Patent Publication Number: US-8113698-B2

Title: Light-emitting diode light bulb and application thereof

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 98109288, filed Mar. 20, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illumination device, and more particularly to a light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb and its application on a light-emitting diode illumination device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional diagram of a conventional light-emitting diode illumination device. A light-emitting diode illumination device  100  comprises a light fixture  102  and a typical light-emitting diode light bulb  112 . The light-emitting diode light bulb  112  includes a driver portion  104 , a base  106 , a light-emitting diode light plate  108  and a lamp cover  110 . The light-emitting diode light plate  108  is disposed on the base  106 , the base  106  along with the light-emitting diode light plate  108  set thereon are disposed on the driver portion  104 , and the lamp cover  110  covers the light-emitting diode light plate  108 . The light-emitting diode light plate  108  includes a circuit board  116  and a plurality of light-emitting diodes  114 , wherein the light-emitting diodes  114  are disposed on the circuit board  116  and are electrically connected to the driver portion  104 . By disposing the driver portion  104  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  on the light fixture  102 , the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  can be assembled in the light fixture  102  to complete the fabrication of the light-emitting diode illumination device  100 . 
     The light fixture  102  is a direct type light fixture, i.e. the illumination direction is from top to bottom. Therefore, when the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is assembled in the direct type light fixture  102 , light of the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is emitted from top to bottom as the illumination direction of a direct type light fixture, so that the illumination of the light-emitting diode illumination device  100  is not affected. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional diagram of another conventional light-emitting diode illumination device. A light-emitting diode illumination device  100   a  comprises a light fixture  102   a  and the light-emitting diode light bulb  112 . In the conventional light-emitting diode illumination device  100   a , the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is used to replace a fluorescent bulb in another conventional fluorescent light fixture. The light-emitting diode illumination devices  100   a  and  100  use the same light-emitting diode light bulb  112 . The difference between the light-emitting diode illumination devices  100  and  100   a  is that the light fixture  102   a  is a lateral type light fixture, i.e. a connection socket  118  of the light fixture  102   a  extends laterally from an inner side surface of the light fixture  102   a . The light fixtures shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are recessed lamps, for example. 
     When the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is assembled, the driver portion  104  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is installed into the connection socket  118  on the inner side surface of the light fixture  102   a . At present, the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  is laterally disposed in the light fixture  102   a , and the light-emitting diodes  114  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) on a front end of the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  face the inner side surface of the light fixture  102   a . The illumination direction of the light-emitting diodes  114  has directivity, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes  114  projects onto the inner side surface of the light fixture  102   a . Accordingly, the light emitted by the light-emitting diode light bulb  112  cannot be fully reflected downward, thereby greatly reducing the illumination of the light-emitting diode illumination device  100   a.    
     Therefore, in the current light-emitting diode light bulb, the illumination direction of the light-emitting diodes has directivity, so that the light-emitting diode light bulb only can be applied in a direct type light fixture and cannot be applied in a lateral type light fixture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting diode light bulb and a light-emitting diode illumination device including the same, in which a base carrying a light-emitting diode light source module is connected to a driver portion via a rotation shaft, so that the light-emitting diode light source module can rotate relative to the driver portion. As a result, the illumination direction of the light-emitting diode light bulb is not limited by the light fixture, and the application of the light-emitting diode light bulb can be broadened. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting diode light bulb and a light-emitting diode illumination device including the same, which can adjust the location of a light-emitting diode light source module in relation of a driver portion according to the light fixture, so that the light-emitting diode light bulb can be applied in a direct type or a lateral type light fixture. 
     According to the aforementioned aspects, the present invention provides a light-emitting diode light bulb, comprising: a light-emitting diode light source module; a base, wherein the light-emitting diode light source module is disposed on the base; and a driver portion to drive the light-emitting diode light source module, comprising a rotation shaft, wherein the driver portion is connected to the base via the rotation shaft, such that the light-emitting diode light source module can rotate relative to the driver portion. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the driver portion further comprises a fixed sleeve and a sliding sleeve slidably disposed within the fixed sleeve. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a rotation groove is set and passes through the base, and the fixed sleeve and the sliding sleeve can rotate in the rotation groove via the rotation shaft. 
