LEE, Song (35 Robin Road, #02-01, Singapore 0, 25821, SG)
| Claims [Claim 1] What is claimed: 1. A modular LED lamp base comprising: a LED lamp base, wherein said LED lamp base further comprising a first electrical input contact and second electrical input contact; said first electrical input contact is an anode; said second electrical input contact is a cathode; a first electrical output contact, wherein said first electrical output contact is an anode; a second electrical output contact, wherein said second electrical output contact is a cathode; said first electrical output contact and said second electrical output contact are held in location; a first electrical input conductor; a second electrical input conductor; a first electrical output conductor; a second electrical output conductor; a LED driver, wherein said LED driver further comprising of input anode and input cathode, and output anode and output cathode, wherein said LED driver outputs low voltage direct current; said input anode and input cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical input conductor and said second electrical input conductor to said first electrical input contact and said second electrical input contact respectively; said output anode and output cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical output conductor and said second electrical output conductor to said first electrical output contact and said second electrical output contact respectively; a lamp base housing, wherein said lamp base housing encloses said LED driver; said lamp base housing further comprising an interface, wherein said interface provides physical connection to a LED lamp cup or LED lamp tube. [Claim 2] 2. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact is shaped as a screw- type lamp base such as E27 lamp base. [Claim 3] 3. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact are pin-type such as G24 lamp base. [Claim 4] 4. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact are pin-type with enlarged head such as GulO lamp base. [Claim 5] 5. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact are pad-type such as B22 bayonet-type lamp base. [Claim 6] 6. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said interface is slide-type interface comprising of nibs or flanges. [Claim 7] 7. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said interface is screw-type interface comprising of screw threads. [Claim 8] 8. The modular LED lamp base of claim 1, wherein said interface is catch-type interface comprising of catches. [Claim 9] 9. A modular LED driver comprising a first electrical input contact, wherein said first electrical input contact is an anode; a second electrical input contact, wherein said second electrical input is a cathode; said first electrical input contact and said second electrical input contact are held in location; a first electrical output contact, wherein said first electrical output is an anode; a second electrical output contact, wherein said second electrical output is a cathode; said first electrical output contact and said second electrical output contact are held in location; a first electrical input conductor; a second electrical input conductor; a first electrical output conductor; a second electrical output conductor; a LED driver, wherein said LED driver further comprising of input anode and input cathode, and output anode and output cathode, wherein said LED driver outputs low voltage direct current; said input anode and input cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical input conductor and said second electrical input conductor to said first electrical input contact and said second electrical input contact respectively; said output anode and output cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical output conductor and said second electrical output conductor to said first electrical output contact and said second electrical output contact respectively; a casing, wherein said casing encloses said LED driver. [Claim 10] 10. The modular LED driver of claim 9, wherein the shape of said casing is not symmetrical. [Claim 11] 11. A modular driverless LED lamp base comprising: a LED lamp base, wherein said LED lamp base further comprising a first electrical input contact and second electrical input contact; said first electrical input contact is an anode; said second electrical input contact is a cathode; a first internal electrical input contact, wherein said first internal electrical input contact is held in location; a second internal electrical input contact, wherein said second internal electrical input contact is held in location; a first electrical input conductor; a second electrical input conductor; said first electrical input conductor connects said first electrical input contact with said first internal electrical input contact; said second electrical input conductor connects said second electrical input contact with said second internal electrical input contact; a lamp base housing, wherein said lamp base housing has one face open for insertion of modular LED driver; said lamp base housing further comprising an interface, wherein said interface provides connection to a LED lamp cup or LED lamp tube. [Claim 12] 12. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact is shaped as a screw-type lamp base such as E27 lamp base. [Claim 13] 13. