EP2948712B1 - Illuminant - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a light source.

Such a light source may be formed, for example, as a light module or a light panel.

Illuminants usually have one or more light-emitting element units which have one or more light-emitting elements surrounded by an encapsulation material, which are arranged on a carrier, for example a substrate, which in turn has one or more contact surfaces. A formation of an electrical contact of the lighting element unit is usually carried out directly by arranging spring pins, applying a conductive adhesive or a conductive paste or attaching a crimp. Furthermore, it is also possible to use ACF-bonded printed circuit boards (ACF: Anisotropic Conductive Film), which have a solderable metallic surface for soldering other contact elements. However, such contacts are complex to manufacture and usually inflexible, since they are not repeatedly detachable and reconnectable.

From the US 2003/112627 A1 a lighting device for an indicator is known which has a plurality of flexibly formed lighting units. In a lighting unit, a plurality of LEDs are arranged on one side of a flexible band-shaped printed circuit board and on the other side a fastening means is arranged. The circuit board has two electrical connections. Two pin contact elements are each attached to an electrical connection and each act with a mating contact element in the form of a socket to electrically connect the circuit board via electrical cables with an adjacent lighting unit or a power supply.

A lighting device of several light modules is from the US 2012/0104976 A1 known. Two neighbors Square lighting modules are mechanically and electrically connected by means of a bridge element. The bridge element has a plurality of contact sockets and cooperates with contact pins which are arranged on the four sides of the lighting module.

From the WO 2012/096676 A1 a lighting device is known which has a plurality of LED modules. An LED module has in a lower housing contact elements, which are designed as socket elements. Two adjacent LED modules are electrically and mechanically interconnected by a connector and the female members. The connecting element has a plurality of plugs which cooperate with the socket elements of the two adjacent LED modules.

Various embodiments provide a lighting means, in which the formation of an electrical contact can be made with a reduced effort and also the electrical contact can be made more flexible.

In various embodiments, a luminous means may comprise: at least one luminous element unit which has a support, at least one light-emitting element arranged on the support, surrounded by an encapsulation material, at least one contact surface formed on the support and at least one contact element arranged on the contact surface, wherein surrounded by an encapsulating material light-emitting element via the contact surface with the contact element electrically is connected, and at least one mating contact element, wherein the mating contact element with the contact element via a plug connection is electrically contacted.

Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Such lighting means can be formed from one or more light-emitting element units. A luminous element unit may in turn comprise one or more light-emitting elements surrounded by an encapsulation material, wherein the light-emitting elements may be, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). To form an electrical contact, the light-emitting element unit has one or more contact elements, wherein these contact elements can be releasably connected to a mating contact element in order to form an electrical connection or contacting here as well. The contact element and the mating contact element can be connected to one another via a plug connection. The connector allows easy handling to form an electrical contact, so that the electrical contact can be done easily. Furthermore, the plug-in connection makes it possible for the contact element and the mating contact element also to be multiply transferable from a (mechanically and / or electrically conductive) connected state to a non-mechanically and / or electrically conductive state, and vice versa, so that the formation of an electrical contact is flexible and thus can be used multiple times.

The at least one light-emitting element may comprise at least one light-emitting semiconductor element.

For example, it is possible for the contact element to be a socket element (for example a socket as a first Connector part) and the mating contact element is a plug element (for example, a plug as a second connector part) or the contact element is a plug element and the mating contact element is a socket element. The female member may have one or more openings for receiving the male member, wherein at several openings, the female member may be formed as a female connector. The plug element may have one or more pin contact elements, which may each be inserted into an opening of the socket element for forming the electrical contact between the socket element and the plug element, wherein the plug element may be referred to as a plug strip, if this has a plurality of pin contact elements. By forming a plug connection by means of a socket element and a plug element, a plug connection can be formed with a low overall height. In addition, such a connector is characterized by easy handling.

The contact element may be electrically connected to the contact surface directly via a cohesive connection. The cohesive connection can be formed for example by bonding, soldering, welding or gluing, whereby a secure and stable connection between the contact element and the contact surface can be formed, which also does not adversely affect the height of a light-emitting element and thus also of the light source. Immediately here means that by the cohesive connection another component arranged between the contact element and the contact surface is optional.

Alternatively, it is also possible that the contact element is electrically connected via a printed circuit board with the contact surface. The contact element can then be firmly connected, for example via a solder connection with the circuit board. The circuit board allows, for example, that over the circuit board and a plurality of contact elements side by side can be arranged on one or more juxtaposed contact surfaces.

The printed circuit board can be a flexible printed circuit board, which is characterized by a particularly low height and a small footprint.

In order to secure the connection of the mating contact element with the contact element against accidental release, it is for example possible that the mating contact element on the contact element via at least one fastener is releasably latched. The fastening element, which is for example a latching element and enables a mechanical fastening between the contact element and the mating contact element, can be designed such that it can only be detached by means of a tool. For example, the fastener may be in the form of one or more detents or barbs.

