Patent Publication Number: US-2011073891-A1

Title: Ac driven light emitting diode light apparatus, and its ac driven light emitting diode package element therein

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 98133221, filed Sep. 30, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a light emitting diode device, more particularly to an alternating current driven light emitting diode device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Since the optoelectronics technology is developed steadily, light emitting diodes (LED) have been widely applied in a variety of electronic fields. The LED possesses many advantages of long product life, low power consumption and small size, which are absent in the conventional lamp products such as incandescent lamps, halogen lamps and fluorescent lamps. Therefore, the conventional lamp products for illumination are gradually replaced by the LED products. 
     A recently launched product called “alternating current driven light emitting diode (AC driven LED in short)” provides advantages of longer product life and lower power consumption compared to the conventional LED products. 
     The technical concept of the AC driven LED product is to change the permutation of the LED chips arranged in the AC driven LED product in an extraordinary way, and to employ P/N electrodes of the LED chips thereof to concurrently serve as a current rectifier based on the diode characteristics of the P/N electrodes thereof, thus, the AC driven LED product can directly accept alternating current of power for operation. 
     Refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of a conventional AC driven LED package structure. The conventional AC driven LED package  10  includes a plurality of irradiating elements  11 , conductive electrodes  12  and a packaging body  13  enveloping the irradiating element  11  and a part of the conductive electrodes  12 , in which the conductive electrodes  12  extending outwards the packaging body  13  are welded on an electrical conductor. Furthermore, the conductive electrodes  12  extending outwards the packaging body  13  have a curving portion  121  respectively so that the curving portions  121  guide the conductive electrodes  12  to further approach the electrical conductor so as to improve the convenience of the welding process. 
     However, as the conventional AC driven LED package  10  goes through the welding process, many complex steps of the welding process, such as solder paste printing, solder oven passing and so on, need to be done consequently, so as to be time-consuming and labor-intensive. 
     On the other hand, as the conventional AC driven LED package  10  needs to be repaired or replaced after the welding process is finished, the conventional AC driven LED package  10  can be removed only if the solder pastes of the conventional AC driven LED package  10  are detached, so as to be very inconvenient. Furthermore, since the temperature of the solder oven is quite high, it raises the possibility that the conventional AC driven LED package  10  breaks down, when the conventional AC driven LED package  10  is passed through the solder oven. 
     In view of the mentioned prior arts, how to develop a solution of AC driven LED package for improving the mentioned disadvantages shall be concerned. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is to provide an AC driven light emitting diode (AC driven LED) light apparatus, and its AC driven LED package element therein. With detachably coupling the conductive electrodes of the AC driven LED package element with an AC electricity wire, the present disclosure of the AC driven LED package element replaces the assembly procedure of welding the conductive electrodes thereof on the electrical conductor mentioned above. Thus, the present disclosure keeps away from disadvantages of welding the conductive electrodes of the AC driven LED package element on the electrical conductor mentioned above. 
     Therefore, the AC driven LED light apparatus includes a support, two conductive wires and an AC driven LED package element. The conductive wires are served for conducting an external power of alternating current. The AC driven LED package element has a heat sinking substrate, a chip set, two conductive electrodes and a package body. The heat sinking substrate has one fixing flange extended from a rim of the heat sinking substrate, and the fixing flange is served for fixing the heat sinking substrate on the support. The chip set is disposed on the heat sinking substrate and has one AC driven LED chip. The conductive electrodes are respectively set at two opposite sides of the heat sinking substrate. Each of the conductive electrodes has one end thereof electrically connected to the AC driven LED chip, and the other end thereof detachably and electrically connected to one of the conductive wires. The package body envelops the heat sinking substrate, the chip set and a part of the conductive electrodes to be one together. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat sinking substrate and each of the fixing flanges are formed integrally. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, each fixing flange is extended outwards the rim of the heat sinking substrate horizontally or vertically. 
