LED INTERCONNECT SPRING CLIP ASSEMBLY

• US 20080224166A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Jeff C., Glovatsky, Andrew Z.
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/99
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0025 the fastening means engaging the conductors of the light source, i.e. providing simultaneous fastening of the light sources and their electric connections
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/004 by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An LED interconnect spring clip assembly includes a housing having a center cavity and a plurality of contact features. Each contact feature has a portion retained by the housing and another portion that is operable to contact a terminal of an LED package disposed within the center cavity of the housing. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly retains the LED package when mounted to a substrate.

Claims

1. An LED interconnect spring clip assembly comprising:

a housing having at least one center cavity defined therein; and

a plurality of contact features, each contact feature of the plurality of contact features having a portion retained by the housing and contacting the housing, and each contact feature of the plurality of contact features having an exposed portion operable to contact an LED terminal of an LED package disposed within the at least one center cavity.

2. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features has a portion molded into the housing.

3. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is operable to bias the LED package to secure the LED package to a surface.

4. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each contact feature is connected to a connecting feature, the connecting feature being operable to electrically connect the LED package to an external input voltage source.

5. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is corrugated in shape.

6. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is a pin, the pin being operable to be inserted within a connector that is attached to an LED terminal.

7. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises portions defining a recess operable to receive an LED package therein, the portions defining a recess including locating features operable to prevent movement of the LED package along at least one axis.

8. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 7, wherein the locating features are tabs operable to fixedly attach an LED package to the housing.

9. The LED interconnect spring clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each contact feature is comprised of one of the following:

metal and metal-plated plastic.

10. An LED assembly comprising:

a housing having at least one center cavity defined therein;

at least one LED package having LED terminals, the at least one LED package being disposed within the at least one center cavity;

a plurality of contact features, each contact feature of the plurality of contact features having a portion retained by the housing and engaging the housing, and an exposed portion in electrical communication with an LED terminal of the at least one LED package.

11. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features has a portion molded into the housing.

12. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the contact features of the plurality of contact features biases the at least one LED package to a surface.

13. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature is connected to a connecting feature, the connecting feature being operable to electrically connect the LED package to an external input voltage source.

14. The LED assembly of claim 10, further comprising a substrate having a plurality of electric terminals, the at least one LED package being disposed upon the substrate, the at least one LED package being in electrical communication with at least two electric terminals of the plurality of electric terminals, and each contact feature contacting an electric terminal of the plurality of electric terminals.

15. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is in mechanical communication with an LED terminal, the mechanical communication being free of solder material.

16. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing has a non-planar cross-section.

17. The LED assembly of claim 10 comprising a plurality of LED packages, wherein the LED terminals of at least one LED package of the plurality of LED packages lie along a plane spaced apart from the plane of the LED terminals of at least one other LED package of the plurality of LED packages.

18. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is corrugated in shape.

19. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature of the plurality of contact features is a pin, the pins being inserted into connectors, the connectors each being attached to an LED terminal of the at least one LED package.

20. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises portions defining a recess operable to receive the at least one LED package therein, the portions defining a recess including locating features operable to prevent movement of the at least one LED package along at least one axis.

21. The LED assembly of claim 20, wherein the locating features are tabs operable to fixedly attach the at least one LED package to the housing.

22. The LED assembly of claim 10, wherein each contact feature is comprised of one of the following:

metal and metal-plated plastic.