Lighting device with improved connection to the power supply

Abstract

A lighting device includes a translucent bulb and a light engine arranged in said bulb. The bulb comprises a base with two connection wires for connecting the light engine. The light engine comprises two connection elements which are electrically and mechanically connected to the connection wires. The connection elements each comprise a gripping region for holding the light engine and a connecting region for connecting the light engine to the connection wires.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising: a translucent bulb; and a light-emitting diode (LED)-based light engine arranged in said bulb; wherein the bulb comprises a base with two connection wires configured for connecting the LED-based light engine; wherein the LED-based light engine comprises two connection elements which are electrically and mechanically connected to the two connection wires, characterized in that the two connection elements each comprise: a gripping region configured for engagement by a gripper to hold the LED-based light engine on the base during assembly of the lighting device; and a connecting region which connects the connection element and the corresponding connection wire at one or more crossover points; wherein for at least one of the two connection elements, the gripping region thereof and the connecting region thereof are offset relative to one another at an angle between about 90 and about 135.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the two connection elements are each designed to be planar and are arranged in a common plane.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein free ends of the connecting regions of the two connection elements either face away from each other or face in the same direction.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the connecting region of each connection element is U-shaped; and closed, round sides of the U-shaped connection elements either point away from each other or point towards each other.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the LED-based light engine further comprises: a plurality of LED filaments; and a holding structure to which the plurality of LED filaments are attached and which is used for supplying power to the plurality of LED filaments.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein: the holding structure comprises: an upper holding element, which is electrically connected to a first one of the two connection elements; and a lower holding element, which is electrically connected to a second one of the two connection elements; and each of the plurality of LED filaments is connected with a first end to the upper holding element and with a second end to the lower holding element.

7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the upper and lower holding elements together with a corresponding one of the connection elements and a connection therebetween is formed from a wire.

8. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the LED-based light engine further comprises a holder which connects: a first structure consisting of the upper holding element, the first one of the two connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween; and a second structure consisting of the lower holding element, the second one of the two connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween in an electrically non-conductive manner.

9. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of LED filaments are electrically connected in parallel.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the bulb is designed to be gas-tight and is filled with a gas for heat dissipation of the heat generated by the LED-based light engine, wherein the gas comprises at least one of helium and hydrogen.

11. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the bulb and the base are made of glass, and wherein the two connection wires are fused into the base.

12. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device further comprises: a socket; and an electronic driver configured for controlling the LED-based light engine, wherein the electronic driver is arranged inside the socket and is electrically connected to the two connection wires guided out of the bulb.

13. A lighting device comprising: a translucent bulb; and a light engine arranged in said bulb; wherein the bulb comprises a base with two connection wires for connecting the light engine; wherein the light engine comprises two connection elements which are electrically and mechanically connected to the connection wires, characterized in that the connection elements each comprise a gripping region and a connecting region; wherein the light engine comprises a plurality of LED filaments and a holding structure to which the LED filaments are attached and which is used for supplying power to the LED filaments; wherein the holding structure comprises an upper holding element, which is electrically connected to a first one of the connection elements, and a lower holding element, which is electrically connected to a second one of the connection elements, wherein each LED filament is connected with a first end to the upper holding element and with a second end to the lower holding element; wherein at least one of the holding elements together with the corresponding connection element and the connection therebetween is formed from a wire; and wherein the light engine further comprises a holder which connects a first structure consisting of the upper holding element, the first one of the connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween to a second structure consisting of the lower holding element, the second one of the connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween in an electrically non-conductive manner.

14. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein for each of the two connection elements, the connecting region thereof connects the connection element and the corresponding connection wire at least at two crossover points.

15. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: for one of the two connection elements, the connecting region thereof connects said connection element and the corresponding connection wire at least at two crossover points; and for the other of the two connection elements, the connecting region thereof connects said connection element and the corresponding connection wire at only one crossover point.

16. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the LED-based light engine comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged over a planar, transparent substrate.

17. The lighting device according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of LEDs are electrically conductively connected to each other by one or more electrically conductive surfaces on the substrate.

18. The lighting device according to claim 17, wherein: the one or more electrically conductive surfaces comprise at least two electrically conductive surfaces; and each of the two connection elements is electrically conductively connected to a corresponding one of the at least two electrically conductive surfaces.

