Night light

• US 7,025,473 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Dokoupil
• Original Assignee: Hans Dokoupil
• Inventors: Dokoupil, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 362/226, 362/229, 362/227, 362/249, 362/95, 362/800, 362/84, 362/276, 362/802, 362/184, 362/253, 439/86
• US Class Current: 362/640
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• 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

Abstract

A night light for mains power sockets, in particular wall sockets, includes a mains plug, a housing, a lighting element and a circuit connected between the mains plug and the lighting element. The circuit has a current limiting capacitor whereby a high-voltage capacitor with small dimensions is provided. The lighting element and/or the capacitor may be mounted on a board or printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A night light for mains power sockets and wall sockets comprising:

a mains plug (1), said mains plug (1) having a first contact pin (10′

) and a second contact pin (10), and the mains plug (1) with the contact pins (10, 10′

) being constructed in such a manner that it fits into a standard mains power socket and a wall socket;

a housing (2);

at least one lighting unit (3, 6) for emitting a visible light permanently, said lighting unit (3, 6) having a first terminal (3a) and a second terminal (3b);

a circuit (4), said circuit (4) being connected (9a) between the contact pins (10, 10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the terminals (3a, 3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

and the circuit (4) including at least one high-voltage capacitor (5) with small dimensions, said capacitor (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b);

wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the first end (5a) of the capacitor (5) and the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) is connected to the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6), wherein the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) and the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6) have no direct connection to the mains plug (1), wherein the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the capacitor (5) and the lighting unit (3, 6) are connected in series,

wherein a voltage at the lighting unit (3, 6) and a current through the lighting unit (3, 6) are reduced by the capacitor (5), so that extremely little electrical energy is burned off by the circuit (4), and

wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) and/or the capacitor (5) are mounted on a board or printed circuit board (8).

2. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the second contact pin (10) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the second terminal (3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6).

3. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board (8) is retained by extensions (9) of the contact pins (10) of the mains plug (1) and these extensions (9) also form an electrical connection to the printed circuit board (8).

4. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) is mounted on a front side (11) and/or the capacitor (5) is mounted on a rear side (12) of the printed circuit board (8).

5. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor (5) is situated wholly or in part in a region of the mains plug (1), in particular in a hollow space (13) within a body (14) of the plug into which the contact pins (10) pass.

6. The night light according to claim 1, wherein a discharge resistor (18) is provided for discharging the capacitor (5) when the mains plug (1) is withdrawn, the discharge resistor being connected in parallel to the capacitor (5).

7. The night light according to claim 1, wherein a limiting resistor (19) is provided to limit a current surge when the mains plug (1) is inserted, the limiting resistor (19) being connected in series with the capacitor (5).

8. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) has a transparent area (20) from which a light from the lighting unit (3, 6) can emerge.

9. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) is on the surface of the housing (2).

10. The night light according to claim 1, wherein the mains plug (1) forms and/or is the housing (2).

11. A night light for mains power sockets and wall sockets comprising:

a mains plug (1), said mains plug (1) having a first contact pin (10′

) and a second contact pin (10),

and the mains plug (1) with the contact pins (10, 10′

) being constructed in such a manner that it fits into a standard mains power socket and a wall socket;

a housing (2);

at least one lighting unit (3, 6) for emitting a visible light permanently, said lighting unit (3, 6) having a first terminal (3a) and a second terminal (3b);

a circuit (4), said circuit (4) being connected (9a) between the contact pins (10, 10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the terminals (3a, 3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

and the circuit (4) including at least one high-voltage capacitor (5) with small dimensions, said capacitor (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b);

wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the first end (5a) of the capacitor (5) and the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) is connected to the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6), wherein the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) and the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6) have no direct connection to the mains plug (1),

wherein the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the capacitor (5) and the lighting unit (3, 6) are connected in series,

wherein a voltage at the lighting unit (3, 6) and a current through the lighting unit (3, 6) are reduced by the capacitor (5), so that extremely little electrical energy is burned off by the circuit (4),

wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) is constructed in such a manner that it converts electrical energy into light energy very efficiently and generates no or extremely little heat, wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) comprises one or more lighting elements (7), and

wherein said lighting element (7) is selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a semi-conductor light emitting diode (7) or LED, an organic lighting element, an organic LED or OLED, a polymer lighting element, a polymer LED or PLED and a luminescent foil, and wherein at least two lighting elements (7) are connected in antiparallel (15).

