Abstract:
A light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a plurality of electricity-conducting holding elements, and each electricity-conducting holding element is made of a thin metal sheet. The bendable LED light source increases installation of sufficient number of LED dies by lengthening the length of the LED light source. The LED light source is bent to form a spring-like helical structure and then is placed inside a lamp cover. The helical LED light source is fastened on a T-shaped element by a plurality of fastening elements and the T-shaped element is fixed on an insulated holder. Accordingly, a bulb-type LED lamp is implemented.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Taiwan patent application No. 105106012, filed on Feb. 26, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a lamp with a light source, and more particularly to a light-emitting diode (LED) light source and an LED lamp. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show a schematic plan view and a schematic perspective view of a conventional light source composed of double-sided light emission LEDs, respectively. The conventional LED light source includes a plurality of LED dies  61  and a substrate  62 , and the LED dies  61  are installed on the substrate  62 . In particular, the substrate  62  is a hard transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate, pattern sapphire substrate (PSS), or ceramic substrate. 
         [0006]    Two adjacent LED dies  61  are electrically connected via a connecting wire  63  with two ends. More specifically, each LED die  61  has two connection terminals with opposite polarities including a positive connection terminal and a negative connection terminal. One end of the connecting wire  63  is electrically connected to the positive connection terminal of one of the two adjacent LED dies  61 . The other end of the connection wire  63  is electrically connected to the negative connection terminal of the other of the two adjacent LED dies  61 . Accordingly, the LED dies  61  on the substrate  62  are connected in series via the connecting wires  63  to form a straight upright LED light source. 
         [0007]    However, the length of the conventional LED light source is limited and cannot be too long because the substrate  62  is composed of frangible materials. In addition, the connecting wires  63  are easily separated from the connection terminals of the LED dies  61 . Hence, possibility of the disconnection between the connecting wires  63  and the LED dies  61  may increase since the connecting wires  63  are merely connected to the connection terminals of the LED dies  61 . 
         [0008]    A dead zone generated from the upright LED light source exists at two ends of the LED light bar since the light-emitting direction of the upright LED light bar is limited in a radial direction. Hence, plural upright LED light bars arranged around are used as shown in  FIG. 5  to provide higher brightness. However, the dead zone still exists at a top area and a bottom area of the LED light bars, i.e., a global lighting effect cannot be created. 
         [0009]    Further, the increased possibilities of the failed welding processing of the LED light bars  51 , the fixed frames  53  and the metal conductors  52  and increased working hours because of the use of more LED light bars  51  and metal conductors  52  would occur. 
         [0010]    The length of the LED light bar  51  is limited and cannot be too long because of the substrate  62  composed of frangible materials. Hence, the applications of the LED light bars are limited to only specific size LED lamps because of the length of the LED light bar. 
         [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic perspective view of a conventional LED lamp. The LED lamp  50  is a ball bulb with a plurality of LED light bars  51 , and each LED light bar  51  is the straight light bar shown in  FIG. 4A . Two ends of each LED light bar  51  are connected to the fixed frames  53  via metal conductors  52 . In particular, each metal conductor  52  is connected to the corresponding LED light bar  51  and fixed frame  53  in a welding manner. Accordingly, the metal conductors  52  are used for electrical connections between the LED light bars  51  and the fixed frames  53  as well as structural support of the LED light bars  51 . 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a light-emitting diode (LED) light source to solve problems of the existence of a “dead zone” generated from the upright LED light bar and the increased possibilities of the failed welding processing and increased working hours because of the use of more LED light bars. 
         [0013]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the LED light source includes a plurality of LED dies and a plurality of electricity-conducting holding elements. The electricity-conducting holding elements are metal sheets respectively; wherein adjacent two of the electricity-conducting holding elements jointly hold and electrically connect to one of the LED dies to form a flexible LED light bar. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, the bendable multi-turn helical LED light bar provides illumination in all directions and higher brightness by lengthening the length of the LED light source. Furthermore, the connection strength between each electricity-conducting holding element and each LED die is increased because of thin and broad structure of the electricity-conducting holding element. Also, the operation of bending the electricity-conducting holding elements into a helical structure is easy to make the LED light bar helix-shaped. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp to solve problems of the existence of a “dead zone” generated from the upright LED light bar and the increased possibilities of the failed welding processing and increased working hours because of the use of more LED light bars. 
