LED-based light bulb device

• US 8,013,501 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forever Bulb, LLC
• Original Assignee: Forever Bulb, LLC
• Inventors: Carroll, Wendell L., Carroll, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Toan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder; Zachary
• Application Number:
  US12/435,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 313/46, 362/235, 362/249, 362/800, 362/363, 362/238, 362/226, 362/252, 362/251
• US Class Current: 313/46
• 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 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/86 Ceramics or glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An LED light bulb device including a bulb body, a cap and an LED assembly. The bulb body defines an exterior surface and an interior. The cap is mounted to the bulb body, combining to define a light bulb-like structure. The LED assembly includes a substrate, LEDs, transformer circuitry and connective circuitry. The LEDs and the connective circuitry are maintained by the substrate, with the connective circuitry electrically connecting the LEDs and the transformer circuitry. The transformer circuitry is adapted to modify incoming power for powering the LEDs. The LED assembly is mounted to the light bulb-like structure such that the LEDs are disposed along the exterior surface of the bulb body, with light from the LEDs being directed inwardly into the interior and then outwardly from the interior. The LED assembly can further include a heat sink body encompassing the LEDs.

Claims

1. An LED light bulb device comprising:

a bulb body having a wall defining an exterior surface and an open interior region;

a cap mounted to the bulb body and forming a surface configured for selective connection to an electrical socket, the cap and the bulb body combining to define a light bulb-like structure; and

an LED assembly including;

a substrate,

a plurality of light emitting diode lights maintained by the substrate,

transformer circuitry adapted to modify applied power for powering the light emitting diode lights,

connective circuitry electrically connecting the plurality of light emitting diode lights and the transformer circuitry, the connective circuitry being maintained at least in part by the substrate;

wherein the LED assembly is mounted to the light bulb-like structure such that the plurality of light emitting diode lights are disposed along the exterior surface of the bulb body, and further wherein light from the plurality of light emitting diode lights is directed inwardly into the interior region and then outwardly from the interior region.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a heat sink body assembled to the bulb-like structure, at least a portion of the heat sink body located immediately adjacent at least one of the plurality of light emitting diode lights.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of light emitting diode lights includes a first set of light emitting diode lights maintained along a first segment of the substrate, and further wherein the first set of light emitting diode lights and the first segment are encased between the heat sink body and the exterior surface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first segment of the substrate defines opposing, first and second major surfaces, and further wherein the first set of light emitting diode lights are disposed along the first major surface and the heat sink body extends immediately adjacent the second major surface.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the heat sink body includes an interior surface facing the first segment of the substrate and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and further wherein the exterior surface forms a plurality of fins.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of light emitting diode lights further includes a second set of light emitting diode lights maintained along a second segment of the substrate spatially separate from the first segment, and further wherein the second set of light emitting diode lights and the second segment are encased between the heat sink body and the exterior surface.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink body is located immediately adjacent the transformer circuitry.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transformer circuitry is mounted to a segment of the substrate such that the transformer circuitry is disposed between the light bulb-like structure and the segment, and further wherein the heat sink body encases the segment relative to the light bulb-like structure.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the substrate is embedded into the heat sink body.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the heat sink body contacts the bulb body.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein substrate includes a plurality of legs extending from a base in a spaced apart fashion, each of the segments maintaining a set of the light emitting diode lights.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the legs are assembled to the light bulb-like structure to extend from the cap toward a top of the bulb body opposite the cap.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the legs are assembled to the light bulb-like structure to extend circumferentially about the bulb body.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the connective circuitry are a flex circuit.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap forms a positive connection surface and a neutral connection surface, and further wherein the transformer circuitry includes a positive terminal pad and a neutral terminal pad, the positive terminal pad being connected to the positive connection surface and the neutral terminal pad being connected to the neutral connection surface.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the substrate extends over the positive connection surface and the neutral connection surface to electrically isolate the cap from power provided at the electrical socket upon insertion of the cap into the electrical socket.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a filament disposed within the bulb body and electrically connected to the positive connection surface and the neutral connection surface.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the positive terminal pad and the neutral terminal pad are integrally formed by the cap.

19. An LED assembly for mounting to a light bulb including a bulb body and a cap, the bulb body having an exterior surface and the cap having a surface for selective connection to a conventional light bulb electrical socket, the LED assembly comprising:

a flexible substrate forming a base, a first leg extending from the base, a second leg extending from the base at a location spaced from the first stem, and a tail extending from the base apart from the stems;

a plurality of light emitting diode lights maintained by the substrate, including a first set of light emitting diode lights disposed on the first leg and a second set of light emitting diode lights disposed on the second leg;

transformer circuitry carried by the substrate and adapted to modify incoming power for powering the light emitting diode lights, the transformer circuitry including a positive and neutral terminal pads formed on the tail;

connective circuitry electrically connecting the plurality of light emitting diode lights and the transformer circuitry;

wherein the LED assembly is configured to be mounted to the light bulb such that the legs extend along the bulb body to locate the plurality of light emitting diode lights along the exterior surface of the bulb body, and the tail extends along the cap.

20. The LED assembly of claim 19, further comprising a heat sink body shaped to encompass the base and the legs, the heat sink body configured for mounting to the light bulb.