Light emitting diode replacement bulbs

• US 8,736,171 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zybron Optical Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zybron Optical Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Evan, Liu, Rusong, Zou, YiYang
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/225,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 315/50, 315/52, 315/51, 315/291, 315/307, 315/309, 315/71, 362/294, 362/373, 362/800
• US Class Current: 315/50
• 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 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illumination device comprises a bulb connector, a body structure and an insulating layer between the bulb connector and a first end portion of the body structure. The illumination device further comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes arranged towards the first end portion of the body structure and a second light source comprising at least one light emitting diode arranged towards the second end portion of the body structure. A heat sink extends from the body structure and a controller within the body structure receives power through the bulb connector and supplies power to each of the light emitting diodes. As such, the illumination device can directly replace an incandescent bulb. Thus for example, the illumination device can replace an incandescent bulb of a traffic light without requiring changes to the compartment, fixture, reflector, or window/lens.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a bulb connector;

a body structure having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an insulating layer between the bulb connector and the first end portion of the body structure;

a first light source comprising a first plurality of light emitting diodes arranged towards the first end portion of the body structure;

a first reflector that is positioned about the first end portion of the body structure;

a second light source comprising at least one light emitting diode arranged towards the second end portion of the body structure;

a second reflector that is positioned about the second end portion of the body structure between the first light source and the second light source, the second reflector generally concave relative to the second light source;

a heat sink that extends from the body structure to draw away heat from at least one of the first and second light sources; and

a controller situated within the body structure that receives power through the bulb connector and supplies power to each of the light emitting diodes.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the bulb connector comprises an E27 spiral screw base connector that couples an alternating current voltage to the controller.

3. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first reflector is generally r-shaped; and

the first plurality of light emitting diodes comprises at least four light emitting diodes, each generally evenly spaced around the outer periphery of the first end portion of the body structure proximate to the first reflector, such that light from the first plurality of light emitting diodes is emitted out is a generally radial direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the body structure.

4. The illumination device according to claim 3, wherein the first reflector circumscribes and extends angularly outward from the outer periphery of the body structure so as to provide a reflection surface for the first plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The illumination device according to claim 3, wherein the second light source extends from an end face of the body structure 16 generally coaxially with the illumination device so as to emit light that extends generally perpendicular in orientation relative to the light emitted by the first plurality of light emitting diodes of the first light source.

6. The illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the second reflector circumscribes and extends angularly outward from the outer periphery of the body structure so as to provide a reflection surface for the second light source.

7. The illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of heat sinking fins that extend from an outer periphery of the body structure and between the first reflector and the second reflector.

8. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device is configured to direct light emitted by the light emitting diodes in a predetermined direction that is at an angle relative to an axis of the body structure such that the light emitted by the illumination device forms a uniform spot.

9. The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first reflector that is positioned about the first end portion of the body structure that is generally convex relative to the insulating layer and provides a reflection surface for the first plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a second reflector that is positioned about the second end portion of the body structure that is generally concave relative to, and provides a reflection surface for, the second light source;

wherein;

the heat sink comprises a plurality of fins having a contour that generally corresponds to the contour of the first reflector and the second reflector; and

the fins link the first reflector and the second reflector.

10. The illumination device according to claim 9, wherein select ones of the first reflector, second reflector, first light source and second light source of the illumination device are configured to direct light emitted by the light emitting diodes in a predetermined direction that is at an angle relative to an axis of the body structure so as to form a uniform spot.

11. An illumination system, comprising:

a lighting fixture having;

a compartment;

a socket connector within the compartment;

a window along an outside surface of the compartment opposite the socket connector; and

a compartment reflector within the compartment about the socket connector opposite the window; and

an illumination device comprising;

a screw base bulb connector;

a body structure having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an insulating layer between the bulb connector and the first end portion of the body structure;

a first reflector that is positioned about the first end portion of the body structure;

a first light source comprising a first plurality of light emitting diodes arranged towards the first end portion of the body structure;

a second reflector that is positioned about the second end portion of the body structure;

a second light source comprising at least one light emitting diode arranged about the second end portion of the body structure;

a heat sink that extends from the body structure to draw away heat from at least one of the first and second light sources; and

a controller situated within the body structure that receives power through the bulb connector and supplies power to each of the light emitting diodes;

wherein;

light emitted from the first and second light sources cooperate with the compartment reflector to produce an output of light that is uniform throughout its spot size through the window of the compartment.

12. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein the bulb connector comprises an E27 spiral screw base connector.

13. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein:

the first reflector is generally r-shaped; and

the first reflector circumscribes and extends angularly outward from the outer periphery of the body structure so as to provide a reflection surface for the first plurality of light emitting diodes.

14. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of light emitting diodes comprises at least four light emitting diodes.

15. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein the second reflector circumscribes and extends angularly outward from the outer periphery of the body structure so as to provide a reflection surface for the second light source.

16. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of heat sinking fins that extend from an outer periphery of the body structure.

17. The illumination device according to claim 11, wherein the illumination device is configured to direct light emitted by the light emitting diodes in a predetermined direction that is at an angle relative to an axis of the body structure.

18. A traffic light comprising:

a traffic light housing having at least one illumination device compartment, each compartment having;

a socket connector;

a window that allows light to pass through from the compartment; and

a compartment reflector arranged around the socket connector so as to be generally concave relative to the window;

an illumination device, comprising;

a screw base bulb connector that screws into the socket connector;

a body structure having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an insulating layer between the bulb connector and the first end portion of the body structure;

a first reflector that is positioned about the first end portion of the body structure;

a first light source comprising a first plurality of light emitting diodes arranged towards the first end portion of the body structure;

a second reflector that is positioned about the second end portion of the body structure;

a second light source comprising at least one light emitting diode arranged about the second end portion of the body structure;

a heat sink that extends from the body structure to draw away heat from at least one of the first and second light sources; and

a controller situated within the body structure that receives power through the bulb connector and supplies power to each of the light emitting diodes;

wherein;

the first light source emits light that is reflected off at least one of the first reflector and the compartment reflector, before passing through the window and the second light source emits light at least some light that is reflected off the second reflector before passing through the window.

19. The illumination device according to claim 18, wherein the illumination device is configured to direct light emitted by the light emitting diodes in a predetermined direction that is at an angle relative to an axis of the body structure.

20. The illumination device according to claim 18, wherein the bulb connector is configured such that the illumination device can directly replace an incandescent bulb of a traffic light without requiring changes to the compartment, fixture, reflector, or window/lens.