Abstract:
A transformer with a connector is described, having a primary side and a secondary side and composed of a winding base, a core and windings, wherein the core is inserted into the winding base and the windings are wound on the winding base, and the transformer is characterized in that a connector is disposed at the secondary side of the transformer and connected to an external connector disposed at a load to which a signal fed through the primary side to the transformer is outputted when the connector and the external connector are connected to each other. In the transformer, the connector conventionally disposed on the circuit board is disposed on the transformer, saving the space that would otherwise be needed for connection wires between the transformer and the connector. Therefore, the circuit board has a reduced area, effectively saving the manufacturing cost for a product to which the circuit board is applied.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a transformer with a connector, and particularly to a transformer with a connector applied onto a circuit board for liquid crystal device (LCD) backlight source. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of a circuit board for a conventional liquid crystal device (LCD) backlight source having a transformer thereon is shown therein. As shown, on the circuit board  2  for the LCD backlight source having a transformer  1 , an input signal is fed into a primary side  11  of the transformer  1 . After being processed in the transformer  1 , the input signal is transformed into an output signal at a secondary side  12 . The output signal is connected with a connector  31  located at a side of the circuit board  2  via connection wires  21  arranged on the circuit board  2 . The connector  31  is disposed for connection with an external connector  32  at a load end. As such, the output signal as mentioned is supplied to a load  4 . 
         [0005]    Although the above mentioned arrangement may achieve the purposes of signal conversion and transmission, the following drawbacks still exist: (1) Since the LCD product is becoming lighter and more compact, it is necessary to make the circuit board for the LCD backlight source relatively smaller. However, the transformer, connection wires, connectors and the like will take up a large portion of the circuit board. In this regard, there is a need to redesign the transformer, connection wires, connectors and the like on the circuit board. (2) Since the LCD product has become a mainstream, how to reduce the manufacturing cost has become more and more important. Therefore, the present invention is directed to how to redesign the transformer and thus reduce the dimension of the circuit board for the LCD backlight source. 
         [0006]    To solve these problems, the inventors of the present invention have made a lot of effort and finally set forth a transformer with a connector, which is the subject of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a transformer with a connector in which the connectors are arranged on the transformer in such a way as to save room required for connection for the connectors with wires, thus considerably reducing the dimension of a circuit board on which the transformer is disposed. 
         [0008]    It is another object to provide a transformer with a connector, in which the connectors of different types, forms and specifications can be flexibly disposed at proper locations at a secondary side of the transformer, according to the characteristics and requirements of a circuit board on which the transformer is disposed. 
         [0009]    It is still another object to provide a transformer with a connector, which not only can reduce the area of a circuit board on which the transformer is disposed and therefore the manufacturing cost for the transformer itself, but also has the advantages in terms of easier manufacturing process, better stability, prolonged lifetime and smaller total space. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention, the transformer with a connector has a primary side and a secondary side and is composed of a winding base, a core and windings, wherein the core is inserted into the winding base and the windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer is characterized in that a connector is disposed at the secondary side of the transformer and connected to an external connector disposed at a load to which a signal fed through the primary side to the transformer is outputted when the connector and the external connector are connected to each other. In the transformer, the connector conventionally disposed on the circuit board is disposed on the transformer, saving the space that would otherwise be needed for connection wires between the transformer and the connector. Therefore, the circuit board has a reduced area, effectively saving the manufacturing cost for a product to which the circuit board is applied. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments of the present invention which serve to exemplify the various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a circuit board for a liquid crystal device (LCD) backlight source having a conventional transformer thereon; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a circuit board for LCD backlight source having a transformer with a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a first form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a second form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a third form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3D  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fourth form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fifth form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a sixth form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a seventh form of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram of a circuit board for LCD backlight source having the transformer with a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram of the circuit board for LCD backlight source having the transformer with a connector according to another form of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  is a structural diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a first form of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the structural diagram of the transformer shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7C  is a structural diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a second form of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7D  is a side view of the structural diagram of the transformer shown in  FIG. 7C ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a third form of the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 8B  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fourth form of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    In  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of a circuit board for liquid crystal device (LCD) backlight source having a transformer with a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, on the circuit board  2 , an input signal is fed into a primary side  51  of the transformer  5 . Then, an output signal is obtained at a secondary side  52  of the transformer  5  in response to the input signal. On the secondary side  52  of the transformer  5 , a connector  61  is disposed. At a load end, an external connector  62  is connected. When the connector  61  and the external connector  62  are connected to each other, the output signal of the transformer  5  can be supplied to the load  7 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 3A , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a first form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   a  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   a . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   a  takes the form of EE type core transformer. The connector  61   a  is disposed at a side surface  53  of the winding base at a secondary side  52   a  of the transformer  5   a . The connector  61   a  takes a form of protrusion for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   a  can be supplied to the load of the transformer  5   a.    
         [0031]    In  FIG. 3B , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a second form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   a  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   a . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   a  takes the form of EE type core transformer. The connector  61   a  is disposed at an upper side surface  54  of the winding base at the secondary side  52   a  of the transformer  5   a . The connector  61   a  takes a form of protrusion for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   a  can be supplied to the load of the transformer  5   a.    
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3C , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a third form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   a  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   b . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   a  takes the form of EE type core transformer. The connector  61   b  is disposed at a side surface  53  of the winding base at the secondary side  52   a  of the transformer  5   a . The connector  61   b  takes a form of indentation for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   a  can be supplied to the load of the transformer  5   a.    