12. A night light for mains power sockets and wall sockets comprising:

a mains plug (1), said mains plug (1) having a first contact pin (10′

) and a second contact pin (10),

and the mains plug (1) with the contact pins (10, 10′

) being constructed in such a manner that it fits into a standard mains power socket and a wall socket;

a housing (2);

at least one lighting unit (3, 6) for emitting a visible light permanently, said lighting unit (3, 6) having a first terminal (3a) and a second terminal (3b);

a circuit (4), said circuit (4) being connected (9a) between the contact pins (10, 10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the terminals (3a, 3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

and the circuit (4) including at least one high-voltage capacitor (5) with small dimensions, said capacitor (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b);

wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the first end (5a) of the capacitor (5) and the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) is connected to the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

wherein the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) and the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6) have no direct connection to the mains plug (1),

wherein the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the capacitor (5) and the lighting unit (3, 6) are connected in series,

wherein a voltage at the lighting unit (3, 6) and a current through the lighting unit (3, 6) are reduced by the capacitor (5), so that extremely little electrical energy is burned off by the circuit (4),

wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) is constructed in such a manner that it converts electrical energy into light energy very efficiently and generates no or extremely little heat, wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) comprises one or more lighting elements (7), and wherein said lighting element (7) is selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a semi-conductor light emitting diode (7) or LED, an organic lighting element, an organic LED or OLED, a polymer lighting element, a polymer LED or PLED and a luminescent foil, and wherein at least two lighting elements (7) are connected in series (17).

13. A night light for mains power sockets and wall sockets comprising:

a mains plug (1), said mains plug (1) having a first contact pin (10′

) and a second contact pin (10),

and the mains plug (1) with the contact pins (10, 10′

) being constructed in such a manner that it fits into a standard mains power socket and a wall socket;

a housing (2);

at least one lighting unit (3, 6) for emitting a visible light permanently, said lighting unit (3, 6) having a first terminal (3a) and a second terminal (3b);

a circuit (4), said circuit (4) being connected (9a) between the contact pins (10, 10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the terminals (3a, 3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

and the circuit (4) including at least one high-voltage capacitor (5) with small dimensions, said capacitor (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b);

wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the first end (5a) of the capacitor (5) and the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) is connected to the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

wherein the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) and the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6) have no direct connection to the mains plug (1),

wherein the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the capacitor (5) and the lighting unit (3, 6) are connected in series, wherein a voltage at the lighting unit (3, 6) and a current through the lighting unit (3, 6) are reduced by the capacitor (5), so that extremely little electrical energy is burned off by the circuit (4),

wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) is constructed in such a manner that it converts electrical energy into light energy very efficiently and generates no or extremely little heat, wherein the lighting unit (3, 6) comprises one or more lighting elements (7), and wherein said lighting element (7) is selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a semi-conductor light emitting diode (7) or LED, an organic lighting element, an organic LED or OLED, a polymer lighting element, a polymer LED or PLED and a luminescent foil, and wherein the lighting element (7) and/or the capacitor (5) are designed as surface mount components or SMD components.

14. A night light for mains power sockets and wall sockets comprising:

a mains plug (1), said mains plug (1) having a first contact pin (10′

) and a second contact pin (10),

and the mains plug (1) with the contact pins (10, 10′

) being constructed in such a manner that it fits into a standard mains power socket and a wall socket;

a housing (2);

at least one lighting unit (3, 6) for emitting a visible light permanently, said lighting unit (3, 6) having a first terminal (3a) and a second terminal (3b);

a circuit (4), said circuit (4) being connected (9a) between the contact pins (10, 10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the terminals (3a, 3b) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

and the circuit (4) including at least one high-voltage capacitor (5) with small dimensions, said capacitor (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b);

wherein the circuit (4) is constructed in such a manner that the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) is connected to the first end (5a) of the capacitor (5) and the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) is connected to the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6),

wherein the second end (5b) of the capacitor (5) and the first terminal (3a) of the lighting unit (3, 6) have no direct connection to the mains plug (1),

wherein the first contact pin (10′

) of the mains plug (1) and the capacitor (5) and the lighting unit (3, 6) are connected in series, wherein a voltage at the lighting unit (3, 6) and a current through the lighting unit (3, 6) are reduced by the capacitor (5), so that extremely little electrical energy is burned off by the circuit (4),

wherein the circuit (4) includes a rectifier, and wherein said rectifier is selected from the group consisting of a bridge rectifier (16), which is made up of semi-conductor diodes, and an integrated circuit bridge rectifier.