19. The lighting device according to claim 16, wherein the lighting device further comprises: a socket; and an electronic driver configured for controlling the LED-based light engine, wherein the electronic driver is arranged inside the socket and is electrically connected to the two connection wires guided out of the bulb.

20. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping region transitions directly to the connecting region.

21. A lighting device comprising: a translucent bulb; and a light-emitting diode (LED)-based light engine arranged in said bulb; wherein the bulb comprises a base with two connection wires configured for connecting the LED-based light engine; wherein the LED-based light engine comprises two connection elements which are electrically and mechanically connected to the two connection wires, characterized in that the two connection elements each comprise: a gripping region configured for engagement by a gripper to hold the LED-based light engine on the base during assembly of the lighting device; and a connecting region which connects the connection element and the corresponding connection wire at one or more crossover points; wherein the LED-based light engine further comprises: a plurality of LED filaments; and a holding structure to which the plurality of LED filaments are attached and which is used for supplying power to the plurality of LED filaments; wherein: the holding structure comprises: an upper holding element, which is electrically connected to a first one of the two connection elements; and a lower holding element, which is electrically connected to a second one of the two connection elements; and each of the plurality of LED filaments is connected with a first end to the upper holding element and with a second end to the lower holding element; wherein at least one of the upper and lower holding elements together with a corresponding one of the connection elements and a connection therebetween is formed from a wire; and wherein the LED-based light engine further comprises a holder which connects: a first structure consisting of the upper holding element, the first one of the two connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween; and a second structure consisting of the lower holding element, the second one of the two connection elements, and the electrical connection therebetween in an electrically non-conductive manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Preferred further embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail using the following description of the figures. In this case the drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 an embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 an embodiment of connection elements according to the invention as a detail from FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 a further embodiment of connection elements according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 an embodiment of a light engine according to the invention, comprising a holding structure with LED filaments attached thereto;

(7) FIG. 6 a first partial structure of the holding structure from FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 a second partial structure of the holding structure from FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 a holder for connecting the partial structures of the holding structure from FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 9 a detail of a further embodiment of the two partial structures;

(11) FIG. 10 the mounting of a light engine according to the invention with a gripper;

(12) FIG. 11 a section through the socket of a lighting device according to the invention; and

(13) FIG. 12a-12d further embodiments of connection elements according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) Preferred embodiments will be described below based on the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numbers in the different figures and repeated description of these elements is partly omitted to avoid redundancies.

(15) FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of an LED lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device comprises a transparent bulb 1 which is connected to a socket 2. The bulb 1 is preferably made of glass and is connected to the socket 2 by means of a cement or an adhesive. A base 3, also made of glass, into which two connection wires 4 are fused, is fused with the bulb 1.

(16) A light engine 5 which is arranged inside the bulb 1 comprises two connection elements 6 which are mechanically and electrically conductively connected to the connection wires 4 in a connecting region, preferably they are welded at the crossover points of connection wires 4 and connection elements 6. The light engine 5 will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 5.

(17) FIG. 2 shows schematically a further embodiment of an LED lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device according to FIG. 2 differs from the lighting device illustrated in FIG. 1 by the light engine 5 arranged inside the bulb.

(18) The light engine 5 according to FIG. 2 comprises a flat substrate on one side of which eight light-emitting diodes 7 are arranged and which are electrically conductively connected to each other by conductive surfaces 8 on the substrate. The two connection elements 6 are also electrically conductively connected (e.g. by soldering, welding, etc.) to one each of the conductive surfaces 8. The substrate can, in particular, be transparent (e.g. made of sapphire glass) at the locations at which the light-emitting diodes 7 are attached such that the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 7 can also be emitted through the substrate. The substrate, however, can also be non-transparent (e.g. a conventional circuit board). Then light-emitting diodes 7 are preferably arranged on both flat sides of the substrate to obtain the radiation of light in both directions.

(19) Even if the following figures each show one of the aforementioned two light engines, the other light engine or even a light engine not described in greater detail herein can always be used.

(20) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 2, from which the configuration of the connection elements 6 and their connection to the connection wires 4 can be seen. Each connection element 6 consists of a wire and comprises a gripping portion 9 and a connecting portion 10. The wire is bent by approximately 45 between the gripping portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 such that the angle between the gripping portion 9 and the connection portion 10 (with the apex at the point of the bend) is approximately 135. The two connection elements 6 are connected to the substrate of the light engine 5 in such a manner that the free ends of the connecting portions 10 point away from each other, both connection elements 6 being arranged in the same plane. At the crossover points 11 of connection wires 4 and joining portions 10 of the connection elements 6, said connection elements 6 are mechanically and electrically conductively joined to the connection wires 4 by a welded joint.

