Patent Publication Number: US-2010118532-A1

Title: Illumination device and light emitting diode module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 97143401, filed on Nov. 10, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a light source module. More specifically, the present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) module. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device constituted mainly by a group III-V compound semiconductor material. The semiconductor material has a special property capable of converting the electrical energy into optical energy. More specifically, electrons and holes within the semiconductor material will combine to release the excessive energy in the form of light when a current is sent through the semiconductor material. Hence, the LED is able to emit light. 
     Because the light produced by the LED is a type of cold emission neither thermal emission nor electric discharge luminescence, the working life of an LED device often exceeds a hundred thousand hours. Furthermore, LED devices do not require idling time. In addition, the LED devices have a very high responsive speed (about 10 −9  second), a very low degree of pollution (no mercury contained) and very high reliability. Moreover, they are of a very small volume, use very little electricity and are particularly suitable for mass production. With these advantages, the applications of light emitting diodes are far and wide. 
     Due to the characteristics of the LEDs of longer working life and little electricity consumption, fluorescent lamps and incandescent bulbs are gradually replaced with the LEDs in some fields, such as a scanning light source which requires high reaction speed, a backlight source of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, car dashboard illumination for a car with front light source, traffic signs, large electronic display bulletins and general illumination devices. 
     Most of the conventional LED modules are arranged linearly, and the LED modules with the linear arrangement are usually suitable for application in strip-shaped lamps. When the linearly arranged LED modules are used in circular lamps or other shapes, plenty of blank regions would remain and consequently affect the overall appearance of the lamp. Moreover, since the conventional LED modules are applied in lamps, the entire lamp case needs to be detached when one of the elements in the LED module malfunctions and requires maintenance or replacement. As a result, the maintenance difficulty and the maintenance cost increase. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a light emitting diode (LED) module. The LED module has a connector that can randomly connect a plurality of LED modules to form linear or planar illumination devices. 
     The present invention provides an LED module. The LED module includes a carrier, a first connector, a plurality of second connectors, and a plurality of LEDs disposed on the carrier. The carrier has a first edge and a plurality of second edges. The first connector is disposed on the first edge of the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier. The second connectors are disposed on the second edges of the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier respectively. Each of the second connectors may correspond and be electrically connected to the other LED module. The LEDs are electrically connected to the carrier. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape of the carrier includes a hexagon, and the LEDs are arranged to the hexagon. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first connector has a plug portion protruding from the first edge. Each of the second connectors has a socket portion and the edges of the socket portions substantially align with the second edges. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further comprises a magnetic element. The magnetic element is disposed on the carrier so that the carrier has magnetism. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a plurality of lenses. The lenses are disposed on the carrier, and cover the LEDs respectively. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the lenses are disposed on the carrier by adhering, screwing, or locking. 
     The present invention further provides an LED module. The LED module includes a carrier, a plurality of first connectors, a plurality of second connectors, and a plurality of LEDs disposed on the carrier. The carrier has a plurality of first edges and a plurality of second edges. The first connectors are disposed on the first edges of the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier respectively. The second connectors are disposed on the second edges of the carrier and are electrically connected to the carrier respectively. Each of the second connectors may be correspond and electrically connected to the first connectors of the other LED module. The LEDs are electrically connected to the carrier. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the first edges has a notch, and each of the first connectors has a plurality of first pins located within the notch and aligned with the first edge. Each of the second connectors has a plurality of second pins protruding from the second edge. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the second connectors and the first connectors are alternately arranged. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape of the carrier includes a hexagon, and the LEDs are arranged to the hexagon. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a magnetic element. The magnetic element is disposed on the carrier so that the carrier has magnetism. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the LEDs are respectively located in the corners formed by each of adjacent two of the first edges and second edges. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a plurality of lenses. The lenses are disposed on the carrier and cover the LEDs respectively. 
     The present invention further provides an LED module. The LED module includes a carrier, a plurality of LEDs, and at least a connecting wire. The LEDs and the connecting wire are disposed on the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier respectively. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape of the carrier includes a hexagon, and the LEDs are arranged to the hexagon. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a magnetic element. The magnetic element is disposed on the carrier so that the carrier has magnetism. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a plurality of lenses. The lenses are disposed on the carrier and cover the LEDs respectively. 
