source, wherein the heat sink assembly extends away from the first and second ends of the optical cup at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the optical cup.

As used herein for purposes of the present disclosure, the term“LED” should be understood to include any electroluminescent diode or other type of carrier

injection/junction-based system that is capable of generating radiation in response to an electric signal. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor- based structures that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent strips, and the like. In particular, the term LED refers to light emitting diodes of all types (including semi-conductor and organic light emitting diodes).

It should be understood that the term LED does not limit the physical and/or electrical package type of an LED. For example, as discussed above, an LED may refer to a single light emitting device having multiple dies that are configured to respectively emit different spectra of radiation (e.g., that may or may not be individually controllable). Also, an LED may be associated with a phosphor that is considered as an integral part of the LED (e.g., some types of white LEDs). In general, the term LED may refer to packaged LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, T-package mount LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, LEDs including some type of encasement and/or optical element (e.g., a diffusing lens), etc.

The term“light source” should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyro-luminescent sources (e.g., flames), candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, carbon arc radiation sources), photo-luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, and luminescent polymers.

The term“lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to an implementation or arrangement of one or more lighting units in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. The term“lighting unit” is used herein to refer to an apparatus including one or more light sources of same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light source(s). An“LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as discussed above, alone or in combination with other non LED- based light sources. A“multi-channel” lighting unit refers to an LED-based or non LED- based lighting unit that includes at least two light sources configured to respectively generate different spectrums of radiation, wherein each different source spectrum may be referred to as a“channel” of the multi-channel lighting unit.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view from underneath a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of components of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in a first configuration, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in a second, tilted configuration, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a recessed lighting apparatus configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, in a third, tilted configuration, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION

Adjustable recessed lighting units (sometimes referred to as“downlights” though they are not required to point downward necessarily) are used to aim light at objects or certain areas. Some adjustable recessed lighting units include one or more FED emitters. Many FEDs include heat sinks that are designed to draw heat generated by the FED emitter(s) away, e.g., so that the heat can be dissipated in the environment. Heat sinks often include a series of heat-conducting“ribs” or“fins” constructed with various types of metals. In cases in which the LED emitter(s) generate a relatively large amount of heat, the accompanying heat sinks may be rather large. These heat sinks are typically thermally coupled with the LED emitters, and the LED emitters themselves are often contained within what will be referred to herein as an“optical cup” or alternatively as a“lighting cup” or simply as a“reflector. An optical cup may include an optical element— such as one or more lenses or an open space defined by one or more interior reflective surfaces— that is designed to direct electromagnetic radiation (i.e. light) emitted by the LED emitter(s) in a particular direction. Often the optical cup has a cup or cone shape that defines a central axis that is parallel to (typically coaxial with) the direction in which the optical cup induces the electromagnetic radiation. The heat sink typically extends from the optical cup in the opposite direction, i.e. parallel to the central axis defined by the optical cone in a direction away from the emitted light.

