LED lamp for replacing a fluorescent tube lamp

Abstract

A disconnector for an electric circuit having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact for connecting or disconnecting an electric circuit connected to the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. Each of the contacts have a first end with a base contact and a second end with a contact point for electrically connecting the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact. The disconnector has a isolating support for supporting the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact such that the first electrical contact is in touch with the second electrical contact at the contact points in a mechanically pre-loaded condition to connect the electric circuit electrically. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact can be separated by a separator plate.

Claims

1. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for use in a fluorescent tube luminaire housing, the LED lamp comprising: a transparent tube including an LED lighting module; a first contact pin at a first end of the tube and a second contact pin at a second end of the tube for connecting the LED lamp electrically and mechanically to the luminaire housing, wherein the first contact pin and the second contact pin form an electric circuit with an LED driver for driving the LED lighting module; and a disconnector arranged in the electric circuit between the first contact pin and the second contact pin for electrically disconnecting the first contact pin from the second contact pin during installation of the LED lamp, wherein the disconnector comprises: a first electrical contact configured to be in electrical connection with the first contact pin; and a second electrical contact configured to be in electrical connection with the second contact pin; wherein the disconnector is configured to have an isolating separator plate placed between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact so as to electrically disconnect the first contact pin from the second contact pin.

2. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the LED lamp further comprises a circuit board, wherein the disconnector is firmly attached to the circuit board.

3. The LED lamp according to claim 2, wherein the disconnector is fixedly mounted to the circuit board.

4. The LED lamp according to claim 2, wherein the disconnector further comprises an isolating support body configured to support the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact such that the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are physically biased into contact with one another, wherein the isolating support body is fixedly mounted to the circuit board.

5. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second electrical contacts has a first end with a base contact and a second end with a contact point for electrically connecting the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact; and the disconnector further comprises an isolating support for supporting the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact such that the first electrical contact is in contact with the second electrical contact at the contact points in a mechanically pre-loaded condition to connect the electric circuit electrically.

6. The LED lamp according to claim 5, wherein the second end of the contacts has a u shape with a bending portion for generating a spring force.

7. The LED lamp according to claim 5, wherein the isolating support has a cube shape with an additional seat for the separator plate for separating the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact to disconnect the electric circuit.

8. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are both flexible spring contacts.

9. A method for replacing a conventional fluorescent tube by an LED lamp according to claim 1, the method comprising: removing the conventional fluorescent tube from a fluorescent tube luminaire housing; inserting the LED lamp with a first contact pin at a first end of the tube to a first tube holder and with a second contact pin at a second end of the tube to a second tube holder; and connecting the electrical circuitry between the first contact pin and the second contact pin by closing the disconnector after insertion of the LED lamp into the first and second tube holders.

10. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein: the first electrical contact is configured to be biased into contact against a first face of the separator plate; and the second electrical contact is configured to be biased into contact against a second face of the separator plate, the second face opposing the first face.

11. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the separator plate is removable from being in place between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

12. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein: the first contact pin is configured to electrically connect with the first electrical contact; the first electrical contact is configured to electrically connect, in turn, with the second electrical contact; and the second electrical contact is configured to electrically connect, in turn, with the second contact pin.

13. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein in being configured to have the separator plate placed between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact so as to electrically disconnect the first contact pin from the second contact pin, the disconnector is configured to have the separator plate physically intervene between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, breaking physical contact and electrical connection between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

14. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact is positioned more proximal to the first contact pin than the second electrical contact along a longitudinal length of the LED lamp.

15. The LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are configured to pinch the separator plate therebetween.

16. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for use in a fluorescent tube luminaire housing, the LED lamp comprising: a transparent tube including an LED lighting module; a first contact pin at a first end of the tube and a second contact pin at a second end of the tube for connecting the LED lamp electrically and mechanically to the luminaire housing, wherein the first contact pin and the second contact pin form an electric circuit with an LED driver for driving the LED lighting module; and a disconnector arranged in the electric circuit between the first contact pin and the second contact pin for disconnecting the first contact pin from the second contact pin during installation of the LED lamp, wherein the disconnector comprises a first electrical contact in connection with the first contact pin and a second electrical contact in connection with the second contact pin, wherein an isolating separator plate for separating the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact by placing the separator plate between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact for disconnecting the first contact pin from the second contact pin is provided, characterized in that the separator plate has an approximately rectangular shape with an upper part as a holder for gripping the separator plate by hand, a bottom part for separating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact by tensioning the bottom part tensioned between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the disconnector to separate the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact.