The lighting means may also be designed such that a mating contact element electrically contacts two or more contact elements. The mating contact element can thereby span two or more contact elements, thereby also two or more light-emitting element units can be electrically conductively contacted with a mating contact element. The formation of an electrical contact with a plurality of lighting element units of a light source can be done faster and with less effort. In addition, the number of necessary counter contact elements can be reduced, whereby the entire lamp can be made more compact.

Further, it is possible that a plurality of mating contact elements are attached to a support plate and the plurality of mating contact elements are electrically contacted with a plurality of contact elements. As a result of this design, a plurality of luminous element units can be arranged in a particularly compact arrangement in rows, for example by blocks summarized to form a light source. The support plate may be formed, for example in the form of a printed circuit board or in the form of a frame on which the counter-contact elements seat, to increase the stability. According to the invention, a connection between two adjacent luminous element units of a luminous means is formed compactly and directly by a contact element of a first luminous element unit having a mating contact element, which is electrically contacted with a contact element of a second luminous element unit, is integrally connected via a connection region.

The mating contact element can be connected to a power supply, for example by means of a cable. But it is also possible that for connecting two light-emitting element units, a first mating contact element, which is connected to a contact element of a first light-emitting element, with a second mating contact element, which is connected to a contact element of a second light-emitting unit, via suitable conductor elements, such as a cable , are interconnected. Furthermore, the mating contact element can be soldered onto a printed circuit board and thus electrically conductively connected to the printed circuit board and via printed conductors with further Geqenkontaktelementen. This can be done for example by means of the MID technology (MID: molded interconnect device).

Embodiments of lighting means are shown in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Leuchtmittels gemäß einer Ausführungsform;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Leuchtmittels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Leuchtmittels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figur 4

eine weitere schematische Darstellung der in Fig. 3 gezeigten Ausführungsform eines Leuchtmittels;

Figur 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Leuchtmittels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform; und

Figur 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Leuchtmittels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

Show it

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a lighting device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of a lighting device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of a lighting device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 4

another schematic representation of in Fig. 3 shown embodiment of a light bulb;

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of a lighting device according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 6

a schematic representation of a lamp according to a further embodiment.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "front", "rear", etc. is used with reference to the orientation of the described figure (s). Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is illustrative and is in no way limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

As used herein, the terms "connected," "connected," and "coupled" are used to describe both direct and indirect connection, direct or indirect connection, and direct or indirect coupling. In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference numerals, as appropriate.

In Fig. 1 a designed as a light-emitting bulb 1 is shown, which has a light-emitting unit 2 in the form of at least one contact strip and a support member 3, on which one or more contact surfaces and a light-emitting semiconductor element are arranged, wherein the light-emitting semiconductor element via one or more contact surfaces of the support element 3 is contacted. The light-emitting semiconductor element is surrounded by an encapsulation material 4 in order to protect the light-emitting semiconductor element from environmental influences. On one of the one or more contact surfaces further a printed circuit board 5 is arranged, on which in turn a contact element 6 is arranged, wherein the contact element 6 is here in the form of a female element, in particular a female connector, which has a plurality of openings 7 is formed. The light-emitting semiconductor element is electrically connected to the contact element 6 via the carrier element 3, the one or more contact surfaces and the printed circuit board 5.

The light-emitting means 1 further has a mating contact element 8, which is designed here as a plug element in the form of a connector strip and has a plurality of pin contacts 9, which for forming an electrical contact between the contact element 6 and the mating contact element 8 respectively in an opening 7 of the contact element 6 can be introduced. The contact element 6 and the mating contact element 8 are thus electrically contacted with each other via a plug connection. The directional arrow 10 shows the movement of the Counter contact element 8 in the direction of the contact element 6 to form the connector and thus an electrical contact. The mating contact element 8 is connected via a cable 11 to a power supply.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a luminous means 1, wherein the luminous means 1 may comprise two or more luminous element units 2a, 2b. Each luminous element unit 2 a, 2 b has a respective carrier 3 a, 3 b, a light-emitting semiconductor element surrounded by an encapsulation material 4 a, 4 b, and a contact surface on which a contact element 6 a, 6 b designed as a socket element is arranged, wherein the contact element 6 a, 6 b is located directly here is arranged on the contact surface and via a cohesive connection, formed by gluing, bonding, soldering or welding, is electrically connected to the contact surface. Furthermore, the luminous means 1 has a counter contact element 8 designed as a plug element, wherein the countercontact element 8 is designed so long that it can be inserted into the two contact elements 6a, 6b of the two luminous element units 2a, 2b, so that two luminous element units 2a, 2b can be connected to each other. Again, a cable 11 is disposed on the mating contact element 8, which can be connected to a power supply or even with another mating contact element 8, not shown here.

