Light emitting diode light strip

• US 6,283,612 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Guiyoung
• Application Number:
  US09/525,316
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/249, 362/244, 362/800, 362/217, 362/223, 362/241, 362/369, 362/288
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/04 Resilient mountings, e.g. shock absorbers shock absorbing devices of vehicle headlamp housings B60Q1/0491; in general F16F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode light strip that uses a rigid hollow tube (20) sized to accommodate a printed circuit board (22) which has a positive and negative bus extending the full length of the board. One or more resistors (38) are in contact with the positive bus on one end and a series of light emitting diodes (44) on the other. The diodes are mounted through holes (34) in the board and the anode of the diode is in communication with a resistor while the cathode of the diode contacts an adjacent diode anode connecting them in linked series through traces on the bottom of the circuit board. The end cathode in each series, engages the negative bus forming a predetermined group of diodes electrically coupled to a single resistor on one end and the negative bus on the other. A pair of end caps (50) enclose the tube and an electrical cable (60) is connected through the caps to the busses on the circuit board. A power supply (64) is in contact, through the electrical cable, with the board providing low voltage direct current power through the busses to a predetermined group of light emitting diodes, for illumination of the area surrounding the light strip.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode light strip comprising:

a rigid hollow tube having light transmitting characteristics,

a printed circuit board defined by an insulating substrate having a top and a bottom, with a full length conductive positive bus and a full length conductive negative bus on the bottom, each bus adjacent to an opposed outside edge of the circuit board, further the circuit board having a plurality of traces on the bottom and holes therethrough, with the circuit board disposed within the tube contiguous with a hollow interior portion thereof,

a plurality of resistors having a first wire lead and a second wire lead with the resistors disposed on the top of the printed circuit board with the first wire lead penetrating the board in communication with the positive bus,

a plurality of light emitting diodes each having an anode and a cathode termination with the diodes disposed on the top of the printed circuit board and the terminations penetrating the holes in the circuit board with the anode in communication with the second lead of one of the resistors and the cathode in communication with an adjacent anode connected in linked series through the traces on the bottom of the circuit board, with an end cathode in the series engaging the negative bus forming a predetermined group of diodes electrically coupled to a single resistor on one end and the negative bus on the other,

a pair of fixed hermetically sealed end caps captivating the printed circuit board within the tube, held in place with fastening means,

a resilient shock and vibration resistant gasket compressed between said printed circuit board and each end caps until it deforms, for positioning and holding the printed circuit board captive within the hollow tube,

at least one electrical cable engaging the busses through at least one of the end caps, and

a power supply in contract with the electrical cable for providing low voltage direct current power to each of the predetermined groups of light emitting diodes for illumination from the light strip.

2. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid hollow tube is transparent.

3. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid hollow tube is translucent.

4. The fight emitting diode fight strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid hollow tube is thermoplastic.

5. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board further comprising a reflective surface on the top to mirror light from the diodes through the tube to its immediate surroundings.

6. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises a plurality of pads in communication with the traces surrounding the holes for accommodating resistors and light emitting diodes.

7. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said resistors further comprise a fixed resistor type.

8. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said light emitting diodes further radiate a white fight.

9. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said fight emitting diodes further radiate a colored light.

10. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said end caps further comprise a half sphere including an integral stepped shoulder which interfaces within the hollow of the tube in a slip fit and said end caps each having a bore therethrough for receiving said electrical cable.

11. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 10 wherein said end cap fastening means further comprises an adhesive.

12. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical cable further comprises a two conductor wire of a 22 AWG size.

13. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical cable further comprises a double flag spade on an end opposite an end that engages the busses.

14. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said power supply further comprises a 100/240 volt 50/60 hertz primary and from 9 to 24 volt direct current secondary with a capacity of at least 1.8 amperes at 24 volts.

15. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 further comprising a U-channel base sized to grasp and retain the hollow tube in a removable manner thereby holding the light strip in place when the U-channel is attached to an object.

16. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said end caps are fabricated of the same material as the tube.

17. The light emitting diode light strip as recited in claim 1 wherein an electrical cable distends from each end cap with each cable having a connector of opposite gender permitting like light strips to be electrically connected in series.

18. A light emitting diode light strip comprising:

a hollow tube having light transmitting characteristics,

a printed circuit board having a top and a bottom with a full length conductive positive bus and a full length conductive negative bus on the bottom, with the circuit board disposed within the tube,

a plurality of resistors having a first wire lead and a second wire lead with the resistors disposed on the top of the printed circuit board with the first wire lead penetrating the board and communicating with the positive bus,

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on the top of the printed circuit board in communication with one of the resistors and also in communication with a set of diodes connected in linked series, forming a predetermined group of diodes electrically coupled to a single resistor with an end diode in the set engaging the negative bus,

a pair of fixed hermetically sealed end caps capitavating the printed circuit board within the tube,

a resilient shock and vibration resistant gasket compressed between said printed circuit board and each end caps until it deforms, for positioning and holding the printed circuit board captive within the hollow tube, and

a power supply in contract through an electrical cable providing low voltage direct current power through the busses to each of the predetermined groups of light emitting diodes for illumination from the light strip.