ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING AN Elongated SUBSTRATE DEVICE

Abstract

An electronic device has an elongated printed circuit substrate device and a row of electrical units located on the elongated printed circuit substrate device. The indicator unit is wirelessly powered for identifying a specific location of the elongated printed circuit board device. The identification is used to identify the correct location of a subsequent process of the device during the manufacturing process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic devices having an elongated substrate. For example, the present invention relates to devices formed as a strip, such as a light strip. Background Art

[0002] Electronic devices formed as a strip may require some processing after initial manufacturing, such as bending the strip into a desired shape, or dividing the strip into multiple shorter strips, each of which can function as a separate independent unit.

[0003] For light strips, for example, LED chips are mounted on a flexible printed circuit, and there is an insulating coating around the flexible printed circuit, especially a silicone tube. In the past, they were manufactured separately and then assembled into light strips. Now a co-extrusion process is used, which improves production efficiency and makes the lighting effect better and more uniform.

[0004] In order to improve production efficiency and reduce the waste of silicone, the length of the light strip after the co-extrusion process is usually more than 50 meters, including 10 to 30 individual light strips. After the co-extrusion is completed, the longer light strip assembly needs to be split into individual units. However, the joint position of adjacent light strips is difficult to find. One solution is to operate the light strip controller, light up the beginning or end of the light strip to find the joint position and cut off the light strip, then power on the next one, and so on, until all the light strips are split. This method is inefficient, and once the light strip is damaged, it will not continue to work.

[0005] Identifying locations along an elongated printed circuit substrate may be useful for devices other than light strips, such as any device that requires segmenting or processing (eg, shaping) a strip of substrate at specific locations.

[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved method of identifying a specific location of a device along an elongated substrate. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example of one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device, including:

[0009] An elongated printed circuit substrate device;

[0010] a row of electrical cells on a printed circuit substrate assembly; and

[0011] The indicator unit includes an indicator element and a wireless power receiver for wirelessly receiving power to activate the indicator element, thereby identifying a specific position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device.

[0012] The electronic device comprises an array of electrical cells. An indicator element (such as a lighting element) is used to identify a position along the elongated printed substrate. The position may be, for example, a position where the electronic device is to be further processed (eg, segmented or bent).

[0013] Thus, electromagnetic power transfer can be used to wirelessly indicate a specific desired position without powering the electrical unit itself. This can greatly improve productivity and positioning accuracy (for example, for separating elongated printed circuit substrates).

[0014] In one example, a row of electrical units includes multiple groups of electrical units that are to be separated into individual groups (each group forming a terminal device), and indicator units identify the locations where separation is to occur. After separation, the indicator units can be removed, or they can remain as part of the separated terminal devices.

[0015] Alternatively, the device may comprise a single set of electrical units, and the indicator unit has previously been used to identify the location where the device has been separated from a longer printed circuit substrate formed by a plurality of such devices. In this case, the indicator unit is integrated with the electrical unit and therefore remains in place as part of the finished terminal device.

[0016] The printed circuit substrate arrangement includes, for example, one or more flexible printed circuits.

[0017] As mentioned above, one option is that a row of electrical cells comprises a plurality of groups of electrical cells to be separated and the indicator unit marks the location where separation is to occur.The indicator unit may then be arranged between each pair of adjacent electrical cell groups along the elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement.

[0018] Each group of electrical units (which will form a single terminal device) may have its own individual printed circuit substrate, and the individual printed circuit substrates are connected together to form an elongated printed circuit substrate device. Thus, multiple substrates (e.g., 2m to 5m long) are assembled together to form an elongated substrate device (e.g., forming a length of more than 50m), and need to be separated after processing the elongated substrate device.

[0019] Each individual printed circuit substrate may carry at least one indicator unit. Thus, the indicator unit may be an integral part of the respective device.

[0020] Instead, the indicator unit may comprise a separate device with a separate printed circuit substrate relative to the individual printed circuit substrate. In this case, the individual printed circuit substrate and the separate printed circuit substrate are connected together to form an elongated printed circuit substrate device.

[0021] The connections to the substrate include, for example, electrical connections, such as to enable testing of the full-length tape assembly.

[0022] In a preferred example, the indicator element comprises an illumination element. Thus, the specific location can be visually identified. The location can also be identified electronically, for example using an RFID tag method. The tag is wirelessly powered and when located at the location of the wireless interrogation signal, the tag responds with a reply signal.

