Abstract:
The present invention provides an LED lighting module with a heat-sinking failsafe device, including LED light sets, a power supply unit and a radiator fan. The radiator fan is linked to a main circuit via a series circuit or a parallel circuit. An electric circuit is placed between the main circuit and radiator fan. A current controller is assembled between the electric circuit and main circuit. When the radiator fan is operated abnormally, the power supply of main circuit could be reduced or interrupted through said electric circuit and current controller. The LED light set is turned into a weak-current state or switched off, thus efficiently preventing overheating or explosion of the LED light set and improving the safety and quality of the LED lighting module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates generally to an LED lighting module, and more particularly to an innovative module which allows the LED to be switched off or turned into in a weak-current state synchronously in the event of failure of a radiator fan. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
         [0008]    LED lighting modules are widely applied to various lighting and light-emitting products thanks to the advantages of lower power consumption, longer service life and high degree of illumination. 
         [0009]    The LED light-emitting components of said LED lighting modules will generate a certain amount of heat once energized, depending upon the quantity configured for LED modules. Moreover, since the LED light-emitting components are assembled onto a single base plate, the temperature not fully dissipated into air is transferred to the base plate, leading to possible overheating damage or even explosion hazards. Thus, forced heat-sinking components are decisive to LED lighting module. Such heat-sinking components are generally implemented through a radiator fan. When an LED lighting module is activated, the radiator fan prevents overheating damage or explosion of the LED lighting module. 
         [0010]    To this end, the aforementioned hazards could be resolved through circuit design that allows simultaneous switching-off of the LED and radiator fan. However, the heat-sinking function may still be lost possibly due to jamming of the fan blade by foreign materials or idle operation. In such a case, the LED cannot be switched off simultaneously or respond quickly through circuit design, since the radiator fan is not actually damaged. Also, this situation is hard to recognize from the appearance of the LED lighting module, thus possibly leading to overheating damage or explosion of the LED lighting module. 
         [0011]    In light of a variety of LED components for LED lighting modules, a failure-safe system against the damage or malfunction of heat-sinking components is of significance to prevent the hazards arising from widespread LED lighting modules. 
         [0012]    Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy. 
         [0013]    Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The enhanced efficacy of the present invention includes an electric circuit  30  placed between main circuit  20  and radiator fan  12 . A current controller (e.g. FET [Field Effect Transistor]  40 ,  41 , transistor  42 ,  43 , relay  44 , thyristor  45 ) is assembled between the first end  31  of said electric circuit  3  and main circuit  20 , so that the power supply of main circuit  20  could be reduced or interrupted. The second end  32  of the electric circuit  30  is linked to a detection module  50 . The detection module  50  allows the current controller to be activated according to the preset abnormal state of radiator fan  12 . As such, the LED light set  10  is turned into a weak-current state or switched off, thus efficiently preventing overheating or explosion of LED light set  10  and improving the safety and quality of the LED lighting module. 
         [0015]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows the first schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is FET for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the second schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is FET for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the third schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is FET for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the fourth schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is FET for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows the first schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is transistor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows the second schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is transistor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows the third schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is transistor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows the fourth schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is transistor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  shows the first schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is relay for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows the second schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is relay for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  shows the first schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is thyristor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows the second schematic view of embodiment of current controller, which is thyristor for an LED lighting module of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 1-12  depict preferred embodiments of the present invention, which, however, are provided for only explanatory purposes. The LED lighting module comprises LED light sets  10 , a power supply unit  11  and a radiator fan  12 . The LED light sets  10  are linked to power supply unit  11  via a main circuit  20 . The radiator fan  12  is linked to main circuit  20  via a series circuit or a parallel circuit. 
         [0030]    An electric circuit  30  is placed between the main circuit  20  and radiator fan  12 . A current controller is assembled between the first end  31  of said electric circuit  30  and main circuit  20 , so that the power supply of main circuit  20  could be reduced or interrupted. The second end  32  of the electric circuit  30  is linked to a detection module  50 . The detection module  50  allows the current controller to be activated according to the preset abnormal state of radiator fan  12 . The detection module  50 , composed of a control IC or a group of control circuits, can be configured internally into or externally onto the radiator fan. 
