LED LIGHTING ASSEMBLIES

• US 20110140136A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: NARANG, ROHAN, DAILY, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE, MOSTOLLER, MATTHEW EDWARD, WEBER, RONALD MARTIN
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/89
• 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: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Abstract

A lighting assembly for a light emitting diode (LED) package having an LED chip on the top of a mounting substrate with power leads on the top of the mounting substrate arranged proximate to a first edge of the mounting substrate, which is mounted to a base, includes power contacts defining separable interfaces for contacting the power leads on the mating substrate of the LED package and supplying power to the LED chip. The power contacts have compliant beams extending to the separable interfaces that are deflected when contacting the power leads such that the power contacts are biased against the power leads. The power contacts are terminated to corresponding power conductors opposite the separable interfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a dielectric housing holding the power contacts, with the housing having mounting features for securing the housing to the base independent of the LED package.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly for a light emitting diode (LED) package having an LED chip on a top of a mounting substrate with power leads on the top of the mounting substrate arranged proximate to a first edge of the mounting substrate, the mounting substrate being mounted to a base, the lighting assembly comprising:

power contacts defining separable interfaces for contacting the power leads on the mating substrate of the LED package and supplying power to the LED chip, the power contacts having compliant beams extending to the separable interfaces, the compliant beams being deflected when contacting the power leads such that the power contacts are biased against the power leads, the power contacts being terminated to corresponding power conductors opposite the separable interfaces; and

a dielectric housing holding the power contacts, the housing having mounting features for securing the housing to the base independent of the LED package.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the separable interfaces of the power contacts are arranged in a row on one side of the LED package to contact the power leads at the first edge of the mounting substrate.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power contacts are grouped in first and second groups, each group having a plurality of power contacts, the first group defining anode power contacts supplying a positive voltage to the corresponding power leads, the second group defining cathode power contacts supplying negative voltage to the corresponding power leads, each anode power contact being configured to contact a discrete power lead, each cathode power contact being configured to contact a discrete power lead.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the LED package has a plurality of LED chips configured to emit a different color, the power leads being connected to a corresponding LED chip, the power contacts being configured to contact corresponding discrete power leads, the power contacts being selectively powered by the corresponding power conductor to control a lighting scheme of the lighting assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power contacts have first mating ends and second mating ends, the first mating ends being separated by a first pitch for contacting the power leads, the second mating ends being separated by a second pitch different from the first pitch.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is overmolded over the power contacts, wherein portions of the contacts are exposed for mating with the power leads and the power conductors.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power contacts are bent at a right angle defining a first mating portion and a second mating portion generally perpendicular to the first mating portion, the second mating portion extending through the base to terminate to the power conductors below the base.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having power pads on a top surface thereof, the LED package being mounted to the top surface of the PCB proximate to the power pads, the housing being coupled to the base such that the power contacts contact the power leads and the power pads.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power contacts each have a first mating portion and a second mating portion, the first mating portions defining separable interfaces, the second mating portions having insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) for terminating to the power conductors of power supply wires.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stuffer removably coupled to the housing, the stuffer receiving a plurality of power supply wires therein, the wires defining the power conductors, the power contacts having insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) for terminating to the power conductors of the power supply wires.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an upper portion holding a first mating portion of each power contact and a lower portion holding a second mating portion of each power contact, the upper portion being secured to the base adjacent the LED package, the lower portion extending from the upper portion through an opening in the base, the lower portion having a port with the second mating portions exposed therein, the lower portion defining a card edge connector configured to receive an edge of a printed circuit board having power pads defining the power conductors, the second mating portions being configured to engage corresponding power pads.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an upper portion holding a first mating portion of each power contact and a lower portion holding a second mating portion of each power contact, the upper portion being secured to the base adjacent the LED package, the lower portion extending from the upper portion through an opening in the base, the lower portion having a port with the second mating portions exposed therein, the lower portion being configured to receive a plug therein having mating contacts defining the power conductors, the second mating portions being configured to engage corresponding mating contacts.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a mating tongue, the power contacts being exposed on a surface of the mating tongue, the mating tongue being configured to be coupled to a card edge connector having mating contacts defining the power conductors, the power contacts being configured to engage corresponding mating contacts when the card edge connector is mated to the mating tongue.

14. A lighting assembly for a light emitting diode (LED) package having an LED chip on a top of a mounting substrate with power leads on the top of the mounting substrate arranged proximate to a first edge of the mounting substrate, the mounting substrate being mounted to a base, the lighting assembly comprising:

power contacts each having a first mating portion and a second mating portion, the first mating portion defining a separable interface for contacting a corresponding power lead on the mating substrate of the LED package and supplying power to the LED chip, the second mating portion being terminated to a corresponding power conductor opposite the separable interface; and

a dielectric housing holding the power contacts, the housing having an upper portion holding the first mating portions of the power contacts and a lower portion holding the second mating portions of the power contacts, the upper portion being secured to the base adjacent the LED package, the lower portion extending from the upper portion through an opening in the base, the lower portion having a port being configured to receive the power conductors for mating with the second mating portions of the power contacts.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the port and second mating contacts define a card edge connector configured to receive an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB having power pads defining the power conductors, the second mating portions being configured to engage corresponding power pads.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the lower portion is configured to receive a plug in the port, the plug includes mating contacts defining the power conductors, the second mating portions being configured to engage corresponding mating contacts.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing defines a right angle assembly with the first mating portion being oriented generally perpendicular to the second mating portion.

18. A lighting assembly for a light emitting diode (LED) package having an LED chip on a top of a mounting substrate with power leads on the top of the mounting substrate arranged proximate to a first edge of the mounting substrate, the mounting substrate being mounted to a base, the lighting assembly comprising:

power contacts each having a first mating portion and a second mating portion, the first mating portions defining separable interfaces for contacting corresponding power leads on the mating substrate of the LED package and supplying power to the LED chip, the first mating portions having compliant beams extending to the separable interfaces, the compliant beams being deflected when contacting the power leads such that the power contacts are biased against the power leads, the second mating portions having insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) for terminating to corresponding power conductors of power supply wires; and

a dielectric housing holding the power contacts, the housing having mounting features for securing the housing to the base independent of the LED package.

19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a stuffer removably coupled to the housing, the stuffer receiving the power supply wires therein, the IDCs being terminated to the power conductors of the power supply wires when the stuffer is mated with the housing.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing includes wire slots aligned with each of the IDCs, the wire slots being configured to securely hold the power supply wires therein.