LED lighting device for replacing fluorescent tubes

• US 7,510,299 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Raymond, Jean C., Ivey, John, Timmermans, Jos
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US11/925,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 362/221, 362/225, 362/659, 362/249, 362/800, 315/200.R, 315/291, 315/246
• US Class Current: 362/225
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• 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 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/66 Details of globes or covers forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• 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 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/008 of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• 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: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 : using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 : Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 : Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 : Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A light tube for replacing fluorescent tubes including a bulb portion and a pair of end caps disposed at opposite ends of the bulb portion, and configured for illumination by a power supply circuit. A plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed inside the bulb portion and in electrical communication with a pair of end caps for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit.

Claims

1. An LED lighting unit for replacing a conventional fluorescent tube between the opposed electrical receptacles of a conventional fluorescent lighting fixture comprising:

a rigid, substantially cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite said first end;

a first end cap disposed upon said first end of said structure and a second end cap disposed upon said second end of said structure;

a pair of parallel, fluorescent light fixture receptacle connectors extending from each said end cap and configured for installing within the opposed electrical receptacles of a lighting fixture; and

a plurality of LEDs disposed along said structure in electrical contact with one another and with said pair of connectors extending from said end caps, whereby light is divergently emitted along the length of said device in an included angle of less than about 180°

.

2. An elongate generally tubular lighting device for replacing a conventional fluorescent light tube comprising:

an elongate support structure providing a substantially continuous LED mounting surface extending substantially the length of said device;

a plurality of LEDs arranged along the length of said surface;

a light transmissive bulb portion overlying said surface and said LEDs to transmit light from said LEDs away from said surface;

a pair of end caps mounted to opposite ends of said device and providing male bi-pin connectors at said opposite ends for installing said device in a fluorescent light tube fixture; and

said support structure providing on opposite sides of said surface opaque side Walls extending above said surface in the light emitting direction to confine the entirety of light emitted from said device to an included angle of less than about 180°

.

3. An elongate tubular lighting device of given length for replacing a conventional fluorescent tube light of the type having male bi-pin connectors at each end for installation in a fixture for such lights comprising:

a support structure defining a substantially continuous, elongate LED mounting surface approximating said given length;

a plurality of LEDs arranged along the length of said surface so as to emit light from said device;

a light transmissive bulb portion overlying said surface and said LEDs to allow transmission of light from said LEDs away from Said surface; and

a pair of end caps mounted to opposite ends of said device, each end cap having a set of male bi-pin connectors suitable for operative engagement with said fixture, said LEDs being electrically connected to and between said bi-pin connectors to be illuminated by power received from said fixture;

the combination of said support structure and said bulb portion being such that substantially the entire light output of said device is emitted away from said surface and confined to an included angle of less than about 180°

.

4. A lighting devices defined in claim 3 wherein said bulb portion is of a structural character so as to diffuse light from said LEDs.

5. A lighting device as defined in claim 3 further including means for modulating/dimming illumination from said LEDs.

6. A lighting device as defined in claim 3 wherein the LEDs are arranged in clusters or groups of closely spaced individual light producing elements.