Lamp with driver board and socket

Abstract

Lamp (1) comprising a driver board (16) and a base (2) which are electrically connected to each other by means of a plug connection (3, 17), wherein a female part (3) of the plug connection (3, 17) has exactly two contact elements (5, 6) which are potted separately from each other in an electrically insulating potting compound (4), and wherein the base (2) is a screw base, wherein a first contact element (5) is electrically connected to a metallic screw thread (112) of the base (2) serving as a first connection contact, and a second contact element (6) serving as a central contact (14) of the base (2) is passed through the potting compound (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lamp comprising a driver board and a base that are electrically connected to each other. The invention is applicable, for example, to semiconductor lamps, in particular LED lamps, especially retrofit lamps, for example as replacements for conventional incandescent or halogen lamps.

[0002] LED retrofit lamps with a driver board and an electrically connected base are known, the electrical connection to the driver board being made via wires or wired components such as a PTH fuse resistor, by soldering or clamping.

[0003] For example, it shows Fig. 1 a semiconductor retrofit lamp 101 in the form of a state-of-the-art LED retrofit lamp. The semiconductor retrofit lamp 101 It has a translucent bulb on the front. 102 on, which has an LED module 103 arched. The LED module 103It features several LED chips on the front. 104 on, which are on a common substrate 105 (e.g., a circuit board or a ceramic substrate). The LED chips 104 are also of a beam-shaping optical element 106 arched, e.g., a complexly shaped lens. The substrate 105 comes with a driver board 107 electrically connected. The driver board 107 is equipped with electrical and / or electronic driver modules 108 equipped, which together form a driver 107 , 108 form. The driver 107 , 108 is in a driver cavity 109 accommodated parallel to a longitudinal direction of the semiconductor retrofit lamp 101 aligned. The driver cavity 109 has a rear opening 110 up, which are mounted on a base 111 is completed. The base 111 indicates a side contact112 in the form of a sleeve-like metallic screw thread that forms a laterally circumferential surface of the base 111 occupies a space in an opening on the front side. 112a of the lateral contact 112 is a central or foot contact 113 present, which is from the side contact 112 It is electrically isolated. The driver board 107 is with foot contact 113 via a PTH fuse resistor 114 electrically connected and with the side contact 112 via a simple wire (not shown). In the case of the semiconductor retrofit lamp 101 The disadvantage arises that the electrical connection between the driver 107 , 108 and the base 111 its production is complex and particularly difficult to automate.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an improved possibility for electrical connection between the socket and the driver board.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in particular in the dependent claims.

[0006] The task is solved by a lamp that has a driver board and a socket, which are electrically connected to each other by means of a plug connection.

[0007] This lamp offers the advantage of simplified manufacturing due to the elimination of wires. This allows for increased throughput in lamp production and a reduction in the number of components required. The electrical connection remains safe.

[0008] The base is used to receive or feed in electrical signals ("supply signals"), e.g. a mains voltage.

[0009] The driver board is part of a driver electronics system that comprises several electrical and / or electronic components (hereinafter referred to as "driver modules"). The driver board may be equipped with all or only some of these driver modules. The driver electronics convert the electrical signals received at the socket into signals for operating at least one of the lamp's light sources (hereinafter referred to as "operating signals"). For this purpose, it is electrically connected to the socket at its input.

[0010] The lamp has at least one light source electrically connected to the output side of the driver board or the associated driver.

