Light module

• US 9,163,811 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zaderej, Victor, McGowan, Daniel B., Nguyen, Dan, Grzegorzewska, Barbara, Picini, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US13/498,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 362/148, 362/294, 362/150, 362/151, 362/649, 362/306, 36224902-24903, 362/800
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/00 Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/14 Bayonet-type fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/162 the parts being subjected to traction or compression, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illumination module is provided that can be inserted into a receptacle that includes a wall and may be mounted on a support surface, such as a heat sink, and the illumination module include a cover and an LED assembly rotateably coupled to the cover. The LED assembly seats within the receptacle which causes terminals of the LED assembly to align with contacts on the receptacle. One of the cover and the receptacle can have a plurality of ramps and the other a plurality of shoulders. The cover can be rotated relative to the receptacle to cause the shoulders to slide relative to the ramps so as to direct the LED assembly into the receptacle. When the LED assembly is attached to the receptacle, the terminals on the LED assembly mate with the contacts on the receptacle.

Claims

1. An illumination module comprising:

a light emitting diode (“

LED”

) assembly comprising a frame, a LED array supported by the frame, a heat spreader with an upper and a lower surface, the upper surface in thermal communication with the LED array and supported by the frame;

a cover rotatably coupled to the LED assembly; and

a biasing element provided between the cover and the frame, the biasing element configured to urge the LED assembly and the cover to translate in opposite directions, wherein the biasing element is configured to allow the cover to rotate with respect to the LED assembly, wherein the illumination module is configured, in operation, to be removably inserted into a receptacle.

2. The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is at least one leaf spring.

3. The illumination module of claim 2, further including a thermal pad provided on the lower surface of the heat spreader.

4. The illumination module of claim 3, wherein the thermal pad is compliant.

5. The illumination module of claim 4, wherein the LED array is positioned on a base, the base including an anode and a cathode and the LED assembly includes a first and second terminal, the first terminal in electrical communication with the anode and the second terminal in electrical communication with the cathode.

6. The illumination module of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle configured to receive the illumination module, wherein the receptacle is configured to be mounted to supporting surface and the illumination module is configured to rotatably engage the receptacle.

7. An illumination module comprising:

a light emitting diode (“

LED”

) assembly comprising a frame, a LED array supported by the frame, a heat spreader with an upper and a lower surface, the upper surface in thermal communication with the LED array and supported by the frame;

a cover rotatably coupled to the LED assembly; and

a biasing element provided between the cover and the frame, the biasing element configured to urge the LED assembly and the cover to translate in opposite directions, wherein a thermal resistance between the LED array and the heat spreader is less than 3 K/W, wherein the illumination module is configured, in operation, to be removably inserted into a receptacle.

8. The illumination module of claim 7, wherein the module is configured to mount on a support surface and in operation the thermal resistance between the support surface and the LED array is less than 5 K/W.

9. The illumination module of claim 8, wherein the cover includes a circular base wall with a plurality of projections extending therefore.

10. The illumination module of claim 9, wherein the thermal resistance between a support surface and the LED array is less than 3 K/W.

11. The illumination module of claim 10, further including a thermal pad provided on the lower surface of the heat spreader, wherein the thermal pad has a thickness of less than one mm.

12. The illumination module of claim 11, wherein the thermal pad is one of a thermally conductive adhesive gasket, a thermally-conductive paste and a thermally conductive epoxy.

13. The light module of claim 7, wherein the heat spreader is formed of material that has a thermal conductivity greater than 50 W/m-K.