LED lamp tube

• US 7,441,922 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ledtech Electronics Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ledtech Electronics Corp.
• Inventors: Ou, Fu-Hsung, Liu, Yu-Yang, Huang, Ming-Chung, Chen, Ying-Hsuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon E
• Application Number:
  US11/306,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/225, 362/249, 362/219, 362/220, 362/277, 362/282, 362/287, 362/418, 248/201
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• 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: F21S 8/031 the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 LED lamp tube is disclosed to include a tube that admits light, circuit boards respectively mounted inside the tube, each circuit board carrying an array of LEDs, two end caps respectively capped on the ends of the tube to hold the circuit boards inside the tube and connectable to connectors of a conventional fluorescent bulb holder to secure the tube to the conventional fluorescent bulb holder, and a power cord extending from the circuit boards out of the tube for connection to power supply to obtain the necessary working voltage for the LEDs.

Claims

1. An LED lamp assembly, comprising:

a tube, the tube housing at least one circuit board mounted with LEDs;

a power cord passing through and out of the tube and electrically extending from said at least one circuit board and terminating in an electric plug for connection to a power supply;

a first end cap, having a cup on a first side rotatably capping a first end of the tube, and a flat non-annular surface on a second side having a first pair of mounting pins and a second pair of mounting pins extending therefrom, the mounting pins being configured to supportively and non-electrically mount the first end cap onto a first socket; and

second end cap, having a cup on a first side rotatably capping a second end of the tube, and a flat non-annular surface on a second side having a first pair of mounting pins and a second pair of mounting pins extending therefrom, the mounting pins being configured to supportively and non-electrically mount the second end cap onto a second socket;

wherein the first and second pairs of mounting pins of each of the first and second end caps are respectively adapted for different standard sockets;

said first and second pairs of mounting pins being selectively breakable and removable from the first and second end caps, for fitting an unbroken, remaining first and second pair of mounting pins in a suitable standard socket;

wherein said tube is configured to be freely rotatable relative to said first and second end caps directly, devoid of any displacement of said first and second end caps;

said rotation resulting from a force imparted along any portion of the entire length of the tube;

said rotation and force independent of location of first and second end caps.

2. The LED lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric plug is connectable to an AC adapter.

3. The LED lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one circuit board is two, and the two circuit boards are back to back.

4. The LED lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one circuit board is greater than two and wherein the circuit boards abut against each other.

5. An LED lamp assembly, comprising:

a tube, the tube housing at least one circuit board mounted with LEDs;

a first end cap, having a cup on a first side rotatably capping a first end of the tube, and a flat non-annular surface on a second side having a first pair of mounting pins and a second pair of mounting pins extending therefrom, the mounting pins being configured to supportively and non-electrically mount the first end cap onto a first socket; and

a second end cap, having a cup on a first side rotatably capping a second end of the tube, and a flat non-annular surface on a second side having a first pair of mounting pins and a second pair of mounting pins extending therefrom, the mounting pins being configured to supportively and non-electrically mount the second end cap onto a second socket;

wherein the first and second pairs of mounting pins of each of the first and second end caps are respectively adapted for different standard sockets;

said first and second pairs of mounting pins being selectively breakable and removable from the first and second end caps, for fitting an unbroken, remaining first and second pair of mounting pins in a suitable standard socket;

wherein said tube is configured to be freely rotatable relative to said first and second end caps directly, devoid of any displacement of said first and second end caps;

said rotation resulting from a force imparted along any portion of the entire length of the tube;

said rotation and force independent of location of first and second end caps.