     According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure, each fixing flange is shaped as a plate or a pillar. 
     According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure, each fixing flange has a first fastening portion, and the support has a plurality of second fastening portions. Each of the first fastening portions and each of the second fastening portions are fit and coupled with each other. The first fastening portion, for example, can be a post for being fixed by an aperture, an aperture for being fixed by a post, or a hook for being fixed by a post. 
     According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure, the conductive electrodes are respectively shaped as a plate or a pillar, and remain a distance from the support. 
     According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the conductive electrodes has a first stopper, and each of the conductive wires has a second stopper fit and coupled with the first stopper. Thus, each conductive electrode is fixed by the corresponding conductive wire. 
     Therefore, since the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED light package element employs a non-welding method for electrically connecting the AC driven LED chips and the external power of alternating current, rather than a welding method. Thus, the present disclosure has advantages as follows. 
     1. Because the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element employs the welding method no more, the assembly work of the AC driven LED package element eliminates the welding process from the assembly procedure thereof, so as to further save assembling time, manpower and the assembling cost. 
     2. Because the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element employs the welding method no more, thus, when the AC driven LED package element needs to be repaired or replaced, the AC driven LED package element can be removed from the AC driven LED light apparatus directly so as to improve the convenience and the flexibility. 
     3. Because the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element employs the welding method no more, the failure possibility of making the AC driven LED package element will be cut down once the AC driven LED package element does not need to pass through the solder oven. Furthermore, the maker of the AC driven LED package element does not need to put components having thermo protection characteristics, so as to simplify the structure of the product and decrease the material cost. 
     4. Because the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element employs the welding method no more, it allows workers who are unfamiliar with the welding process to easily detach or assemble the AC driven LED package element. 
     To sum, in view of the above advantages, the elimination of the welding process from the assembly procedure is quite worthy in this disclosure. Furthermore, since the AC driven LED package element electrically connects with the AC power supply, the AC driven LED package element does not need additional converting circuits. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a 3D perspective view of a conventional AC driven LED package structure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an AC driven LED package element according to the embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the other interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to the other embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings. 
     The present disclosure is to provide an AC driven light emitting diode (AC driven LED) light apparatus, and its AC driven LED package element therein, in which the AC driven LED light apparatus employs non-welding method (e.g. detachably coupling with conductive wires) for electrically connecting the AC driven LED package element and the electrical conductor, so as to replace the welding method of connection, thus, to keep away from the disadvantages of the welding method mentioned above. 
     Meanwhile, since the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element does not employ the welding method for connection, the disclosure adds a fixing mechanism for fixing the AC driven LED package element on the AC driven LED light apparatus. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The AC driven LED light apparatus  100  at least includes a light body  101 , a support  110 , two conductive wires  120  and an AC driven package element  200 . The support  110  is disposed on the light body  101 . The AC driven package element  200  is disposed on the support  110  and electrically connected to the AC electricity wires  120 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an AC driven LED package element according to the embodiment of the disclosure. In the embodiment, following a direction from a bottom of the AC driven package element  200 , a middle of the AC driven package element  200  to a top of the AC driven package element  200 , the AC driven package element  200  has a heat sinking substrate  210 , a cup-shaped holder  220 , a chip set  230 , an insulating washer  240 , two conductive electrodes  250  and a lens  260  in sequence, and the AC driven package element  200  also has a package body  270  to envelop them together to be one integrally. 
     The heat sinking substrate  210  has a plurality of fixing flanges  212  extended from a rim of the heat sinking substrate  210 . Those fixing flanges  212  are served for fixing the heat sinking substrate  210  on the support  110  ( FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, those fixing flanges  212  can be chosen to form on the heat sinking substrate  210  integrally or not. 