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact are pin- type such as G24 lamp base. [Claim 14] 14. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact are pin- type with enlarged head such as GulO lamp base. [Claim 15] 15. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact are pad-type such as B22 bayonet-type lamp base. [Claim 16] 16. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said interface is slide-type interface comprising of nibs or flanges. [Claim 17] 17. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said interface is screw-type interface comprising of screw threads. [Claim 18] 18. The modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11, wherein said interface is catch-type interface comprising of catches. [Claim 19] 19. A modular LED lamp cup comprising: a LED lamp cup; a printed circuit board, wherein said printed circuit board is mounted onto said LED lamp cup; one or more LEDs, wherein said LEDs are mounted onto said printed circuit board; a first electrical input contact, wherein said first electrical input contact is an anode; a second electrical input contact, wherein said second electrical input contact is a cathode; said first electrical input contact and said second electrical contact are held in location; a pair of electrical conductors, wherein said pair of electrical conductors connect said first electrical input contact and said second electrical input contact with input of said printed circuit board; a lamp cup interface. [Claim 20] 20. The modular LED lamp cup of claim 19, wherein said lamp cup interface is slide-type interface. [Claim 21] 21. The modular LED lamp cup of claim 19, wherein said lamp cup interface is screw-type interface. [Claim 22] 22. The modular LED lamp cup of claim 19, wherein said lamp cup interface is catch-type interface. [Claim 23] 23. A modular LED Lamp comprising: a modular LED lamp base of claim 1 ; and a modular LED lamp cup of claim 19. [Claim 24] 24. A modular LED Lamp comprising: modular driverless LED lamp base of claim 11; modular LED driver of claim 9; modular LED lamp cup of claim 19; said modular LED driver is enclosed within said modular driverless LED lamp base and said modular LED lamp cup; said electrical input contacts of said modular LED driver is in contact with said internal electrical input contacts of said modular driverless LED lamp base, and said electrical output contacts of said modular LED driver is in contact with said electrical input contacts of said modular LED lamp cup. [Claim 25] 25. A modular single end-cap LED tube base comprising: a tube end-cap; a first electrical input contact, wherein said first electrical input contact is a pair of electrical input pins disposed at end face of said tube end cap; a second electrical input contact; a first electrical output contact, wherein said first electrical output contact is an anode; a second electrical output contact, wherein said second electrical output contact is a cathode; said first output contact and said second output contact are held in location; a first electrical input conductor; a second electrical input conductor; a first electrical output conductor; a second electrical output conductor; a LED driver, wherein said LED driver further comprising of input anode and input cathode, and output anode and output cathode, wherein said LED driver outputs low voltage direct current; said input anode and input cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical input conductor and said second electrical input conductor to said first electrical input contact and said second electrical input contact respectively; said output anode and output cathode of said LED driver are connected by said first electrical output conductor and second electrical output conductor to said first electrical output contact and said second electrical output contact respectively; a lamp base housing, wherein said lamp base housing encloses said LED driver. [Claim 26] 26. A modular LED tube comprising: a tube, wherein said tube is hollow and longitudinal having a first open end and second open end opposite said first open end; a printed circuit board, wherein said printed circuit board is within said tube; a plurality of LEDs, wherein said LEDs are mounted on said printed circuit board; a modular single end-cap LED tube base of claim 25, wherein said modular single end-cap LED tube base is disposed at said first open end of said tube; a second end cap disposed upon said second open end of said tube; a second electrical connector comprising a pair of electrical connecting pins at end face of said second end cap; an electrical input conductor, wherein said electrical input conductor connects said second electrical connector with said second electrical input contact of said modular single end-cap LED lamp tube base; a pair of low voltage conductors, wherein said pair of low voltage conductors connects said electrical output contacts of said modular single end-cap LED lamp tube base to said printed circuit board to power said LEDs. [Claim 27] 27. The modular LED tube of claim 26, wherein said tube comprises a longitudinal aluminium upper part and a longitudinal transparent lower part. [Claim 28] 28. A modular double end-cap LED lamp tube base comprising: a tube, wherein said tube is hollow and longitudinal having a first open end and second open end opposite said first open end; a first end cap