LED bulb

• US 6,709,132 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atex Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Atex Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ishibashi, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US10/147,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 362/236, 362/240, 362/244, 362/246, 362/249, 362/250, 362/800, 362/806, 362/418, 362/363
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed 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: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Provided is an LED bulb with a higher distribution of luminous intensity which is close to those of tungsten bulbs, in which the problem in directivity of the prior art LED bulbs has been solved while maintaining the advantages of an LED, that is, a long life and an energy saving characteristic. The LED bulb comprises a printed circuit board 5 which is flat when developed and is bendable to form a cage, a plurality of LEDs 6 which are disposed on the printed circuit board 5, and a transparent or semi-transparent cover 2 which encloses the printed circuit board 5 formed into the cage. The printed circuit board 5 may have a plurality of belt-like branches 5a which extend in radial directions from the center of the printed circuit board 5. The LED bulb may further comprise a power unit housing 8 for containing a power unit which supplies electric current to each of the LEDs 6.

Claims

1. An LED bulb comprising:

a printed circuit board which is flat and has a plurality of belt like branches which extend in a radial direction from a center of the printed circuit board when developed as is bendable to form a cage by putting together distal ends of the belt like branches at one position;

a plurality of LED'"'"'s which are disposed on each of the belt like branches of the printed circuit board; and

a transparent or semi-transparent cover which encloses the printed circuit board formed into the cage.

2. The LED bulb according to claim 1, further comprising:

a supporting rod;

a power supply unit; and

a housing containing said power supply unit which supplies electric current to each of the LEDs disposed on the printed circuit board through said supporting rod.

3. A structure for LEDs comprising:

a bendable printed circuit board having a center portion and having a plurality of arms extending radially from the center portion;

each arm of said plurality of arms having a first end extending from said center portion and a second end at a location opposite said center portion;

said plurality of arms of said bendable circuit board being bent, forming a cage and joining at said second end of each arm of said plurality of arms; and

a plurality of LEDs disposed on at least one arm of said plurality of arms.

4. A structure for LEDs according to claim 3, further comprising:

a supporting rod;

a power unit;

said supporting rod extending from the second end of each arm of said plurality of arms through said center portion of said bendable printed circuit board; and

said power supply unit supplying power to said bendable printed circuit board through said supporting rod.

5. A structure for LEDs according to claim 4 further comprising one of a transparent or semitransparent cover enclosing said bendable printed circuit board.

6. A structure for LEDs according to claim 4, wherein said cover is semitransparent and milky-white.

7. A structure for LEDs according to claim 4, wherein said cover is filled with one of dry air or nitrogen gas.

8. A structure for LEDs comprising:

a bendable printed circuit board having a center portion and having a plurality of arms extending from the center portion;

each arm of said plurality of arms having a first end extending from said center portion and a second end;

said plurality of arms of said bendable circuit board being bent, forming a cage and joining at said second end of each arm of said plurality of arms; and

a plurality of LEDs disposed on at least one arm of said plurality of arms.

9. A structure for LEDs according to claim 8, further comprising:

a supporting rod;

a power unit;

said supporting rod extending from the second end of each arm of said plurality of arms through said center portion of said bendable printed circuit board; and

said power supply unit supplying power to said bendable printed circuit board through said supporting rod.

10. A structure for LEDs according to claim 9 further comprising one of a transparent or semitransparent cover enclosing said bendable printed circuit board.

11. A structure for LEDs according to claim 10, wherein said cover is semitransparent and milky-white.

12. A structure for LEDs according to claim 10, wherein said cover is filled with one of dry air or nitrogen gas.

13. A structure for LEDs according to claim 8 wherein said cage is an equilateral polyhedron.