LED retrofit for fluorescent backlit signs

• US 8,083,373 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James William Zimmerman, Jimmy Myer, William Raymond Sanford
• Original Assignee: James William Zimmerman, Jimmy Myer, William Raymond Sanford
• Inventors: Zimmerman, James William, Myer, Jimmy, Sanford, William Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US12/460,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20110019413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/249.03, 362/800, 362/227, 362/228, 362/234, 362/217.01, 362/221, 362/253
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1895 Imitating a neon tube
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/225 with electroluminescent lamps
• 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

The present invention relates to an LED assembly designed to supplant fluorescent tubes, comprising: an array of standardized LED modules affixed to a lightweight frame resulting in a uniform two dimensional array of LEDs casting their light directly onto a translucent sign panel or, alternatively, a light defusing panel for area lighting. When the application is to retrofit a fixture with fluorescent tubes, the assembly is provided with adapters that attach to the fluorescent tube receptacles.

Claims

1. An assembly to supplant fluorescent lighting in backlit signs or area lighting with a two dimensional array of LEDs comprising:

a frame including an elongated support member and a plurality of angled members arranged transverse to the elongated support member at opposite ends there from;

a plurality of adapters provided on each on of the plurality of angled members and configured to be received by conventional fluorescent lamp receptacles;

an LED assembly including a plurality of LED modules having a printed circuit board, at least one LED array including a plurality of light emitting diodes on a surface of the printed circuit board, and current conditioning circuitry;

wherein the LED modules are mounted parallel to and spaced from each other on at least one side surface of the elongated support member;

a power source attached to the frame at one of the opposite ends of the elongated support member;

at least one power cord, the LED modules being daisy-chained together by the power cord.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the said plurality of adapters is for single pin base fluorescent tube receptacles.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the said plurality of adapters is for bi-pin base fluorescent tube receptacles.

4. The replacement assembly of claim 1, wherein the PCB assembly has LEDs mounted to only one side so as to create a two dimensional array of light sources for evenly backlighting a translucent sign or for providing area lighting.

5. The replacement assembly of claim 1, wherein the PCB assembly has LEDs mounted to both sides so as to create a two dimensional array of light sources for simultaneously evenly backlighting translucent signs on both sides of the assembly.

6. A method of configuring to supplant fluorescent lamps in backlit signs or area lights, the method comprising:

providing a frame including an elongated support member and a plurality of angled members arranged transverse to the elongated support member at opposite ends there from;

a plurality of adapters provided on each on of the plurality of angled members and configured to be received by conventional fluorescent lamp receptacles;

an LED assembly including a plurality of LED modules having a printed circuit board, at least one LED array including a plurality of light emitting diodes on a surface of the printed circuit board, and current conditioning circuitry;

wherein the LED modules are mounted parallel to and spaced from each other on at least one side surface of the elongated support member;

a power source attached to the frame at one of the opposite ends of the elongated support member;

at least one power cord, the LED modules being daisy-chained together by the power cord.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the said plurality of adapters is for single pin base fluorescent receptacles.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the said plurality of adapters is for bi-pin base fluorescent receptacles.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said LED modules have LEDs on a single side.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said LED modules have LEDs on both sides.