disposed upon said first open end of said tube; a first electrical connector comprising a pair of electrical connecting pins at end face of said first end cap; a second end cap disposed upon said second open end of said tube; a second electrical connector comprising a pair of electrical connecting pins at end face of said second end cap; a LED driver, wherein said LED driver is inside said tube; said LED driver further comprising of input anode and input cathode, and output anode and output cathode, wherein said LED driver outputs low voltage direct current; a first electrical input conductor, wherein said first electrical input conductor connects said first electrical connector to said input anode of said LED driver; a second electrical input conductor, wherein said second electrical input conductor connects said second electrical connector to said input cathode of said LED driver; a first electrical output contact; a second electrical output contact; a first electrical output conductor, wherein said first electrical output conductor connects said output anode of said LED driver to said first electrical output contact; a second electrical output conductor, wherein said second electrical output conductor connects said output cathode of said LED driver to said second electrical output contact. [Claim 29] 29. A modular LED tube comprising: a modular double end-cap LED tube base of claim 28; a printed circuit board; a plurality of LEDs, wherein said LEDs are mounted onto said printed circuit board; a longitudinal tube, wherein said longitudinal tube is hollow and having a first open end and second open end opposite said first open end; said longitudinal tube having one side transparent for light to pass through; a first end cap disposed upon said first open end of said tube; a second end cap disposed upon said second open end of said tube; said printed circuit board is within longitudinal tube; said longitudinal tube is complimentary in shape to said tube of said modular double end-cap LED lamp tube base, and fits said tube; a first electrical input contact; a second electrical input contact; a first electrical conductor, wherein said first electrical conductor connects said first electrical input contact to said printed circuit board; a second electrical conductor, wherein said second electrical conductor connects said second electrical input contact to said printed circuit board; said first electrical input contact connects with said first electrical output contact of said double-ended LED modular lamp tube base; said second electrical input contact connects with said second electrical output contact of said modular double end-cap LED tube base. [Claim 30] 30. A modular compact LED lamp tube comprising: a tube, wherein said tube is hollow and longitudinal having a first open end and second open end opposite said first open end; said tube has one side transparent for light to pass through; an end cap disposed upon said first open end of said tube; an end connector disposed upon said second open end of said tube; a printed circuit board, wherein said printed circuit board is inside said tube; a plurality of LEDs, wherein said LEDs are mounted onto said printed circuit board; a pair of electrical input contacts, wherein said pair of electrical input contacts are held in position in said end connector; a pair of electrical input conductors, wherein said pair of electrical input conductors connects said pair of electric input contacts to said printed circuit board to power the LEDs. [Claim 31] 31. A modular compact LED lamp comprising: a modular LED lamp base of claim 1 ; and a modular compact LED lamp tube of claim 30; said end connector of said modular compact LED lamp tube connects to said interface of said modular LED lamp base; said pair of electrical input contacts of said LED lamp tube connects with said first and said second electrical output contacts of said modular LED lamp base. |
Title of Invention: MODULAR LED LAMP AND TUBE Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to light emitting diode (LED) lamps and tubes , more particularly, modular LED lamps and tubes whereby the LED lamp bases, LED lamp cups, LED lamp tubes and LED drivers can be changed easily.
Background Art
[2] LED lamps, which can be taken to include LED bulbs, LED spotlights, LED tubes, compact LED lamps, et cetera, are slowly but surely replacing conventional lamps. The merits of LED lamps over fluorescent or incandescent lamps are well-know. One main advantage is that LED lamps are more energy efficient, being able to produce more light with less energy. Another advantage is that LEDs last much longer than conventional light source. In order for LED lamps to replace conventional lamps with ease, LED lamps need to have similar lamp bases, lamp sizes, lamp brightness and input voltages as conventional lamps.
[3] There are many types of standard lamp bases in use by conventional lamps, such as
E14, E26, E27, Gu5.3, GulO, G5, Gi l, G13, G23, G24, B15, B22, and so on. For a LED lamp to fit into an existing socket of a conventional lamp, it needs to have the same lamp base.
[4] There are also many types of standard lamp cups, such as MR 11 (multifaceted
reflector with diameter of 11/8 inches), MR 16, PAR 16 (parabolic aluminium reflector with diameter of 16/8 inches), PAR 20, PAR 30, PAR 38, B 55 (bulb with diameter of 55 mm), B 60, and so on.
