Method and apparatus for retro-fitting a traffic signal light with a light emitting diode lamp module

• US 6,268,801 B1
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leotek Electronics USA Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Leotek Electronics USA Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Chen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/325,623
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/907, 340/912, 340/641, 340/642, 340/815.76, 340/815.67, 116/63.R, 362/800, 405/44, 405/50
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A method and apparatus for retro-fitting a traffic signal lamp with an LED lamp module. The traffic signal lamp has a housing, a front door plate attached to the housing, a lens attached to the front door plate, a reflector in the housing, a threaded electrical socket connector in the housing, and a threaded light bulb connected into the socket connector. The LED lamp including a plurality of light emitting diodes, a power supply electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diodes, and wires extending from the power supply that terminate in a threaded electrical connector compatible with the socket connector. The method of the present invention includes removing the lens from the front door plate, removing the threaded light bulb from the socket connector, affixing an LED lamp module to the front door plate, and connecting the threaded electrical connector of the LED lamp module to the socket connector.

Claims

1. The method of retro-fitting a traffic signal lamp with an LED lamp, where the traffic signal lamp has a housing, a front door plate attached to the housing, a lens attached to the front door plate, a reflector in the housing, a threaded electrical socket connector in the housing, and a threaded light bulb connected into the socket connector, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the lens from the front door plate;

removing the threaded light bulb from the threaded socket connector;

affixing an LED lamp module to the front door plate, wherein the LED lamp module includes;

a plurality of light emitting diodes,

a power supply electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diodes,

wires extending from the power supply that terminate in a threaded electrical connector compatible with the socket connector; and

connecting the threaded electrical connector of the LED lamp module to the threaded socket connector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the front door plate includes a lens retainer to secure the lens in place, and wherein the LED lamp module is shaped to engage with, and be secured in place by, the retainer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the LED lamp module has a flange on an outer rim thereof for engagement with the retainer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the flange has a diameter that is substantially 8 inches or 12 inches.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threaded electrical connector of the LED lamp module comprises:

a plug with prongs, and

a threaded socket adapter having threads at one end and receptacles for plug prongs in another end;

wherein the connecting step includes the steps of;

screwing the socket adapter into the socket connector, and

plugging the plug prongs into the receptacles of the socket adapter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wires extending from the LED lamp module further include a removable electrical connector at a point along a length thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wires extending from the LED lamp module are removably connected to the LED lamp module by a removable electrical connector.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in the shape of an arrow.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in the shape of a hand or a pedestrian.