Abstract:
A light-emitting diode packaging structure comprises a light-emitting diode and first and second metal plates on which the light-emitting diode is mounted. The light-emitting diodes includes first and second electrode leads, the second electrode lead having first and second contact surfaces on an outer edge of the second electrode lead. The first metal plate includes at least one clamping portion that clamps and fixes the first electrode lead on the first metal plate. The second metal plate includes at least first and second clamping portions. The first contact surface of the second electrode lead contacts the first clamping portion, and the second contact surface of the second electrode lead contacts the second clamping portion, such that the light-emitting diode is fixed on the second metal plate in at least two dimensions parallel to a primary surface of the second metal plate on which the light-emitting diodes is mounted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/076,487, filed Mar. 19, 2008 and claiming priority to Taiwan Patent Application Number 099222647, filed Dec. 31, 2007, which applications are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a light-emitting diode packaging structure, a packaging module and the assembling method thereof, and more particularly, to a light-emitting diode packaging structure, a packaging module and the assembling method for assembling at least one light-emitting diode without using welding. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A light emitting diode (LED) has a low working voltage, low power loss, high light emitting efficiency, short response time, pure light color, solid structure, high impact resistance, high vibration endurance, stable performance, light weight, small volume and low cost. The promotion of the technology has helped to increase the brightness of the LED, and LEDs are being used in increasingly diverse applications such as large-scale display screens, status indication, symbol lighting, signal displays, backlight of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and lighting in car. 
     Conventional LEDs may be bonded on a metal substrate for circuit connection. When bonding the LED, the LED leads may be welded to the metal substrate. However, the temperature of the LED is too high during welding, and the LED chip may be burned out. Further, when the LED is welded to the metal substrate, it is difficult that the LED positions to the metal substrate. Therefore, there are problems when the LED is welded on the metal substrate. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a light-emitting diode packaging structure, a packaging module and the assembling method thereof to assemble the LED on the metal plates without using welding. 
     Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a light-emitting diode packaging structure, a packaging module and the assembling method thereof to position the LED on the metal plates precisely. 
     In one aspect, a light-emitting diode packaging structure may comprise: a light-emitting diode including a first electrode lead and a second electrode lead, the second electrode lead having a first contact surface and a second contact surface on an outer edge of the second electrode lead; a first metal plate having a primary surface on which the first electrode lead is mounted, the first metal plate including a third clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion that clamp and fix the first electrode lead on the first metal plate; and a second metal plate having a primary surface on which the second electrode lead is mounted, the second metal plate including at least a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, the first contact surface of the second electrode lead contacting the first clamping portion and the second contact surface of the second electrode lead contacting the second clamping portion such that the light-emitting diode is fixed on the second metal plate in at least two dimensions parallel to the primary surface of the second metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion may be arranged such that an angle is formed between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion. The angle may be 90 degrees. 
     In one embodiment, the first electrode lead may have a third contact surface and a fourth contact surface on an outer edge of the first electrode lead. The third contact surface of the first electrode lead may contact the third clamping portion and the fourth contact surface of the first electrode lead may contact the fourth clamping portion such that the light-emitting diode is fixed on the first metal plate in at least two dimensions parallel to the primary surface of the first metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, the electrode leads may be made of Al, Cu or Fe. 
     In one embodiment, each of the clamping portions may be formed as one piece together with the respective metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, each of the electrode leads may include at least one position hole. Each of the metal plates may further include at least one holding portion corresponding to the position hole to pass through the position hole and hold the respective electrode lead thereon. Each holding portion may be formed as one piece together with the respective metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, the light-emitting diode packaging structure may further comprise an electrically conductive bonding material disposed between at least one of the electrode leads and the respective metal plate. The electrically conductive bonding material may be an electrically conductive glue or an Ag glue. 
     In another aspect, a light-emitting diode packaging module may comprise: a plurality of light-emitting diodes, each of the light-emitting diodes respectively including a first electrode lead and a second electrode lead; a first metal plate having a primary surface on which the first electrode leads of the light-emitting diodes are mounted, the first metal plate including a plurality of first clamping portions such that at least one of the first clamping portions corresponds to the first electrode lead of each of the light-emitting diodes to clamp and fix the first electrode leads of the light-emitting diodes on the first metal plate; and a second metal plate having a primary surface on which the second electrode leads of the light-emitting diodes are mounted, the second metal plate including a plurality of second clamping portions such that at least two of the second clamping portions correspond to the second electrode lead of at least one of the light-emitting diodes to clamp and fix the second electrode leads of the light-emitting diodes on the second metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, the at least two of the second clamping portions may be arranged such that a first angle is formed between the at least two of the second clamping portions. The first angle may be 90 degrees. 