[0011] The at least one light source may comprise at least one semiconductor light source. In particular, the at least one semiconductor light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED). If several LEDs are present, they can emit the same color or different colors. A color can be monochromatic (e.g., red, green, blue, etc.) or multichromatic (e.g., white). The light emitted by the at least one LED can also be infrared light (IR LED) or ultraviolet light (UV LED). Several LEDs can produce a mixed light; e.g., a white mixed light. The at least one LED can contain at least one wavelength-converting phosphor (conversion LED). The phosphor can be arranged remotely from the LED, either alternatively or additionally ("remote phosphor"). The at least one LED can be in the form of at least one individually packaged LED or in the form of at least one LED chip.Multiple LED chips can be mounted on a common substrate (submount). The at least one LED can be equipped with at least one dedicated and / or shared optical system for beam guidance, e.g., at least one Fresnel lens, collimator, and so on. Instead of or in addition to inorganic LEDs, e.g., based on InGaN or AlInGaP, organic LEDs (OLEDs, e.g., polymer OLEDs) can also be used. Alternatively, the at least one semiconductor light source can, for example, include at least one diode laser.

[0012] A plug connection may be understood to mean, in particular, a connection consisting of two plug parts that can be brought into contact with each other by means of a linear insertion motion and can be separated from each other again by means of an opposing motion. The plug connection may, in particular, have a male (plug) part that can be inserted into at least one receptacle of a female (plug) part of the plug connection to establish the connection. It is possible to move the male part, the female part, or both.

[0013] The male part can, in the following, also be referred to as "plug" without restriction of generality, and the female part can, in the following, also be referred to as "socket" without restriction of generality.

[0014] It is a further development where the male part or plug is permanently connected to the driver board and the female part or socket is permanently connected to the base. It is a further development where the socket is permanently connected to the driver board and the plug is permanently connected to the base. Hybrid forms are also possible. The plug and socket can be separately manufactured components that are connected to the driver board or the base during lamp assembly, for example, by being clamped or soldered onto it.

[0015] The driver board can be offset laterally with respect to the lamp axis or longitudinal axis of the lamp, particularly to allow larger components to be placed on one side of the driver board, thus making better use of the space within the driver cavity. In this case, the lamp socket connector may also be positioned laterally off-center.

[0016] It is a particularly easy-to-implement design in which the male part of the connector is formed by means of at least one edge-mounted projection (hereinafter referred to as a "connector projection") on the driver board. This at least one connector projection is then an integral part of the driver board. This eliminates the need for a separately manufactured connector.

[0017] The at least one connector protrusion may be occupied on one or both sides by at least one section of at least one conductor structure of the driver board, e.g., by a contact pad and / or a conductor track section. Occupancy on both sides can improve electrical contact with the socket.

[0018] Another embodiment involves a female part or socket of the connector having at least two contact elements that are separately potted in an electrically insulating potting compound. This allows the two contact elements to be securely fixed electrically, easily automated, and without the need for soldering. Furthermore, such a fixation is particularly robust and cost-effective. Alternatively, the socket may also have only one contact element.

[0019] A socket comprising the contact elements and the potting compound can be provided by potting (including injection molding). This socket is robust and easy to handle, for example, for further assembly of the lamp.

[0020] The potting compound may be made of plastic. For particularly simple and cost-effective manufacturing, the contact elements can be injection-molded or overmolded with the potting compound. The potting compound provides at least one receptacle for the connector. At least parts of the at least one contact element are arranged in the receptacle to enable electrical contact with the inserted connector.

[0021] It is a further development that the connector has several adjacent mating protrusions, and the potting compound provides the respective receptacles or receptacle areas. This allows the connector to be inserted particularly securely. To prevent short circuits and / or to ensure sufficiently long creepage or clearance distances, the receptacles or receptacle areas are separated from each other by the potting compound, e.g., by at least one partition. In particular, a contact element projects into at least one receptacle, and especially into each receptacle.

[0022] Another embodiment involves the contact elements being designed as clamp connections and / or cutting connections for connection to the plug. This enables a particularly secure connection to the plug, e.g., with at least one of the plug's prongs.

[0023] Another design feature is that the female part of the connector has exactly two contacts. This allows for easy connection to a standard household mains voltage. With more than two contacts, at least one can be used for transmitting information signals.