In Fig. 3 an embodiment of a luminous means 1 is shown in the form of a light module, in which the luminous means 1 also comprises two luminous element units 2a, 2b, each luminous element unit 2a, 2b each have a support element 3a, 3b, a light emitting semiconductor element surrounded by an encapsulation material 4a, 4b and have a contact surface. On the contact surfaces each formed as a plug element contact element 6a, 6b is arranged. The mating contact element 8 is designed here as a socket element and is on a circuit board formed carrier plate 12 is arranged. The two contact elements 6a, 6b can be arranged or inserted adjacent to one another on the mating contact element 8, so that here too two luminous element units 2a, 2b can be connected to one another via a mating contact element 8.

Fig. 4 shows the in Fig. 3 shown embodiment in a state in which the contact elements 6a, 6b of the light element units 2a, 2b are mated with the mating contact element 8, wherein by arranging the light element units 2a, 2b and the mating contact element 8 directly next to each other a particularly compact design of a light source 1 is achieved.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment similar to that in FIG FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shown embodiment, in which case several, in particular three, mating contact elements 8a, 8b, 8c are arranged on the support plate 12 and the luminous element units 2a, 2b each have two contact elements 6a, 6b. The middle between the two light-emitting element units 2 a, 2 b arranged counter contact element 8 b, which is designed as a socket element, has, as in the in Fig. 4 shown embodiment, two mutually parallel rows of openings, wherein in the first row of openings the pin contacts of the contact element 6a of the first light element unit 2a and in the second row of openings, the pin contacts of the contact element 6b of the second light element unit 2b can be inserted to form an electrical contact. The right and left of the centrally arranged mating contact element arranged 8b, also designed as a socket elements mating contact elements 8a, 8c each have only one row of openings, wherein in the openings of the mating contact element 8a pin contact elements of another contact element 6a of the first light-emitting element unit 2a and into the openings of the Counter contact element 8b pin contact elements of a further contact element 6b of the second light-emitting element unit 2b can be inserted to form an electrical contact. In this embodiment, a luminous means can be formed from a plurality of luminous element units 2a, 2b combined into a block.

In Fig. 6 Furthermore, an embodiment of a designed as a light panel illuminant 1 is shown, in which a contact element 6a of a first light element unit 2a with a mating contact element 8, which is electrically contactable with a contact element of an adjacent to the first light element unit 2a second light-emitting element unit, not shown here, electrically a connecting portion 13 is integrally connected. The contact element 6a is designed here as a socket element and the mating contact element 8 as a plug element, wherein the openings 7 of the socket element of the contact element 6a are directed opposite to the pin contacts 9 of the mating contact element 8. The integrally formed with the mating contact element 8 contact element 6a forms a step shape or a Z-shape. In this embodiment, two immediately adjacent luminous element units can be electrically connected to each other.

Claims (10)

1. Lamp (1), with

   • at least one light-emitting element unit (2, 2a, 2b) comprising a carrier (3, 3a, 3b), at least one light emitting element arranged on the carrier (3, 3a, 3b) and surrounded by an encapsulation material (4, 4a, 4b); a contact surface formed on the carrier (3, 3a, 3b) and at least one contact element (6, 6a, 6b) formed on the contact surface on the carrier (3, 3a, 3b) wherein the at least one light emitting element surrounded by the encapsulation material (4, 4a, 4b) is electrically connected with the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) via the contact area, and

   • at least one counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c), wherein the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is electrically contactable with the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) via a plug connection;

   • wherein the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) is a socket member formed as a socket strip and the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is a connector member formed as a connector strip comprising a plurality of contact pin elements or the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) is a connector member formed as a connector strip comprising a plurality of contact pin elements and the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is a socket member formed as a socket strip

   characterized in that
   a contact element (6, 6a, 6b) of a first light-emitting element unit (2, 2a, 2b) is connected in one piece with a counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) that is electrically contactable with a contact element (6, 6a, 6b) of a second light-emitting element unit (2, 2a, 2b) via a connecting region (13).
2. Lamp (1) according to claim 1,
   wherein the at least one light emitting element surrounded by an encapsulating material (4, 4a, 4b) comprises at least one semiconductor light-emitting element.
3. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2,
   wherein the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) is directly electrically connected with the contact surface via a cohesive connection.
4. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2,
   wherein the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) is electrically connected with the contact area via a printed circuit board (5b 5, 5a).
5. Lamp (1) according to claim 4,
   wherein the circuit board (5) is a flexible printed circuit board.
6. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   wherein the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is releasably snapable with the contact element (6, 6a, 6b) via at least one fastener.
7. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   wherein a counter contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) electrically contacts two or more contact elements (6, 6a, 6b).
8. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   wherein a plurality of counter contact elements (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) are fastened at a carrier plate (12) and the plurality of counter contact elements (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) are electrically contacted with a plurality of contact elements (6 , 6a, 6b).
9. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
   wherein the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is connected to a power supply.
10. Lamp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9,
    wherein the counter-contact element (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) that is formed as one piece with the contact element (6a) forms a step shape or Z-shape, respectively.

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