         [0031]    The main circuit  20  is fitted with a pressure-drop component  60 , which is composed of resistors or resistance elements (e.g. alarm lights). The resistance of the pressure-drop component  60  is lower than that of LED light set  10 . 
         [0032]    Said current controller is: FET  40 ,  41 , transistor  42 ,  43 , relay  44 , and thyristor  45 . The radiator fan  12  is at a preset abnormal state if the rotational speed is detected by the detection module  50  to be zero or lower than a preset speed. 
         [0033]    The present invention is operated as follows: 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  depicts a series circuit, where the first end  31  of electric circuit  30  is linked to FET  40 (MOSFET-N), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  depicts a series circuit, where the first end  31  of electric circuit  30  is linked to FET  41 (MOSFET-P), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to FET  40 (MOSFET-N), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to FET  41 (MOSFET-P), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  depicts a series circuit, where the first end  31  of electric circuit  30  is linked to transistor  42 (NPN), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  depicts a series circuit, where the first end of electric circuit  30  is linked to transistor  43 (PNP), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to transistor  42 (NPN), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to transistor  43 (NPN), and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  depicts a series circuit, where the first end  31  of electric circuit  30  is linked to relay  44 , and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 , meanwhile an actuating switch  441  in a normally open state is placed on the main circuit  20 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to relay  44 , and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 , meanwhile an actuating switch  441  in a normally close state is placed on the main circuit  20 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  depicts a series circuit, where the first end  31  of electric circuit  30  is linked to thyristor  45 , and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 12  depicts a parallel circuit, where an inverter  51  is included in the electric circuit  30 . The first end  31  is linked to thyristor  45 , and the second end  32  is linked to detection module  50 . 
         [0046]    The operating principle of the present invention is described below: 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives the detection signal from the fan  12 , then feeds back via electric circuit  30  to FETs  40 ,  41  linked to the first end  31  in order to affect the output voltage and maintain a conducting state. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most of current will be guided to path  2 , so that LED light set  10  linked to main circuit  20  will yield a weak light source or no light source, thus ensuring visualization of any abnormality. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives abnormal signal from fan  12 . Then, with the help of inverter  51 , the detection module  50  triggers and controls FETs  40 ,  41  to affect the output voltage to form another path  2 . In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most of the current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield a weak signal or no light source for warning purposes. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives the detection signal from the fan  12 , then feeds back via electric circuit  30  to transistors  42 ,  43  linked to the first end  31  in order to affect the output voltage signal and maintain a conducting state by changing the input current. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , so that LED light set  10  linked to main circuit  20  will yield a weak light source or no light source for warning purposes. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives abnormal signals from fan  12 . Then, with the help of inverter  51 , the detection module  50  triggers and controls transistors  42 ,  43  to affect the output voltage signal and to maintain a conducting state by changing the input current. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield weak signal or no light source for a warning purpose. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. The contact of relay  44  switch  441  is in a normally open state. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives abnormal signals, and then transmits to relay  44  in order to control the relay  44  switch  441  in a conducting state. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield a weak signal or no light source for a warning purpose. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan is normally activated, the detection module  50  receives a normal signal from fan  12 , and inverter  51  is used to trigger the relay  44  in order to control the contact of switch  441  in an open state (namely, path  2  is not conducted, so path  1  is a normal circuit). If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives abnormal signals from fan  12 , and then triggers relay  44  via inverter  51  in order to control the switch  441  in a conducting state. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield a weak signal or no light source for a warning purpose. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives the detection signal from the fan  12 , then feeds back via electric circuit  30  to thyristor  45  linked to the first end  31  in order to trigger and maintain a conducting state. In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield a weak signal or no light source for a warning purpose. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , path  1  is a normal circuit, and power supply unit  11  is used to provide a constant voltage source. If the fan  12  is operated slowly or damaged due to jamming by foreign materials, the detection module  50  receives an abnormal signal from fan  12  and then triggers thyristor  45  to form a power supply path  2 . In such a case, since the resistance of pressure-drop component  60  on main circuit  20  is lower than that of LED light set  10 , most current will be guided to path  2 , and a little current guided to path  1 , so that LED light set  10  will yield a weak signal or no light source for a warning purpose. 
         [0055]    Additionally, said power supply unit  11  is also available with a constant current output mode.