THERMOELECTRIC COOLING AND/OR MODERATION OF TRANSIENT THERMAL LOAD USING PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL

Techniques described and illustrated herein can permit high luminous flux and/or longer lifetimes for a class of photoemissive device configurations and/or uses that generate intense highly localized, but transient heat flux. For example, certain LED applications, e.g., for flash illumination, certain solid state laser configurations and other similar configurations and uses may benefit from the developed techniques. It has been discovered that by locating an amount of appropriate phase change material in close thermal proximity to such a photoemissive device, substantial generated heat fluxes may be 'absorbed' into a phase transition of the phase change material. In some configurations, a thermoelectric is employed in conjunction with the phase change material. Similar configurations may be employed for photosensitive devices. The thermoelectric may be transiently operated in substantial synchrony with operation of the photoemissive or photosensitive device to provide extremely high density spot cooling when and where desired.