Patent Publication Number: US-2007103914-A1

Title: LED replacement bulb

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention is a replacement light for an incandescent light fixture where the replacement light uses a light emitting diode.  
      Common products such as flashlights, toys, instrument panels, etc. use incandescent light bulbs for providing light. However, incandescent light bulbs have the disadvantage of giving off heat when operating. The incandescent light bulbs thus use extra energy by converting the energy to lost heat. Incandescent light bulbs are also susceptible to damage by shaking or impact with the bulb. Damage caused by impact and shaking often causes the need to replace the incandescent light bulb. In addition, incandescent light bulbs have short life spans causing the need for frequent replacements.  
      Because use of incandescent light bulbs is so prevalent any replacement must be able to fit and operate with an incandescent light bulb fixture.  
      A replacement bulb for an incandescent light fixture which has increased life span and durability without converting energy to heat is needed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A replacement light bulb assembly for use in an incandescent light fixture utilizes a light emitting diode.  
      The replacement light bulb assembly includes a base and a light emitting diode (LED). The base fits within a typical incandescent light bulb fixture. The LED is bonded to the base with a non-conducting material and is electrically connected to the base through a base connector. A center post is located generally along the center of the base and is electrically connected to the LED to complete an electrical circuit when the light bulb assembly is placed within an incandescent light bulb fixture. The base has a non-conductive filler to electrically isolate the center post from the base.  
      A control is connected to the LED to modify the LED output to change the light intensity, duration (such as a flashing light), or color. The control can also be used to modify the voltage or current requirements of the light bulb assembly and allow use with both DC current and AC current. An external shield or lens, or an internal shield or lens, may be added to the light bulb assembly or directly to the LED to alter the light emitted from the light bulb assembly.  
      The replacement light bulb assembly fits within a typical incandescent light bulb fixture. Incandescent light bulbs have standard base sizing for common voltage and current ratings of the applications. Several variations of the replacement light bulb assembly each having a base corresponding to a typical incandescent light bulb fixture may be available.  
      These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of a light bulb assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the light bulb assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the light bulb assembly of the present invention for use in a flashlight.  
       FIG. 4  is an embodiment of the light bulb assembly of the present invention for use in a night-light.  
       FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the light bulb assembly of the present invention for use in an automotive instrument panel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 1  shows an illustration of a light bulb assembly  10  of the present invention. The assembly includes a base  12  and a light emitting diode (LED)  14 . The LED  14  is electrically connected to the base  12 . The base  12  fits within a typical incandescent light bulb fixture. In the embodiment shown, the base  12  is a screw base and includes threads  16 , which correspond to threads in the typical incandescent light bulb fixture, for retention. The bulb may include an internal shield or lens  50 , which modifies the light characteristics of the LED  14 . The light bulb assembly  10  may also include an external shield or lens  52  that is bonded to the light bulb assembly  10  or directly to the LED  14  with a bonding agent  54 . The internal shield  50 , external shield  52  and the bonding agent  54  may be translucent or opaque, and may possess optical characteristics, such as, but not limited to, altering the light in ranges outside the human visible spectrum.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the light bulb assembly of the present invention. The LED  14  is mounted onto the base  12 . As shown, the LED  14  is bonded to the base  12  with a non-conducting material  17 . The LED  14  may be mounted or retained on the base  12  by any known means that provide an electrically isolated mounting. The LED  14  is electrically connected to the base  12  through a base connector  18 . The base connector  18  is connected to the LED  14  at one end and a screw contact  21  at the other.  
      Located within the base  12  is a center post  20 . The center post  20  extends generally parallel to an axis A of the base  12  and leads to a base contact  23  of the base  12 . The center post  20  is electrically connected to the LED  14  at the post connector location  22 . The base  12  is filled with a non-conductive filler  24  to electrically isolate the center post  20  from the base  12 . When the light bulb assembly  10  is assembled into an incandescent light fixture, an electric circuit to the LED  14  is completed through the screw contact  21  and the base contact  23 .  
      A control  26  is connected to the LED  14  to modify the LED  14  output as desired. The control  26  is preferably positioned within the base  12  but may be located in any position convenient to the light bulb assembly  10  where the control  26  can be connected to the LED  14 . The control  26  may be set at the time of manufacture of the light bulb assembly  10  to modify the LED  14  output as is known in the art. The control  26  may modify the light bulb assembly  10  output to change the light intensity, duration (such as a flashing light), or color. The control  26  can also be used to modify the voltage or current requirements of the light bulb assembly  10  for use with DC current of AC current applications. During manufacture the control  26  can be set allowing the light bulb assembly  10  to operate in most popular DC current voltage ratings such as 1.5V, 3V, 4.5V, 6V, 9V and 12V. The light bulb assembly  10  may also have typical household ratings of 110VAC and 220VAC. The control  26  may be set to modify the light bulb assembly  10  to other DC current or AC current settings as well. The LED may also be shielded to reduce direct viewing or to modify the direction of the light. Multiple LEDs may be used to increase the light intensity, color, duration (such as flashing), direction and time dependant characteristics when used with control  26 .  
      As mentioned above, the light bulb assembly  10  fits within a typical incandescent light bulb fixture. Incandescent light bulbs have standard base sizing for common voltage and current ratings of the applications. Several variations of the light bulb assembly  10  each having the base  12 , which corresponds to a typical incandescent light bulb fixture, may be available. For example,  FIG. 3  is an illustration of one embodiment of the light bulb assembly  10  of the present invention in a flashlight  28 . The base  30  is sized to a typical incandescent light bulb base for use in flashlights and corresponds in size to the flashlight bulb fixture  32 . The control  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) modifies the LED  14  to have typical output for use in a flashlight, a high intensity, white light, and a DC 3V setting. The LED  14  can be modified to change the directional nature of the emitted light. Shielding of the LED  14 , either with an internal shield  50  or an external shield  52  bonded to the light bulb assembly  10  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), can be used to change the color, direction, dispersion, focus, prevent excessive direct exposure, introduce patterns to be projected, or adjust the light pattern to match the intended devices internal reflective geometry  56 .  
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of another embodiment of the light bulb assembly  10  in a night-light  34 . The base  36  is sized to a typical incandescent light bulb base  38  for use in night-lights. The control  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) modifies the LED  14  to have typical night-light output of a low intensity, yellow light, and an AC 4 W or 7 W rating.  
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of another embodiment of the light bulb assembly  10  in an automotive instrument panel  40 . A section of an instrument panel  40  is shown. The base  42  is sized to a typical incandescent light bulb base  44  for use with the instrument panel  40 . The control  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) modifies the LED  14  to have typical instrument panel  40  output of a low intensity, white light, and a DC 12V setting. Alternate embodiments of the light bulb assembly  10  with the control  26  set to modify the LED  14  output to other typical night-light  33 , flashlight  28  or instrument panel  40  outputs may be utilized.  
      Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.