Abstract:
A lamp bar includes a plurality of LEDs positioned along the body, and a rotational mechanism for rotating the body independently of an electrical connection to a power source.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to U.S. application Ser. No. 61/125,944 filed on Monday, Apr. 28, 2008, which is presently pending, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to LED lighting technology. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Traditional fluorescent lighting tubes comprise a gaseous medium enclosed in typically brittle glass tubing. Among other limitations, these fluorescent tubes cannot be readily configured to direct light in different directions and angles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identify elements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease of understanding and convenience. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of a rotating LED lamp bar. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a rotating LED lamp bar. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable power coupler for a lamp bar. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are illustrations of embodiments of multiple rotating LED lamp bars in various configurations. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    References to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. 
         [0010]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
         [0011]    “Logic” refers to signals and/or information that may be applied to influence the operation of a device. Software, hardware, and firmware are examples of logic. Hardware logic may be embodied in circuits. In general, logic may comprise combinations of software, hardware, and/or firmware. 
         [0012]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that logic may be distributed throughout one or more devices, and/or may be comprised of combinations of instructions in memory, processing capability, circuits, and so on. Therefore, in the interest of clarity and correctness logic may not always be distinctly illustrated in drawings of devices and systems, although it is inherently present therein. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of a rotating LED lamp bar. Typically, direct current enters one end of the bar and exits the other, although in some cases the electricity may enter and leave the same end (e.g. applications where one end of the bar “floats”). In between, the current is applied to multiple LEDs set in recesses in an extruded aluminum housing (for example). The electrical couplers on the end remain fixed in position, while the lamp bar body may rotate 180 degrees or more via rotating couplers between the electrical couplers and the lamp bar body. In this manner light from the lamp bar may be directed in configurable directions. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration of an embodiment of a configurable LED lamp bar. The embodiment of  FIG. 1A  comprises a narrow tubular profile with LEDs  106  located along the length of the bar, within light directing apertures  108 . An internal or external power source converts AC power to DC power which is provided through the coupling  102  which has a rotatable coupling  104  to the bar. AC or DC power is provided via power pins  126 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 1B  is an embodiment of a thicker profile lamp bar with an integrated driver. AC power is provided via power pins  124  to couplings  110  which comprise AC to DC LED driver logic. The coupling  110  has rotational coupling  112  to the bar. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1C  is an embodiment of a lamp bar with a square rectangular down-facing cross section. A driver portion  116  is coupled via rotational coupling  114  through component  115 . Along the bars are spaced LEDs  118  in light directing apertures  120 . Pins  122  provide AC power which is converted to DC power by the couplings  116 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a rotating LED lamp bar. The rotating coupler may be configured in various ways, including a friction fit (e.g. rings of slightly compressible materials such as plastic pressed together), a ratchet fit, and other mechanisms. The electrical connection to the LEDs of the lamp bar body is maintained as the body is rotated. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of the lamp bar similar to the one shown in  FIG. 1C . The exploded view of  FIG. 2  shows how the lamp bar  202  may be coupled to a power supply in a manner that enables the bar to be rotated to direct light in different directions. Note that in this embodiment, power is supplied to only one end of the lamp bar instead of both ends as in the embodiment of  FIG. 1C . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable power coupler for a lamp bar. Also shown is a cross section of an embodiment of a lamp bar body. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show some close-up and cross sectional views of a lamp bar embodiment similar to the one shown in  FIG. 1C  and  FIG. 2 . The bar may be formed from aluminum extrusion heat sink  302 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4  and are embodiments of multiple rotating LED lamp bars in various configurations. Each bar body may be rotated independently from the others, providing excellent configurability of lighting dispersal. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a dual LED lamp configuration in which dual lamp bars draw power from one end and are mounted together in a manner in which each may be independently rotated. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a dual lamp configuration in which both lamp bars may be independently rotated. Both ends are coupled via coupling  502  to power source  510 . Coupler  504  secures the individual lamp bars in a dual configuration. The rotational coupler  506  provides for independent rotation of the bars  508 .