[5] Hence in order to define a lamp, we need to know the lamp base and lamp cup. For example, a PAR 38 lamp cup with E26 lamp base, or PAR38 lamp cup with B22 lamp base. This will allow the LED lamp to fit into existing light holder as it will have the right lamp base and physical dimensions.
[6] A LED lamp is typically made up of a few main parts such as a lamp base, a lamp cup, LEDs and an internal LED driver. Referring to FIG 1, it shows an LED bulb 1. The LED bulb 1 comprises of a lamp base 2, lamp cup 3, high power LEDs 5 and internal LED driverlO. The high power LEDs 5 are mounted onto a metal core printed circuit board 6. The lamp cup 3 further comprises a transparent lamp cover 4. The lamp cup 3, which functions as a heat sink, is made of good conducting material like aluminium, further comprises a shaft 7 and radial fins with holes 8, which further improves the heat dissipation of the LED bulb 1. Inside the LED bulb 1, there is a LED driver 10, which is connected by wires 11a and lib to the cathode and anode of the of the lamp base. The LED driver 10 transforms the high alternating voltage (such as 240 VAC or 1 lOVAC) to low voltage (such as 30V) constant current (such as 350 mA) to drive the LEDs 5. The output from the LED driver 10 is connected by a pair of wires 12 to the metal core printed circuit board 6.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[7] The first problem of existing design of LED lamps is that there is a mismatch
between the lifespan of the LEDs and the lifespan of the internal LED driver. LED technology keeps improving. The lifespan of LEDs keep increasing and as of now, the top grade LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours. Unfortunately, the lifespan of the internal LED driver is much shorter, estimated to be about 10,000 hours, under good operating temperatures. This is because the LED driver has many components, such as capacitors, rectifiers, resistors, transformers and inductors which do not last as long as LEDs and when any one of the components spoils, the LED driver will not function correctly and will affect the function of the LED lamp. That means that although the LEDs can last up to ten times longer than the internal LED driver, the lifespan of the LED lamp is limited to the lifespan of the internal LED driver. When the internal LED driver spoils, end-users normally throw away the whole LED lamp.
[8] The second problem of existing design of LED lamps is that it is difficult to comply with Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) requirements. In other words, they are not deemed to be very safe from the extra-low voltage perspective. The high voltage enters the lamp base and connects to the internal LED driver. As the internal LED driver is not totally isolated from the aluminium lamp cup, there is a risk that the aluminium lamp cup also becomes high voltage due to some fault.
[9] The third problem is that from a distributor perspective, stocking is a big problem.
There are many lamp bases and lamp cups available. If the led lamp, comprising of a lamp base and lamp cup, are manufactured together, the number of combinations of various lamp bases with various lamp cups is the product of the number of lamp bases and the number of lamp cups. This will result in huge amount of stock if every combination is to be stocked. For example, if there are twenty LED lamp bases and twenty LED lamp cups, then to stock every type of LED lamp will require stocking four hundred LED lamp types. However, if the LED lamp base and lamp cup are be interchangeable, then the distributor needs to maintain stock for only the twenty LED lamp bases and twenty LED lamp cups.
Technical Solution
[10] For the first problem regarding the mismatch between the lifespan of the LED and the internal LED driver, the LED lamp should be designed with an easy to replace LED driver. When the LED driver fails, it should be easy to replace, just like replacing batteries. This can be achieved by designing the LED lamp whereby it is easy to separate the LED lamp base from the LED lamp cup and replace the LED driver within. The LED driver should be enclosed within a casing with necessary connections exposed, similar in concept to batteries. Alternatively, the LED lamp base encloses the LED driver. When the LED driver fails, the LED lamp base together with the LED driver can be replaced with a new LED lamp base.
For the second problem of SELV compliance, the internal LED driver should be isolated and enclosed in an insulated casing, such as plastic. The electrical output should be low voltage and SELV compliant. The circuit for the LED driver should isolate the high voltage input from the low voltage output. It also can have short circuit protection.
For the third problem of many combinations of lamp bases and lamp cups, the lamp bases and lamp cups need to share a common easy to use interface so that the lamp bases and lamp cups are interchangeable. The interface allows lamp cups to work with different lamp bases.