         [0033]    In  FIG. 3D , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fourth form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   a  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   b . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   a  takes the form of EE type core transformer. The connector  61   b  is disposed at an upper side surface  54  of the winding base at the secondary side  52   a  of the transformer  5   a . The connector  61   b  takes a form of indentation for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   a  can be supplied to the load of the transformer  5   a.    
         [0034]    In  FIG. 4 , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fifth form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   b  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   c . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   b  takes the form of CI type core transformer. The connector  61   c  is disposed at a side surface  53  of the winding base at the secondary side  52   b  of the transformer  5   b . The connector  61   c  takes a form of protrusion for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   a  can be supplied to the load of the transformer  5   a.    
         [0035]    In  FIG. 5A , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a sixth form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   c  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   d . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   c  takes the form of EI type core transformer and has a single input and two outputs. Since there are two outputs at the secondary side  52   c  of the transformer  5   c , a connector  61   d  is disposed at each of two sides  55 ,  56  of the winding base of the transformer  5   c . Each of the connectors  61   d  takes a form of protrusion for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   c  can be supplied to two loads of the transformer  5   c.    
         [0036]    In  FIG. 5B , a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a seventh form of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown, the transformer  5   c  is composed of a winding base, a core, windings and a connector  61   d . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  5   c  takes the form of EI type core transformer and has a single input and two outputs. Since there are two outputs at the secondary side  52   c  of the transformer  5   c , a connector  61   d  is disposed at a side surface  57  of the winding base of the transformer  5   c , respectively. The connectors  61   d  takes a form of protrusion for connection with an external connector. In this manner, the output signal of the transformer  5   c  can be supplied to two loads of the transformer  5   c.    
         [0037]    In  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , schematic diagrams of a circuit board for LCD backlight source having the transformer with the connector according to two forms of a second embodiment of the present invention are respectively depicted. As shown, on the circuit board  2 , an input signal is fed into a primary side  81  of the transformer  8 . Then, an output signal is obtained at a secondary side  82  of the transformer  8  in response to the input signal. On the secondary side  82  of the transformer  8 , a connector  9 , in which a resilient piece or a conductive rubber is provided, is disposed. The connector  9  may be connected directly to a load (e.g. a lamp)  7  through the resilient piece or the conductive rubber. Through the connector  9 , the output signal of the transformer  8  can be supplied to the load  7  in a vertical (e.g.  FIG. 6A ) or horizontal (e.g.  FIG. 6B ) direction. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are respectively a structural diagram and a side view of the transformer with a connector according to a first form of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the transformer  8   a  is composed of a winding base, a core and a connector  9   a . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  8   a  is a CI type core transformer. The connector  9   a  is disposed at a side  83  of the winding base located at the secondary side  82   a  of the transformer  8   a . The connector  9   a  takes a form of indentation for a vertical connection with an electrode terminal  711  of a lamp  71 , wherein the electrode terminal  711  is vertically inserted into and fixed on the connector  9   a . In this manner, the output signal from the transformer  9   a  can be supplied to the lamp. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7C  and  FIG. 7D  are respectively a structural diagram and a side view of the transformer with a connector according to a second form of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the transformer  8   a  is composed of a winding base, a core and a connector  9   a . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  8   a  is a CI type core transformer. The connector  9   a  is disposed at a side  83  of the winding base located at the secondary side  82   a  of the transformer  8   a . The connector  9   a  takes a form of indentation for a vertical connection with an electrode terminal  711  of a lamp  71 , wherein the electrode terminal  711  is vertically inserted into and fixed on the connector  9   a . In this manner, the output signal from the transformer  9   a  can be supplied to the lamp  7 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a third form of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the transformer  8   b  is composed of a winding base, a core and a connector  9   b . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  8   b  is an EI type core transformer and has a single input and two outputs. Since the transformer  8   b  has two secondary sides, two connectors  9   b  may be respectively disposed at two sides  84 , 85  of the winding base of the transformer  8   b . Each of the connectors  9   b  takes a form of indentation for a vertical or horizontal connection with an electrode terminal of the lamp, wherein the electrode terminal is vertically or horizontally inserted into and fixed on the connector  9   b . In this manner, the output signal from the transformer  9   b  can be supplied to the lamp. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8B  is a schematic diagram of the transformer with a connector according to a fourth form of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the transformer  8   b  is composed of a winding base, a core and a connector  9   b . The core is inserted into the winding base. The windings are wound on the winding base. The transformer  8   b  is an EI type core transformer and has a single input and two outputs. Since the transformer  8   b  has two secondary sides, two connectors  9   b  may be respectively disposed at two ends of a side surface  86  of the winding base of the transformer  8   b . Each of the connectors  9   b  takes a form of indentation for a vertical or horizontal connection with an electrode terminal of the lamp, wherein the electrode terminal can be vertically or horizontally inserted into and fixed on the connector  9   b . In this manner, the output signal from the transformer  9   b  can be supplied to the lamp. 
         [0042]    As compared to the prior art, the transformer with a connector according to the present invention has the following advantages: (1) Since the connector is disposed on the transformer, the transformer and the connector can be connected without connection wires in between, thus considerably reducing the dimension of the circuit board on which the transformer is disposed. (2) A connector of any form can be used with the transformer according to the characteristics and requirements of the circuit board, the connector being disposed at a proper position at the secondary side of the transformer, resulting in the contemplated forms of transformer in this invention. (3) The transformer of this invention not only can reduce the area of a circuit board on which the transformer is disposed and therefore the manufacturing cost for the transformer itself, but also has the advantages in terms of easier manufacturing process, better stability, prolonged lifetime and smaller total space. 
         [0043]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.