     The present invention further provides an illumination device. The illumination device includes a plurality of LED modules selected from the LED modules aforementioned. The LED modules are electrically connected to other LED modules by the first connector or the second connector of one LED module electrically connecting with the first connector or the second connector of the other LED module, or via the connecting wire. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a magnetic element. The magnetic element is disposed on the carrier to provide the carrier with magnetism. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, further includes a plurality of lenses. The lenses are disposed on the carrier and cover the LEDs respectively. 
     Based on the above, according to the present invention, since the LED module has the connector, a user can assemble the plurality of LED modules into a plurality of geometrical illumination devices via the plug portion of one of the connectors inserts to the socket portion of one of the connectors of the other LED module. Therefore, the present invention not only expands the application range of the LED modules, but also performs maintenance or replacement more conveniently. 
     In order to make the above and other features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic top view of an LED module in one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the substrate depicted in  FIG. 1A  along a line I-I′. 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2D  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2E  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2F  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic top view of an LED module in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of an LED module in another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic top view of an LED module in one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the substrate depicted in  FIG. 1A  along a line I-I′. Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , it should be noted that some components are omitted in  FIG. 1A  to simplify the description. In the present embodiment, an LED module  100  includes a carrier  102 , a connector  101 , a plurality of LEDs  108  and a plurality of lenses  110 . Here, the connector  101  includes a first connector  104  and a plurality of second connectors  106  (in  FIG. 1A , only five second connectors are exemplarily shown). 
     More specifically, the carrier  102  has a first edge  102   a  and a plurality of second edges  102   b . Especially, in the present embodiment, the carrier  102  is a hexagonal structure, and the carrier  102  is a glass fiber (FR4) substrate or an aluminum substrate, for example. In other embodiments, the shape of the carrier  102  can be a quadrangle, a pentagon, or other polygons. Thus, the shape of the carrier  102  shown in  FIG. 1A  is merely exemplificative and should not be construed as limitations to the present invention. 
     The first connector  104  is disposed on the first edge  102   a  of the carrier  102  and electrically connected to the carrier  102 . Herein, the first connector  104  includes a plug portion  104   a , and the plug portion  104   a  protrudes from the first edge  102   a . In other words, the first connector  104  is a male plug as a matter of fact. 
     The second connectors  106  are disposed on the second edges  102   b  of the carrier  102  respectively and electrically connected to the carrier  102 . Each of the second connectors  106  includes a socket portion  106   a , and the edges of the socket portions  106   a  substantially align with the second edges  102   b . In other words, the second connectors  106  are female sockets as a matter of fact. 
     The LEDs  108  are disposed on the carrier  102  and electrically connected to the carrier  102 . In the present embodiment, the LEDs  108  are the surface mount device (SMD) type LEDs. In addition, the LEDs  108  are arranged in equidistant arrangement along the track of the hexagon  114 . Namely, the LEDs  108  are arranged to the hexagon. In other embodiments, the LEDs  108  can be arranged to a polygon or respectively disposed on a plurality of corners formed by the first edge  102   a  and the second edges  102   b  of the carrier  102 . Therefore, the arrangement of the plurality of LEDs  108  indicated in  FIG. 1A  is merely exemplificative and should not be construed as limitations to the present invention. 
     Furthermore, the LEDs  108  include white light LEDs, red light LEDs, green light LEDs, or blue light LEDs. The LEDs  108  of different colors may constitute the LED modules  100  with different colors. For instance, a plurality of white light LEDs  108  constitutes a white light LED module  100 . A plurality of red light LEDs  108  constitutes a red light LED modules  100 . Thus, the user may assemble the LED modules  100  of different colors as required to produce diverse illumination effects. 