[0023] The device may include a coextruded flexible printed circuit device and an insulating coating, such as a sleeve. Thus, an extrusion process is used to provide a sleeve around the electronic device. The insulating sleeve includes, for example, a silicone tube. By forming an elongated printed substrate device and then separating the device, an efficient coextrusion process can be achieved.

[0024] For example, the device comprises a light strip, wherein each electrical unit comprises an LED. A group of LEDs defines a light strip, but the entire elongated substrate device may comprise a chain of these individual light strips.

[0025] The present invention also provides an indicator unit for being inserted between individual printed circuit substrates to form an elongated printed circuit substrate device, the indicator unit comprising an indicator element and a wireless power receiver for wirelessly receiving power to activate the indicator element to identify a joining position between the individual printed circuit substrates.

[0026] This is a unit that can be inserted between individual substrates (of individual terminal devices) to form an elongated substrate arrangement.

[0027] In the electronic device or indicator unit, the wireless power receiver comprises, for example, a receiver inductor and an AC / DC converter, and the indicator element comprises an LED. When the device comprises light strips, each light strip comprises a set of LEDs, and the entire device comprises, for example, 10 to 30 individual light strips.

[0028] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an electronic device, comprising:

[0029] Manufacturing an elongated substrate device, comprising:

[0030] a row of electrical units; and

[0031] an indicator unit including an indicator element and a wireless power receiver for wirelessly receiving power to activate the indicator element to identify a position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device;

[0032] Passing the elongated printed circuit substrate through the wireless power transmitter;

[0033] observing activation of the indicator element as the indicator element passes by the wireless power transmitter; and

[0034] The position of the indicator element is marked to identify the position indicated by the indicator element.

[0035] The marked locations are then used for further processing, such as cutting or bending.

[0036] The method may comprise assembling a plurality of individual printed circuit substrates, each carrying a respective set of electrical units, to form an elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement, wherein each individual printed circuit substrate carries at least one indicator element. In this case, the terminal devices each comprise an indicator unit.

[0037] The method may alternatively comprise assembling a plurality of individual printed circuit substrates and separate printed circuit substrates of the indicator unit to form an elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement. In this case, the individual indicator units are inserted between the individual terminal devices.

[0038] The method may include co-extruding the flexible printed circuit device and the insulating coating.

[0039] The method is preferably used to manufacture light strips, wherein each electrical unit comprises an LED. Thus, individual printed circuit substrates may each form a light strip, and the entire device may comprise 10 to 30 individual LED light strips.

[0040] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 A first example of an electronic device is shown;

[0043] Figure 2 An example of the circuitry of the indicator unit is shown;

[0044] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an indicator unit;

[0045] Figure 4 shows the indicator unit viewed from above;

[0046] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 Devices passing by wireless power transmitters;

[0047] Figure 6 An example to explain the cutting process; and

[0048] Figure 7 It is shown that the indicator unit may be part of a light strip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] It should be understood that although the detailed description and specific examples illustrate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, these descriptions and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to represent the same or similar components.

[0051] The present invention provides an electronic device having an elongated printed circuit substrate device and a row of electrical units located on the elongated printed circuit substrate device. The indicator unit is wirelessly powered and is used to identify the specific position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device. The mark is used to identify the correct position of the subsequent processing of the device during manufacturing.

[0052] Figure 1 A first example of an electronic device 10 in the form of a light strip assembly is shown. In this example, the light strip assembly comprises a series connection of a plurality of individual light strips to be separated.

[0053] The light strip assembly includes a row of light strips 12. Each light strip 12 is a terminal product, so Figure 1 The components shown exist during intermediate stages of manufacturing when the end products are connected together to simplify and reduce the cost of the manufacturing process.

[0054] In this particular example, the light strip row 12 includes light strips 12 and indicator units 14 inserted between the ends of adjacent light strips 12. In one example, the indicator units 14 identify the locations where the light strip assembly is separated into individual light strips 12. However, the indicator units may also identify the locations of other processes, such as bending or other local operations.

[0055] Each light strip 12 has its own individual printed circuit substrate 13 in the form of a flexible printed circuit. In this document, the term "individual printed circuit substrate" is used to refer to the substrate 13 of a single light strip. The indicator unit 14 in this example is a device that is separate from the individual light strip and is therefore separate from the individual printed circuit substrate. The substrate 15 of the indicator unit will be described as a "separate printed circuit substrate". The individual printed circuit substrates 13 and the separate printed circuit substrates 15 are connected together to form an overall elongated printed circuit substrate device. Therefore, the term "substrate device" is used to refer to a single substrate or a group of connected substrates, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0056] Therefore, in Figure 1In the example of FIG. 1 , an indicator unit is provided between each pair of adjacent light strips along the overall elongated printed circuit substrate device.