         [0016]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the LED lamp includes an LED light source, a lamp base, an insulated holder, a supporting element, a plurality of fastening elements and a lamp cover. The LED light source includes a plurality of LED dies and a plurality of electricity-conducting holding elements. Each LED die is a flip-chip LED die or an OLED die. The electricity-conducting holding elements are metal sheets respectively, and adjacent two of the electricity-conducting holding elements jointly hold and electrically connect to one of the LED dies to form a flexible LED light bar. 
         [0017]    The lamp base has a first connection part and a second connection part electrically connected to two electricity-conducting holding elements at two ends of the LED light bar, respectively. The insulated holder is fixed on the lamp base. The supporting element has a longitudinal part and a transverse part mounted on the longitudinal part; wherein the longitudinal part is mounted on the insulated holder, and the LED light source helically surrounds an outside of the transverse part. The fastening elements fasten the LED light source on the transverse part. The lamp cover covers the lamp base and provides a containing space for containing the LED light source, the insulated holder, the supporting element and the fastening elements. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, the bendable multi-turn helical LED light bar provides illumination in all directions and higher brightness by lengthening the length of the LED light source. 
         [0019]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed. Other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The features of the present disclosure believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present disclosure itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the present disclosure, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic plan view of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source according to the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic perspective view of the LED light source according to the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of bending the LED light source according to the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of an LED lamp with the LED light source according to the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic plan view of a conventional light source composed of double-sided light emission LEDs; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic perspective view of the conventional light source composed of double-sided light emission LEDs; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a conventional LED lamp. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Reference will now he made to the drawing figures to describe the present disclosure in detail. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  show a schematic plan view and a schematic perspective view of an LED light source  10  according the present disclosure, respectively. The LED light source  10  includes a plurality of LED dies  11  and a plurality of electricity-conducting holding elements  12 . Adjacent two of the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  jointly hold and electrically connect to one of the LED dies  11  to form a flexible LED light bar. More specifically, the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11  are alternately electrically connected in series. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a connection relationship between the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11  from left to right is that the electricity-conducting holding element  12  and the LED die  11  are alternately connected in sequence. In the present disclosure, each electricity-conducting holding element  12  is, but not limited to, a metal sheet, such as a copper foil sheet, an aluminum foil sheet, a silver foil sheet, or a gold foil sheet. Further, a bendable and electrically conductive material can be used for the electricity-conducting holding element  12 . 
         [0030]    More specifically, each LED die  11  is a flip-chip LED die or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) die, and each LED die  11  has a positive polarity  112  and a negative polarity  113  for an external electrical connection. In this embodiment, the positive polarity  112  and the negative polarity  113  are installed at two opposite sides of a bottom of the LED die  11 , respectively. The electricity-conducting holding element  12  is electrically connected between two adjacent LED dies  11 , i.e., one terminal of the electricity-conducting holding element  12  is electrically connected to the positive polarity  112  of one LED die  11  and the other terminal of the electricity-conducting holding element  12  is electrically connected to the negative polarity  113  of the other LED die  11 . The discontinuous sheet structure of the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  are correspondingly connected in series to the polarities of the LED dies  11  to form the LED light source  10 . In this embodiment, two ends of the LED light bar are respectively connected to one electricity-conducting holding element  12  so that the two electricity-conducting holding elements  12  are electrically connected to a positive polarity and a negative polarity of an external power source, such an AC power source, respectively. 
         [0031]    Each LED die  11  is a double-sided light emission LED with a light-emitting surface  111  on a bottom surface of the LED die  11 , and further another light-emitting surface on a top surface of the LED die  11  is provided. It is assumed that only the light-emitting surface  111  is provided so that each LED die  11  produces light and the light is emitted via the light-emitting surface  111 . In particular, the light-emitting surface  111  is located and not covered between two electricity-conducting holding elements  12 . 
         [0032]    In addition, a length of each electricity-conducting holding element  12  is defined as a first length L 1  and a length of each LED die  11  is correspondingly defined as a second length L 2 . In particular, the first length L 1  is greater than or equal to the second length L 2 . Accordingly, the connection strength between each electricity-conducting holding element  12  and each LED die  11  is increased under installation of sufficient number of the LED dies  11  so as to increase the ease of bending the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and avoid separation between the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11  when the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  are bent. 
         [0033]    Further, a width of each electricity-conducting holding element  12  is defined as a first width W 1  and a width of each LED die  11  is defined as a second width W 2 . In particular, the first width W 1  is greater than or equal to one-half of the second width W 2 . Accordingly, the electricity-conducting holding element  12  can provide sufficient width for firmly connecting to the corresponding positive polarity  112  and negative polarity  113 , thus preventing the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11  being disconnected. 
