Lighting unit with LED strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538596-B2
Application number	US-201213983086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2012
Priority date	Feb 4, 2011
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

What is described is a lighting unit 10 with a plurality of lighting segments 30 a, 30 b . The lighting segments 30 a, 30 b are arranged on a strip 40 in spaced relation from each other. Each lighting segment 30 a, 30 b is connected to an electrical supply terminal 20 . In order to obtain a lighting unit with a flexible electrical configuration, each lighting segment 30 a, 30 b comprises at least one LED element and at least one driver circuit 36 including a controllable, current limiting element for controlling a current through the LED element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting unit comprising:
a plurality of lighting segments arranged on a flexible strip, each lighting segment in spaced relation from each other, and each lighting segment being electrically connected to an electrical supply terminal, each lighting segment comprising:
an LED element;
a driver circuit including a controllable, current limiting element for controlling a current through said LED element;
a segment input terminal; and
a segment output terminal;
wherein the segment input terminal of a first of said plurality of lighting segments is electrically connected to said electrical supply terminal; and

wherein said plurality of lighting segments are arranged such that a segment input terminal of each respective lighting segment is connected to a segment output terminal of said respective lighting segment's neighboring lighting segment;
wherein each respective lighting segment is configured to be severable from said respective lighting segment's neighboring lighting segment by disconnecting the respective lighting segment's input or output terminal from the neighboring lighting segment's input or output lighting terminal, and wherein a group of one or more of said lighting segments separated from one or more of said remaining lighting segments are still operable by means of electrical power supplied to at least one of said segment input terminals; and
wherein said flexible strip is configured to be severable between any of the plurality of lighting segments.

2. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein said controllable current limiting element is controlled by a control signal from a control signal circuit to control said current through said LED element.

3. The lighting unit according to claim 2 , wherein said control signal circuit comprises a reference voltage element to deliver a constant voltage signal.

4. The lighting unit according to claim 3 , further comprising a central control unit delivering a central control signal to said driver circuits.

5. The lighting unit according to claim 4 , wherein each of said lighting segments comprises a capacitor arranged to buffer a supply voltage.

6. The lighting unit according to claim 5 , wherein said driver circuit comprises a current sensing element arranged in series with said LED element.

7. The lighting unit according to claim 6 , wherein said lighting segments are electrically connected in parallel to said electrical supply terminal.

8. The lighting unit according to claim 7 , wherein each lighting segment comprises a plurality of LED elements electrically connected in series.

9. The lighting unit according to claim 8 , further comprising an electrical supply unit including an AC/DC converter to supply DC voltage to said electrical supply terminal.

10. The lighting unit according to claim 9 , further comprising an elongate housing element comprising electrical contacts arranged at least at one end thereof, said strip being arranged at said elongate housing element, and said electrical contacts being connected to said electrical supply terminal.

11. The lighting unit according to claim 10 , wherein said housing element is a transparent or translucent enclosure, and said strip is arranged within said enclosure.

12. The lighting unit according to claim 4 , each lighting segment further comprising a Zener diode and a resistor for coupling in the central control signal.

13. The lighting unit according to claim 4 , wherein the central control unit comprises a microcontroller with a control output.

14. A lighting fixture including:
a ballast for supplying AC electrical power to a socket,
wherein a lighting unit according to claim 1 is arranged within said socket, such that said electrical supply terminal is electrically connected to said ballast.

15. A lighting unit comprising:
a plurality of lighting segments arranged on a flexible strip, each lighting segment in spaced relation from each other, and each lighting segment being electrically connected to an electrical supply terminal, each lighting segment comprising:
an LED element;
a driver circuit including a controllable, current limiting element for controlling a current through said LED element;
a segment input terminal; and
a segment output terminal;
a central control unit delivering a central control signal to said driver circuit, wherein said controllable current limiting element is controlled by the control signal from the control signal unit to control said current through said LED element;

wherein the segment input terminal of a first of said plurality of lighting segments is electrically connected to said electrical supply terminal;
wherein said plurality of lighting segments are arranged such that a segment input terminal of each respective lighting segment is connected to a segment output terminal of said respective lighting segment's neighboring lighting segment;
wherein each respective lighting segment is configured to be severable from said respective lighting segment's neighboring lighting segment by disconnecting the respective lighting segment's input or output terminal from the neighboring lighting segment input or output lighting terminal, and wherein a group of one or more of said lighting segments separated from one or more of said remaining lighting segments are still operable by means of electrical power supplied to at least one of said segment input terminals; and
wherein said flexible strip is configured to be severable between any of the plurality of lighting segments.

Assignees

• Radermacher Harald Josef Günther
• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Radermacher Harald Josef Günther

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• H05B45/37

  Converter circuits · CPC title

• H05B45/46

  having LEDs disposed in parallel lines · CPC title

• F21V23/005

  the substrate is supporting also the light source · CPC title

• F21V99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title