     According to the aforementioned aspects, the present invention further provides a light-emitting diode illumination device, comprising: a light fixture including a connection socket; and a light-emitting diode light bulb comprising: a light-emitting diode light source module; a base, wherein the light-emitting diode light source module is disposed on the base; and a driver portion being assembled to the connection socket, wherein the driver portion comprises a rotation shaft, and the driver portion is connected to the base via the rotation shaft, such that the light-emitting diode light source module can rotate relative to the driver portion. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connection socket laterally extends from an inner side surface of the light fixture, and the driver portion of the light-emitting diode light bulb is located on an outer side surface of the base. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the connection socket is located on a top surface of the light fixture, and the driver portion of the light-emitting diode light bulb is located on a rear end of the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention are more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional diagram of a conventional light-emitting diode illumination device; 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional diagram of another conventional light-emitting diode illumination device; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a lateral view of a light-emitting diode light bulb in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode illumination device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while being pulled apart in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while being pulled apart in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while rotating in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while rotating in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective drawing of another light-emitting diode illumination device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a lateral view of a light-emitting diode light bulb in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode illumination device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a light-emitting diode light bulb  200  mainly comprises a light-emitting diode light source module  202 , a base  208  and a driver portion  210 , such as shown in  FIG. 4 . The light-emitting diode light source module  202  mainly comprises a circuit board  206  and a plurality of light-emitting diodes  204 . The circuit board  206  may be preset with a desired circuit, and the light-emitting diodes  204  are disposed on the circuit board  206  and are electrically connected to the preset circuit on the circuit board  206 . 
     The light-emitting diode light source module  202  is disposed on the base  208  and is carried by the base  208 . In one embodiment, such as shown in  FIG. 3 , according to the product requirement, the base  208  may further comprise a heat sink  218 , wherein the heat sink  218  may, for example, include a plurality of heat dissipating fins to facilitate the dissipating of the heat produced by the light-emitting diode light source module  202  during operation, so as to achieve the objectives of enhancing the luminous efficiency of the light-emitting diode light source module  202  and prolonging the lifetime of the light-emitting diode light source module  202 . In one exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  may selectively include a lamp cover  216  covering the light-emitting diode light source module  202 . In addition to protecting the light-emitting diode light source module  202 , the lamp cover  216  may be used to adjust the optical effects, such as a diffusion effect, according to the product requirements. 
     The driver portion  210  is mainly used to drive the light-emitting diode light source module  202 . The driver portion  210  comprises a rotation shaft  214 , and the driver portion  210  can be connected to the base  208  via the rotation shaft  214 , such as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the driver portion  210  is located on a rear end of the base  208 . The driver portion  210  may usually include a power connection port  212 , wherein the power connection port  212  can be electrically connected to an external power source to provide the light-emitting diode light source module  202  with the power. In one exemplary embodiment, the power connection port  212  of the driver portion  210  may include a connection structure, such as a thread structure  240  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to facilitate the connection of the power connection port  212  and the light fixture. 
     Refer to  FIG. 4 . A light-emitting diode illumination device  232  mainly comprises the above-mentioned light-emitting diode light bulb  200  and a light fixture  228 . In one exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting diode illumination device  232  may be, for example, a recessed lamp. The light fixture  228  comprises a connection socket  230 , wherein the connection socket  230  may be located on a top surface of the light fixture  228 . The connection socket  230  of the light fixture  228  may be set with a connection structure (not shown) corresponding to the connection structure of the power connection port  212  of the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200 . For example, the power connection port  212  of the driver portion  210  has the thread structure  240 , so that an inner side surface of the connection socket  230  of the light fixture  228  may be set with a corresponding thread structure. Therefore, by rotating and locking the power connection port  212  in the connection socket  230  of the light fixture  228 , the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can be assembled in the light fixture  228  to form the light-emitting diode illumination device  232 . It is worthy of note that the connection method between the power connection port  212  of the driver portion  210  and the connection socket  230  of the light fixture  228  can be replaced by the other methods, such as a jamming connection method, and is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. 
     Such as shown in  FIG. 4 , in the light-emitting diode illumination device  232 , the light fixture  228  is a direct type light fixture, and the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  is located on the rear end of the base  208 . Therefore, after the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  is assembled in the light fixture  228 , the light-emitting directions of the light-emitting diodes  204  of the light-emitting diode light source module  202  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  are from top to down, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can be fully projected downward, and the light-emitting diode illumination device  232  can obtain the predetermined illumination. 