(21) It can also be seen from FIG. 3 how the connection wires 4 are fused into the base 3. As a result, the bulb 1 can be made gas-tight in order to hold therein a gas with high heat conductivity. It is not possible to see how the connection wires 4 emerge downwards from the base 3 and thus out of the bulb 1 (see FIG. 10).

(22) The illustration in FIG. 4 corresponds to the illustration in FIG. 3, apart from the configuration of the connecting portion 10 of the connection elements 6. Each connection element 6 has a U-shape in the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the closed ends of the two U-shapes being arranged facing away from each other, outwards. Both connection elements 6 are arranged in a common plane as in FIG. 3.

(23) The U-shaped configuration of the connecting portion 10 results in two crossover points 11 existing between each connecting portion 10 and the associated connection wire 4, at which points the connection elements 6 are mechanically and electrically conductively connected to the connection wires 4 by a welded joint. This leads in particular to a more sturdy mechanical connection of the light engine 5 to the base 3.

(24) FIG. 5 shows schematically an embodiment of a light engine 5. The light engine 5 contains six LED filaments 12 which are attached with their electrical contacts 13 at both ends of a holding structure (e.g. by soldering, welding, etc.). The holding structure comprises two partial structures 14, 15 which are joined to each other by means of a holder 16. The two partial structures 14, 15 and the holder 16 are shown separately and explained in the following figures.

(25) Both partial structures 14, 15 are each bent in one piece from a steel wire 0.8 mm thick.

(26) FIG. 6 shows the first partial structure 14 to which the LED filaments 12 are connected with their upper end. The upper portion of the wire, from which the partial structure 14 is made, is bent into a circle 17 which serves for the attachment of the LED filaments 12. The end of the wire has an S-shaped bend such that it extends along the beginning of the circular bend. The end of the wire can be electrically conductively connected to the beginning of the circular bend, e.g. by soldering welding, etc. From the beginning of the circular bend, the wire extends approximately radially (i.e. substantially in the plane of the circle) inwards a little bit and then bends downwards by approximately 90.

(27) The wire then runs straight down up to an S-shaped bend 19 (approximately 90 twice in opposing directions). After the S-shaped bend 19, the wire extends further downwards and merges into the gripping portion 9 of the connection element 6. After a further bend by approximately 45, the wire ends as connecting portion 10 of the connection element 6.

(28) FIG. 7 shows the second partial structure 15 to which the LED filaments 12 are connected with their lower end. Like the first partial structure 14 according to FIG. 6, the upper portion of the wire is bent into a circle 20 and a radial portion 21. At the inner end of the radial portion 21, the wire bends downwards by approximately 90 and runs straight down where it merges into the gripping portion 9 of the connection element 6. After a further bend by approximately 45, the wire ends as connecting portion 10 of the connection element 6.

(29) The two circular portions 17, 20 of the partial structures 14, 15 have different diameters such that the LED filaments 12 are not parallel to each other when they are attached with their ends 13 to the circular portions 17, 20. This can be seen in FIG. 5.

(30) The holder 16, which connects the two partial structures 14, 15 to each other in an electrically non-conductive manner, is shown open in FIG. 8. The holder comprises a front part 23 and a rear part 22 which are movably connected to each other by means of a flexible bridge 24. Provided in the rear part 22 of the holder 16 are two channels 25, the depth of which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the wire of the two partial structures 14, 15. Both channels have an angle of approximately 90 such that the S-shaped bend 19 of the first partial structure 14 can be inserted into the one channel and the 90 bend on the inner end of the radial portion 21 of the second partial structure 15 can be inserted into the other channel. After inserting the two partial structures 14, 15 into the channels 25, the front part 23 of the holder 16 is folded over the rear part 22 and snaps with snap tabs 26 into a corresponding snap-in opening 27 in the rear part 22. As a result, the holder 16 is closed and fixes the two partial structures 14, 15 relative to each other.

