LED module for providing uniform light

Abstract

It is proposed an LED module for providing uniform light, each module being connected with another LED module to form a string having a driver side to be connected to a driver and an opposite side, said LED module extending along the length of the LED module, the LED module comprising an LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9); a first pair of interconnects (X1, X5) and a first wire (40) connecting the first pair of interconnects (X1, X5) across the length of the LED module, the first wire being adapted to be coupled to a first output (+) of the driver and a first pair of interconnects (X1, X5) of another LED module; a second pair of interconnects (X4, X8) and a second wire (42) connecting the second pair of interconnects (X4, X8) across the length of the LED module, the second wire being adapted to be coupled to a second pair of interconnects (X4, X5) of another LED module and to a second output (-) of the driver; and a third pair of interconnects (X2, X6) and a third wire (44) connecting the third pair of interconnects (X2, X6) across the length of the LED module, the third wire being adapted to be coupled to the third pair of interconnects (X2, X6) of another LED module; wherein the LED lighting units (D1 to D9) are connected to one of the first wire (40) and the second wire (42), and the LED module further comprises a selection circuit adapted to select, depending on operating conditions: an LED lighting arrangement is connected to the third pair of interconnects (X2, X6) of the other LED module, and the LED lighting arrangement is connected to the second pair of interconnects (X2, X6) of the other LED module. Whereby each LED module in the string is coupled to the driver via another and remaining LED modules up to the opposite side; or the LED lighting arrangement is connected to the other of the first and second wires (40, 42) within the LED module such that each LED module is coupled to the driver without via the other or remaining LED module up to the opposite side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of LED modules to be connected together. Background Art

[0002] For office or market applications, long / linear luminaires are often required. The length of the luminaire is configured to be 8 feet to 16 feet or even longer. However, LED modules are unlikely to be manufactured as a single piece of 8 feet to 16 feet long, because LED modules of this length are difficult to manufacture, store, transport, and install as a single piece. LED modules are usually made into LED module subassemblies with a length of 2 feet or 1 foot, and multiple LED subassemblies are connected together to achieve the required length.

[0003] For the electrical connection of multiple LED module sub-assemblies, daisy chain connection between boards is a common method, such as Figure 1 As shown. A daisy chain is a wiring scheme in which multiple devices are wired together in sequence or in a ring, similar to a daisy chain. More specifically, LED module subassemblies #1 to #N each have a pair of positive interfaces and a pair of negative interfaces. One of the pair of positive interfaces is coupled to the positive output of the driver directly or via the positive interface of the previous LED module subassembly, and the other of the pair of positive interfaces is coupled to one of the pair of positive interfaces of the next LED module subassembly. Similarly, one of the pair of negative interfaces is coupled to the negative output of the driver directly or via the negative interface of the previous LED module subassembly, and the other of the pair of negative interfaces is coupled to one of the pair of negative interfaces of the next LED module subassembly. Within each LED module subassembly, the positive wire connects the pair of positive interfaces, and the negative wire connects the pair of negative interfaces. The LED arrangement is located between the positive wire and the negative wire. Two of the interfaces in each pair of interfaces are located on opposite sides of the LED module subassembly, and the corresponding wires also extend along the length of the LED module subassembly.

[0004] However, in actual products, since the LED module subassembly is a long linear structure, the resistance of the wires in each LED module subassembly should not be ignored and needs to be taken into account. Figure 2 An equivalent circuit with a resistor R at the interconnection between two LED module subassemblies is shown, where the resistor R indicates the resistance of the wire of the LED module subassembly upstream of the interconnection. 1 Indicates the current through the first LED module subassembly #1, and the arrow line I NIndicates the current through the last LED module subassembly #N. The output of the LED driver is usually a voltage source. For the last LED module subassembly #N, the extra resistance of the wire is in series with the last LED module subassembly, so its current will be less than the current through the first LED module subassembly #1. Figure 3 The brightness of the LED module subassembly is schematically shown, decreasing from the driver side connected to the driver to the other side farthest from the driver.

