LIGHTING DEVICE WITH LEDS

• US 20080062680A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Raymond, Jean, Ivey, John, Timmermans, Jos
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/223
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/66 Details of globes or covers forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/008 of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• 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 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 : using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• 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: H05B 45/3725 : Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 : Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

The present invention provides a light tube for illumination by a power supply circuit including a bulb portion and a pair of end caps disposed at opposite ends of the bulb portion. A plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed inside the bulb portion and in electrical communication with the pair of end caps for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit.

Claims

1. An elongated lighting device, comprising.

at least one circuit board extending between first and second end caps, the end caps having bi-pin electrical communication with the at least one circuit board;

and

a plurality of LEDs operatively connected to the at least one circuit board.

2. The lighting device as in claim 1 wherein the LEDs emit light through an elongated transparent bulb portion.

3. The lighting device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply circuit.

4. The lighting device as in claim 3 wherein the power supply circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit.

5. The lighting device as in claim 4 wherein the intensity of light output by the LEDs is adjusted by a user.

6. The lighting device as in claim 4 wherein the lighting device is configured to act as a replacement bulb for a standard fluorescent tube.

7. The lighting device as in claim 5 wherein the lighting device may be received by a fluorescent bulb fixture, the fluorescent bulb fixture including a ballast.

8. The lighting device as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of LEDs are closely spaced.

9. The lighting device as in claim 8 wherein the LEDs are angularly offset from one another.

10. The lighting device as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of LEDs are organized in the form of a two dimensional array.

11. The lighting device as in claim 10 wherein the LEDs are angularly offset.

12. The lighting device as in claim 10, further comprising:

a pulse width modulation circuit.

13. The lighting device as in claim 1 wherein the LEDs emit light through an elongated frosted bulb portion.

14. The lighting device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply circuit including a rectifier.

15. A LED lighting device comprising:

at least one circuit board operative to deliver power to a plurality of LEDs;

a first bi-pin electrical connector operative to deliver power to a first end of the circuit board and a second bi-pin connector operative to deliver power to a first end of the circuit board and a second bi-pin connector operative to deliver power to a second end of the circuit board, the electrical bi-pin connectors operative to engage a light fixture; and

a power supply circuit including a pulse width modulation circuit operative to control the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs and controllable by a user.

16. The LED lighting device as in claim 15 wherein the light fixture is a fluorescent light fixture that includes a ballast.

17. The LED lighting device as in claim 15 wherein the LEDs emit light through a bulb portion.

18. The LED lighting device as in claim 17 wherein the bulb portion is frosted.

19. A replacement light for use in a fixture having a socket set designed for fluorescent tubes wherein the light comprises:

an elongate support;

a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along the support; and

a pair of bi-pin connectors compatible with the fixture socket set disposed at opposite ends of the support and electrically connected to the light emitting diodes.