Patent ID: 8188685

Claim:
A light-generating system for consuming input electrical power from a power source to generate light, the light-generating system comprising: a LED load array comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, the light-emitting diodes having an operating temperature when energized; a heat sink on which the LED load array is mounted, the heat sink being adapted for absorbing and dissipating heat energy generated by the light-emitting diodes when energized, the heat sink comprising: a body portion to which the light-emitting diodes are attached; a finned portion connected to the body portion, for dissipation of heat energy transferred thereto at least partially via conduction from the light-emitting diodes, to cool the light-emitting diodes; a power control unit electrically connected to the power source and the LED load array, for converting the input electrical power to an output electrical power and controlling voltage and current of the output electrical power provided by the power control unit to the LED load array; a temperature detector subassembly operatively connected to the power control unit, the temperature detector subassembly being adapted for sensing a heat sink temperature of the heat sink at least one predetermined location thereon; the temperature detector subassembly being adapted to compare the heat sink temperature to at least one preselected temperature within a preselected temperature range, and to transmit a control signal to the power control unit upon determining that the heat sink temperature differs from said at least one preselected temperature by more than at least one preselected minimum difference; and upon receipt of the control signal, the power control unit changes the voltage of the output electrical power, to modulate the performance of the light-emitting diodes such that the heat sink temperature is within the preselected temperature range.