Patent Publication Number: US-2015062889-A1

Title: Straight Tube Type Lamp and Luminaire

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-177973 filed on Aug. 29, 2013. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a straight tube type lamp and a luminaire using the straight tube type lamp. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hitherto, in some straight tube type lamps using light source units including LEDs, a cap including a pair of L-shaped terminals specified in the Japan Lighting Manufactures Association standard (JEL801) “Straight Tube Type LED Lamp System (for General Lighting) with L-shaped Pin Cap GX16t-5” is used instead of a G13 cap used in a straight tube type fluorescent lamp. 
     The pair of terminals is formed by bending flat metal plates into an L-shape, so that a function to prevent erroneous insertion into an incompatible socket for the G13 cap is obtained, and a function to prevent falling from a compatible socket is obtained. 
     Besides, there is a straight tube type fluorescent lamp having a T5 size (for example, 16 mm) whose tube diameter is smaller than that of the straight tube type fluorescent lamp using the G13 cap and using a G5 cap. In order to provide the straight tube type lamp using the light source unit including the LED correspondingly to this straight tube type fluorescent lamp, when the cap including the L-shaped terminals is used instead of the G5 cap, the terminals must be miniaturized in accordance with the miniaturization of the cap, and there is a fear that the strength of the terminals is insufficient. 
     When the strength of the terminals is insufficient, there is a fear that the terminals are deformed and an electrical defect occurs during the handling of the straight tube type lamp or during attachment to or detachment from the socket, or such a defect occurs that the erroneous insertion prevention and fall prevention functions are impaired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a straight tube type lamp of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a section of the straight tube type lamp. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an inner structure of the straight tube type lamp. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the whole straight tube type lamp. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a socket on which the straight tube type lamp is mounted. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a luminaire using the straight tube type lamp. 
         FIG. 7  is a wiring diagram of the luminaire. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a straight tube type lamp of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a straight tube type lamp of a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, a straight tube type lamp includes a light source unit, a straight-tube cover and a cap. At least a part of the straight-tube cover is translucent, and the straight-tube cover contains the light source unit. The cap includes an insulating cap body disposed at an end part of the straight-tube cover, a pair of terminals projecting from an end face of the cap body and an insulating projection. The projection includes a holding part arranged between the pair of terminals, and a projecting part which projects from a tip of the holding part in a direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals and is arranged at a tip side of the pair of terminals. 
     The erroneous insertion prevention and fall prevention functions are secured by the holding part and the projecting part of the projection projecting from the cap body, and the deformation of the terminal is expected to be prevented. 
     Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a luminaire  10  includes a long luminaire body  11 , a straight tube type lamp  12  arranged in the luminaire body  11 , sockets  13  and  14  which are arranged at both ends of the luminaire body  11  so as to face each other and on which both ends of the straight tube type lamp  12  are mounted, and a power supply circuit  15  disposed in the luminaire body  11  and the like. 
       FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  show the straight tube type lamp  12 . The straight tube type lamp  12  has, for example, a T5 size of 16 mm in tube diameter, and includes a cylindrical straight-tube cover  20 , a light source unit  21  contained in the straight-tube cover  20 , and caps  22  and  23  disposed at both ends of the straight-tube cover  20 . 
     The straight-tube cover  20  is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and at least a part of a peripheral wall corresponding to a light irradiation direction is translucent. 
     The light source unit  21  includes a base  25  formed to be thin and long in a lamp longitudinal direction and a plurality of light-emitting modules  26  disposed on the base  25  along the lamp longitudinal direction. 
     The base  25  is a thermal radiator formed of a material such as aluminum by extrusion molding. The base  25  includes a flat base plate  27 , and edge parts  28  are formed at a front side of the base plate  27  and at both side thereof in the width direction. The edge parts  28  are provided with groove parts  29  into which the light-emitting module  26  can be inserted from an end part in the lamp longitudinal direction and which hold the inserted light-emitting module  26 . A plurality of groove parts  30  is formed at the back side of the base plate  27  along the lamp longitudinal direction. 
     The light-emitting module  26  includes a substrate  31  and a plurality of light-emitting elements  32  mounted on the substrate  31  along the lamp longitudinal direction. The substrate  31  is made of a material such as, for example, metal, ceramic or resin, and a wiring pattern surface  31   a  on which a wiring pattern is formed through an insulating layer is provided at the front side thereof. The light-emitting elements  32  are mounted on the wiring pattern surface  31   a,  and the light-emitting elements  32  are electrically connected to the wiring pattern. The light-emitting elements  32  are semiconductor light-emitting elements such as LED elements or EL elements. In the case of the LED elements, a surface mount type SMD (Surface Mount Device) package is used. Incidentally, a COB (Chip On Board) module in which a plurality of LED elements is mounted on the substrate  31  and is sealed with translucent resin containing phosphor may be used as the light-emitting module  26 . 