17. The LED lamp according to claim 16, wherein the separator plate has two additional protrusions for limiting the insertion depth of the separator plate.

18. The LED lamp according to claim 17, characterized in that the size of the opening of the end cap corresponds to the size of the bottom part of the separator plate, wherein the insertion depth of the separator plate is limited by the protrusions.

19. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for use in a fluorescent tube luminaire housing, the LED lamp comprising: a transparent tube including an LED lighting module; a first contact pin at a first end of the tube and a second contact pin at a second end of the tube for connecting the LED lamp electrically and mechanically to the luminaire housing, wherein the first contact pin and the second contact pin form an electric circuit with an LED driver for driving the LED lighting module; and a disconnector arranged in the electric circuit between the first contact pin and the second contact pin for disconnecting the first contact pin from the second contact pin during installation of the LED lamp, wherein the disconnector comprises a first electrical contact in connection with the first contact pin and a second electrical contact in connection with the second contact pin, wherein an isolating separator plate for separating the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact by placing the separator plate between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact for disconnecting the first contact pin from the second contact pin is provided; wherein at least one of the first contact pin and the second contact pin is supported by an end cap of the LED lamp, and the end cap has an opening for inserting or removing the separator plate.

20. The LED lamp according to claim 19, characterized in that the size of the opening of the end cap corresponds to the size of a bottom part of the separator plate, and wherein the insertion depth of the separator plate is limited by protrusions of the separator plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in the following, having regard to the drawings. It is shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of the disconnector.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first or second contact designed as spring contact.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of a separator plate for disconnecting the first contact and the second contact.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the disconnector assembled on a circuit board.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the disconnector in a closed condition used in an LED lamp.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the disconnector in a not closed condition with the separator plate used in a LED lamp.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of a conventional fluorescence tube respectively a LED lamp within the lamp holder.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a LED lamp.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a luminaire housing with a LED lamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or similar elements or elements having the same effect may be indicated by the same reference number in multiple drawings. Repeating the description of such elements may be omitted in order to prevent redundant descriptions.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a disconnector 100 which is to be used in the LED lamp of the present disclosure in an electrically closed condition. The disconnector 100 comprises a first electric contact 110 and a second electric contact 120 touching each other in a contact point 111, 121. The first electric contact 110 and the second electric contact 120 are firmly attached to a support 130. Each of the contacts 110, 120 has a contact base 115, 125 for connecting the contacts 110, 120 to an electric circuit.

(13) FIG. 2 shows an electric first respectively second contact 110, 120 of the disconnector 100 in detail. The contacts 110, 120 are designed as contact springs which are flexible. Each contact spring has a base contact 115, 125 at a first end of the contact 110, 120 and a contact point 111, 121 at a second end of the contact 110, 120. The contact points 111, 121 can be placed in touch with each other in order to close an electric circuit. Each contact 110, 120 has a bending portion 117 similar to an u shape to generate a spring force by pressing the first contact 110 against the second contact 120 at the contact points 111, 121. The contact resistance between the first contact 110 and the second contact 120 depends on the force at the contact points 111, 121. The contacts 110, 120 have protrusion 126 which may be connected to the support 130 by overmolding or a snap-on connection.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a separator plate 140. The separator plate 140 is longer 144 than wide and 145 may have an approximately rectangular shape. The separator plate 140 has a flat design and has an upper part 141 designed as holder for gripping the separator plate 140 by hand and a bottom part 143 for separating the first contact 110 from the second contact 120.

(15) For this purpose, the bottom part 143 is tensioned between the first contact 110 and the second contact 120 of the disconnector 100 to separate the first contact 110 from the second contact 120. Thus, the electric circuit will be disconnected. The separator plate 140 may have two additional protrusions 142 for limiting the insertion depth of the separator plate 140 into an opening 285 of an end cap 225.

(16) FIG. 4 shows the inventive disconnector 100 in electrically closed condition assembled on a circuit board 250. The first contact 110 is connected to a first pair of pins 210 and via the contact points 111, 121 to the second contact 120. The first contact 110 and the second contact 120 are in a mechanically preloaded state by pressing against each other at the contact points 111, 121. The spring force will be generated by the bending portion 117.