(31) FIG. 9 shows schematically an alternative design of the circular portion 17 of the first partial structure 14. The circular portion 20 of the second partial structure 15 can also be configured in this alternative design. In the alternative design, instead of being guided radially inwards in the circular plane, the wire extends obliquely downwards and inwards with a portion 28. The wire end is not guided along the circle 17 but extends parallel to the portion 28 which extends obliquely downwards and inwards and can be electrically conductively connected thereto.

(32) FIG. 10 shows how a light engine 5 is gripped by a schematically illustrated gripper 29 on the gripping portions 9 of the connection elements 6. Due to the arrangement of the gripping portions 9 in one plane, secure fixing is possible even with a simple gripper 29. The light engine 5 can then be moved by the gripper 29 (in the direction of the arrow) to the base 3 in such a manner that the connecting portions 10 are each arranged adjacent to a connection wire 4. Then the connecting portions 10 can be electrically conductively connected to the connection wires 4 by soldering, welding or the like. Even if a different configuration of the holder than that which was described above is to be seen in FIG. 10, the remarks regarding FIG. 10 nevertheless also apply to a light engine with a different holder, for example a holder as was described with reference to FIGS. 5-9.

(33) FIG. 11 shows schematically a cross-section through the socket 2 in an embodiment of the lighting device. The socket 2 provides the electrical connections to a light fitting (not shown). An electronic driver 31 which generates the electric voltage required for the light engine 5 from the electric voltage provided at the light fitting is arranged inside the socket 2. The driver 31 is electrically conductively connected to the connection wires 4 guided downward out of the base 3 and bulb 1.

(34) The bulb 1 is inserted with its lower end into the socket 2 and is fixed in this overlap area 30 by means of a cement or an adhesive.

(35) It can be seen from FIG. 11 that the bulb 1 is locked in the portion inserted into the socket 2 by fusing with the base 3 such that the bulb is designed overall as gas-tight.

(36) The illustration in FIGS. 12a-12d corresponds to the illustration in FIGS. 3 and 4, apart from the configuration of the connecting portion 10 of the connection elements 6. In the embodiments illustrated here, both connection elements 6 are arranged, as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in a common plane.

(37) In the embodiment according to FIG. 12a, the wire of the connection elements is bent by approximately 45 between the gripping portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 such that the angle between the gripping portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 (with the apex at the point of the bend) is approximately 135 (according to FIG. 3). The two connection elements 6 are connected to the substrate of the light engine 5 in such a manner that the free ends of the connecting portions 10 point in the same direction.

(38) In the embodiment according to FIG. 12b, each connection element 6 has a U-shape (corresponding to FIG. 4), the closed ends of the two U-shapes pointing in the same direction.

(39) In the embodiment according to FIG. 12c, the wire of one of the connection elements is bent by approximately 45 between the gripping portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 such that the angle between the gripping portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 (with the apex at the point of the bend) is approximately 135 (according to FIG. 3). The other of the connection elements 6 has a U-shape (corresponding to FIG. 4).

(40) In the embodiment according to FIG. 12d, the wire of the two connection elements 6 is bent substantially circular, and preferably so far that the free ends are adjacent to the corresponding straight wire portions. As in FIG. 4, two crossover points 11 also exist here between each connecting portion 10 and the associated connection wire 4 which provides for a sturdy connection.

(41) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail using the embodiments shown, the invention is not limited thereto and a person skilled in the art may derive other variations therefrom without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

(42) Generally, one may be understood to mean a single figure or a plurality, particularly in the sense of at least one or one or more, etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression exactly one.

(43) A specified figure may also include exactly the number and also a customary tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

(44) Where applicable, all the individual features illustrated in the embodiments can be combined and/or replaced with each other without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(45) 1 Bulb 2 Socket 3 Base 4 Connection wire 5 Light engine 6 Connection element 7 Light-emitting diodes 8 Substrate 9 Gripping portion 10 Connecting portion 11 Crossover point between connection wire and connecting portion 12 LED filament 13 Electrical contact of the LED filament 14 First partial structure 15 Second partial structure 16 Holder 17 Circular portion of the first partial structure 18 Radial portion of the first partial structure 19 S-shaped bend in the first partial structure 20 Circular portion of the second partial structure 21 Radial portion of the second partial structure 22 Rear part of the holder 23 Front part of the holder 24 Flexible bridge 25 Channels 26 Snap tabs 27 Snap-fit opening 28 Inclined portion 29 Gripper 30 Overlap area between bulb and socket 31 Driver