Large heat sinks may present a variety of challenges. Spaces in which adjustable recessed lighting units are installed are often constrained, e.g., in the space between a ceiling and the floor above. Often some sort of compartment or housing is first preinstalled in the ceiling (or other surface), and then the adjustable recessed lighting apparatus is installed within this compartment. Oftentimes the optical cone may need to be angled within the ceiling, e.g., to better align with a baffle (an architectural feature that directs light in a particular direction) and/or to point in a particular direction, such as a wall painting, a sculpture, or some other object/area of interest. A relatively large heat sink that extends straight from a back of the optical cone as described previously may limit how much the optical cone can be angled, e.g., because of space constraints in the ceiling or a pre- installed compartment. Additionally, suppose the optical cone is rotatable about its central axis. If the optical cone is tilted to a relatively large degree, , e.g., forty five degrees, a relatively large heat sink extending straight from the back of the optical cone imposes a large rotation radius as the optical cone is rotated. This may impose a requirement that a preinstalled compartment for the optical cone and its heat sink be relatively large, which again may not be ideal in a constrained space. Moreover, if the optical cone is tilted to a relatively large angle, e.g., forty five degrees, the heat sink may be substantially offset from a center of gravity of the recessed adjustable lighting unit as a whole, putting strain on various mechanical components that secure the recessed adjustable lighting unit to building structure. In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to adjustable recessed lighting apparatus with obliquely angled heat sinks/heat sink assemblies.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, in one embodiment, an adjustable recessed lighting apparatus 100 includes a housing 102 pivotally mounted (directly or indirectly) to a platform 104. Platform 104 may be designed to be placed, for instance, on a top surface (not depicted) of a ceiling (e.g., sheet rock). In some embodiments, platform 104 may be secured to the top surface of the ceiling by way of one or more fastening elements, such as drywall screws, nails, staples, etc. In some embodiments, apparatus 100 may also include a bottom flange 110 that is configured for placement on a bottom surface of a ceiling, e.g., the surface that is visible from below. While botom flange 110 is depicted in Fig. 1 as being circular, this is not meant to be limiting. In other embodiments, bottom flange 110 may have other shapes or be omitted.

In some embodiments, housing 102 may be pivotally mounted to a top ring 106, e.g. by way of a hinge 126. As will be described in further detail below, top ring 106 may be rotatably mounted to a bottom ring 108, e.g., so that top ring 106 (and hence, housing 102) may be rotated as much as 360° about a central axis (not depicted) of bottom flange 110. Housing 102 may include, e.g., contained within or as an integral part thereof, a plurality of fins 122 that form part of a heat sink assembly 121, wherein the heat sink assembly 121 pivots along with or in conjunction with the housing 102. Fins 122 may be constructed with thermally conductive materials such as various types of metals.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus 100 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Numerous components contained within housing 102 are visible in Fig. 2. For example, in Fig. 2, an optical cup 112 is luminously coupled to one or more LEDs 118 at a first end 114 of optical cup 112. Consequently, optical cup 112 directs light emitted by one or more LEDs 118 in a direction from first end 114 of optical cup towards a second end 116 of optical cup, e.g., in a direction that is parallel to (e.g., coaxial with) a central axis CA of optical cup 112.

Optical cup 112 may come in various forms. In some implementations, optical cup 112 may include an interior 117 (also visible in Fig. 3) that is at least partially filled with material such as plastic or glass that is shaped to form one or more lenses. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, interior 117 of optical cup 112 may be empty, and instead its interior surface(s) may be reflective, e.g., to direct light as described previously. Optical cup 110 may have a cup shape as shown in the Figures, or may have other shapes, such as a cone shape, a pyramid shape, a box shape, etc. In various embodiments, one or more LEDs 118 may be mounted on a first side (bottom side in Fig. 2) of a substrate 120, such as a printed circuit board and/or one or more silicone wafers or dies.

In various embodiments, a baffle 150 (also visible in Fig. 3) may be provided to direct light emitted by the one or more FEDs 118 in a particular direction. Baffle 150 may or may not be part of apparatus 100 (e.g., provided with or separately from). Fikewise, other components depicted in the figures, such as platform 104 and/or bottom flange 110, may or may not be part of apparatus 100. And in some cases, baffle 150 may be omitted.

Baffle 150 in Fig. 2 is an angled baffle such that optical cone 112 needs to be angled slightly to point directly into baffle 150. In other scenarios, it may be desired that optical cone 112 be slightly angled (with or without the presence of baffle 150) such that light emitted by the one or more FEDS 118 is directed in a direction other than straight down, such as towards a position below that is offset from lighting apparatus 100, or even at a horizontal surface (e.g., to illuminate a painting or architectural feature). As mentioned previously, conventional recessed lighting apparatus have heat sinks that typically extend straight back from first end 114 of optical element, e.g., parallel to central axis CA of optical cone 112. Tilting a conventional optical cone to achieve the desired angle of illumination means the corresponding heat sink is also tilted to the same angle. Given the typically constrained spaces in which recessed lighting apparatus are installed, the physical presence of the heat sink may limit how much the conventional optical cone can be tiled. Even when a conventional optical cone is tilted, the conventional heat sink may be offset from a center of gravity such that its weight puts strain on various components.