     It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the number of the LEDs  108 , the distance between the LEDs  108 , the color combination and the arrangement methods. Despite six LEDs  108  are specified herein and arranged equidistantly along the track of a hexagon, the number of the LEDs  108 , the distance between the LEDs  108 , the color combination, and the arrangement methods can be properly modified in other embodiments by different users with various demands for brightness distribution, which still belongs to a technical means adoptable in the present invention and falls within the protection scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , the LED module  100  of the present invention includes the lenses  110  disposed on the carrier  102 , and the lenses  110  cover the LEDs  108  respectively. In the present embodiment, the lenses  110  are disposed on the carrier  102  by adhering, screwing, or locking. In addition, the material of the lenses  110  includes glass or plastic. Especially, in the present embodiment, the material of the lenses  110  is transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The light beam emitted by the LEDs  108  is transmitted to the external environment through the lenses  110 . Therefore, not only the light emitting efficiency of the LEDs  108  is enhanced, but the light emitting uniformity of the LED module  100  is increased. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, the LED module  100  further includes a magnetic element  112 . The magnetic element  112  is disposed on the carrier  102 , wherein the magnetic element  112  is, for example, a magnet to provide the carrier  102  with magnetism. Namely, the carrier  102  has magnetism. The LEDs  108  can be magnetically attached to other magnetic devices through the magnetic device  112 , so as to utilize the LED module  100  in an easy and convenient manner, and extend the application range of the LED module  100 . 
     In the present embodiment, since the LED module  100  has the first connector  104  (i.e., the male plug) and the second connectors  106  (i.e., the female sockets), each of the second connectors  106  may correspond and be electrically connected to the first connector  104  of the other LED module  100 . In other words, the user can assemble the plurality of LED modules  100  into a plurality of geometrical illumination devices via the plug portion  104   a  of the first connector  104  to the socket portion  106   a  of one of the second connectors  106  of the other LED module  100 . A plurality of diverse illumination devices formed by the plurality of LED modules  100  in  FIG. 1A  is described in the following. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an illumination device  200   a  comprises with four LED modules  100  serial-connected together. In detail, the LED modules  100  are assembled into a straight structure, as the so called straight-type illumination device, via the plug portions  104   a  of the first connectors  104  connect to the socket portions  106   a  of the second connectors  106  of other LED modules  100 . Moreover, in other embodiments, since all the LED modules  100  have hexagonal structures, in other words, each of the LED modules  100  has six edges, the plurality of LED modules  100  can be serially connected into a non-straight structure of an illumination device  200   b . Namely, referring to  FIG. 2B , at least one of the LED modules  100  is not arranged on a reference line L. 
       FIG. 2C  is a schematic top view of the combination of a plurality of LED modules in another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2C , an illumination device  200   c  comprises with seven LED modules  100  serial-connected together or parallel-connected together. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a single LED module  100  is the center, and each edge of this LED module  100  (including the first edge  102   a  and the second edges  102   b ) is connected to the other LED module  100 , and the LED modules  100  are all connected with each other. In other words, the illumination device  200   c  is formed by the plug portions  104   a  of the first connectors  104  connecting to the socket portions  106   a  of the second connectors  106 . 
     Furthermore, the LED modules  100  can share a power supply (not shown), wherein the number of the LED modules  100  assembled depends on the power watts provided by the power supply. That is, the higher watt provided by the power supply, the greater the number of LED modules  100  can be connected together. Consequently, the illumination device  200   c  is formed by the LED modules  100  that are connected in serial or parallel. 
     Besides, in other embodiments, the LED modules  100  can be connected in serial or parallel to form illumination devices of other formats, such as  200   d ,  200   e , and  200   f , as shown in  FIG. 2D ,  FIG. 2E , and  FIG. 2F . Herein, the major difference among the illumination devices  200   d ,  200   e , and  200   f  is that the illumination device  200   d  comprises with five LED modules  100 , the illumination device  200   e  comprises with three LED modules  100 , and the illumination device  200   f  comprises with four LED modules  100 . The illumination devices  200   d ,  200   e , and  200   f  assembled by the LED modules  100  are connected in serial or parallel to obtain different geometric figures, and the illumination distributions of illumination devices  200   d ,  200   e , and  200   f  are all different. 
     It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the combination pattern of the illumination devices  200   a  to  200   f . Although the illumination devices  200   a  and  200   b  mentioned in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are assembled by the plurality of LED modules  100  that are connected in serial, the illumination devices  200   c  to  200   f  referred to in  FIG. 2C  to  FIG. 2F  are assembled by the plurality of LED modules  100  that are connected in serial or parallel. However, in other embodiments (not shown), the geometrical illumination devices  200   a  to  200   f  merely formed by the plug portions  104   a  of the first connectors  104  connecting to the socket portions  106   a  of the second connectors  106  would still be a part of the technical proposal of the present invention and not departing from the scope of protection sought by the present invention. 