[0024] Furthermore, one embodiment allows at least one contact element to be connected to a respective outer terminal contact of the socket. This enables a multi-part electrical connection between the driver board and the outer terminal contact. The contact element of the socket may therefore be in electrical contact with a separately manufactured outer terminal contact (element) of the socket.

[0025] A connection contact or external connection contact may in particular be understood to be an electrically conductive element or component which has an electrical contact surface that can be contacted from outside the lamp, e.g. for electrical contacting a suitable socket.

[0026] It is a further development that at least one contact element is passed through the potting compound and, with its exposed portion or section, serves as a connection contact. This allows an electrical connection between the driver board and an outer surface of the socket, and thus also the lamp, to be created in one piece using the associated contact element. This can be implemented with a particularly small number of components.

[0027] It is also an embodiment in which the base is a screw base, a first contact element (in particular of only two contact elements) is electrically connected to a metallic screw thread of the base serving as a first connection contact, and a second contact element (in particular of only two contact elements) is passed through the potting compound as a central contact of the base, serving as a second connection contact.

[0028] The screw base may be an Edison screw base. The metallic screw thread may be part of the base casing and also be referred to as a side contact or outer contact. The central contact may also be referred to as a bottom contact or foot contact.

[0029] Alternatively, the side contact or external contact may be designed, for example, as a bayonet contact of a bayonet socket.

[0030] A contact element of the socket may contact the side contact by force-locking and / or form-locking means.

[0031] It is a further development that the bushing is firmly connected to the side contact. The bushing may, in particular, be connected to the side contact at least positively (and possibly also force-fit and / or material-fit). The side contact may be partially encased in the bushing's potting compound.

[0032] It is also possible for the contact elements (e.g., the two contact elements) to protrude from the insulating potting compound on the outside as connecting pins. This allows the socket to be used, for example, as a pin socket (e.g., as a 4-contact socket or as a bipin socket).

[0033] The contact elements can be designed as stamped / bent parts for automated and cost-effective manufacturing.

[0034] Another design option is that the lamp is a semiconductor retrofit lamp, especially for replacing a conventional incandescent lamp, fluorescent tube or halogen lamp.

[0035] The properties, features, and advantages of this invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. For clarity, identical or equivalent elements may be designated with the same reference numerals.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 shows, as already described above, a sectional view in oblique view of a state-of-the-art semiconductor retrofit lamp;

[0037] Fig. Figure 2 shows a front oblique view of the base of a semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention; and

[0038] Fig. Figure 3 shows a side contact of the base in a view from a rear oblique angle. Fig. 2;

[0039] Fig. Figure 4 shows a first contact element of the base in a view from a slightly oblique front view. Fig. 2;

[0040] Fig. Figure 5 shows a second contact element of the base in a view from a slightly oblique front view. Fig. 2;

[0041] Fig. Figure 6 shows the base in a view from a slightly oblique front view. Fig. 2 with a semi-transparent side contact;

[0042] Fig. Figure 7 shows a side view of the base. Fig. 2 with a semi-transparent side contact;

[0043] Fig. Figure 8 shows a section view of the semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention in the area of ​​the base. Fig. 2;

[0044] Fig. Figure 9 shows, as a cross-sectional view in oblique view, a further section of the semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention in the area of ​​the base. Fig. 2; and

[0045] Fig. Figure 10 shows, as a cross-sectional view in oblique view, a further section of the semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention in the area of ​​the base. Fig. 2.

[0046] Fig. Figure 2 shows a base in a view from a slightly oblique front view. 2 a semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention 1 (see Fig. 8 to Fig. 10) The base designed as an Edison screw base 2 points the in Fig. 3 side contact shown alone 112 on. This can be a conventional side contact. 112 be, for example, in the form of a sleeve-like metallic screw thread that has an opening on the front side 112a exhibits.