     In one embodiment, at least two of the first clamping portions of the first metal plate may correspond to the first electrode lead of one of the light-emitting diodes to clamp and fix the one of the light-emitting diodes. The at least two of the first clamping portions may be arranged such that a second angle is formed between the at least two of the first clamping portions. The second angle may be 90 degrees. 
     In one embodiment, the metal plates may be allowed to be bent to form a predetermined three-dimensional structure. 
     In one embodiment, the clamping portions of each of the metal plates may be formed as one piece together with the respective metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, each of the electrode leads may include at least one position hole. Each of the metal plates may further include a plurality of holding portions each of which corresponding to the position hole of a respective one of the electrode leads to pass through the position holes and hold the electrode leads thereon. The holding portions of each of the metal plates may be formed as one piece together with the respective metal plate. 
     In one embodiment, the light-emitting diode packaging module may further comprise an electrically conductive bonding material disposed between at least one of the electrode leads and the respective metal plate. 
     Therefore, with the application of the light-emitting diode packaging structure, the packaging module and the assembling method thereof of the present disclosure, the LED can be mounted and positioned on the metal plates without being welded. Therefore, the bonding between the electrode leads and the metal plates can be released, thereby preventing damage to the LED. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 10  are three-dimensional views showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional view showing a light-emitting diode packaging module according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  are three-dimensional views showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a three-dimensional view showing a light-emitting diode packaging module according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to make the illustration of the present disclosure more explicit and complete, the following description is stated with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 6 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 10  are three-dimensional views showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The light-emitting diode packaging structure  100  comprises a light-emitting diode (LED)  110  and two metal plates  120 . The LED  110  is mounted on the metal plates  120  for electrical connection or heat dissipation. 
     Refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C  again. The LED  110  of the present embodiment includes two electrode leads  111  mounted on the metal plates  120  respectively in a one-to-one manner. Each of the electrode leads  111  is made of metal material, such as Al, Cu or Fe. The metal material preferably has great heat conduction. Each of the electrode leads  111  has a bonding surface  112  to be bonded on the metal plates  120 . The metal plates  120  of the present embodiment are mounted to the electrode leads  111  respectively in a one-to-one manner for electrical connection or heat dissipation. Each of the metal plates  120  includes at least one clamping portion  121  to clamp and fix the electrode leads  111  thereon. Therefore, the electrode leads  111  of the LED  110  are mounted on the metal plates  120 , thereby forming the light-emitting diode packaging structure  100 . The clamping portion  121  of each of the metal plates  120  is positioned to the electrode leads  111 . Therefore, the electrode leads  111  of the LED  110  can be positioned on the metal plates  120  by the clamping portion  121 . The clamping portion  121  of each of the metal plates  120  may be formed as one piece together with the metal plates  120 . For example, the clamping portion  121  may be formed on each of the metal plates  120  by a method of punching. The clamping portion  121  is bent from the outside to the inside of each of the electrode leads  111 , thereby clamping the electrode leads  111  of the LED  110  on the metal plates  120  respectively. Therefore, the LED  110  can be bonded on the metal plates  120  firmly without using welding. 
     It is worth mentioning that an electrically conductive bonding material (such as an electrically conductive glue or a Ag glue) is allowed to be formed between each of the electrode leads  111  of the LED  110  and each of the metal plates  120  to enhance the bonding effect. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the electrode leads  111  has two contact surfaces  113  formed on the outer edge thereof, and each of the metal plates  120  may include two clamping portions  121  to contact the contact surfaces  113  respectively. At this time, the bonding surface  112  of each of the electrode leads  111  touches each of the metal plates  120 , and the contact surfaces  113  touch the clamping portions  121 . Therefore, each of the electrode leads  111  can be held and positioned by the clamping portions  121  of the metal plates  120 . Further, there is preferably an angle (such as 90 degrees) formed between the clamping portions  121  of the metal plates  120  of the present embodiment, thereby making it easier to position each of the electrode leads  111  thereon. 
     Refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 10  again. When assembling the light-emitting diode packaging structure  100 , the electrode leads  111  are held on the metal plates  120  respectively in a one-to-one manner. At this time, the clamping portion  121  of the metal plates  120  can hold and position the electrode leads  111 . Next, at least one clamping portion  121  is bent to clamp and fix the electrode leads  111  on the metal plates  120  respectively, thereby resulting in the LED packaging structure  100 . 
     Therefore, the light-emitting diode packaging structure  100  of the present embodiment can be achieved without welding, and the assembling method thereof is simple, thereby enhancing the manufacturing yield. Further, the clamping portion  121  can position the LED  110 , thereby raising the positioning accuracy and assembling efficiency. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional view showing a light-emitting diode packaging module according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Some reference numerals shown in the first embodiment are used in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The construction of the second embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment with respect to configuration and function, and thus is not stated in detail herein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in comparison with the first embodiment, a plurality of LEDs  110  of the second embodiment are mounted on the two metal plates  120   a , thereby forming a light-emitting diode packaging module  100   a . At this time, each of the metal plates  120   a  includes a plurality of clamping portions  121  to clamp and fix the electrode leads  111  of the LEDs  110  thereon. Further, the metal plates  120   a  are allowed to bend to form a predetermined three-dimensional structure according to the actual requirement when using the light-emitting diode packaging module  100   a  of the second embodiment. 
     Refer to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3A  is a top view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3B  is a side view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. Some reference numerals shown in the first embodiment are used in the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The construction of the third embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment with respect to configuration and function, and thus is not stated in detail herein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , in comparison with the first embodiment, each of the metal plates  120  includes a clamping portion  121   b  to clamp and fix the electrode leads  111  thereon. Therefore, the light-emitting diode packaging structure  100  can be achieved without welding, thereby raising the assembling efficiency. 
     Refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a top view showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. Some reference numerals shown in the first embodiment are used in the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The construction of the fourth embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment with respect to configuration and function, and thus is not stated in detail herein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in comparison with the first embodiment, each of the metal plates  120  of the fourth embodiment includes three clamping portion  121   c  to clamp and fix the electrode leads  111  thereon. Therefore, the electrode leads  111  of the LED  110  can be held on the metal plates  120  firmly, thereby raising the bonding stability and positioning accuracy. 
     Refer to  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C .  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C  are three-dimensional views showing a light-emitting diode packaging structure according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. Some reference numerals shown in the first embodiment are used in the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The construction of the fifth embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment with respect to configuration and function, and thus is not stated in detail herein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C , in comparison with the first embodiment, each of the electrode leads  111   d  of the LED  110  of the fifth embodiment at least one position hole  112   d , and each of the metal plates  120   d  further includes at least one holding portion  122   d  corresponding to the position hole  112   d  for passing through the position hole  112   d  and holding the electrode leads  111   d  of the LED  110  thereon. The holding portion  122   d  of each of the metal plates  120  may be formed as one piece together with the metal plates  120 . For example, the clamping portion  121  may be formed on each of the metal plates  120  by a punching method. The holding portion  122   d  and the clamping portion  121  of each of the metal plates  120  are bent to clamp and hold the electrode leads  111   d  of the LED  110  on the metal plates  120  respectively. Therefore, the LED  110  of the fifth embodiment can be bonded on the metal plates  120  firmly without using welding. 
     Refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a three-dimensional view showing a light-emitting diode packaging module according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. Some reference numerals shown in the fifth embodiment are used in the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The construction of the sixth embodiment is similar to that in the fifth embodiment with respect to configuration and function, and thus is not stated in detail herein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , in comparison with the fifth embodiment, a plurality of LEDs  110  may be mounted on the two metal plates  120   e  of the sixth embodiment, thereby forming a light-emitting diode packaging module  100   e . At this time, each of the metal plates  120   e  includes a plurality of clamping portion  121   e  and a plurality of holding portion  122   e  to clamp and hold the electrode leads  111  of the LEDs  110  thereon. Further, the metal plates  120   e  can be bent to form a predetermined three-dimensional structure according to the actual requirement when using the light-emitting diode packaging module  100   e  of the sixth embodiment. 
     Therefore, the LED can be mounted on the metal plates by the simple assembling method of the present disclosure without using welding. Further, during the assembling process, the electrode leads of the LED are mounted to the metal plates by mechanical method. Therefore, in comparison with the welding method, the bonding between the electrode leads and the metal plates can be released without damaging the LED, and the LED can be reused. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure are strengths of the present disclosure rather than limiting of the present disclosure. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.