Advantageous Effects
This invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior art. This invention discloses modular LED lamps and tubes. The LED lamp bases, LED drivers and LED lamp cups and tubes are modularized. It is easy to change a faulty module. This reduces the need of throwing away the whole LED lamp currently practiced when any part is faulty. Different LED lamp base modules can also fit and work with different LED lamp cup modules, thereby reducing the problem of stocking.
Description of Drawings
The accompanying drawings are solely for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not drawn to scale. Dotted lines are used to represent the hidden parts. The embodiments shown in the accompany drawings, and described in the accompanying detailed description, are used as illustrative embodiments and should not be construed as the only manner of practicing the invention. Also, the same reference numerals, possibly supplemented with reference characters where appropriate, have been used to identify similar parts. These and other objects and features of this invention will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description together with the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows prior art of a cross-section of a LED bulb;
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a modular LED bulb with modular LED lamp base and modular LED lamp cup;
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a modular LED lamp base;
FIG. 4 shows side views of various lamp bases; [19] FIG. 5 shows side views of various modular LED lamp bases;
[20] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a modular E27 LED lamp base with screw-type
interface for joining;
[21] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a modular E27 LED lamp base with catch-type
interface for joining;
[22] FIG. 8 shows a modular PAR 38 LED lamp cup;
[23] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of a modular T8 LED tube with modular G13 lamp base;
[24] FIG. 10 shows a side view of another modular LED tube with modular LED lamp base and modular LED lamp tube;
[25] FIG. 11 shows a cross-section A-A of the modular LED tube in FIG. 10 with
modular LED lamp base and modular LED lamp tube;
[26] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a modular GX23 compact LED lamp with modular
LED lamp base and modular LED lamp tubes;
[27] FIG. 13 shows an angled view of a modular LED driver;
[28] FIG. 14 shows a cross-section view of a modular LED bulb with modular LED lamp base, modular LED driver and modular LED lamp cup.
Best Mode
[29] Referring to FIG. 2, it shows an embodiment of a modular LED bulb 20. The
modular LED bulb 20 comprises E27 type of modular LED lamp base 30, modular LED lamp cup 40 and high power LEDs 49, which are mounted onto metal core printed circuit board 50, which in turn is mounted onto the modular LED lamp cup 40.
[30] The modular LED lamp base 30 comprises E27 LED lamp base 21, which comprises electrical input contacts 22 and 23 representing an anode and a cathode, which receives high voltage alternating current such as 110 VAC or 230 VAC. The modular LED lamp base 30 further comprises non-conducting lamp base housing 32 enclosing a LED driver 33. The LED driver 33 is connected to the electrical input contacts 22 and 23 of the lamp base 21 via electrical wires 34a and 34b where high input voltage is provided. The LED driver 33 has circuitry which isolates the input high voltage and outputs low voltage to wires 35a and 35b. The output low voltage wires (35a and 35b) are connected to electrical output contacts 36 and 37, which are made of conducting materials such as copper. The lamp base housing 32 has flanges or nibs 38 to allow for slide-type connection with LED lamp cup 40.
[31] The modular LED lamp cup 40 comprises lamp cover 41, shaft 42, and fins 43. The shaft 42 and fins 43 are made of good conducting material, such as aluminium, and helps to dissipate the heat from the LEDs 49. The LED lamp cup 40 further comprises a lamp cup connector 45. The lamp cup connector 45 is shaped such that it receives the lamp base 30 to provide a good fit. The lamp cup connector 45 can be attached to the shaft 42 by screws or other means. It has electrical input contacts 46 and 47 connected to electrical wires 48, which in turn are connected to the metal core printed circuit board 50 and supplies current to the high power LEDs 49.
[32] Referring to FIG. 3, it shows the plan view of the modular LED lamp base 30. From the plan view, it shows the lamp base housing 32 which exposes low voltage output contacts 36 and 37. The lamp base housing 32 has flanges or nibs 38 which allows for slide-type connection to LED lamp cup 40.
