LED lamp with base having a biased electrical interconnect

• US 9,951,910 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reier, Bart P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTANACH, COLIN J
• Application Number:
  US14/281,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20150330580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 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 9/235 Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/237 Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/004 by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• 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: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A LED lamp includes an at least partially optically transmissive enclosure and a base. A LED assembly includes at least one LED, where the LED is located in the enclosure and is operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. An electronics board is in the electrical path and is coupled to the base by an electrical interconnect comprising at least one base-side contact that is biased into engagement with the base.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure that a partially optically transmissive;

a base comprising an electrically insulating housing connected to an electrically conductive connector, the base defining an internal cavity;

a LED assembly comprising at least one LED, the LED assembly being located in the enclosure and the at least one LED operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base;

an electronics board in the electrical path; and

an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the electronics board to the base, the electrical interconnect being at least partially located in the internal cavity of the base, the electrical interconnect being separately mounted to the electronics board independently of the base and comprising an electrically insulated body including a deformable resilient member that is deformed into engagement with the electronics board such that a bias force is applied by the resilient member to the electronics board to create a mechanical engagement between the electrical interconnect and the electronics board by a snap-fit connection that secures the electrical interconnect electronics board, a first board-side contact and a second board-side contact supported on the body separate from deformable resilient member that are biased into engagement with an anode side and a cathode side of the electronics board, respectively, to create an electrical contact coupling, and a first base-side contact and a second base-side contact supported by the body that are configured to be biased into engagement with the electrically conductive connector to create an electrical contact coupling with the electrically conductive connector, the first base-side contact and the first board-side contact and the second base-side contact the second board-side contact extending through the insulated body.

2. The lamp of claim1 wherein one of the deformable resilient member and the electronics board comprises a protrusion and the other one of the deformable resilient member and the electronics board comprises a recess.

3. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the first board-side contact and the second board-side contact create an electrical connection to a first pad and a second pad of electron board.

4. The lamp of claim 3 wherein the first board-side contact and the second board-side contact are deformed engage the first pad and the second pad.

5. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the first base side contact and the second base side contact are deformed to engage the electrically conductive connector.

6. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the first base-side contact and the second base-side contact create electrical contact couplings with the electrically conductive connector.

7. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive connector comprises an Edison screw and the first based-side contact creates a first electrical contact coupling with an interior surface of the Edison screw and the second base-side contact creates a second electrical contact coupling with a centerline contact of the Edison screw.

9. The lamp of claim 1 wherein he electronics board supports at least one of a driver and a power supply.

8. The lamp of clam 1 wherein a guide is formed in the base to orient the electronics board relative to the base.

10. A method of making an LED lamp comprising:

providing an electronics board, a base, and a separate electrical interconnect, the electrical interconnect being a single component comprising a first board-side contact, a second board-side contact, a first base-side contact, second base-side contact and a resilient member; and

the base comprising an electrically insulating housing and an electrically conductive connector, the base defining an internal cavity;

mounting the electrical interconnect onto the electronics board independently of the base to create an electrical contact coupling between the first board-side contact and the second board-side contact of the electrical interconnect and anode side and a cathode side of an electrical path on the electronics board by deforming the resilient member into engagement with the electronics board such that a bias force is applied by the resilient member to the electronics board to create a mechanical engagement between the electrical interconnect and the electronics board by a snap-fit connection that secures the electrical interconnect to the electronics board and biasing the first board-side contact d the second board-side contact into engagement with the electronics board; and

after mounting the electrical interconnect onto the electronics board inserting the electronics board and the connected electrical interconnect into the internal cavity of the base, such that the first base side contact and the second base-side contact on the electrical interconnect are deformed by and create an eletrical contact coupling with the electrically conductive connector.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the electrically conductive connector comprises an Edison screw and the first base-side contact and the second base side contact create the electrical contact coupling with the Edison screw.

12. A lamp comprising:

an enclosure that is at least partially optically transmissive;

a base;

a LED assembly comprising at least one LED, the LED assembly being located in the enclosure and the at least one LED operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base;

an electronics board the electrical path;

an electrical interconnect electrically coupling the electronics board to the base, the electrical interconnect being separately mountable to the electronics board independently of the base and comprising an electrically insulated body including a deformable resilient member that is deformed into engagement with the electronics board such that a bias force is applied by the resilient member to the electronics board to create a mechanical engagement between, the electrical interconnect and the electronics board by a snap-fit connection, a first board-side contact and a second board-side contact supported on the body separate from the deformable resilient member that are biased into engagement with an anode side and a cathode side of the electronics board, respectively, to create an electrical contact coupling, and a first base-side contact and a second base-side contact supported by the body that are configured to be biased into engagement with the base to create an electrical contact coupling with the base, the first base-side contact and the first board-side contact and the second base-side contact and the second board-side contact extending through the insulated body; and

a guide is formed in the base to orient the electronics board relative to the base.