     A series circuit  33  to which the plurality of light-emitting elements  32  is connected in series by the wiring pattern is formed on the substrate  31  (see  FIG. 7 ), and a pair of power supply input parts of the series circuit  33  are provided at the cap  22  side of one end. 
     The caps  22  and  23  at both ends of the straight tube type lamp have the same structure. Each of the caps  22  and  23  includes a cap body  34 , a substantially T-shaped projection  35  projecting from the outer end face of the cap body  34 , and a pair of terminals  36  projecting from the outer end face of the cap body  34  at both sides of the projection  35 . 
     The cap body  34  and the projection  35  are integrally molded of insulating synthetic resin. The pair of terminals  36  pass through from the inner end face of the cap body  34  to the outer end face and are combined. 
     The cap body  34  includes a cylindrical part  37  having a substantially same diameter as the straight-tube cover  20 , a fitting part  38  projecting from the center area of the inner end face of the cylindrical part  37  and fitted to the inside of the straight-tube cover  20 , and a base part  39  projecting from the center area of the outer end face of the cylindrical part  37 . 
     The cylindrical part  37  is provided with a triangular recessed mark  40  which indicates the direction of the straight tube type lamp  12  corresponding to the light-emitting elements  32  and the direction of light irradiation direction of the straight tube type lamp  12 . 
     A flat substrate press  41  which is inserted in the groove part  29  of the base  25  and regulates the end face position of the substrate  31  projects from the inner end face of the fitting part  38 . Further, a plurality of insertion parts  42  projects therefrom, which is inserted in the plurality of groove parts  30  of the base  25  and is positioned by the base  25 . A housing part  43  to house the terminals  36  is opened and formed in the inner end face of the fitting part  38  above the substrate press  41 . A pair of insertion holes  44  through which the pair of terminals  36  is inserted is formed from the housing part  43  to the outer end face of the cap body  34 . 
     A recess part  45  is formed on the peripheral surface of the fitting part  38  along the inner end face of the cylindrical part  37 , and a ring  46  is fitted in the recess part  45 . The ring  46  is made of silicone resin or rubber, for example, has elasticity and intervenes between the end face of the straight-tube cover  20  and the caps  22 ,  23  coupled to the base  25 . The ring  46  absorbs the thermal expansion difference in the lamp longitudinal direction between the straight-tube cover  20  and the caps  22 ,  23  coupled to the base  25 . 
     In the base part  39 , the projection  35  integrally projects, the pair of terminals  36  is projected from the pair of insertion holes  44 , and an attachment hole  47  is formed. The caps  22 ,  23  are fixed to the base  25  by screwing a screw  48  to the groove part  30  of the base  25  through the attachment hole  47 . 
     The projection  35  includes a holding part  51  which projects from the outer end face of the cap body  34  and is arranged between the pair of terminals  36 , and a projecting part  52  which projects in the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36  from the tip of the holding part  51  and is arranged at the tip side of the pair of terminals  36 . The projection is formed to be substantially T-shaped. 
     Semicircular holding grooves  53  in which the peripheral surface sides of the pair of terminals  36  facing each other are fitted are formed at both sides of the holding part  51 . The projecting part  52  is provided with a pair of holding holes  54  in which the tips of the pair of terminals  36  are fitted. 
     In the projection  35 , the projecting part  52  projects more than the pair of terminals  36  in the direction of arrangement of the pair of the terminals  36 , and the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52  project more than the pair of terminals  36  in the direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the pair of the terminals  36 . Accordingly, the pair of terminals  36  is arranged inside the outer shape region of the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52 . 
     Grooves  55  are formed on one surface and the other surface of the holding part  51  between the pair of terminals  36  from the cap body  34  to the projecting part  52 . The groove  55  on the one surface of the holding part  51  is continuously formed to the outer end face of the cap body  34  (base part  39 ), and the groove  55  on the other surface of the holding part  51  is continuous with the attachment hole  47  formed in the outer end face of the cap body  34  (base part  39 ). 
     The pair of terminals  36  is formed by press-molding a conductive metal plate material, and respectively include fixing parts  58 , cylindrical pins  59  projecting from one end of the fixing parts  58 , and contact pieces  60  projecting from the other end of the fixing parts  58 . 
     The fixing parts  58  are curved and formed. The fixing parts  58  of the pair of terminals  36  are fitted in an insulating cylindrical fixing member  61 , and the pair of terminals  36  is integrally held in an insulating state from each other. The fixing parts  58  of the pair of terminals  36  and the fixing member  61  are housed in the housing part  43  of the cap body  34 . 
