LED fluorescent tube replacement light with reduced shock hazard

• US 8,870,415 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US13/315,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20120147598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23.1, 362/217.01, 362/221, 362/223, 362/225, 362/249.02, 362/249.05, 362/612, 315/185.R, 315/224
• US Class Current: 362/249.05
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/02 coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• 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-based tube light suitable for replacing a conventional 48-inch fluorescent tube light includes LEDs connected into a complete illumination circuit that runs exclusively through connectors at one end of the light. In an alternative embodiment, two LED groups are used, each group being connected exclusively to its own set of end connectors.

Claims

1. An LED-based tube light for replacing a conventional fluorescent tube light in a fixture designed to receive a conventional tube with bi-pin connectors at each end comprising:

a tubular body having opposite ends;

a first group of LEDs disposed within said body and connected into a first circuit;

a first set of connector pins at one of said opposite ends and connected exclusively into said first circuit;

a second group of LEDs disposed within said body and connected into a second circuit; and

a second set of connector pins at the other of said opposite ends and connected exclusively into said second circuit;

wherein said first and second circuits are electrically isolated from one another.

2. A light as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a translucent envelope.

3. A light as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second circuits includes a PWM regulator.

4. A light as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second circuits includes a switch.

5. A light as defined in claim 1 wherein said body is approximately 48 inches long.