[0057] Each light strip comprises an individual electrical unit in the form of a row of LEDs 16. Each light strip is for example 2m to 5m long, and the entire elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement may be more than 50m long. Thus, the entire device may comprise 10 to 30 individual light strips.

[0058] The different substrates are connected together by terminal blocks. The light bar 12 has a terminal block 22 and the indicator unit 14 has a terminal block 24.

[0059] The indicator unit in the preferred example comprises a lighting unit, which comprises a lighting element 30 and a wireless power receiver 32. The wireless power receiver is used to wirelessly receive power for activating the indicator element, i.e., lighting the lighting element, and the lighting is used to identify the specific position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device.

[0060] Thus, the position of the lighting element 30 may be indicated wirelessly using electromagnetic power transfer without the need to power the LEDs of the light strip.

[0061] exist Figure 1 In the example of , the entire elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement comprises a plurality of groups of LEDs (each group forming a light strip and thus a terminal device), which groups are to be separated. The indicator unit identifies the position where the separation is to take place.

[0062] After separation, the indicator unit (eg, having been cut in the middle) is removed.

[0063] The electrical connection between the different substrates via the terminal blocks enables testing of the full length of the strip. (Due to voltage drop), the full length of the strip may be too long to be tested as a single unit, so the long, thin strip can be broken into shorter lengths for testing and then into individual terminal devices.

[0064] Alternatively or additionally, standard test procedures may be used to test individual end-device strips.

[0065] The elongated printed circuit substrate is co-extruded with an insulating sleeve 40. Thus, an extrusion process is used to provide a sleeve around the device before the indicator unit is used later during manufacturing. The insulating sleeve comprises, for example, a silicone tube. By forming the elongated printed circuit substrate device and then separating the device, an efficient co-extrusion process can be achieved.

[0066] Figure 2An example of the circuit system of the indicator unit is shown. It includes a lighting element 30 in the form of an LED and an inductor pickup coil L1 and a wireless power receiver 32 in the form of a rectifier circuit of a diode D1 and a capacitor C1. The capacitor is charged by the rectifier and delivers current to the lighting element 30. Of course, other energy harvesting circuits can also be used. The coil L1 only needs to have an inductance of a few or tens of μH.

[0067] Figure 1 The examples use an indicator unit that is separate from the light strip. Figure 3 The indicator unit 14 is shown in perspective view. It has a separate printed circuit substrate 15 on which are mounted the lighting element 30, the wireless power receiver 32 and the terminal block 24. One terminal block is male and one is female so that the indicator unit can be inserted between the corresponding opposite (male and female) ends of the light strip.

[0068] Figure 4 The indicator unit 14 is shown seen from above.

[0069] The invention also relates separately to such an indicator unit for insertion between individual printed circuit substrates to form an elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement.

[0070] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 60. When the indicator unit 14 reaches the wireless power transmitter, the lighting element 30 is illuminated as shown, and the position can be marked for future reference, or the light can be automatically detected and further processing, such as cutting, can be automatically performed.

[0071] For example, further processing involves production cutting of the longer length (e.g., 50 m) into individual device lengths (e.g., 5 m). The customer can further cut the individual devices into the lengths required for their specific application. The indicator element is typically only used by the manufacturer in this specific example. However, in other application examples, the end user may use the indicator element, for example using an existing wireless power supply device.

[0072] Figure 6 An example of how the cutting process is performed is shown. The indicator unit 14 is marked and cut along line 60. This is a rough cutting step. Subsequently, the cut half of the indicator unit is removed from the adjacent light strip by disconnecting the terminal block 24 from the terminal block 22. This removes the remaining portion of the indicator element. The remaining insulating sleeve will also be cut. The terminal block will remain in the insulating sleeve.

[0073] In the above example, the indicator unit is inserted between light strips (which have their own individual printed circuit substrates).

[0074] Figure 7 It is shown that the indicator unit 14 may alternatively be part of a light strip. Each light strip comprises a row of LEDs 16 and additionally comprises the indicator elements of the indicator unit 14 and the wireless power receiver. The light strips are connected together by their terminal blocks 22, which, as shown in the above example, comprise a male terminal block at one end and a female terminal block at the other end. Since the indicator unit is integrated with the LEDs, it remains in place as part of the terminal device.

