LED light bulb

• US 7,396,142 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Five Star Import Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Five Star Import Group LLC
• Inventors: Jin, Peng, Laizure, Robert S. Jr., Cote, Lee C., Pawelko, Wojciech
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/343,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 362/650, 362/240, 362/238, 362/525, 362/97, 362/800, 349/70, 313/49, 313/51, 313/318.01, 313/318.03, 313/318.05
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) light bulb configured to replicate the light output of a conventional incandescent light bulb is provided. The LED light bulb includes a base for coupling the bulb to a power source having at least one side wall defining a cavity; a generally rectangular substrate having a first end and a second end, the second end disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the base; a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled and disposed on the first end of the substrate, the plurality of LEDS arranged on a front face, back face and top edge of the first end of the substrate to emit light in a spherical output; and a light transmissive cover configured to enclose the plurality of LEDs, the cover being coupled to the base.

Claims

1. An LED light bulb comprising:

a base for coupling the bulb to a power source having at least one side wall defining a cavity and a skirted portion;

a generally planar rectangular substrate having a first end and a second end, the second end disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the base, the substrate including a tab projecting from each side edge located adjacent the second end of the substrate configured for mating with the skirted portion of the base;

a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled and disposed on the first end of the substrate, the plurality of LEDS arranged on a front face, back face and top edge of the first end of the substrate to emit light in a spherical output, wherein the substrate further comprises electrically conducting material disposed on the front face and back face for electrically coupling the base to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the electrically conducting material covers substantially all of the front face and back face for conducting heat away from the plurality of LEDs; and

a light transmissive cover configured to enclose the plurality of LEDs, the cover being coupled to the base and further comprises a recessed portion at an open end for mating with the skirted portion of the base, wherein the recessed portion further comprises two slots configured to receive the tabs of the substrate.

2. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein the top edge of the first end of the substrate further comprises at least one notch configured to receive at least one LED.

3. The LED light bulb as in claim 2, wherein each LED is a surface mount device type LED.

4. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein each slot comprises at least one detent for coming into contact with each tab of the substrate.

5. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein a solder mask is disposed on the substrate to reflect light generated by the plurality of LEDs.

6. The LED light bulb as in claim 5, wherein a color of the solder mask is white, copper or amber.

7. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least two layers of insulating material, each layer including electrically conductive material.

8. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical gasket configured to be disposed on the base, wherein when the bulb is coupled to the power source the gasket environmentally seals the bulb.

9. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least two layers of insulating material, each layer including electrically conductive material.

10. The LED light bulb as in claim 1, wherein a thermal epoxy is disposed at a contact point of the cover and the base, wherein the epoxy transfers heat from the substrate to the base.

11. An LED light bulb comprising:

a base for coupling the bulb to a socket of a power source having at least one side wall defining a cavity, the base including a threaded portion for insertion into the socket and a skirted portion for receiving a cover;

a generally planar rectangular substrate having a first end and a second end, the second end disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the base, the substrate including a tab projecting from each side edge located adjacent the second end of the substrate configured for mating with the skirted portion of the base;

a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled and disposed on the first end of the substrate, the plurality of LEDS arranged on a front face, back face and top edge of the first end of the substrate to emit light in a spherical output, wherein the substrate further comprises electrically conducting material disposed on the front face and back face for electrically coupling the base to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the electrically conducting material covers substantially all of the front face and back face for conducting heat away from the plurality of LEDs; and

a light transmissive cover configured to enclose the plurality of LEDs, the cover including a recessed portion at an open end for mating with the skirted portion of the base, wherein the recessed portion of the cover further comprises two slots configured to receive the tabs of the substrate.