Patent ID: 8710526

Claim:
A thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism, comprising: a housing having a section that is thermally conductive and a member, that is at least partially optically transmissive, connected to the thermally conductive section to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber enclosed by the housing; a working fluid within the chamber; and an active optical element to be cooled by phase transition of the heat transfer mechanism, wherein: the active optical element is configured to be driven to emit light and/or driven by light to produce an electrical current, through the optically transmissive member, at least a portion of the active optical element is at least partially exposed within the chamber so as to be incorporated in or in contact with the working fluid, and pressure within the chamber configures the working fluid to absorb heat during operation of the active optical element, to vaporize at a relatively hot location of the mechanism as it absorbs heat from the operation of the active optical element, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location of the mechanism, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location of the mechanism.