     The cup-shaped holder  220  is disposed on one surface of the heat sinking substrate  210 , and has a space therein for holding the chip set  230 . The chip set  230  includes a plurality of AC driven LED chips  232  mounted on the cup-shaped holder  220 . The insulating washer  240  is disposed on the heat sinking substrate  210 , has a circular ring shape having an opening therein for being gone through by the cup-shaped holder  220 . 
     Each of the conductive electrodes  250  has a first end  252  and a second end  254  which are opposite with each other. The first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250  is arranged on one side of the insulating washer  240 , which is opposite to the heat sinking substrate  210 , and the first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250  is neighboring to the cup-shaped holder  220 . In detail, exemplarily, the first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250  can be shaped to match the surface of the cup-shaped holder  220 , and the first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250  can be electrically connected with the AC driven LED chips  232  via some bonding wires. The second end  254  of the conductive electrodes  250  is away from the cup-shaped holder  220 , and extended outwards the package body  270 . The second end  254  of the conductive electrodes  250  can be detachably and electrically connected with one of the AC electricity wires  120 . The lens  260  covers the cup-shaped holder  220  and each first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250 . 
     The package body  270  is formed by injection molding plastic materials to wrap the circumference of the lens  260 , the cup-shaped holder  220 , the insulating washer  240 , the heat sinking substrate  210 , and each first end  252  of the conductive electrodes  250  before the plastic materials are solidified. Thus, the package body  270  envelops the heat sinking substrate  210 , the chip set  230 , and the conductive electrodes  250  to be one integrally, but exposes the lens  260 , the fixing flange  212  and the second ends  254  of the conductive electrodes  250 . 
     Therefore, because of the fixing flanges  212 , the AC driven package element  200  can be installed stably on the support  110  without welding method for connection. Also, when the conductive electrodes  250  are respectively electrically connected with the corresponding AC electricity wire  120 , the light body  101  remains in electrical connection with an AC electric power. 
     Since the assembly procedure of the AC driven LED package element  200  does not employ the welding method for installing the AC driven LED package element  200  on the light body  101 , the conductive electrodes  250  can be detachably and electrically connected with the AC electricity wires  120  of the AC driven LED light apparatus  100 . 
     Return to  FIG. 2  again. According to the embodiment, each of the conductive electrodes  250 , or at least the second end  254  of the conductive electrodes  250 , is shaped as a plate or a pillar. The conductive electrodes  250  or the second ends  254  thereof respectively remain a certain distance from the support  110  which the heat sinking substrate  210  is placed on. 
     Furthermore, in order to quick join the conductive electrode  250  and the AC electricity wires  120  together, both the second end  254  of the conductive electrode  250  and the AC electricity wires  120  have a quick linked connector (or called Quick Terminal) which are fit with each other. 
     Each of the AC electricity wires  120  includes a cable body  122  and a connector  124 . The cable body  122  is electrically connected with an AC electricity power source with one end thereof. The connector  124  is set on another end of the cable body  122 , and capable of detachably connecting or disconnecting the second end  254  of the conductive electrode  250  rapidly. The connector  124 , for example, can be a flat connector, a clip connector and alike. However, the variety of the connectors  124  is not limited into the disclosure. 
     Specifically, the second end  254  of the conductive electrode  250  has a first stopper  256 , e.g. a depressing hole or a protrudent block. The connector  124  of the AC electricity wires  120  has a second stopper  112 , e.g. a protrudent block or a depressing hole. The second stopper  112  is fit with the first stopper  256  for coupling the first stopper  256 . 
     Moreover, the quantity, the appearance or the position of the fixing flanges  212  mentioned above is not restricted in this disclosure, as long as the fixing flanges  212  are characterized to secure the AC driven LED package element  200 . For example, the quantity of the fixing flanges  212  mentioned above can be one, two, three, four or more; or the appearance of the fixing flanges  212  mentioned above can be straight, non-straight, plated, or pillared; or the position of the fixing flanges  212  mentioned above can be extended horizontally or vertically outwards from the heat sinking substrate  210 . 
