BYPASS COMPONENTS IN SERIES WIRED LED LIGHT STRINGS

• US 20080024071A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Santa's Best
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: YU, JINGJING
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/54 in a series array of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Disclosed is an LED light string that uses parallel connected bypass components that are connected across the leads of the LEDs and are disposed in the socket of the LED lamp holder. The use of parallel connected bypass components across the leads of the LEDs greatly enhances the reliability of the light string. Bypass components are also included in the LED lamp structure, both internally to the LED lamp proxy and externally across the leads of the LED lamp element. A resistive wire can also be connected between conductors in an LED socket structure inside a lamp holder. Using the bypass components, twinkle lamps can be inserted in series wired LED light strings.

Claims

1. A twinkle LED lamp that can be used in a series wired LED light string comprising:

a twinkle LED element;

a first lead connected to an input of said twinkle LED element;

a second lead connected to an output of said twinkle LED element;

a bypass component connected to said first lead and to said second lead;

a lamp proxy that encapsulates said twinkle LED element and said bypass component.

2. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 1 wherein said bypass component comprises a diode having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said twinkle LED element.

3. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 1 wherein said bypass component comprises a resistive element.

4. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 1 wherein said first lead and said second lead comprise connectors that releasably connect to a socket.

5. A twinkle LED lamp that can be used in a series wired LED light string comprising:

a twinkle LED element;

a first lead connected to an input of said twinkle LED element;

a second lead connected to an output of said twinkle LED element;

a lamp proxy that encapsulates said twinkle LED element;

a bypass component connected to said first lead and to said second lead outside of said lamp proxy.

6. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 5 wherein said bypass component comprises a diode having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said twinkle LED element.

7. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 5 wherein said bypass component comprises a resistive element.

8. The twinkle LED lamp of claim 5 wherein said first lead and said second lead comprise connectors that releasably connect to a socket.

9. An LED lamp that can be used in a series wired LED light string comprising:

an LED element;

a first lead connected to an input of said LED element;

a second lead connected to an output of said LED element;

a bypass component connected to said first lead and to said second lead;

a lamp proxy that encapsulates said LED element and said bypass component.

10. The LED lamp of claim 9 wherein said bypass component comprises a diode having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said LED element.

11. The LED lamp of claim 9 wherein said bypass component comprises a resistive element.

12. An LED lamp that can be used in a series wired LED light string comprising:

an LED element;

a first lead connected to an input of said LED element;

a second lead connected to an output of said LED element;

a lamp proxy that encapsulates said LED element and said bypass component;

a bypass component connected to said first lead and to said second lead outside of said lamp proxy.

13. The LED lamp of claim 12 wherein said bypass component comprises a diode having forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said LED element.

14. The LED lamp of claim 12 wherein said bypass component comprises a resistive element.

15. The LED lamp of claim 12 wherein said first lead and said second lead comprise connectors that releasably connect to a socket.

16. A lamp holder for an LED lamp that is connected in a series wired LED light string and that allows said series wired LED light string to operate with twinkle LED lamps, burned out standard LED lamps and improperly connected LED lamps comprising:

a pair of contact sockets that releasably connect to said standard LED lamps and said twinkle LED lamps;

a pair of power leads connected to said contact sockets, said pair of power leads connected in series in said series wired LED light string;

a bypass component connected between said pair of contact sockets that places said bypass component in parallel with said LED lamps that are releasably connected to said contact sockets;

a plastic housing that is molded around and encapsulates said pair of contact sockets, said pair of power leads and said bypass component and that holds said pair of contact sockets, said pair of power leads and said bypass component in a sealed, stable structure to provide said lamp holder.

17. The lamp holder of claim 16 wherein said bypass component is a resistive wire.

18. The lamp holder of claim 16 wherein said bypass component is a resistive discrete component.

19. The lamp holder of claim 16 wherein said bypass component is a diode having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said LED lamps.

20. A method of manufacturing an LED lamp for use in a series wired LED light string comprising:

providing an LED element;

connecting a first lead to an input of said LED element;

connecting a second lead to an output of said LED element;

connecting a bypass component to said first lead and said second lead;

encapsulating said LED element and said bypass component in a lamp proxy.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of connecting a bypass component to said first lead and said second lead comprises:

connecting a resistive wire between said first lead and said second lead.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of connecting a bypass component to said first lead and said second lead comprises:

connecting a diode, having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said twinkle LED element, between said first lead and said second lead.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of providing an LED element comprises:

providing a twinkle LED element.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of providing an LED element comprises:

providing a twinkle LED element.

25. A method of manufacturing an LED lamp for use in a series wired LED light string comprising:

providing an LED element;

connecting a first lead to an input of said LED element;

connecting a second lead to an output of said LED element;

encapsulating said LED element and a bypass component in a lamp proxy;

connecting said bypass component to said first lead and said second lead outside of said lamp proxy.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of connecting a bypass component of said first lead and said second lead comprises:

connecting a resistive wire between said first lead and said second lead.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of connecting a bypass component to said first lead and said second lead comprises:

connecting a diode, having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said twinkle LED element, between said first lead and said second lead.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of providing an LED element comprises:

providing a twinkle LED element.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of providing an LED element comprises:

providing a twinkle LED element.

30. A method of manufacturing a lamp holder for use in a series wired LED light string comprising:

providing a pair of contact sockets that releasably connect to LED lamps;

connecting a pair of power leads to said contact sockets so that said contact sockets are connected in series in said series wired LED light string;

connecting a bypass component between said pair of contact sockets that places said bypass component in parallel with said LED lamps that are releasably connected to said contact sockets;

encapsulating said pair of contact sockets, said pair of power leads and said bypass component in a molded plastic housing that holds said pair of contact sockets, said pair of power leads and said bypass component in a sealed, stable structure.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said process of connecting a bypass component comprises:

connecting a resistive wire between said pair of contact sockets that places said bypass component in parallel with said LED lamps that are releasably connected to said contact sockets.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said process of connecting a bypass component comprises:

connecting a diode, having a forward breakdown voltage that is greater than a forward breakdown voltage of said LED lamps, between said pair of contact sockets that places said bypass component in parallel with said LED lamps that are releasably connected to said contact sockets.