[33] While the LED bulb 20 has an E27 lamp base, it can also work with other lamp bases. Referring to FIG. 4, it shows the typical side views of various lamp bases, such as E14 lamp base 21a, B22 lamp base 21b, GulO lamp base 21c and G24 lamp base 21d. Each lamp base 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d has anode and cathode electrical input contacts 22a and 23a, 22b and 23b, 22c and 23c, and 22d and 23d respectively.
[34] By adding the lamp base housing and LED driver, we create the modular LED lamp base. There is a lot of literature on LED drivers and a simplified explanation of the LED driver is provided here. The preferred LED driver here receives an input voltage, which can be high voltage or low voltage, alternating or direct current, through its input anode and cathode and outputs low voltage direct current through its output anode and cathode. The output low voltage current can be constant current or pulse width modulated current. The LED driver also isolates the input voltage from the output voltage. The LED driver can have additional functions such as short-circuit protection, high temperature protection, current surge protection and so on. Someone skilled in the art will know how to design and make a LED driver using capacitors, resistors, rectifiers, chips, and so on. The details are not discussed here as they are widely available.
[35] Referring to FIG. 5, the modular LED lamp bases 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d comprises lamp bases 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, and lamp base housing 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d respectively. Inside each lamp base is a LED driver (not shown). Electrical conductors connect the electrical input contacts to the LED driver. The low voltage output from the LED driver is connected to electrical output contacts 36a and 37a, 36b and 37b, 36c and 37d, and 36d and 37d of modular LED lamp bases 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d respectively via electrical conductors (not shown). While the electrical contacts here are shown as copper plates, other types of contacts are also possible, such as pins, clips, catches and so on. Also, although the electrical output contacts are exposed, it can be designed such that they are normally covered until it is connected to a modular LED lamp cup. The lamp base housings 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are shaped such that it has a complimentary interface with the modular LED lamp cup and can fit well. The lamp bases will be able to connect with any complimentary modular LED lamp cup, like the modular LED bulb 40 in FIG. 2, or others such as modular LED PAR lamp, modular LED MR lamp or modular LED tube.
[36] While the above examples show the modular LED lamp base connected to the
modular LED lamp cup by a sliding-type interface, other interfaces are also possible, such as having screw-type interface, catch-type interface, hinge with latch-type interface, friction-type interface and so on. For friction-type interface, the modular LED lamp base can be inserted into a LED lamp cup, or LED lamp tube or other LED lamp shapes whereby the friction between the modular LED lamp base and the LED lamp cup (or other types of LED lamp shapes) provides the holding force for them to be together.
[37] Referring to FIG. 6, it shows a cross-section of the modular E27 LED lamp base 53, which is generally similar to the modular E27 LED lamp base 30 in FIG. 2, except for the interface for joining. The modular LED lamp base 53 has a screw-type interface and has screw threads 54, which will fit with a modular LED lamp cup with complimentary screw threads.
[38] Referring to FIG. 7, it shows a cross-section of the modular E27 LED lamp base 55, which is generally similar to the E27 LED lamp base 30 in FIG. 2, except for the interface for joining. It 55 has a catch-type interface and has catches 56 and 57, which will fit with a modular LED lamp cup with complimentary catch-holes.
[39] The basic concept remains the same in the sense that the lamp base accepts an input voltage, the LED driver within converts the input voltage and outputs low voltage direct current for the LEDs. The interface between the LED lamp base and the LED lamp cup are complimentary in that they can fit together.
[40] Referring to FIG. 8, it shows the cross-section of a modular LED PAR 38 lamp cup
40a. The PAR 38 lamp is a spot light and the LED PAR 38 lamp has lens to focus the light from the LEDs. The LED PAR 38 lamp cup 40a comprises the lamp shaft 42a, fins 43a, face plate 41a instead of lamp cover in the LED bulb, high power LEDs 49a mounted onto metal core PCB 50a, and focusing lens 51a. The modular LED PAR 38 lamp cup 40a further comprises the lamp cup connector 45a with electrical input contacts 46a and 47a, which are connected by a pair of wires 48a to the metal core PCB 50a.
[41] Just as each modular LED lamp cup can connect to any complimentary modular LED lamp base, each modular LED lamp base can connect with any complimentary modular LED lamp cup.