Accordingly, in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2, a heat sink assembly 121 extends obliquely from central axis CA of optical cup 112. In particular, heat sink assembly 121 includes a plurality of parallel fins 122 that extend (or“sweep,” similar to an airplane wing) away from the first end 114 of optical cup 112 in a direction (referred to herein as“rib axis,” indicated at“RA” in the Figures) that is at an oblique angle a relative to the central axis CA of optical cup 112. As will be demonstrated by Figs. 5-7, this allows for optical cup 112 to be pivoted (e.g., about hinge 126) to a greater degree than would otherwise be possible if heat sink assembly 121 extended straight from first end 114 of optical cup 112 parallel to central axis CA. Various oblique angles a may be employed. For example, in some implementations, oblique angle a may be between 20° and 30°, such as approximately 22.5°. Figs. 5-7 demonstrate some advantages of having oblique angle a be approximately 22.5°.

In some embodiments, housing 102 may include a lateral (e.g., planar) surface 124 extending across housing 102, e.g., orthogonal to central axis CA of optical cup 112. In some such embodiments, first end 114 of optical cup 112 (and more particularly, substrate 120) may be mounted on a first side 125 of lateral surface 123. In some embodiments, plurality of fins 122 may extend, e.g., obliquely, from a second side 123 of lateral surface 124. For example, plurality of fins 122 may be separate components from lateral surface 124 but may be secured to lateral surface 124, e.g., using glue, welding, mechanical fasteners, etc. Or, in some embodiments in which housing 102 and heat sink assembly 121 form a unitary component (e.g., molded or 3D-printed as a single piece), plurality of fins 122 may protrude from second side 123 of lateral surface 124. Whichever the case, because lateral surface 124 is orthogonal to central axis CA of optical cup 112, plurality of fins 122 may also extend at an oblique angle (e.g., a) from lateral surface 124.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of adjustable recessed lighting apparatus 100. From the bottom up, baffle 150 is adjacent to, and aligned with, bottom flange 110. Top ring 106 is a slightly smaller diameter than bottom ring 108, e.g., so that top ring 106 is rotatable within bottom ring 108, e.g., by way of cooperating flanges (indicated at 132 in Figs. 5-7). In other embodiments, these dimensions may be reversed, e.g., so that bottom ring 108 has a smaller diameter than top ring 106. At least portions of baffle 150 and top ring 106 are insertable through an aperture 105 of platform 104, such that a hinge hole l26a is exposed and available to hinge 126 of housing 102 when apparatus 100 is assembled.

Optical cone 112 may be secured to housing 102, e.g., by way of substrate 120 being secured to first side 125 of lateral surface 124 (not visible in Fig. 4, see Fig. 2). Central axis CA of optical cone 112 is also indicated in Fig. 4, and is oblique relative to an axis X of assembly that is depicted in Fig. 4. In some implementations, axis X of assembly may be parallel to (e.g., coaxial with) rib axis RA depicted in Fig. 2.

Figs. 5-7 demonstrate how orienting heat sink assembly 121 at an oblique angle a relatively to central axis CA of optical cone 112 may reduce the amount of space required to pivot housing 102, and hence optical cup 112, to various angles. Figs. 5-7 also demonstrate one aspect of the present disclosure, namely, that in various embodiments, housing 102 may include six exterior surfaces l30a-f such that housing 102 has a side profile (i.e., viewed from the perspective of Figs. 5-7) with a substantially hexagonal shape. This is not meant to be limiting, and a side profile of housing 102 may have other polygonal shapes, such as a pentagon shape, a square or rectangular shape, an elliptical (e.g., circular) shape, etc.

