LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DEVICES CONTAINING REPLACEABLE SUBASSEMBLIES

• US 20100277068A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Led BULB LLC
• Original Assignee: Led BULB LLC
• Inventors: Broitzman, Troy Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/32
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally to lighting devices, and more particularly to white light LED-based lighting devices configured such that key subassemblies may be replaced, thereby enabling the modification, upgrade and/or repair of said device.

Claims

1. A lighting device configured to generate diffuse white light comprising:

a plurality of solid state light emitters;

activating electronics coupled to the solid state light emitters and configured to activate the solid state light emitters;

a first housing containing the solid state light emitters and the activating electronics; and

a second housing including a heat sinking surface;

wherein the first housing is removably coupled to the second housing; and

wherein when the first housing is coupled to the second housing, the heat sinking surface sinks heat away from the solid state light emitters and activating electronics, and wherein the lighting device has a shape and form factor substantially equivalent to one of a plurality of lighting device shape and form factors defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the lighting device is configured to generate diffuse white light.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein when the first housing is coupled to the second housing, the lighting device has a shape and form factor substantially equivalent to one of the group consisting of ANSI lighting device standards R-20, R-30, R-38, R-40, BR-20, BR-30, BR-38, BR-40, PAR-16, PAR-20, PAR-30, PAR-38, PAR-40, MR-16, A-15, A-19, A-21, A-23, B-10-1/2, B-13, G-16-1/2, G-25, G-40, P-25, PS-35, T-10, C-7, F-10, F-15, and F-20.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the solid-state light emitters comprise light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s).

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the LED'"'"'s are energized by a direct current (DC) voltage.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the LED'"'"'s are energized by an alternating current (AC) voltage.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the LED'"'"'s are energized by a combination of a direct current (DC) voltage, and an alternating current (AC) voltage.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the activating electronics are configured to convert 120 volt 60 cycles per second alternating current to a steady state direct current (DC) voltage.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the activating electronics are configured to convert 240 volt 50 cycles per second alternating current to a steady state direct current (DC) voltage.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the activating electronics are configured as an AC-to-AC converter.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the activating electronics are configured as an AC-to-DC converter.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the first housing comprises a first subassembly including the plurality of solid-state light emitters and a second subassembly including the activating electronics.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes a user replaceable part that allows a beam angle of the plurality of solid-state light emitters to be altered by changing a reflector shape or size.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes a threaded base configured to be screwed into a threaded socket in the second housing.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the threaded base and threaded socket are configured 3-way lamp conductors, wherein current is conducted only by two center conductors of the 3-way lamp conductors, and wherein the threads of the threaded base and threaded socket are electrically isolated from the electrical circuit.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the first housing attaches to the second housing a push-and-twist locking mechanism.

17. A method for repairing or modifying operation of a lighting device, wherein the lighting device includes:

a plurality of solid state light emitters;

activating electronics coupled to the solid state light emitters and configured to activate the solid state light emitters;

a first housing containing the solid state light emitters and the activating electronics; and

a second housing including a heat sinking surface;

wherein the first housing is removably coupled to the second housing; and

wherein when the first housing is coupled to the second housing, the heat sinking surface sinks heat away from the solid state light emitters and activating electronics, and wherein the lighting device has a shape and form factor substantially equivalent to one of a plurality of lighting device shape and form factors defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI);

the method comprising;

removing the first housing from the second housing and installing a third housing in the second housing, wherein the third housing contains a second set of solid state light emitters and corresponding activating electronics, and wherein the lighting device formed by the coupled second and third housings has a shape and form factor substantially equivalent to one of the plurality of lighting device shape and form factors defined by ANSI.