COMPACT INVERTER PLUG FOR LED LIGHT STRINGS

• US 20110051471A1
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Santa's Best
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Beijing, Chen, Long, Yu, Jing Jing
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/21.16
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/382 with galvanic isolation between input and output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

Disclosed is a compact inverter plug that can be used with LED lighting strings. The inverter plug has a size and shape that is comparable to a standard wall plug and is capable of plugging into a standard wall socket. The inverter plug is waterproof and can be easily assembled. A unique inverter circuit is utilized that is compact and highly efficient. Monitoring is performed by a transformer coil that generates a monitoring signal. The inverter is controlled by controlling the modulation frequency of a direct current signal using a controller.

Claims

1. An inverter plug for an LED light string that plugs into a household alternating current socket that inverts alternating current household power to a low voltage direct current output in a small package that is watertight and has a shape similar to a wall plug comprising:

plug blades that are molded into an enclosure that provides a watertight seal with said plug blades;

a printed circuit board having inverter circuitry mounted on at least one surface, said printed circuit board securely mounted in said enclosure;

a connector having sockets that are adapted to connect to plugs on said LED light string, said connector having a watertight coupler that mates with said LED light string to provide a watertight connection between said connector and said light string, said connector being sealed to said enclosure so that said enclosure is watertight, said watertight coupler allowing said inverter plug to be disconnected from and connected to said LED light string.

2. The inverter plug of claim 1 further comprising:

slots formed in said enclosure for mounting said printed circuit board to said enclosure.

3. The inverter plug of claim 1 wherein said watertight coupler comprises a cylindrical threaded extension that is adapted to mate with a threaded cap disposed on an extendable power plug of said LED light string.

4. The inverter plug of claim 1 wherein said watertight coupler comprises an extension having a surface that creates a watertight friction fit with an extendable power plug of said LED light string.

5. The inverter plug of claim 1 wherein said inverter circuitry comprises:

a rectifier that rectifies a source of alternating current from a household socket;

a low pass filter that provides a direct current signal;

a filter absorber that protects said inverter circuit from voltage spikes;

a high speed switching transistor that modulates said direct current signal to produce a modulated direct current signal having a modulation frequency;

a first coil in a transformer coupled to said modulated direct current signal that induces voltage changes in a second transformer coil and a third transformer coil;

a high speed directional filter connected to said second transformer coil that produces said direct current output;

a monitor circuit connected to said third transformer coil that produces a monitoring signal;

a controller that controls said modulation frequency of said modulated direct current signal in response to said monitoring signal.

6. The inverter plug of claim 5 further comprising:

a power circuit coupled to said third transformer coil that produces a power signal that powers said controller.

8. The inverter plug of claim 5 wherein said end cap and said housing have ridges and detents that allow said end cap to snap fit on said housing to provide said watertight seal.

9. The inverter plug of claim 5 wherein said end cap is friction fit to said housing.

10. The inverter plug of claim 5 wherein said end cap is ultrasonically welded to said housing.

12. The inverter plug of claim 5 further comprising:

a power circuit coupled to said third transformer coil that produces a power signal that powers said controller.

14. The inverter circuit of claim 9 further comprising:

a power circuit coupled to said third transformer coil that produces a power signal that powers said controller.

7. An inverter plug for use with an LED light string comprising:

plug blades that fit in an alternating current wall socket;

a housing having an end portion that is molded around said plug blades that provides a watertight seal between said housing and said plug blades, and slots formed in edges of said housing;

a printed circuit board having inverter circuitry mounted thereon, said printed circuit board mounted and held securely in said slots in said housing, said printed circuit board having contacts at one end that abut against said plug blades so that said plug blades are electrically connected to said contacts on said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board having pins that provide direct current power from said printed circuit board;

an end cap that attaches to said housing so that a watertight seal is created between said end cap and said housing;

a connector molded to said end cap having sockets that are electrically connected to said pins on said printed circuit board, said connector having a watertight coupling for coupling said inverter plug to said LED light string;

a buffer disposed between said end cap and said printed circuit board that holds said printed circuit board in place in said housing and urges said printed circuit board against said plug blades so that said contacts on said printed circuit board maintain contact with said plug blades.

11. The inverter plug of claim 7 wherein said inverter circuitry comprises:

a rectifier that rectifies a source of alternating current from a household socket;

a low pass filter that provides a direct current signal;

a filter absorber that protects said inverter circuit from voltage spikes;

a high speed switching transistor that modulates said direct current signal to produce a modulated direct current signal having a modulation frequency;

a first coil in a transformer coupled to said modulated direct current signal that induces voltage changes in a second transformer coil and a third transformer coil;

a high speed directional filter connected to said second transformer coil that produces said direct current power;

a monitor circuit connected to said third transformer coil that produces a monitoring signal;

a controller that controls said modulation frequency of said modulated direct current signal in response to said monitoring signal.

13. An inverter circuit for use in an inverter plug for producing a direct current output for an LED light string comprising:

a rectifier that rectifies a source of alternating current from a household socket;

a low pass filter that provides a direct current signal;

a filter absorber that protects said inverter circuit from voltage spikes;

a high speed switching transistor that modulates said direct current signal to produce a modulated direct current signal having a modulation frequency;

a first coil in a transformer coupled to said modulated direct current signal that induces voltage changes in a second transformer coil and a third transformer coil;

a high speed directional filter connected to said second transformer coil that produces said direct current output;

a monitor circuit connected to said third transformer coil that produces a monitoring signal;

a controller that controls said modulation frequency of said modulated direct current signal in response to said monitoring signal.