Patent Publication Number: US-2015070918-A1

Title: Adapter for led modules of the package/array type

Description:
The present invention relates to an adapter for LED modules. More particularly, the invention relates to an adapter for LED modules of the package/array type. 
     As is known, circular LED modules are commercially available whose space occupation and mounting dimensions comply with a very specific standard. The LEDs are already mounted inside the modules. 
     This allows interchangeability among the various modules of various manufacturers that comply with the standard. 
     In addition to LEDs, modules of the known type can have internally, soldered to the printed circuit, other electronic assemblies, which, connected to each other, allow receiving commands for the management of the LEDs (for example adjustment of light, color, etc.) and sending data for monitoring the internal temperature. 
     The circular module compliant with the above-cited standard is fixed by means of screws in a heat sink with the interposition of a heat dissipation interface. Since the fixing distances are standardized, it is possible to use modules of different manufacturers and having different luminous characteristics with a same type of heat sink, therefore with preset heat sink holes. 
     However, high-brightness LEDs, known as packages, arrays etc., having a substantially square or rectangular shape also are commercially available and might be used as an alternative to the circular modules compliant with the standard cited above, in the same lighting systems, fixed to a heat sink. 
     However, these modules, by not being standard-compliant, would not be compatible and interchangeable with the modules that meet the standard cited above. 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide an adapter for LED modules that allows rendering non-standardized LED modules of the type cited above interchangeable with standard-compliant circular LED modules. 
     Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an adapter that allows using square LED modules on the heat sink that would be used with standard LED modules. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter that is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and has low costs. 
     This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an adapter for LED modules, characterized in that it comprises an adapter body that is adapted to allow the accommodation of an LED module of a non-standardized type, said adapter body being able to be associated with a heat sink. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred not exclusive embodiment of the adapter according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an adapter according to the invention, of a corresponding LED module and of a heat sink; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the heat sink with the adapter and the corresponding LED package/array according to the invention mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a variation of the adapter shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the adapter of  FIG. 3  with the LED package/array mounted on the heat sink. 
     
    
    
     With reference to the figures, the adapter according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral  1 , comprises a body  2  that has a substantially circular shape or, if it has a rectangular or square shape, has rounded ends  3  and  4 , and connectors for wires  5  and  6  that are arranged mutually opposite at the longer sides of the body  2 . 
     Conveniently, the body  2  is shaped so as to have at least two fixing holes  7  and  8 , which allow fixing the body  2  to a heat sink  10 , at holes  11  and  12  that are present respectively on the upper face of the heat sink  10 . 
     In this manner, the body  2  can be coupled to the heat sink  10  with a connection that is standardized as regards the position of the holes. The body  2  allows accommodation of an LED package/array  15  inside it that does not have the standard circular shape but is of the package/array type. In this manner, the package/array  15  can be substantially rendered standard in fixing to the heat sink  10  thanks to the presence of the adapter  1 . 
     Moreover, the body  2  of the adapter  1  is provided internally with a cavity  16  whose perimetric profile has various shapes that however are commonly rectangular or square or hexagonal and allows accommodating the package/array  15  inside it and providing electrical contacts with the module  15  by means of metallic tabs  17  and  18  that protrude toward the inside of the cavity  16  and make contact with connecting pads  19  and  20 , respectively, the LED package/array  15 . 
     Conveniently, a conventional thermal interface module  21  is provided between the body  2  (and the corresponding LED module  15  mounted thereon) and the heat sink  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the assembly of the adapter  1  with the corresponding LED package/array  15  standardized in its mounting dimensions thanks to the presence of the adapter  1 . 
     The fixing of the adapter  1  to the heat sink  10  is provided by means of screws  22  and  23  that engage in the holes  7  and  8  respectively of the body  2  of the adapter  1  and are screwed in the holes  11  and  12 , respectively in the heat sink  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view of a constructive variation of the body  2  of the adapter  1 , wherein in the holes  7  and  8  of the body  2  there are two rivets  30  inserted in the two holes of the adapter, elastic means  31  being interposed between the upper head of said rivets and the wall of the mounting hole. 
     The screws  22  and  23  are made to pass through the rivets  30  and allow fixing the adapter  1  to the heat sink  10 . This allows the adapter  1  to have a vertical motion that allows pushing the LED package/array  15  through the interface  21  to the heat sink  10 , ensuring good and constant pressure. 
     When the adapter  1  is mounted over the LED package/array  15  inserted with the screws  22  and  23  in the heat sink  10 , the body  2  of the adapter  1  rises and, by compressing the spring  31  that is fitted in the mounting holes  7  and  8  between the body  2  of the adapter  1  and the head of the rivet  30 , it applies pressure to the upper surface of the LED module  15 , pushing it against the thermal dissipation interface  21  and the heat sink  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the adapter of  FIG. 3  assembled in the heat sink  10 . 
     In practice it has been found that the adapter according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows standardizing the use of package/array LED modules that have a different shape than modules of the standard type, despite using heat sink elements with holes that are standardized as regards their dimensions and position. 
     This allows using LED package/arrays of various types, thus rendering them mutually interchangeable. 
     Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art. 
     The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MI2012U000150 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.