Fluorescent Light Fixture Assembly with LED Lighting Element and Converter Modules

• US 20110121756A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electraled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electraled Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomas, James, Mosier, James, Gatesman, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fluorescent light fixture assembly including a ballast and a novel lighting element that includes an array of LEDs and at least one converter module that enables the existing ballast providing an AC power input to supply DC power to the LED array. The lighting element includes a body that contains the LED array and the converter modules and shares the configuration of the lighting element that is to be retrofitted. The lighting element receives power from the pre-existing ballast, wherein the converter module provides a constant current source to power the LED array. Thus, the lighting element, including the converter module, replaces the conventional fluorescent light tube in a cost-effective retrofit manner with the existing ballast.

Claims

1. A fluorescent light fixture assembly comprising:

a rapid start ballast configured to power a fluorescent lighting element;

at least one LED lighting element having at least one LED array and at least one converter module positioned between the ballast and the LED array; and

a converter module electrically connected to the ballast and the LED array wherein the converter module receives an AC power input from the ballast and converts the AC power input to a DC power output through rectification to power the LED array.

2. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the converter module comprises a bridge rectifier composed of four diodes in a bridge configuration.

3. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 2, wherein the diodes are high-voltage, high-speed diodes.

4. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one resistor positioned between the ballast and the bridge rectifier of the converter module.

5. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 2, wherein the converter module further comprises a capacitor positioned between the rectifier and the LED array.

6. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 5, wherein the converter module further comprises a resistor.

7. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 6, wherein the resistor and capacitor are parallel to each other, the resistor and capacitor both positioned between the rectifier and the LED array.

8. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 7, wherein the converter module further comprises an inductor.

9. The fluorescent light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the LED lighting element includes a first converter module and a second converter module positioned at opposite ends of the LED array, each of the first and second convert modules further positioned between the LED array and the ballast, the first converter module and second converter module allowing the LED lighting element to utilize both half cycles of an AC power supply.

10. A replacement LED lighting element installed to a preexisting ballast of a fluorescent light fixture assembly, the LED light element comprising:

at least one LED array;

a converter module positioned between the ballast and the LED array, the converter module electrically connected to the ballast and the LED array wherein the converter module receives an AC power input from the ballast and converts the AC power input to a DC power output through rectification to power the LED array.

11. The LED lighting element of claim 10, wherein the converter module comprises a bridge rectifier composed of four diodes in a bridge configuration.

12. The LED lighting element of claim 11, wherein the diodes are high-voltage, high-speed diodes.

13. The LED lighting element of claim 11, further comprising at least one resistor positioned between the ballast and the rectifier.

14. The LED lighting element of claim 13 wherein a plurality of resistors in parallel are positioned between the ballast and the rectifier.

15. The LED lighting element of claim 14, wherein the plurality of resistors consists of four parallel resistors having a rating of 200 Ohms and 0.25 Watt, which provides a total resistance of 50 Ohms.

16. The LED lighting element of claim 11, wherein the converter module further comprises a capacitor.

17. The LED lighting element of claim 16, wherein the converter module further comprises a resistor parallel to the capacitor, the resistor positioned between the rectifier and the LED array.

18. The LED lighting element of claim 17, wherein the converter module further comprises an inductor.

20. The LED lighting element of claim 17, wherein the first converter module and the second converter module are positioned at opposite ends of the LED array, each module further positioned between the LED array and the ballast.

19. A LED lighting element installed to a preexisting ballast of a fluorescent light fixture assembly, the lighting element comprising:

at least one LED array;

a first converter module and a second converter module electrically connected to the ballast

wherein each converter module comprises a bridge rectifier composed of four diodes and a capacitor positioned between the bridge rectifier and the LED array,

the first and second converter modules receiving an AC power input and converting the input to a DC power output through rectification to power the LED array.

the first and second converter modules each comprises a bridge rectifier composed of four diodes and a capacitor positioned between the bridge rectifier and the LED array.

21. The LED lighting element of claim 19 wherein the capacitor has a capacitance of 0.1 uF.

22. The LED lighting element of claim 19, wherein the converter module receives a two-wire AC input and the bridge rectifier is a full wave rectifier.

23. The LED lighting element of claim 19, wherein each converter modules further comprises a resistor.

24. The LED lighting element of claim 23, wherein the resistor has a resistance of 1 mega-ohms.

25. The LED lighting element of claim 23, wherein the capacitor and the resistor are in parallel with each other, the capacitor and resistor both positioned between the rectifier and the LED array.

26. The LED lighting element of claim 22, wherein the converter module further comprises an inductor.

27. The LED lighting element of claim 26 wherein the inductor as an inductance of 330 mH.