     Particularly, in order to effectively secure the AC driven LED package element  200  on the light body  101 , the fixing flange  212  has at least one first fastening portion  214 , and the support  110  also has at least one second fastening portion  126  corresponding to the first fastening portions  214  and fitting with the first fastening portion  214  for coupling the first fastening portion  214 . 
     The first fastening portion  214 , for example, can be a post (not shown) served for being fixed in an aperture, or can be an aperture  216  ( FIG. 2 ) served for being fixed on a post as a bolt  114 . Thus, by engaging the first fastening portion  214  on the second fastening portion  126 , the AC driven LED package element  200  can be fixed on the light body  101 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Another embodiment of the first fastening portion  214 , for example, can be a hook  218  served for being fixed with a protrudent block  116 . Thus, by rotating the AC driven LED package element  200 , the hooks  218  are moved to hook the corresponding protrudent blocks  116 , respectively, and then the AC driven LED package element  200  can be fixed on the light body  101 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the other interior schematic diagram of an AC driven LED light apparatus according to the other embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the other embodiment of the second fastening portion  126 , for example, can be a tenon  118  served for being fixed with one of the fixing flanges  212 . Thus, by rotating the AC driven LED package element  200 , one side of all of the fixing flanges  212  contacts against the corresponding tenon  118 . Therefore, the AC driven LED package element  200  can be fixed on the light body  101  without bolts. 
     Next, a method of assembling the AC driven LED package element  200  on the light body  101  ( FIG. 2 ) is disclosed in the disclosure, the method comprises steps of: 
     (1) Firstly, placing the AC driven LED package element  200  on the support  110  with the heat sinking substrate  210  ( FIG. 3 ), and the heat sinking substrate  210  lies flat on a heat sinking area of the support  110 ; 
     (2) Next, by engaging the first fastening portion  214  with the second fastening portion  126 , the AC driven LED package element  200  is stably fixed on the support  110 . When the first fastening portion  214  is as the hook  218  mentioned above exemplarily ( FIG. 4 ), each hook  218  of the fixing flanges  212  can be moved to hook the corresponding protrudent block  116  for fixing the AC driven LED package element  200  on the support  110 , when rotating the AC driven LED package element  200 . 
     (3) Then, by joining the second stopper  112  of the connector  124  to the first stopper  256  of the conductive electrodes  250  respectively, the second ends  254  of the conductive electrodes  250  are coupled with the AC electricity wires  120  of the AC driven LED light apparatus  100 . Thus, as long as the AC electricity wires  120  cannot be easy to release from the conductive electrodes  250 , the method of assembling the AC driven LED package element  200  on the light body  101  is therefore finished. 
     Finally, it needs to be noted that the support  110  can be any part of the light body  101  which installs the heat sinking substrate  210  for fixing the AC driven LED package element  200  thereon. Therefore, when the support  110  has a good heat sinking property, heat produced from the AC driven LED package element  200  can be passed out from the support  110  via the heat sinking substrate  210 . 
     Therefore, since the AC driven LED light package element  200  is installed on the light body  101  by a non-welding method, thus, the present disclosure has advantages as follows. 
     1. Simplifying the assembly procedure thereof to further save the assembling time, the manpower and the assembling cost thereof. 
     2. Improving the convenience and the flexibility when the AC driven LED package element can be removed from the AC driven LED light apparatus directly for maintaining or replacing the AC driven LED light package element  200 . 
     3. Decreasing the failure possibility of the AC driven LED light package element  200  from the high temperature of the solder oven. 
     4. Decreasing the difficulty of detaching or assembling the AC driven LED light package element  200  on the light body  101 . 
     To sum, in view of the above advantages, the elimination of the welding process from the assembly procedure is quite worthy in this disclosure. Furthermore, since the AC driven LED package element electrically connects with the AC power supply, the AC driven LED package element does not need additional converting circuits. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with his specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.