Method and apparatus for using thermionic devices to recover energy from light sources and other energy conversion devices

摘要

A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent, thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a light source configured to receive an electrical input power from a primary power source and convert the electrical input power into an output comprising a light output and a waste thermal energy; and a thermoelectric generator coupled to the light source and configured to absorb the waste thermal energy and convert the waste thermal energy into a recycled electrical power, wherein the recycled electrical power is output to the light source.