Printed circuit for five LEDs in series

• US 8,246,201 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2006
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pierre-Alain Dumas
• Original Assignee: Pierre-Alain Dumas
• Inventors: Dumas, Pierre-Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/813,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/249.01
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0209 External configuration of printed circuit board adapted for heat dissipation, e.g. lay-out of conductors, coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/029 Woven fibrous reinforcement or textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0293 Non-woven fibrous reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/062 Means for thermal insulation, e.g. for protection of parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09363 wherein only contours around conductors are removed for insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/281 by means of a preformed insulating foil H05K3/284 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3447 Lead-in-hole components H05K3/3415 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a specific printed circuit (7) comprising independent etched blocks (4) or segments in series of four such that, on a series circuit comprising five LEDs, the four blocks serve as the positioning and connection points for the welding of the pins of the LEDs, said pins being welded in an anode-to-cathode series, or the reverse depending on the direction of the current, i.e. eight electrodes in isolated blocks, such as to ensure that the connection is powered and the LEDs are fixed correctly in series of five. According to the invention, the square or rectangular blocks have a large surface (2) such that the successive holes do not tear the film of epoxy copper. In addition, said blocks are disposed along a path and a successive diagram (21) defines the symbol or pattern to be represented by the LEDs (12) which are disposed and aligned on the other decorated face of the epoxy. The incoming or outgoing bases, which supply the positive (20) or negative (3) power, or the opposite depending on the direction of the LEDs, can comprise the outgoing or incoming base that is common to other series, by means of suitable etching. The negative is always at the center of the pattern. The circuit is divided into three connection zones, A, B, C, and is powered by external contact springs. The invention is intended for the series powering of a longilineal distribution of five LEDs in series, or a multiple thereof.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

a substrate acting as an insulator;

a first power node having a first polarity;

a second power node having a second polarity;

a first conductive etched area on the substrate;

a second conductive etched area on the substrate;

a third conductive etched area on the substrate;

a fourth conductive etched area on the substrate, each of the first, second, third and fourth conductive etched areas being non-contiguous with the other conductive etched areas;

a first light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second power node and a cathode connected to the first conductive area;

a second light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the first conductive area and a cathode connected to the second conductive area;

a third light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second conductive area and a cathode connected to the third conductive area;

a fourth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the third conductive area and cathode connected to the fourth conductive area; and

a fifth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the fourth conductive area and a cathode connected to the first power node,

wherein the first power node includes an exterior boundary zone C and the second power node includes an exterior boundary zone A, and the exterior boundary zone A comprises a connection to the second polarity by a contact spring, and the second polarity A is transferred from the exterior boundary zone A towards a central zone B by a mechanical security thermal switch.

2. A circuit comprising:

a substrate acting as an insulator;

a first power node having a first polarity;

a second power node having a second polarity;

a first conductive etched area on the substrate;

a second conductive etched area on the substrate;

a third conductive etched area on the substrate;

a fourth conductive etched area on the substrate, each of the first, second, third and fourth conductive etched areas being non-contiguous with the other conductive etched areas;

a first light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second power node and a cathode connected to the first conductive area;

a second light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the first conductive area and a cathode connected to the second conductive area;

a third light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second conductive area and a cathode connected to the third conductive area;

a fourth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the third conductive area and cathode connected to the fourth conductive area; and

a fifth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the fourth conductive area and a cathode connected to the first power node,

further including

a plurality of subcircuits, including a first subcircuit, a second subcircuit, and a third subcircuit, each subcircuit comprising a respective;

first conductive etched area on the substrate;

second conductive etched area on the substrate;

third conductive etched area on the substrate;

fourth conductive etched area on the substrate, each of the first, second, third and fourth conductive etched areas being non-contiguous with the other conductive etched areas;

first light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second power node and a cathode connected to the first conductive area;

second light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the first conductive area and a cathode connected to the second conductive area;

third light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the second conductive area and a cathode connected to the third conductive area;

fourth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the third conductive area and cathode connected to the fourth conductive area; and

fifth light emitting diode, including an anode connected to the fourth conductive area and a cathode connected to the first power node.

3. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the light emitting diodes traverse the substrate, and the substrate is covered with baize, textile or painting.

4. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first power node includes an exterior boundary zone C and the second power node includes an exterior boundary zone A.

5. A circuit in accordance with claim 4 wherein the exterior boundary zone A comprises a connection to the second polarity by a contact spring.

6. A circuit in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first polarity is supplied by a second contact spring on the exterior boundary zone C.

7. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein a light emitting diode in one of the plurality of subcircuits is masked.

8. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the plurality of subcircuits, includes a first subcircuit, a second subcircuit, and a third subcircuit,

wherein the power voltage node includes a first power conductive etched area on the substrate, and the second power voltage node includes a second power conductive etched area on the substrate,

wherein the first power etched area includes a first connection site and a second connection site, the second power etched area includes a first connection site, a second connection site, a third connection site, and a fourth connection site, each of the first connection site, a second connection site, a third connection site, and a fourth connection site of the second power area being collinear with a line defined by the first connection site and second connection site of the first power area.

9. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein each connection site defines a hole.

10. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the conductive areas includes copper.

11. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the substrate defines a first major surface and a second major surface, each light emitting diode includes a body on the first major surface, and the conductive areas are on the second major surface.

12. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein each light emitting diode includes leads traversing the substrate.

13. A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the substrate includes epoxy.