         [0034]    Furthermore, each electricity-conducting holding element  12  is a metal sheet to improve heat-dissipating capability of cooling the LED dies  11 . 
         [0035]    The LED light source  10  can be packaged in a transparent packaging body  30  (as shown hereinafter in  FIG. 2 ) by packaging technology. More specifically, the LED light source  10  is filled and sealed in the transparent packaging body  30  by transparent resin material, transparent silicone material, or transparent polymer material so as to increase connection strength between the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic perspective view of bending the LED light source according to the present disclosure. By bending the electricity-conducting holding elements  12 , the LED light source  10  (as shown in  FIG. 1A ) forms a spring-like helical structure. 
         [0037]    FIG. 3  shows a schematic perspective view of an LED lamp with the LED light source according to the present disclosure. The LED lamp  100  includes the above-mentioned LED light source  10 , a lamp base  21 , an insulated holder  22 , a supporting element  23 , a plurality of fastening elements  24 , and a lamp cover  25 . 
         [0038]    The lamp base  21  provides two connection parts, i.e., a first connection part  211  is provided at a side of the lamp base  21  and a second connection part  212  is provided at a bottom of the lamp base  21 . The first connection part  211  and the second connection part  212  are electrically connected to two opposite polarities of the external power source, respectively. 
         [0039]    In this embodiment, the insulated holder  22  is made of a glass material and is fixed on the lamp base  21 . The supporting element  23  has a transverse part  231  and a longitudinal part  232 , and the supporting element  23  is made of a glass material. In this embodiment, the supporting element  23  is a T-shaped element, and the transverse part  231  is a horizontal part of the T-shaped element and the longitudinal part  232  is an upright part of the T-shaped element, i.e., the transverse part  231  is mounted on a top of the longitudinal part  232 . In particular, the longitudinal part  232  is installed on the insulated holder  22 . In this embodiment, the insulated holder  22  and the supporting element  23  are integrally formed. In one example, the glass insulated holder  22  is exemplified for demonstration as follows. The insulated holder  22  and the supporting element  23  are integrally formed by glass forming technology. Additionally, the insulated holder  22  and the supporting element  23  are separated into two elements, i.e., the insulated holder  22  and the supporting element  23  are not integrally formed. The longitudinal part  232  of the supporting element  23  is formed and fixed on the insulated holder  22 . In addition, the transverse part  231  of the supporting element  23  is mounted through the helical LED light source  10  along an axial direction so that the LED light source  10  helically surrounds the outside of the transverse part  231 . 
         [0040]    Each fastening element  24  has an end part  241 , and the end part  241  is fixed on the transverse part  231  of the supporting element  23 . In particular, the fastening elements  24  are used to fasten the LED light source  10  on the transverse part  231  of the supporting element  23  by twining or hooking the fastening elements  24  on the LED light source  10 . In the present disclosure, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  is not limited to the details of the present disclosure. In addition, the LED light source  10  is not limited to be bent into the helical structure, i.e., the LED light source  10  can be bent into structures of other shapes in response to the actual application requirements. Accordingly, the bendable and shape-variable LED light source  10  has advantages of high brightness and structural diversification. 
         [0041]    The lamp cover  25  is closely covered on the lamp base  21  to provide a containing space  251  for containing the LED light source  10 , the insulated holder  22 , the supporting element  23  and the fastening elements  24  to form the LED lamp  100 . 
         [0042]    In conclusion, the present disclosure has the following advantages: 
         [0043]    1. The electricity-conducting holding elements  12  are provided to jointly hold and electrically connect the LED dies  11  instead of using the conventional substrate  62  and connecting wires  63  so as to increase connection strength of LED dies  11  as well as to hold the LED dies  11 ; 
         [0044]    2. The LED light source  10  is bent into the multi-turn helical structure or into structures of other shapes so as to increase the brightness by assembling more LED dies  11  in a limited space of the LED lamp  100 ; 
         [0045]    3. Unlike the upright LED light bar, the bendable multi-turn helical LED light bar provides illumination in all directions to avoid the “dead zone” and provides a uniform 360-degree illumination range without using plural upright LED light bars; and 
         [0046]    4. The length and the width of the electricity-conducting holding element  12  are especially designed to improve heat-dissipating capability of cooling the LED dies  11  as well as increase connection strength between the electricity-conducting holding elements  12  and the LED dies  11 . 
         [0047]    Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.