[42] Furthermore, LED lamp cups can have other shapes, such as a truncated cone and not having shafts or fins. It is also possible for lamp cup not to have a separate lamp cup connector as the shaft or other parts of the LED lamp cup can be made to allow for the connection to the modular LED lamp base. For example, if the modular LED lamp base has a screw-type interface, then the modular LED lamp cup needs to have com- plimentary screw threads as well. Instead of having screw threads on a separate LED lamp cup connector, the screw threads can be made directly on the shaft of the lamp cup. Hence the term lamp cup used here can refer to any type of lamp cups, with or without shaft, fins, cover, casing or lens.
[43] This concept can also be applied to LED tube. Referring to FIG. 9, it shows an embodiment of a cross-section of a T8 LED tube 170. It comprises of upper half longitudinal aluminium tube 171, which is a good conductor of heat and aids heat dissipation, lower half longitudinal transparent tube 172, which lets light pass through, LEDs 174 mounted onto printed circuit board 173, G13 lamp base 175 and modular G13 LED lamp base 180. The G13 lamp base 175 further comprises of electrical pins 176. An electrical wire 177 connects the electrical pins 176 to the live circuit on the printed circuit board 173 on the side opposite the LEDs. The modular G13 lamp base 180 comprises lamp base 181 with electrical pins 182, LED driver 183, and lamp base housing 186. There is a wire 187 that connects the electrical pins 182 to the LED driver 183. The modular LED lamp base 180 has an electrical input contact 185, such as a copper plate, which allows it to connect to the live circuit on the printed circuit board 173. The modular LED lamp base 180 has two other output electrical contacts 184 which allow it to connect to the anode and cathode of the LED circuit on the printed circuit board 173 and provide the low voltage current to the LEDs 174.
Although the live contact and the low voltage input direct current contacts are on the side opposite of the LEDs on the printed circuit board as described above, it is also possible to have the live contacts and low voltage current input contacts on the same side of the LEDs on the printed circuit board.
[44] The modular G13 lamp base 180 can be pulled out and replaced with a new modular G13 lamp base 180 when the old one spoils or needs to be changed.
[45] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, it shows an embodiment of another modular LED tube 80 and its cross-section A-A. The modular LED tube 80 comprises of modular LED lamp base 81 and modular LED lamp tube 95 . T h e modular LED lamp base 81 comprises of input pins 82 and 83, LED tube base housing 84, which is nonconducting and made of plastic, and LED driver 85. The LED driver is connected to the input pins 82 and 83 via electrical conductors 86 and 87. The LED driver outputs low voltage to output contacts 90 and 91 via electrical conductors 88 and 89. The modular LED lamp tube 95 comprises of LEDs 96 mounted onto printed circuit board 97, inserted into aluminium tube 98 with transparent plastic cover 99. It has end caps 102 and 103 with input contacts 100 and 101 to receive low voltage input current from the output contacts 90 and 91 of the modular LED lamp base 81.
[46] Other than the tungsten bulbs, halogen spot lights, fluorescent tubes, there are also compact fluorescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps have standard lamp bases such as G24, G23, GX23, 2G10, 2G11, and so on with small diameter (12mm or less) fluorescent tubes with one or more turns in the fluorescent tubes. The above modular LED lamp concepts can also be applied to compact LED lamps to replace compact fluorescent lamps. An embodiment of a compact LED lamp is the GX23 compact LED lamp, which can be used to replace GX23 compact fluorescent lamp. Referring to FIG. 12, it shows a GX23 compact LED lamp 60 that is used horizontally. The modular GX23 compact LED lamp base 61 has input electrical pins 62 (one on the other side) and lamp base housing 63 with LED driver 64 inside. The modular GX23 compact LED lamp base also has a pair of low voltage output contacts 67 (anode and cathode) inside the lamp base housing 63. The input electrical pins 62 are connected to the input of the LED driver 64 by electrical wires 65. The output contacts 67 are connected to the output of the LED driver 64 by electrical wires 66. The modular LED lamp tube 70 comprises LEDs 71 mounted on printed circuit board (not shown) which is held in place inside a tube 72, which is made up for half aluminium tube 72a for good heat dissipation, and half transparent plastic 72b for light to pass through. The modular LED lamp tube 70 further comprises of an end cap 73 to cover one end of the tube 72, a LED lamp tube connector 75, which has input contacts 77 and physical catch 76. When the modular LED lamp tube 70 is inserted into the modular GX23 compact LED lamp base 61, the electrical input contacts 77 will be in electrical contact with the output contacts 67 and hence the LED driver 64 can power the LEDs 71. The physical catch 76 allows the modular LED lamp tube 70 to be held securely to the modular GX23 compact LED lamp base 61. It is easy to insert the modular LED lamp tube 70 into the modular GX23 compact LED lamp base 61. When the LED driver spoils, the modular compact LED lamp tube 70 can be pulled out and inserted into another GX23 compact LED lamp base 61. The modular LED lamp tube 70 can also be used with other modular LED lamp bases, such as 2G10, 2G11, G23 or G24 LED lamp bases.