[0047] into the front opening112a is a bushing with a positive locking connection 3 Used as the female part of a connector. The socket 3 consists of electrically insulating plastic potting compound 4 , in which a first contact element 5 and a second contact element 6 They are made of metal and are form-fittingly cast. The first contact element 5 and the second contact element 6 are due to the potting compound 4 electrically isolated from each other.

[0048] The potting compound 4 represents a recording 7 with a first recording area 7a and a second recording area 7b for a plug (see Fig. 8 to Fig. 10) ready. The two adjacent reception areas 7a and 7b are separated by a partition wall 8 the potting compound 4 separated from each other. In the first recording area 7aand into the second recording area 7b Contact edges protrude from above and below. 9 of the first contact element 5 or the second contact element 6 .

[0049] Fig. 4 shows the first contact element 5 in oblique view. The first contact element 5 is manufactured as a stamped / bent part from a sheet of metal (e.g., aluminum or copper) and has a mouth-shaped area 10 with the upper and lower contact edges 9 on. The contact edges 9 form an outwardly widening opening to securely insert a plug into the mouth-shaped area 10 to be able to insert. The mouth-shaped area 10 opens up in relation to the semiconductor retrofit lamp 1 forwards. Both contact edges 9 point into the mouth-shaped area 10 protruding ridges or teeth 11 on. The contact edges 9They can be designed to create a clamping connection and / or a cutting connection.

[0050] A rear, flap-shaped section 12 of the first contact element 5 It is bent sideways and serves as a contact area with an inside of the side contact. 112 .

[0051] Fig. 5 shows the second contact element 6 in oblique view. The second contact element 6 points to the first contact element 5 analogously formed mouth-shaped area 10 open. A rear area 13 features a laterally bent rear contact area 14 on, which is intended as foot contact. To the contact area 14 This is enclosed by an end section that is bent forwards again. 15 on, which leads to a form-fitting casting in the casting compound 4 is designed to prevent the rear contact area from bending back.14 to prevent.

[0052] Fig. Figure 6 shows the base from a slightly angled front view. 2 with the now semi-transparent side contact 112 and the semi-transparent potting compound 4 The contact area 14 of the second contact element 6 serves as the base's foot contact 2 , while the tab-shaped section 12 of the first contact element 5 the lateral contact 112 contacted.

[0053] So, while there is an electrical connection between the driver board 107 and a first external connection contact (namely the side contact) 112 ) is in two parts, the electrical connection between the driver board is 107 and a second external connection contact (namely the foot contact) 14 ) one-piece. The second contact element 6 is made possible by the potting compound 4led through it.

[0054] The potting compound 4 surrounds the edge of the front opening 112a of the lateral contact 112 surrounding both sides and is therefore form-fitting to the side contact 112 arranged.

[0055] Fig. 7 shows the base 2 in side view with the side contact shown semi-transparently 112 and the semi-transparent potting compound 4 The tab-shaped section 12 of the first contact element 5 contact the page contact 112 at its inner edge area of ​​the frontal opening 112a .

[0056] Fig. Figure 8 shows a section view of the semiconductor retrofit lamp according to the invention. 1 in the area of ​​the base 2 This view shows an associated driver board. 16 shown in cross-section. Fig. Figure 9 shows a further section of the semiconductor retrofit lamp as a cross-sectional view in oblique view. 1 in the area of ​​the base 2 , however now with a transparently displayed potting compound 4 The driver board is also located here. 16 shown in cross-section. Fig. Figure 10 shows a further section of the semiconductor retrofit lamp in oblique view as a cross-sectional view. 1 in the area of ​​the base 2 , which now allows a view of a flat side of the driver board 16 is given.

[0057] Referring to the Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 indicates the semiconductor retrofit lamp 1 a connector between the driver board 16 and the base 2 or the socket 3 The connection is implemented by using a connector on the driver board. 16 by means of two edge-mounted plug-in projections 17the driver board 16 is formed. The two plug-in protrusions 17 are arranged so far apart from each other that they fit into the recording areas 7a or 7b the potting compound 4 are plugged in or inserted and pass through the partition 8 are separated from each other. The two plug-in protrusions 17 are each elongated rectangular in shape and exhibit at least at the in Fig. 10 flat sides show a section of a conductor track 18 on.

