LED TUBE AND LIGHTING FIXTURE ARRANGEMENT

• US 20110260622A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teknoware Oy (Teknopower Oy)
• Original Assignee: Teknoware Oy (Teknopower Oy)
• Inventors: HARTIKKA, Yrjö, KUISMA, Jouko
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/113
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• 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: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/26 Circuit arrangements for protecting against earth faults
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A LED tube includes a substantially fluorescent-tube-shaped and fluorescent-tube-sized translucent or fluorescent tube having one or more LED components and a current control unit installed therein. Both ends of the LED tube are provided with a pair of contact pins for connecting the LED tube mechanically and electrically to the tube holders of the fluorescent tube lighting fixture. The tube has a safety unit arranged to prevent a voltage from transferring through the tube from its one end to the other until a voltage supplied from the corresponding tube holder of the lighting fixture to the pair of contact pins has been detected at each end of the tube separately. Electric power or switching control of electric power is cross-connected between the ends of the LED tube.

Claims

1. A LED tube, comprising a substantially fluorescent-tube-shaped and fluorescent-tube-sized translucent or fluorescent tube having one or more LED components and a current control unit installed therein, both ends of the LED tube being provided with at least one contact pin for connecting the LED tube mechanically and electrically to tube holders of a fluorescent tube lighting fixture, wherein the LED tube comprises a safety unit arranged to switch electric power from the ends of the LED tube to the current control unit and/or LED components separately only after a voltage fed from the corresponding tube holder of the lighting fixture to said at least one contact pin has been detected at each end of the LED tube separately;

and the supply of electric power or the control of the switching of electric power is cross-connected between the ends of the LED tube.

3. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control of the connection of electric power is cross-connected in such a way that detection of voltage at one end of the LED tube is arranged to control electric power switching means at the opposite end.

4. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety unit comprises

a first and a second controlled switching means at a first and at a second end of the LED tube, respectively, for supplying electric power to the current control unit and/or to the LED components;

a first voltage detection means connected to detect the voltage from said at least one contact pin at the first end of the LED tube, and connected to control said second switching means at the opposite second end of the LED tube; and

a second voltage detection means connected to detect the voltage from said at least one contact pin at the second end of the LED tube, and connected to control said first switching means at the opposite first end of the LED tube.

6. A LED tube as claimed in claim 3, wherein the safety unit comprises

a first optical link arranged to transfer a voltage measurement or a switching control signal optically from the first end of the LED tube to the opposite second end;

a second optical link arranged to transfer a voltage measurement or a switching control signal optically from the second end of the LED tube to the opposite first end.

7. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power is cross-connected in such a way that the electric power received from one end of the LED tube is supplied to the current control unit and/or to the LED components at the opposite end.

8. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety unit comprises

a first controlled switching means arranged to switch electric power from said at least one contact pin of the LED tube at the first end of the LED tube to the current control unit and/or to the LED components, to a circuit node which is at the opposite second end of the LED tube;

and

a second controlled switching means arranged to switch electric power from said at least one contact pin of the LED tube at the second end of the LED tube to the current control unit and/or to the LED components, to a circuit node which is at the opposite first end of the LED tube.

9. A LED tube as claimed in claim 8, wherein

said first controlled switching means is positioned at the second end of the LED tube and connected on a supply line to receive electric power from said at least one contact pin from the opposite first end of the LED tube, whereby the voltage detection at the second end of the LED tube is arranged to control the first switching means;

and

said second controlled switching means is positioned at the first end of the LED tube and connected on a supply line to receive electric power from said at least one contact pin from the opposite second end of the LED tube, whereby the voltage detection at the first end of the LED tube is arranged to control the second switching means.

10. A LED tube as claimed in claim 3, wherein the safety unit is arranged to detect the heating voltage received from the tube holder of the fluorescent tube lighting fixture to the contact pins at each end of the LED tube.

11. A LED tube as claimed in claim 3, wherein the LED tube comprises two contact pins at each end of the tube;

and between the two contact pins, a resistive, inductive and/or capacitive measuring component is connected at each end of the LED tube to generate a current path between the contact pins; and

the safety unit is arranged to detect the low voltage over said measuring component at each end of the LED tube, the low voltage resulting from a current which passes through the measuring component and is generated in the ballast-starter circuit in the fluorescent tube lighting fixture by a high-resistance component connected in place of or in parallel with a starter.

12. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detected voltages, heating voltages or low voltages are directly connected to serve as control voltages of the switching means.

13. A LED tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of the tube casing of the LED tube lighting fixture is made of metal or comprises a metal structure for providing cooling.

2. A LED tube comprising a substantially fluorescent-tube-shaped and fluorescent-tube-sized translucent or fluorescent tube having one or more LED components and a current control unit installed therein, both ends of the LED tube being provided with at least one contact pin for connecting the LED tube mechanically and electrically to tube holders of a fluorescent tube lighting fixture, wherein the supply of electric power is cross-connected between the ends of the LED tube.

5. A LED tube as claimed in claim 2, wherein the safety unit comprises

a first conductor line arranged to transfer a voltage measurement or a switching control signal from the first end of the LED tube to the opposite second end;

a second conductor line arranged to transfer a voltage measurement or a switching control signal from the second end of the LED tube to the opposite first end.

14. A lighting fixture arrangement, comprising a lighting fixture which is designed for a fluorescent tube and in which a LED tube is installed, the LED tube further comprising a substantially fluorescent-tube-shaped and fluorescent-tube-sized translucent or fluorescent tube having one or more LED components and a current control unit installed therein, both ends of the LED tube being provided with at least one contact pin for connecting the LED tube mechanically and electrically to tube holders of a fluorescent tube lighting fixture, wherein the LED tube comprises a safety unit arranged to switch electric power from the ends of the LED tube to the current control unit and/or LED components separately only after a voltage fed from the corresponding tube holder of the lighting fixture to said at least one contact pin has been detected at each end of the LED tube separately;

and the supply of electric power or the control of the switching of electric power is cross-connected between the ends of the LED tube.

15. A lighting fixture arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lighting fixture comprises a high-frequency electronic ballast.

16. A lighting fixture arrangement, comprising a lighting fixture which is designed for a fluorescent tube and in which a LED tube is installed, the LED tube further comprising a substantially fluorescent-tube-shaped and fluorescent-tube-sized translucent or fluorescent tube having one or more LED components and a current control unit installed therein, both ends of the LED tube being provided with at least one contact pin for connecting the LED tube mechanically and electrically to tube holders of a fluorescent tube lighting fixture, wherein the supply of electric power is cross-connected between the ends of the LED tube.