     In short, the LED module  100  of the present embodiment can assemble the LED modules  100  into the geometrical illumination devices  200   a  to  200   f  by the plug portions  104   a  of the first connectors  104  connecting to the socket portions  106   a  of the second connectors  106 . As a consequence, the application scope of the LED modules  100  is extended. Moreover, as the connectors  101  are assembled to each other to compose the LED modules  100  in the present embodiment, the assembly would be convenient for the user, and when the LED modules  100  malfunction or require maintenance, the user can easily detach the LED modules to perform maintenance or replacement. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic top view of an LED module in another embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that some components are omitted in  FIG. 3  to simplify the description. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the present embodiment, an LED module  200  in  FIG. 3  is similar to the LED module  100  in  FIG. 1A . The main difference between the LED module  200  and the LED module  100  is that a connector  201  disposed on a carrier  202 . 
     More particularly, in the present embodiment, the carrier  202  has a plurality of first edges  202   a  and a plurality of second edges  202   b , and each of the first edges  202   a  includes a notch  203 . The connector  201  includes a plurality of first connectors  204  (in  FIG. 3 , only three first connectors are exemplarily shown) and a plurality of second connectors  206  (in  FIG. 3 , only three second connectors are exemplarily shown). Here, the first connectors  204  are disposed on the first edges  202   a  of the carrier  202  respectively and electrically connected to the carrier  202 . The second connectors  206  are disposed on the second edges  202   b  of the carrier  202  respectively and electrically connected to the carrier  202 . 
     In detail, each of the first connectors  204  disposed on the first edge  202   a  has a plurality of first leads  204   a . Additionally, the first pins  204   a  are disposed within the notches  203 , and the first pins  204   a  are aligned with the first edges  202   a . In other words, the first connectors  204  are female plugs as a matter of fact. Each of the second connectors  206  disposed on the second edge  202   b  of the carrier  202  includes a plurality of second pins  206   a . Moreover, the second pins  206   a  protrude from the second edges  202   b . In other words, the second connectors  206  are male plugs as a matter of fact. Especially, in the present embodiment, the second connectors  206  and the first connectors  204  are alternately arranged. 
     In the present embodiment, as the second connectors  206  and the first connectors  204  are alternately arranged, when a plurality of LED modules  200  is assembled into linear or planar illumination devices, the second pins  206   a  of the second connectors  206  of a single LED module  200  connect in serial or parallel to the first pins  204   a  of the first connectors  204  of a plurality of LED modules  200  so as to form linear (not shown) or planar illumination devices (referring to  FIG. 4 ). Herein, the geometrical pattern formed can be similar to those in  FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2F , but is not limited thereto. 
     In short, since the second connectors  206  and the first connectors  204  of the LED modules  200  in the present embodiment are alternately arranged, when the plurality of LED modules  200  is assembled into a plurality of diverse illumination devices by serial or parallel connection, it is assured that each of the LED modules  200  is tightly connected to each other. Hence, the brightness and the illumination uniformity of the illumination devices assembled by the LED modules  200  are increase. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of an LED module in another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , an LED module  300  in  FIG. 5  is similar to the LED module  100  in  FIG. 1A . The main difference between the LED module  300  and the LED module  100  is that the LED module  300  in  FIG. 5  has at least a connecting wire  301 . In addition, an end of the connecting wire  301  is disposed on a carrier  302  to replace the connecting function of the connector  101  in  FIG. 1A . As a result, the connecting wire  301  can be used to connect a plurality of LED modules  300  in serial or parallel to assemble an illumination device. Here, the geometrical patterns formed can be the same as those in  FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2F , but are not limited thereto. 
     In light of the foregoing, as the LED module of the present invention includes at least one connector with pluggable function, the user may assemble a plurality of diverse geometrical illumination devices as required with the plurality of LED modules by the plug portion of one of the connectors connecting to the socket portion of one of the connectors of the other LED module. Therefore, the design of the LED module of the present invention not only extends the application scope of the LED module, but also brings convenience to the user to perform maintenance or replacement. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.