     In the present embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  may further include a fixed sleeve  220  and a sliding sleeve  222  selectively. The sliding sleeve  222  is slidably disposed within the fixed sleeve  220 . In the light-emitting diode light bulb  200 , the rotation shaft  214  of the driver portion  210  passes through one end of the fixed sleeve  220 , and the sliding sleeve  222  is disposed within the fixed sleeve  220 , so that the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  can be integrated with the base  208  via the rotation shaft  214 . In one embodiment, the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  may further selectively include an elastic element  224 , such as a spring or an elastic washer. The elastic element  224  is set around an outer side surface of the sliding sleeve  222  and is located between the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  to provide elasticity to facilitate the combination and the positioning of the driver portion  210  and the base  208 . 
     In the present embodiment, according to the design of the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  of the driver portion  210 , the base  208  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  may be further set with a rotation groove  226 . The rotation groove  226  may pass through the base  208 , the rotation shaft  214  of the driver portion  210  spans and is fixed inside the rotation groove  226  of the base  208 , and the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  are also located inside the rotation groove  226 . With the rotation shaft  214 , the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  can rotate in the rotation groove  226  of the base  208 , such that the light-emitting diode light source module  202  carried by the base  208  can rotate relative to the driver portion  210 . 
     Accordingly, in the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  of the present embodiment, the location of the light-emitting diode light source module  202  in relation of the driver portion  210  can be adjusted by rotating according to various light fixtures. 
     Simultaneously refer to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are respectively a three-dimensional drawing and a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while being pulled apart in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. With the design of the fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  of the driver portion  210 , the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can be pulled apart between the base  208  and the driver portion  210  to make a distance form between the driver portion  210  and the base  208 , such as shown in  FIG. 5 . At present, such as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sliding sleeve  222  slides outwardly from the fixed sleeve  220  and compresses the elastic element  224 . 
     Simultaneously refer to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  are respectively a three-dimensional drawing and a perspective drawing of a light-emitting diode light bulb while rotating in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. After the base  208  and the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  are pulled apart, the driver portion  210  and the base  208  can be relatively rotated by using the rotation shaft  214  as a rotation axis, such as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Then, the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can be rotated to a side surface of the base  208 . Then, with the reverberated elasticity of the elastic element  224  between fixed sleeve  220  and the sliding sleeve  222  of the driver portion  210 , the sliding sleeve  222  can be pulled back toward the fixed sleeve  220  to make the driver portion  210  be against and positioned on the outer side surface of the base  208 , such as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Thus, the current light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can be assembled in a lateral type light fixture. Referring to  FIG. 9  again, in a light-emitting diode illumination device  238 , a light fixture  234  is a lateral type light fixture, and a connection socket  236  of the light fixture  234  laterally extends from an inner side surface of the light fixture  234 . Therefore, when the current light-emitting diode light bulb  200  is assembled in the light fixture  234 , the light-emitting direction of the light-emitting diodes  204  of the light-emitting diode light source module  202  disposed on the front end of the base  208  is from top to bottom and is not toward the inner side surface of the light fixture  234  after the power connection port  212  of the driver portion  210  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  is installed in the connection socket  236  of the light fixture  234 . Accordingly, after the current light-emitting diode light bulb  200  is assembled in the lateral type light fixture  234 , the light-emitting diode light source module  202  of the light-emitting diode light bulb  200  can fully exhibit its illumination and is not affected by the light fixture  234 . In one exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting diode illumination device  238  may be, for example, a recessed lamp. 
     According to the aforementioned embodiments, one advantage of the present invention is that in a light-emitting diode light bulb of the present invention, a base carrying a light-emitting diode light source module is connected to a driver portion via a rotation shaft, so that the light-emitting diode light source module can rotate relative to the driver portion. Therefore, the illumination direction of the light-emitting diode light bulb is not limited by the light fixture, so that the application of the light-emitting diode light bulb can be broadened. 
     According to the aforementioned embodiments, another advantage of the present invention is that a light-emitting diode light bulb of the present invention can adjust the location of a light-emitting diode light source module in relation of a driver portion according to the light fixture, so that the light-emitting diode light bulb can be applied in a direct type or a lateral type light fixture. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.