LIGHT STRIP AND METHOD FOR MAKING A LIGHT STRIP

• US 20170227178A1
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAG-LED, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jason Greene
• Inventors: GREENE, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,144 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• 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 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• 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 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/00 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A light strip has a flexible enclosure extruded around a pair of conductors. The enclosure contains a lighting assembly with one or more flexible substrates populated with a plurality of light circuits. The substrates are spaced from the pair of conductors. The lighting assembly has a plurality of connecting devices for electrically coupling the lighting assembly to the pair of conductors.

Claims

1. A light strip comprising:

a pair of conductors;

a flexible enclosure extruded around said pair of conductors; and

a lighting assembly comprising a plurality of flexible substrates positioned within said flexible enclosure, spaced apart from said pair of conductors and populated with a plurality of light circuits, said lighting assembly further comprising a plurality of connecting devices for electrically coupling said lighting assembly to said pair of conductors,

wherein said plurality of flexible substrates are mounted in said flexible enclosure and each of said plurality of substrates connects separately to said pair of conductors,

wherein said plurality of connecting devices each comprises a separated pair of leads, each separated pair being electrically connected to a respective one of said plurality of flexible substrates, the separated pairs of leads including a plurality of first leads and a plurality of second leads, said plurality of first leads being directly connected to a plurality of spaced points on a first one of said pair of conductors, said plurality of second leads being directly connected to a plurality of spaced points on a second one of said pair of conductors.

2. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of light circuits include a power restricting device.

3. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein said flexible enclosure is partially extruded around said separated pair of leads.

4. A light strip according to claim 3 wherein said flexible enclosure is extruded with a longitudinal split that is open to allow installation of said plurality of flexible substrates.

5. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said said plurality of flexible substrates has a given number of said plurality of light circuits, each of said given number of light circuits having a pair of solder pads separately connected to said pair of conductors.

6. A light strip according to claim 5 wherein said given number of light circuits (a) are arranged end to end, and (b) are adapted to be severed between any adjacent pair of said given number to operate autonomously.

7. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light circuits each comprise:

a depletion mode field effect transistor;

a serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to said transistor; and

a power input coupled to said transistor and said plurality of light emitting diodes, said power input adapted to receive a time varying voltage varying over predetermined cycles, said transistor arranged to conduct over a limited conduction angle that ensures conduction at the start of a half cycle.

8. A light strip according to claim 7 further comprising:

a resistive element;

a pair of power input terminals adapted to connect to a power source and supply current to resistive element, said transistor, and said serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes, said transistor being serially connected between said resistive element and said serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes, said transistor having a gate connected to one of said pair of power input terminals.

9. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light circuits each comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes each having a forward voltage drop exceeding 8 volts.

10. A light strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of flexible substrates comprises:

an insulating layer sandwiched between a pair of copper laminations that are etched into separate sections, said pair of copper laminations having a plurality of plated-through holes, a dedicated portion of which are arranged to conduct heat without conducting electrical current.

11. A light strip according to claim 10 wherein a marked portion of said plurality of plated-through holes are arranged to receive a non-functional component that signifies a quality of a corresponding one of said plurality of flexible substrates.

12. A light strip comprising:

a pair of conductors;

a flexible enclosure extruded around said pair of conductors; and

a lighting assembly comprising a flexible substrate positioned within said flexible enclosure, spaced apart from said pair of conductors and populated with a plurality of light circuits, said lighting assembly further comprising a plurality of connecting devices for electrically coupling said lighting assembly to said pair of conductors,

wherein said flexible substrate is mounted in said flexible enclosure and each of said plurality of light circuits connects separately to said pair of conductors,

wherein said plurality of connecting devices each comprises a separated pair of leads, each separated pair being electrically connected to the flexible substrate, the separated pairs of leads including a plurality of first leads and a plurality of second leads, said plurality of first leads being directly connected to a plurality of spaced points on a first one of said pair of conductors, said plurality of second leads being directly connected to a plurality of spaced points on a second one of said pair of conductors.

13. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of light circuits include a power restricting device.

14. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said flexible enclosure is partially extruded around said separated pair of leads.

15. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said flexible enclosure is extruded with a longitudinal split that is open to allow installation of said flexible substrate.

16. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said flexible substrate has a given number of said plurality of light circuits, each of said given number of light circuits having a pair of solder pads separately connected to said pair of conductors.

17. A light strip according to claim 16 wherein said given number of light circuits (a) are arranged end to end, and (b) are adapted to be severed between any adjacent pair of said given number to operate autonomously.

18. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of light circuits each comprise:

a depletion mode field effect transistor;

a serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to said transistor; and

a power input coupled to said transistor and said plurality of light emitting diodes, said power input adapted to receive a time varying voltage varying over predetermined cycles, said transistor arranged to conduct over a limited conduction angle that ensures conduction at the start of a half cycle.

19. A light strip according to claim 18 comprising:

a resistive element;

a pair of power input terminals adapted to connect to a power source and supply current to resistive element, said transistor, and said serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes, said transistor being serially connected between said resistive element and said serially connected plurality of light emitting diodes, said transistor having a gate connected to one of said pair of power input terminals.

20. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of light circuits each comprise:

a plurality of light emitting diodes each having a forward voltage drop exceeding 8 volts.

21. A light strip according to claim 12 wherein said flexible substrate comprises:

an insulating layer sandwiched between a pair of copper laminations that are etched into separate sections, said pair of copper laminations having a plurality of plated-through holes, a dedicated portion of which are arranged to conduct heat without conducting electrical current.

22. A light strip according to claim 21 wherein a marked portion of said plurality of plated-through holes are arranged to receive a non-functional component that signifies a quality of said flexible substrate.

23. A light strip assembly comprising:

a light strip comprising a pair of conductors, a flexible enclosure extruded around said pair of conductors and a lighting assembly electrically coupled to said pair of conductors; and

an end member comprising a cup-shaped shell having a wall, said cup-shaped shell being sized to fit over an end of said flexible enclosure.

24. The light strip assembly according to claim 23, wherein said flexible enclosure has a periphery with an asymmetrical cross-section and said cup-shaped shell is keyed to fit over only one end of said flexible enclosure.

25. The light strip assembly according to claim 23, wherein said end member comprises a capping device.

26. The light strip assembly according to claim 23, wherein said end member comprises a connector, said wall supports a first pair of pins projecting from a first side of said wall and said first pair of pins is adapted to be inserted into said pair of conductors.

27. The light strip assembly according to claim 26, further comprising a second light strip comprising a second pair of conductors, a second flexible enclosure extruded around said second pair of conductors and a second lighting assembly electrically coupled to said second pair of conductors;

wherein said connector comprises a splicing connector, and said wall supports a second pair of pins projecting from a second side of said wall opposite said first side and said second pair of pins is adapted to be inserted into said second pair of conductors.