Lighting device including a thermally conductive body and a semiconductor light emitting device

1. A lighting device comprising:

a body formed of a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material, the body including a top portion and an elongated member extending from the top portion, the elongated member being narrower than the top portion of the body;

a plurality of conductive pads and a thermal pad embedded in the thermally conductive, electrically insulating material of the body and exposed at a mounting area on the top portion; and

a semiconductor light emitting device disposed in the mounting area and connected to the body through the plurality of conductive pads and the thermal pad.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the lighting device has a thermal resistance less than 10° C./W.

3. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive, electrically insulating material is a polymer.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member comprises a threaded portion.

5. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising first and second electrical connectors protruding from an end of the elongated member opposite the mounting area, wherein the first and second electrical connectors are electrically connected to first and second conductive pads by first and second conductive lines, wherein the first and second conductive lines are embedded within the elongated member.

6. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a lens disposed over the semiconductor light emitting device and in direct contact with the body.

7. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a fastener for connecting to the elongated member, the fastener comprising a circuit.

8. The lighting device of claim 7 wherein:

the fastener comprises a nut that engages with a threaded portion of the elongated member;

first and second electrical connectors protrude from an end of the elongated member opposite the mounting area; and

when the nut is engaged with the threaded portion of the elongated member, the first and second electrical connectors touch first and second electrical contact pads disposed on the fastener.

9. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a fastener for connecting to the elongated member and engaging a sheet including a hole through which the elongated member extends.

10. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the body including the mounting area and the elongated member is a single, molded, integrated structure.

11. A lighting device comprising:

a body comprising:

a mounting area;

an elongated member extending from the mounting area and including a threaded portion, the mounting area and the elongated member being formed of a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material;

a plurality of conductive pads and a thermal pad embedded in the thermally conductive, electrically insulating material of the body; and

first and second electrical connectors protruding from an end of the elongated member opposite the mounting area;

a semiconductor light emitting device comprising a light emitting diode disposed on a mount, the semiconductor light emitting device being disposed in direct contact with the body in the mounting area, the mount being connected to the body through the plurality of conductive pads and the thermal pad; and

a fastener for connecting to the elongated member, the fastener comprising:

a circuit;

first and second electrical contact pads disposed on the fastener, the second electrical contact pad surrounding the first electrical contact pad; and

a nut that engages with the threaded portion of the elongated member, the first and second electrical connectors being configured to touch the first and second electrical contact pads when the nut is engaged with the threaded portion of the elongated member.

12. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the first and second electrical contact pads are electrically connected to the circuit.

13. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the circuit in the fastener is selected from a group consisting of driver circuitry, power conditioning circuitry, and control circuitry.

14. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the mounting area and the elongated member are parts of a single, molded, integrated structure.

15. A lighting device comprising:

a body comprising a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material and including elongated member configured to fit through a hole in sheet metal;

a semiconductor light emitting device mounted on the body, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode disposed on a mount, and wherein the mount is connected to the body through a plurality of conductive pads and a thermal pad disposed on a surface of the body; and

a fastener for attaching the body to sheet metal without a heat sink.

16. The lighting device of claim 15 wherein the elongated member has threading that fits through a hole in sheet metal.

17. The lighting device of claim 15 wherein the elongated member comprises electrical connections, the fastener comprising a circuit electrically connected to contacts that engage with the electrical connections of the elongated member when the fastener connects to the elongated member.

18. The lighting device of claim 17 wherein the circuit in the fastener is selected from a group consisting of driver circuitry, power conditioning circuitry, and control circuitry.

19. The lighting device of claim 15 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises contact pads that are directly attached to a plurality of conductive pads embedded in the thermally conductive, electrically insulating material.

20. The lighting device of claim 15 further comprising a lens disposed over the semiconductor light emitting device.