Light emitting diode retrofitting lamps for illuminated traffic signs

• US 6,036,336 A
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leotek Electronics Corp (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Leotek Electronics Corp (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Chen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/075,492
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 362/226, 362/227, 362/249, 362/250, 362/238, 362/269, 362/800, 362/812, 362/287, 362/288, 40/544, 40/550
• US Class Current: 362/249.03
• 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 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/20 on convex supports or substrates, e.g. on the outer surface of spheres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0472 Traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) retrofit lamp with locking swivel mount that mounts into a threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal. The LED lamp includes a socket housing, a printed circuit board and a plurality of light emitting diodes. The socket housing has a lower end terminating in a threaded base for insertion into a threaded screw-in electrical socket. The printed circuit board is rotatably mounted to the socket housing. The plurality of light emitting diodes is mounted on the printed circuit in such a manner that they form a symbol image, such as an arrow, a pedestrian walking, a hand, a letter or even words. The printed circuit board is rotatable relative to the socket housing for rotation of the symbol image formed by the light emitting diodes to a desired rotational orientation relative to the socket housing. Therefore, once the threaded base is fully inserted into the threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal, the printed circuit board can be rotated relative to the socket housing so that the symbol image is properly oriented.

Claims

1. An LED lamp for mounting in a threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal, comprising:

a socket housing having a lower end terminating in a threaded base for insertion into a threaded screw-in electrical socket;

a printed circuit board rotatably mounted to the socket housing; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit in such a manner that the plurality of light emitting diodes form a non-symmetric symbol image, wherein the printed circuit board is selectively rotatable relative to the socket housing for rotation of the symbol image formed by the light emitting diodes to a desired rotational orientation relative to the socket housing.

2. The LED lamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is rotatably mounted to the socket housing via a circuit housing disposed therebetween, where the circuit housing is mounted to the printed circuit board and rotatably attached to the socket housing, the circuit housing containing electrical circuitry that is electrically connected to the threaded base and the light emitting diodes for operation thereof.

3. The LED lamp as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the circuit housing has a lower portion that rotatably engages an upper end of the socket housing.

4. The LED lamp as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a spring disposed to exert a bias force between the socket housing and the lower portion of the circuit housing to increase friction therebetween for selectively fixing an angular orientation between the socket housing and the circuit housing.

5. The LED lamp as recited in claim 4, wherein the socket housing includes a retainer having external threads that engage internal threads formed on the upper portion of the socket housing, and wherein the lower portion of the circuit housing is rotatably engaged with the retainer.

6. The LED lamp as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

wires that electrically connect the light emitting diodes to the electrical circuitry;

a detachable connector for removably disconnecting the wires between the light emitting diodes and the electrical circuitry; and

at least one fastener for removably mounting the printed circuit board to the circuit housing.

7. The LED lamp as recited in claim 6, wherein the fastener is a screw.

8. The LED lamp as recited in claim 4, wherein the image formed by the plurality of light emitting diodes is one of a hand, a pedestrian, an arrow, a letter and a word.

9. An LED lamp for mounting in a threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal, comprising:

a socket housing having a lower end terminating in a threaded base for insertion into a threaded screw-in electrical socket;

a printed circuit board rotatably mounted to the socket housing;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit in such a manner that the plurality of light emitting diodes form a symbol image, wherein the printed circuit board is selectively rotatable relative to the socket housing for rotation of the symbol image formed by the light emitting diodes to a desired rotational orientation relative to the socket housing, and wherein the printed circuit board is rotatably mounted to the socket housing via a circuit housing disposed therebetween, where the circuit housing is mounted to the printed circuit board and rotatably attached to the socket housing, the circuit housing containing electrical circuitry that is electrically connected to the threaded base and the light emitting diodes for operation thereof, the circuit housing has a lower portion that rotatably engages an upper end of the socket housing;

a spring disposed to exert a bias force between the socket housing and the lower portion of the circuit housing to increase friction therebetween for selectively fixing an annular orientation between the socket housing and the circuit housing;

a pair of electrical sockets formed in one of the circuit housing and the printed circuit board, the electrical sockets are electrically connected to one of the electrical circuitry and the light emitting diodes; and

a pair of electrical plugs attached to the other of the circuit housing and the printed circuit board, the plugs are electrically connected to the other of the electrical circuitry and the light emitting diodes, wherein the pair of plugs engage the pair of sockets as the printed circuit board is mounted to the circuit housing to electrically connect the light emitting diodes to the electrical circuitry.

10. An for mounting in a threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal, comprising:

a socket housing having a lower end terminating in a threaded base for insertion into a threaded screw-in electrical socket;

a printed circuit board rotatably mounted to the socket housing;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit in such a manner that the plurality of light emitting diodes form a symbol image, wherein the printed circuit board is selectively rotatable relative to the socket housing for rotation of the symbol image formed by the light emitting diodes to a desired rotational orientation relative to the socket housing, and wherein the printed circuit board is rotatable mounted to the socket housing via a circuit housing disposed therebetween, where the circuit housing is mounted to the printed circuit board and rotatable attached to the socket housing, the circuit housing containing electrical circuitry that is electrically connected to the threaded base and the light emitting diodes for operation thereof, the circuit housing has a lower portion that rotatably engages an upper end of the socket housing; and

a spring disposed to exert a bias force between the socket housing and the lower portion of the circuit housing to increase friction therebetween for selectively fixing an angular orientation between the socket housing and the circuit housing;

wherein a surface of the printed circuit board upon which the plurality of light emitting diodes is mounted is non-planar.

11. An LED lamp for mounting in a threaded screw-in electrical socket of a traffic signal, comprising:

a socket housing having a lower end terminating in a threaded base for insertion into a threaded screw-in electrical socket;

a printed circuit board rotatably mounted to the socket housing; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit in such a manner that at least some of the diodes are oriented at an oblique angle to the printed circuit board.

12. The LED lamp as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes form a non-symmetric symbol image, and wherein the printed circuit board is selectively rotatable relative to the socket housing for rotation of the symbol image formed by the light emitting diodes to a desired rotational orientation relative to the socket housing.

13. The LED lamp as recited in claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board is rotatably mounted to the socket housing via a circuit housing disposed therebetween, where the circuit housing is mounted to the printed circuit board and rotatably attached to the socket housing, the circuit housing containing electrical circuitry that is electrically connected to the threaded base and the light emitting diodes for operation thereof.

14. The LED lamp as recited in claim 13, wherein:

the circuit housing has a lower portion that rotatably engages an upper end of the socket housing.

15. The LED lamp as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a spring disposed to exert a bias force between the socket housing and the lower portion of the circuit housing to increase friction therebetween for selectively fixing an angular orientation between the socket housing and the circuit housing.

16. The LED lamp as recited in claim 15, wherein the socket housing includes a retainer having external threads that engage internal threads formed on the upper portion of the socket housing, and wherein the lower portion of the circuit housing is rotatably engaged with the retainer.

17. The LED lamp as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

wires that electrically connect the light emitting diodes to the electrical circuitry;

a detachable connector for removably disconnecting the wires between the light emitting diodes and the electrical circuitry; and

at least one fastener for removably mounting the printed circuit board to the circuit housing.

18. The LED lamp as recited in claim 17, wherein the fastener is a screw.

19. The LED lamp as recited in claim 15, wherein the image formed by the plurality of light emitting diodes is one of a hand, a pedestrian, an arrow, a letter and a word.

20. The LED lamp as recited in claim 15, wherein a surface upon which the plurality of light emitting diodes is mounted is non-planar.