Light sources incorporating light emitting diodes

• US 8,093,823 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Timmermans, Jos, Raymond, Jean C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Chuc
• Application Number:
  US11/007,417
• Time in Patent Office: 2,589 Days
• Field of Search: 315/404, 315/74, 315/95, 315/187, 315/227, 315/231, 315/250, 315/312, 315/324, 315/363, 315/246, 315/291, 315/192, 315/294, 362/240, 362/373, 362/369, 362/288, 362/800, 362/812, 362/152, 362/153.1, 362/145, 362/249, 362/362
• US Class Current: 315/246
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• 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: 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: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0085 at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. resilient contact blades, piston-like contact
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/86 Ceramics or glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• 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 33/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• 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 source including at least one light emitting diode and, optionally, a housing portion surrounding the light emitting diode. The at least one light emitting diode can be an organic light-emitting diode sheet. The at least one light emitting diode is preferably enclosed in a housing portion comprising a hollow bulb-shaped portion formed of glass, plastic, etc. The housing portion can be filled partially or completely by a potting material. Alternatively, the housing portion can be formed of a potting material or a conformal coating material. At least one connector is coupled to the end of the housing portion. A power supply circuit supplies electrical current to the at least one light emitting diode through the connector.

Claims

1. A replacement light for use in a fixture having a double ended bi-pin socket set designed for fluorescent tubes wherein the light comprises:

an elongate support defining a substantially planar mounting surface;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted along the mounting surface of the elongate support so that light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes is substantially directed away from the mounting surface;

a pair of bi-pin connectors compatible with said bi-pin socket set disposed at opposed ends of the support;

a cover for the elongate support arranged such that light from the light emitting diodes passes through the cover; and

a power supply circuit supplying power to the plurality of light emitting diodes and mounted within a space proximate the elongate support and the cover, the power supply circuit including an AC-to-DC converter coupled to at least one of the pair of bi-pin electrodes to receive AC current and a PWM regulator configured to receive rectified DC current from the AC-to-DC converter and to provide regulated DC current to the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

wherein at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes are connected in series.

2. A replacement light as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongate support includes a circuit board structure including the mounting surface defining a horizontal plane and side surfaces on opposing sides of the elongate support extending vertically from the horizontal plane.

3. A replacement light as defined in claim 2 wherein the cover comprises a transparent or translucent cover for the elongate support arranged such that substantially all light that passes through the cover is unreflected light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. A replacement light as defined in claim 2 wherein the side surfaces facing the elongate support are substantially non-reflective.

5. A replacement light as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of end caps from which the pair of connectors respectively extend.

6. A replacement light as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a current limiting circuit to protect the plurality of light emitting diodes from current overloads.

7. A replacement light as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises white light emitting diodes.

8. A replacement light for use in a fixture having a double ended bi-pin socket set designed for fluorescent tubes wherein the light comprises:

an elongate support defining a substantially non-reflective, planar mounting surface, wherein the elongate support includes a circuit board structure including the mounting surface defining a horizontal plane and side surfaces on opposing sides of the elongate support extending vertically from the horizontal plane;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted in direct contact with and along the mounting surface of the elongate support so that light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes is substantially directed away from the mounting surface;

a pair of bi-pin connectors compatible with said bi-pin socket set disposed at opposed ends of the support;

a transparent or translucent cover for the elongate support arranged such that substantially all light that passes through the cover is unreflected light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a power supply circuit supplying power to the plurality of light emitting diodes and mounted within a space formed by the elongate support and the cover, the power supply circuit including an AC-to-DC converter coupled to at least one of the pair of bi-pin electrodes to receive AC current and a pulse width modulator configured to receive rectified DC current from the AC-to-DC converter and to provide modulated DC current to the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

wherein at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes are connected in series.

9. A replacement light as defined in claim 8 wherein the power supply circuit further comprises a current limiting circuit to protect the plurality of light emitting diodes from current overloads, the current limiting circuit located between the pulse width modulator and the plurality of light emitting diodes.

10. A replacement light for use in a fixture having a double-ended, bi-pin socket set designed to receive conventional fluorescent tube lights wherein the light comprises:

an elongate support defining a circuit board having a mounting surface;

a plurality of light emitting diodes uniformly arranged along and mounted to the mounting surface over substantially the entire length thereof;

connectors at opposite ends of the elongate support compatible with the bi-pin socket set;

a transparent or translucent cover for the elongate support and arranged relative to said support such that light from the light emitting diodes passes through the cover, the plurality of light emitting diodes longitudinally spaced such that the light that passes through the cover has a substantially uniform longitudinal dispersion; and

a power supply circuit supplying power to the plurality of light emitting diodes and mounted within a space formed by the elongate support and the cover, the power supply circuit including;

an AC-to-DC converter coupled to at least one of the connectors to receive AC current;

a pulse width modulator configured to receive rectified DC current from the AC-to-DC converter and to provide modulated DC current to the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a current limiting circuit to protect the plurality of light emitting diodes from current overloads.