(17) The support 130 has a cube shape with a seat 135 for a separator plate 140 for separating the first contact 110 and the second contact 120 to disconnect the electric circuit which may be connected to the contacts 110, 120. The seat 135 has a bell-mouthed shape. Bell-mouthed means a tapered expanding opening. For separating the first contact 110 from the second contact 120, the separator plate 140 can be placed between the first contact 110 and the second contact 120 of the disconnector 100.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a LED lamp 200 with the inventive use of the disconnector 100 in an electrically closed condition. The LED lamp 200 comprising a first pair of pins 210 supported by an end cap 225 of the LED lamp 200. A tube 230 may be made out of glass or plastic surrounding the longitudinal side of the LED lamp 200.

(19) The end cap 225 is firmly attached to the tube 230. The LED lamp 200 may further comprise some electronic devices 240. The electronic devices 240 can be part of an LED driver 260 supplying several LED lighting module 270. The first pair of pins 210 is connected to the first contact 110 of the disconnector 100 via a circuit board 200. The disconnector 100 is also firmly attached to the circuit board 250. The second contact 120 of the disconnector 100 is connected to the electronic devices 240 via the circuit board 240. The end cap 225 has an opening 285 for inserting the separator plate 140 for disconnecting the first contact 110 from second contact 120.

(20) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a LED lamp 200 in an electrically disconnected condition. The separator plate 140 is placed between the first contact 110 and the second contact 120 of the disconnector 100 and disconnects the electric path between the first pair of pins 210 and the electronic devices 240 via the disconnector 100. The insertion depth of the separator plate 140 is limited by the support 130 of the disconnector 100. The size of the opening 285 of the end cap 225 corresponds to the size of the bottom part 143 of the separation plate 140 such the insertion depth of the separation plate 140 is limited by the protrusions 142 of the separation plate.

(21) FIG. 7 shows a schematic layout of a conventional lighting device 400 comprising a fluorescence tube 410 having a glass tube 411 and a pair of hot cathodes 412 at each end of the fluorescence tube 410 for heating the gas into the glass tube 411. The lighting device 400 further comprises a starter 420 and a load 430 for generating a voltage pulse for starting the fluorescence tube 410. The lighting device 400 is usually connected to an AC power supply 440 providing the supply voltage.

(22) FIG. 8 shows a schematic layout of a LED lamp 200. The LED lamp 200 may comprise a first pair of pins 210 and a second pair of pins 220 as standard interface for supplying the LED lamp 200 with power. The LED lamp 200 may further comprise an LED driver 260 for supplying several LED lighting module 270 with energy and rectifying the AC supply voltage 440. The LED driver 260 is connected to the first pair of pins 210 and to the second pair of pins 220.

(23) FIG. 9 shows a conventional lighting device according to FIG. 5 with a lamp holder 300 comprising a base 300 as assembly plate with a pair of tube holders 320 (only one shown). The LED lamp 200 according to FIG. 6 is connected with one end and respectively the first pair of pins 210 to the tube holder 320. Thus, the free second pair of pins 220 is energized via the LED driver 260 and an electric shock can occur.

(24) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the embodiments explained above, it is not limited to these embodiments. Other variations may be derived by the skilled person without leaving the scope of the attached claims.

(25) Generally, a or an may be understood as singular or plural, in particular with the meaning at least one, one or more, etc., unless this is explicitly excluded, for example by the term exactly one, etc.

(26) In addition, numerical values may include the exact value as well as a usual tolerance interval, unless this is explicitly excluded.

(27) Features shown in the embodiments, in particular in different embodiments, may be combined or substituted without leaving the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(28) 100 Disconnector 110 First contact 111 Contact point 115 Contact base 117 Bending portion 120 Second contact 121 Contact point 125 Contact base 126 Protrusion 130 Support, Mounting bracket 135 Seat 140 Separator plate 141 Upper part 142 Protrusion 143 Bottom part 144 Longitudinal side 145 Wide side 200 LED lamp 210 First pair of pins 220 Second pair of pins 225 End cap 230 Tube 240 Electronic devices 250 Circuit board 260 LED driver 270 LED lighting module 280 End cap 285 Opening 300 Luminaire housing 310 Base 320 Tube holder 400 Conventional lighting device 410 Fluorescent tube 411 Glass tube 412 Hot cathode 420 Starter 430 Load 440 AC power supply