     The pin  59  is formed into a cylindrical shape. The pin is inserted into the insertion hole  44  from the inner end face of the cap body  34 , and projects from the outer end face of the cap body  34 . The base end side of the pin  59  is inserted in the insertion hole  44  and is held. The tip side projecting from the cap body  34  is fitted in the holding groove  53  of the holding part  51  and the holding hole  54  of the projecting part  52  and is held. 
     A contact  62  which contacts the wiring pattern surface  31   a  of the substrate  31  and is electrically connected is formed at the tip of the contact piece  60 . A bent part  63  bent in a direction of separating from the substrate  31  is formed at a middle part thereof. The contact piece  60  has elasticity in a direction in which the contact  62  is in press contact with the substrate  31 . 
     The pair of terminals  36  of the cap  22  at one end is electrically connected to the pair of power supply input parts of the series circuit  33  formed on the substrate  31 . The pair of terminals  36  at the other end is shorted through a fuse  64 . The fuse  64  is mounted on, for example, the substrate  31 . The pair of terminals  36  of the cap  23  at the other end contacts the wiring pattern surface  31   a  and is electrically connected, so that the pair of terminals is shorted through the fuse  64 . Incidentally, the fuse  64  may be connected to the pair of terminals  36  without being mounted on the substrate  31 . 
     Incidentally, the straight tube type lamp  12  is constructed such that the directions of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36  of the caps  22  and  23  at both ends are coincident with each other, and the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36  is parallel to the wiring pattern surface  31   a.    
     Besides, the thickness size of the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52  and the diameter size of the pair of terminals  36  are larger than the diameter size of the lamp pin specified for the G5 type cap. Thus, the caps  22  and  23  are not compatible with the G5 type cap, and can not be mounted (inserted) on the socket for the G5 type cap. 
     Besides, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a rotation mounting system is used for the sockets  13  and  14 , in which after being inserted to a specified insertion position, the projection  35  and the pair of terminals  36  are rotated by 90° around the lamp axis of the straight tube type lamp  12  and are mounted. The sockets  13  and  14  have a common structure, and each of them includes a socket body  70 , a pair of terminals  71  arranged in the socket body  70 , and a rotator  72  rotatably arranged in the socket body  70 . An insertion port  73  in which the projection  35  and the pair of terminals  36  are inserted is formed at the tip side of the socket body  70 . A circular opening  74  in which the rotator  72  is rotatably arranged is formed in the front surface of the socket body  70 . The pair of terminals  71  is arranged at both sides of the rotator  72 . Insertion grooves  75  in which the projection  35  and the pair of terminals  36  are inserted are formed in the rotator  72 . 
       FIG. 7  is a wiring diagram of the luminaire  10 . The power supply circuit  15  receives power from a commercial AC power supply E and converts into specified DC power, and supplies the converted DC power to the light source unit  21  of the straight tube type lamp  12  through the sockets  13  and  14 . 
     In the luminaire body  11 , ones of the pair of terminals  71  of both the sockets  13  and  14  are electrically connected to each other through a connection line  76 , and the others are electrically connected to a pair of feeders  77  of the power supply circuit  15 . By this, even when the caps  22  and  23  of the straight tube type lamp  12  are connected to the sockets  13  and  14  in any direction, the power supply circuit  15  can supply power to the light source unit  21  of the straight tube type lamp  12 . 
     When the straight tube type lamp  12  constructed as stated above is mounted between the sockets  13  and  14 , after being inserted to the specified insertion position from the insertion ports  73  of the sockets  13  and  14  at the tip side, the projections  35  and the pair of terminals  36  of the caps  22  and  23  at both ends are rotated by 90° around the lamp axis of the straight tube type lamp  12  to the specified mount position. 
     When the straight tube type lamp  12  is rotated to the specified mount position, the pair of terminals  36  of the caps  22  and  23  contacts the pair of terminals  71  of the sockets  13  and  14  and is electrically connected. 
     In the mount state of the straight tube type lamp  12 , the projecting part  52  projecting in the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36  is caught on the sockets  13 ,  14  side (for example, the edge of the terminal  71 ), and even if size change in the lamp longitudinal direction occurs by temperature change of the straight tube type lamp  12  or deflection due to its own weight, the caps  22  and  23  of the straight tube type lamp  12  are prevented from falling off from the sockets  13  and  14 . 
     Besides, the caps  22  and  23  including the projections  35  and the pair of terminals  36  are not compatible with the G5 type cap, can not be mounted (inserted) on the socket for the G5 type cap, but can be mounted (inserted) only on the suitable sockets  13  and  14 . 
