Changing color LEDS

• US 7,566,142 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jam Strait Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jam Strait Incorporated
• Inventors: Wesson, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US11/057,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/545, 362/555, 362/800, 362/235, 362/310, 362/267, 362/249, 315/291, 315/297
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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: H01L 33/54 having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An LED with two or more leads with built-in and/or built-on circuitry that changes colors and patterns automatically. The LED preferably has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 10 mm in any direction. Preferably, the circuitry is built in. These LEDS typically can be used in place of normal LEDS without modification of the product in which the LEDS are used.

Claims

1. An LED apparatus, comprising:

(a) an LED body comprising three or more LED chips, each said LED chip emitting different colors than the said other LED chips;

(b) two or more leads connected to LED body;

(c) circuitry encapsulated within the LED body, said circuitry causing the LED body,to change colors automatically when electric currentis supplied to the two or more leads, wherein the body has a size, including the circuitry, of no more than 10 mm in any direction.

2. The LED apparatus of claim 1, further comprising voltage and/or current regulation circuitry encapsulated within the LED body.

3. The LED apparatus of claim 2, comprising AC bulbs.

4. The LED apparatus of claim 2, comprising DC bulbs.

5. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry does not include voltage or current regulation circuitry.

6. The LED apparatus of claim 5, comprising AC bulbs.

7. The LED apparatus of claim 5, comprising DC bulbs.

8. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 8 mm in any direction.

9. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 5 mm in any direction.

10. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 4.8 mm in any direction.

11. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 4.7, mm in any direction.

12. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 4.6 mm in any direction.

13. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 4, mm in any direction.

14. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED body has a size, including the circuitry, of not more than about 3 mm in any direction.

15. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is built in.

16. A color-changing LED keychain comprising:

the LED apparatus of claim 1; and

a battery or batteries.

17. A color-changing LED mini-wedge bulb comprising:

at least one LED apparatus of claim 1;

external circuitry voltage and current regulation; and

connectors for connecting the at least one LED apparatus to a source of electricity.

18. The LED apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry also changes patterns automatically.