[47] The same function is achieved and other configurations will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
Mode for Invention
[48] Other modes of invention exist. A variation to the above is to use a modular LED driver.
[49] Referring to FIG. 13, it shows an angled view of a modular LED driver 210
comprising of a LED driver 211 enclosed within a casing 212 with electrical input contacts 213 and 214 and electrical output contacts 215 and 216. The LED driver 211 further comprises of input anode 221 and input cathode 222, and output anode 223 and output cathode 224. The electrical input contacts 213 and 214 and electrical output contacts 215 and 216 are connected to the input anode 221 and input cathode 222 and output anode 223 and output cathode 224 of the LED driver 221 via electrical conductors 217 and 218, and 219 and 220 respectively. The casing 212 provides insulation between the LED driver 211 and the user. The casing 212 is preferred to be shaped such that it has at least one axis that is not symmetrical so that the modular LED driver 210 cannot be inserted wrongly into a modular LED lamp. The LED driver 211 within the modular LED driver 210 receives high voltage input, and outputs low voltage current. The low voltage circuit and isolated from the high voltage circuit. The LED driver can also have built in short circuit protection, high temperature protection, current surge protection and so on. There is already a lot of literature on LED drivers and will be obvious to those skilled in the art. A modular LED lamp can be made using the modular LED driver.
[50] Referring to FIG. 14, it shows a cross section of a modular LED lamp 120 with
modular LED lamp base 130, modular LED driver 210 and modular LED lamp cup 40b. The modular LED lamp base 130 has an E27 lamp base 121 with electrical input contacts 122 and 123. The electrical input contacts 122 and 123 are connected via electrical wires 124 and 125 to internal electrical input contacts 126 and 127 mounted on a non-conducting base plate 128. The modular LED lamp base 121 further comprises an open ended housing 132. In this embodiment, it is a catch-type lamp base with catches 156 and 157. The base plate 128 can be made as part of the housing 132 or made separately.
[51] The modular LED lamp cup 40b is similar to earlier LED lamp cup 40, except it has a catch-type joint. To assemble the modular LED lamp 120, the modular LED driver 210 is inserted into the modular LED lamp base 130 before the modular LED lamp cup 40b is attached to the modular LED lamp base 130. The modular LED driver 210 receives high voltage input from the modular LED lamp base and outputs low voltage direct current to the modular LED lamp cup to power the LEDs.
[52] While the present invention has been explained by reference to the preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that the embodiments are only illustrated as examples to assist understanding of the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive on its scope. In particular, the scope, ambit and spirit of this invention are meant to include the general principles of the invention as inferred or exemplified by the embodiments described above. More particularly, variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made on the basis of the present invention, should be considered as falling within the scope and boundary of the present invention.
[53] Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to modular LED lamp, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modifications, to other types modular LED lighting or LED luminaires without loss of generality. Industrial Applicability
[54] This invention allows for the replacement of existing incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps and tubes existing LED lamps and tubes with energy savings modular LED lamps and tubes. When the LED driver of the LED lamp spoils, there is no need to discard the whole LED lamp. A change of the LED lamp base is sufficient. Also, the LED lamps will be safer and the lamp bases can be changed to the types preferred.