[0075] In this case, the position is marked and then only the insulating sleeve 40 needs to be cut using a cutting tool (cutting only the insulating sleeve). The individual light strips can then be separated by pulling the terminal blocks apart.

[0076] Each individual light strip in this example comprises an elongated printed circuit substrate device that includes an indicator unit that is used to identify a specific location of the elongated printed circuit substrate device. In this case, a row of electrical units (i.e., LEDs) on the printed circuit substrate device corresponds to only a single light strip (so the elongated substrate "device" has only one substrate). For the separated light strip, the indicator unit has already served its purpose because it has previously been used to identify the location where the device has been separated from a longer printed circuit substrate assembly formed by multiple such devices (i.e., Figure 7 device).

[0077] As mentioned above, a lighting element is just one possible example of an indicator element. Non-visual means may also be used, such as an indicator element in the form of an RFID tag that is wirelessly powered and responds with a reply signal when located at the location of a wireless interrogation signal. The reply signal is the indication provided by the indicator element.

[0078] Another example is a wirelessly powered heating element that when activated produces a visual change in the insulation layer, such as a color change.

[0079] The invention is also not limited to light strips. Any electronic device that is made into a long strip may need to be separated into individual components, or bent into shape, and it may be difficult to identify the appropriate location for separation or bending. For example, the location where the device is to be connected to another element (such as a clamp or other fixture) may be identified.

[0080] Those skilled in the art can understand and implement various modifications to the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0081] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0082] If the term "suitable for" is used in the claims or the specification, it should be noted that the term "suitable for" should be equivalent to the term "configured to". If the term "arranged" is used in the claims or the specification, it should be noted that the term "arranged" should be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0083] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An electronic device (10), comprising: An elongated printed circuit substrate device (13, 15); A row of electrical units (16) on the printed circuit substrate device; as well as an indicator unit (14) comprising an indicator element (30) and a wireless power receiver (32), the wireless power receiver (32) being used to wirelessly receive power to activate the indicator element, thereby identifying a specific position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device; wherein the row of electrical cells (16) comprises a plurality of groups of electrical cells to be separated, and the indicator unit (14) identifies the position where the separation is to occur; Each group of electrical units has its own individual printed circuit substrate (13), and the individual printed circuit substrates (13) are connected together to form the elongated printed circuit substrate device.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, comprising an indicator unit (14) between each pair of adjacent groups of electrical units (16) along the elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each individual printed circuit substrate (13) carries at least one indicator unit (14).

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator unit (14) includes a separate device having a separate printed circuit substrate (15) relative to the individual printed circuit substrate, wherein the individual printed circuit substrate (13) and the separate printed circuit substrate (15) are connected together to form the slender printed circuit substrate device (13, 15).

5. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indicator element (30) comprises a lighting element.

6. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a flexible printed circuit device and an insulating coating (40) co-extruded with the flexible printed circuit device.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the insulating coating (40) is a sleeve. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is a silicone tube.

9. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a light strip, wherein each electrical unit (16) comprises an LED.

10. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wireless power receiver (32) comprises a receiver inductor (LI) and an AC / DC converter (R1, D1), and the indicator element (30) comprises an LED.

11. A method of manufacturing an electronic device, comprising: An elongated substrate device (13, 15) is manufactured, the elongated substrate device (13, 15) comprising: a row of electrical units (16); and an indicator unit (14) comprising an indicator element (30) and a wireless power receiver (32), the wireless power receiver (32) being used to wirelessly receive power to activate the indicator element (30) to identify the position of the elongated printed circuit substrate device; Passing the elongated printed circuit substrate device (13, 15) through a wireless power transmitter (60); observing the activation of the indicator element (30) as the indicator element passes by the wireless power transmitter; and The position of the indicator element is marked to identify the position indicated by the indicator element.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: assembling a plurality of individual printed circuit substrates (13), each carrying a respective set of electrical units (16), to form said elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement, wherein each individual printed circuit substrate carries (13) at least one indicator element (30); or A plurality of individual printed circuit substrates (13) and a separate printed circuit substrate (15) of the indicator unit (14) are assembled to form the elongated printed circuit substrate arrangement.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising coextruding the flexible printed circuit assembly with an insulating coating (40).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the insulating coating (40) is a sleeve, such as a silicone tube.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, used to manufacture a light strip, wherein each electrical unit comprises an LED.

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