[0058] The conductor tracks 18 the recording areas 7a or 7b inserted plug prongs 17 the teeth contact 11 the respective contact edges 9 . The teeth 11 hold the associated conductor tracks 18 at least in an interference fit, possibly also in a cutting joint. The insertion of the plug-in prongs. 17 into the recording areas7a or 7b This is achieved through a simple linear movement and can be automated. The use of wires or similar components is unnecessary.

[0059] When assembled, the side contact 112 on the outside of a housing 19 the semiconductor retrofit lamp 1 plugged or slid on and may be attached to the case 19 be fastened by force-fit, form-fit and / or material-fit.

[0060] The semiconductor retrofit lamp 1 Otherwise, it can be used like a semiconductor retrofit lamp. 101 be trained.

[0061] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the exemplary embodiments shown, the invention is not limited thereto and other variations can be derived by a person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of protection of the invention.

[0062] In general, "ein", "eine", etc. can be understood to mean singular or plural, especially in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", etc., unless this is explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly one", etc.

[0063] A numerical specification can also include exactly the specified number as well as a normal tolerance range, unless this is explicitly excluded. Reference symbol list 1 Semiconductor retrofit lamp 2 sockets 3 sockets 4. Potting compound 5 First contact element 6 Second contact element 7th recording 7a First admission area 7b Second reception area 8 Partition wall 9 Contact edge 10 Mouth-shaped area 11th tooth 12. Tab-shaped section of the first contact element 13 Rear area of ​​the second contact element 14 Contact area of ​​the second contact element 15 End area of ​​the second contact element 16 driver boards 17 Plug-in protrusion of the driver board 18 conductor track 19 Housing of the semiconductor retrofit lamp 101 Semiconductor Retrofit Lamp 102 pistons 103 LED modules 104 LED chips 105 substrate 106 Optical element 107 Driver board 108 Driver module 109 Driver cavity 110 Rear opening of the driver cavity 111 sockets 112 Side contact 112a Frontal opening of the side contact 113 Foot contact 114 Fuse resistor

Claims

[1] Lamp ( 1 ), featuring a driver board ( 16 ) and a base ( 2 ), which are electrically connected via a plug connection ( 3 , 17 are connected to each other. [2] Lamp ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein a male part of the connector ( 3 , 17 ) by means of at least one edge-mounted plug-in projection ( 17 ) the driver board ( 16 ) is formed. [3] Lamp ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a female part ( 3 ) the plug connection ( 3 , 17 ) at least two contact elements ( 5 , 6 ) exhibits, which is embedded in an electrically insulating potting compound ( 4 ) are cast separately from each other. [4] Lamp ( 1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the contact elements ( 5 , 6 ) are designed as clamping connections and / or cutting connections. [5] Lamp ( 1 ) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the female part ( 3 ) the plug connection ( 3 , 17 ) exactly two contact elements ( 5 , 6 ) exhibits. [6] Lamp ( 1 ) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the contact elements ( 5 ) with a respective connecting contact ( 112 ) of the base ( 2 ) is connected. [7] Lamp ( 1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the base ( 2 ) a screw base, a first contact element ( 5 ) with a metallic screw thread serving as a first connection contact ( 112 ) of the base ( 2 ) is electrically connected and has a second contact element ( 6 ) as a central contact serving as a second connection contact ( 14 ) of the base ( 2 ) through the potting compound ( 4 ) through it. [8] Lamp according to claim 5, wherein the two contact elements as connecting pins are made from the insulating potting compound on the outside ( 4 ) are led out. [9] Lamp ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the two contact elements ( 5 , 6 These are stamped / bent parts. [10] Lamp ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp ( 1 ) is a semiconductor retrofit lamp.

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