LED electric bulb and the manufacturing thereof

• US 9,803,848 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Hout, Johannes Antonius Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): GARLEN, ALEXANDER K
• Application Number:
  US15/023,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20160230939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/02 coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/86 Ceramics or glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/20 on convex supports or substrates, e.g. on the outer surface of spheres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention relates to a LED electric bulb (1) and a method of producing a LED electric bulb. The LED electric bulb (1) comprises a glass bulb (2), a cap (6) and a light generating module (17). The light generating module (17) is at least partly received inside the glass bulb (2) and is arranged in electrical contact with the cap (6). The light generating module (17) comprises a driver PCB (3) and a flexible, double folded strip (4) forming two opposite legs (14) comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s (5). The flexible, double folded strip (4) is arranged to conform to and closely contact at least a portion of the interior surface (15) of the glass bulb (2). The invention also relates to a semi-finished LED electric bulb and the use thereof for the production of a LED electric bulb.

Claims

1. Method of producing a LED electric bulb, comprising:

providing a light generating module comprising a driver PCB and a flexible, double folded strip forming two opposite legs comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s,

providing a glass bulb having an open end,

inserting the light generating module into the glass bulb via the open end thereof, with the flexible, double folded strip extending into the interior of the glass bulb whereby the two opposite legs are pressed apart to conform to and closely contact at least a portion of an interior surface of the glass bulb as the flexible, double folded strip is inserted into the glass bulb meeting the interior surface thereof,

providing a cap closing the open end of the glass bulb, and

providing a switch arrangement comprising a push-button switch arranged on the driver PCB and a needle extending between the push-button switch and the interior surface of the glass bulb.

2. Method of producing a LED electric bulb according to claim 1, wherein the light generating module before or during insertion into the glass bulb has a cross section smaller than the cross section of the open end of the glass bulb.

3. Method of producing a LED electric bulb according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided to close the open end of the glass bulb by engaging a ring on the light generating module.

4. Method of producing a LED electric bulb according to claim 1, wherein the flexible, double folded strip has a length exceeding the longitudinal extension of the glass bulb as seen along the longitudinal centerline thereof, wherein the flexible, double folded strip is forced to contact at least a portion of the interior surface of the glass bulb as the flexible, double folded strip is inserted into the glass bulb meeting the interior surface thereof.

5. Method of producing a LED electric bulb according to claim 1, wherein the flexible, double folded strip is arranged to conform to and contact a portion of the interior surface of the glass bulb corresponding to an angle of least 90 degrees of the dome shaped geometry of the glass bulb as seen in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal centerline of the bulb.

6. Method of producing a semi-finished LED electric bulb, comprising

providing a flexible, double folded strip forming two opposite legs comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s,

providing a glass bulb having an open end,

inserting the flexible, double folded strip into the glass bulb via the open end thereof, whereby the two opposite legs are pressed apart to conform to and closely contact at least a portion of an interior surface of the glass bulb as the flexible, double folded strip is inserted into the glass bulb meeting the interior surface thereof, and

providing a switch arrangement comprising a push-button switch arranged on the driver PCB and a needle extending between the push-button switch and the interior surface of the glass bulb.

7. Method of producing a semi-finished LED electric bulb according to claim 6, wherein the flexible, double folded strip is clamped to the interior surface of the glass bulb by a disc inserted into the glass bulb.

8. Method of producing a semi-finished LED electric bulb according to claim 6, wherein the flexible, double folded strip comprises electrical contacts accessible via the open end of the glass bulb when the flexible, double folded strip is inserted in the glass bulb.

9. Method of producing a semi-finished LED electric bulb according to claim 6, wherein the flexible, double folded strip is arranged to conform to and contact a portion of the interior surface of the glass bulb corresponding to an angle of least 90 degrees of the dome shaped geometry of the glass bulb as seen in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal centerline of the glass bulb.

10. Use of a semi-finished LED electric bulb according to claim 6 for the production of a LED electric bulb.

11. LED electric bulb, comprising a glass bulb, a cap and a light generating module at least partly received inside the glass bulb and being in electrical contact with the cap, wherein the light generating module comprises a driver PCB and a flexible, double folded strip forming two opposite legs comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s, whereby the two opposite legs are pressed apart and conforming to and closely contacting at least a portion of an interior surface of the glass bulb, and

a switch arrangement comprising a push-button switch arranged on the driver PCB and a needle extending between the push-button switch and the interior surface of the glass bulb.

12. LED electric bulb according to claim 11, wherein the flexible, double folded strip has a length exceeding the longitudinal extension of the glass bulb as seen along the longitudinal centerline thereof.