In Figs. 5-7 (and 2), lateral surface 124 extends between a point along one of the six side surfaces (midway across l30c in Figs. 5-7) to approximately an intersection between two other side surfaces (l30f and 130a in Figs. 5-7). In various embodiments, plurality of fins 122 extend parallel to a diameter (D in Fig. 5) of the substantially hexagonal shape. In various implementations, central axis CA of optical cup 112 may be oblique to that diameter (D) of the substantially hexagonal shape. The configuration of Figs. 5-7 is not meant to be limiting; other configurations are contemplated herein. In Figs. 5-7, bottom flange 110 is omitted. Instead, adjustable recessed lighting apparatus 100 is depicted installed in a ceiling 111 (e.g., drywall). When installed, ceiling 111 extends between platform 104 and a lower lip/flange of baffle 150.

In Figs. 5-7, oblique angle a is 22.5°, which is half of 45°. Consequently, housing 102 may be pivoted or tilted in either direction. For example, in Fig. 5, housing 102 is not tilted in either direction. Consequently, rib axis RA (which as noted above may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of housing 102) is pointed straight up, and central axis CA is angled to the right from rib axis RA by an angle a of 22.5°. Thus, in the configuration of Fig. 5, optical cone 112 is tilted such that light it emits is pointed down and to the left, e.g., in general alignment with baffle 150, which is asymmetric from the perspective of Fig. 5. And the overall profile of plurality of fins 122 (and generally speaking, heat sink assembly 121) is oriented straight upwards. When optical cone 112 is oriented as shown in Fig. 5 and then rotated, the corresponding rotation of heat sink assembly 121 may require less rotational radius than would be required if, for instance, heat sink assembly 121 extended straight back from optical cone 112 along central axis CA.

In Fig. 6, housing 102 has been pivoted about hinge 126 towards the left (e.g., by 22.5°), as indicated by the curved arrow at top. In this configuration, optical cone 112 is now pointed straight downwards into (but out of direct alignment with) baffle 150. Thus, central axis CA is depicted straight up and down in Fig. 6, while rib axis RA is angled to the left, e.g., by an angle a of 22.5° from central axis CA. It can be seen that in the configuration of Fig. 6, heat sink assembly 121 still requires relatively little“headroom,” which is advantageous given the typically constrained spaces in which recessed lighting apparatus are installed.

In Fig. 7, housing 102 has been pivoted about hinge 126 towards the right (e.g., by 22.5°), as indicated by the curved arrow at top. In this configuration, central axis CA of optical cone 112 is at a 45° angle from a plane (not depicted) defined by platform 104, which may be parallel to a plane defined by the ceiling 111 in which apparatus 100 is installed. However, even with this relatively large tilt, because rib axis RA is oblique relative to central axis CA, plurality of fins 122 are still only tilted 22.5° relative to a vertical axis down through a center of gravity (not depicted) of apparatus 100. Consequently, the weight of fins 122 put less strain on various components (e.g., hinge 126, top ring 106) than they would if they extended straight upwards from first end of optical cup 112 in the direction of central axis CA. Moreover, if top ring 106 were rotated about its axis (which is the same as central axis CA), thereby rotating optical cup 112, the overall space required to rotate heat sink assembly l2l/housing 102 has a lesser radius than, say, if heat sink assembly 121 extended straight along central axis CA.

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles“a” and“an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean“at least one.”

The phrase“and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean“either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with“and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e.,“one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the“and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to“A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as“comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims,“or” should be understood to have the same meaning as“and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list,“or” or“and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as“only one of’ or“exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims,“consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e.“one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as“either,”“one of,” “only one of,” or“exactly one of.”“Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase“at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase“at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example,“at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently,“at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as“comprising,”“including,”“carrying,”“having, ”“containing,”“involving,”“holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases“consisting of’ and“consisting essentially of’ shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. It should be understood that certain expressions and reference signs used in the claims pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) do not limit the scope.