     Besides, the power supply circuit  15  converts AC power from the commercial AC power supply E into specified DC power, and supplies the converted DC power to the light source unit  21  of the straight tube type lamp  12  through the sockets  13  and  14 . By this, the light-emitting elements  32  of the light source unit  21  are lit, and the light from the light-emitting elements  32  passes through the straight-tube cover  20  and is irradiated to lighting space. 
     In the caps  22  and  23  of the straight tube type lamp  12  of this embodiment, the insulating projection  35 , together with the pair of terminals, projects from the end face of the cap body  34 . The projection  35  includes the holding part  51  arranged between the pair of terminals  36 , and the projecting part  52  which projects from the tip of the holding part  51  in the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36  and is arranged at the tip side of the pair of terminals  36 . By this structure, the rigidity of the pair of terminals  36  can be increased, and the erroneous insertion prevention and fall prevention functions can be secured not by the terminals  36  but by the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52 . Accordingly, the terminals  36  can be prevented from being deformed by load application thereto. 
     Further, the projecting part  52  projects more than the pair of terminals  36  in the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36 , and the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52  project more than the pair of terminals  36  in the direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the pair of terminals  36 . Thus, the pair of terminals  36  can be arranged inside the outer shape region of the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52 , and can be prevented from being deformed by load application thereto at the time of handling of the straight tube type lamp, at the time of attachment to and detachment from the sockets  13  and  14 , or at the time of operation. 
     Besides, since the groove  55  is formed in the holding part  51  from the cap body  34  to the projecting part  52 , even if the holding part  51  is arranged between the pair of terminals  36 , a creeping distance between the pair of terminals  36  can be secured, and the insulation property can be improved. 
     Besides, the pair of terminals  36  passes through the cap body  34  and is connected to the wiring pattern surface  31   a  of the substrate  31 . Accordingly, electrical connection can be obtained by assembling the caps  22  and  23  to the light source unit  21 , and thus the assembling property is excellent, and the structure can be simplified. 
     Besides, the ring  46  intervening between the straight-tube cover  20  and the cap  22 ,  23  can absorb the expansion and contraction change of the straight-tube cover  20  in the lamp longitudinal direction due to temperature change. 
     Besides, since the cap body  34  and the projection  35  are integrally formed, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling property can be improved. 
     Incidentally, the projection  35  may be formed separately from the cap body  34 , and the projection  35  may be attached to the cap body  34 . 
     Next, a second embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 . Incidentally, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description about the structure, operation and effect thereof is omitted. 
     In the straight tube type lamp  12 , the cap  22  at one end is provided with the terminals  36  and is a power supply side, and the cap  23  at the other end is not provided with the terminals  36  and is a non-power supply side. 
     Although the cap  22  at the one end of the straight tube type lamp  12  has the same cap structure as that of the first embodiment, the cap  23  at the other end is such that the pair of terminals  36  is removed from the cap structure of the first embodiment. That is, the cap  23  at the other end includes only the cap body  34  in which the projection  35  is protrudingly provided. 
     In the straight tube type lamp  12  in which the cap  22  at the one end is the power supply side, and the cap  23  at the other end is the non-power supply side, the same cap body  34  as that of the cap  22  at the one end can be commonly used for the cap  23  at the other end, and the cost of parts can be reduced. 
     Next, a third embodiment is shown in  FIG. 9 . Incidentally, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description about the structure, operation and effect thereof is omitted. 
     The straight tube type lamp  12  is such that the cap  22  at one end is provided with the terminals  36  and is a power supply side, and the cap (second cap)  23  at the other end is not provided with the terminals  36  and is a non-power supply side. 
     Although the cap  22  at the one end of the straight tube type lamp  12  has the same cap structure as that of the first embodiment, the cap  23  at the other end includes the cap body (second cap body)  34  in which the protrusion (second protrusion)  35  including the holding part  51  and the projecting part  52  is protrudingly provided. 
     Both side surfaces of the holding part  51  in a width direction are formed to be arc-shaped. When the projection  35  is inserted into the socket  14 , or is rotated and operated, the operation can be smoothly performed. 
     The insertion hole  44  is not opened in an end face of the cap body  34 , and intrusion of insects and dust into the straight-tube cover  20  can be prevented. 
     In the case of the second and third embodiments, with respect to wiring between the straight tube type lamp  12  and the power supply circuit  15 , the pair of feeders  77  of the power supply circuit  15  is connected only to the socket  13  at the one end, and power is supplied to the straight tube type lamp  12  from the cap  22  connected to the socket  13  at the one end. 
     Besides, in the case of the straight tube type lamp  12  in which the cap  22  at the one end is the power supply side and the cap  23  at the other end is the non-power supply side, colors of the rings  46  may be made different from each other, so that the cap  22  at the power supply side and the cap  23  at the non-power supply side are easily differentiated. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.