[0005] CN209511674U discloses an LED light strip that can provide uniform light output from beginning to end. The LED light strip in the prior art is an independent product that can be cut and is not assembled with any other LED light strips. CN109982487A discloses a similar technology.

[0006] WO2018100502A1 discloses a lighting system formed by an assembly of multiple lighting modules. Summary of the invention

[0007] Although the prior art CN209511674U and CN109982487A can achieve uniform light output along the entire length of the LED light strip, power loss is inevitable due to the increased wire resistance. As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important, there is still a need to provide an energy-saving product.

[0008] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0009] The basic idea of ​​the present invention is to provide an alternative to using additional wire resistance to provide uniform lumen output and not using additional wire resistance. The latter case can be activated depending on the operating conditions. In one example, the operating conditions can be related to energy / power efficiency. More specifically, if energy efficiency is required and uneven lumen output can be tolerated, additional wire resistance can be bypassed / not used; if uniform lumen output is required and energy / power loss can be tolerated, additional wire resistance can be used. This provides a more adaptable / flexible technology.

[0010] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an LED module adapted to be connected with another LED module to form a string having a driver side to be connected to a driver and an opposite side, the LED module extending along the length of the LED module, the LED module comprising

[0011] LED lighting arrangement;

[0012] a first interconnect pair and a first conductor connecting the first interconnect pair across the length of the LED module, the first conductor being adapted to couple to a first output of the driver and to a first interconnect pair of another LED module;

[0013] a second interconnect pair and a second conductor connecting the second interconnect pair across the length of the LED module, the second conductor being adapted to couple to a second interconnect pair of another LED module and a second output of the driver; and

[0014] a third interconnect pair and a third wire connecting the third interconnect pair across the length of the LED module,

[0015] The third conductor is adapted to be coupled to a third interconnect pair of another LED module;

[0016] wherein the LED lighting unit is connected to one of the first wire and the second wire, and

[0017] The above-mentioned LED module also includes a selection circuit, which is suitable for selecting according to operating conditions: the LED lighting arrangement is connected to the above-mentioned third interconnection pair of another LED module, so that each LED module in the string is coupled to the driver via the other and remaining LED modules till the opposite side; or the LED lighting arrangement is connected to the other of the first and second wires within the above-mentioned LED module, so that each LED module is coupled to the driver without till the other LED module or the remaining LED modules on the opposite side.

[0018] This aspect of the invention proposes an LED module that can be connected to each other and cooperate with each other so that each LED module is connected to the driver via another LED module and the connection at the last LED module. In this way, the wire length between the driver and each LED module is substantially the same, so the wire resistance of each LED module is the same and the light output of each LED module is the same and uniform. More importantly, it provides a flexibility to set the LED modules in the proposed new configuration to provide uniform light output at the expense of efficiency; or to set the LED modules in a traditional configuration to provide high efficiency at the expense of light output uniformity, especially when the requirements for the lamp are different.

[0019] By directly connecting the LED lighting arrangement to the other of the first and second wires within the LED module, current flows directly to the driver without flowing to the other LED module, and this adapts the LED module to applications where uniform light output is acceptable but power loss on the wires of the other LED module is strictly limited. This embodiment provides a multifunctional LED module that can meet different requirements by flexibly reconfiguring the LED module in real time.

[0020] In one embodiment, the LED module is an LED module subassembly and the interconnection pair is an interface pair. If the LED module subassembly is the last LED module subassembly at the opposite side, the LED module subassembly is adapted to form a connection between the third wire and the other of the first wire and the second wire, so that each LED module subassembly in the string is coupled to the driver via another LED to the opposite side and the remaining LED module subassemblies and the connection at the opposite side.

[0021] In one embodiment, the third wire is adapted to couple the LED lighting unit from the first wire to the third wire, and if the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side, the LED module is adapted to form a connection from the third wire to the second wire.

[0022] In this embodiment, the third wire and the second wire of another LED module are used to balance the wire length difference between the LED module and the driver via the first wire and the second wire.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the third conductor is adapted to couple the LED lighting unit from the third conductor to the second conductor, and the LED module is adapted to make a connection from the first conductor to the third conductor if the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side.

[0024] In this embodiment, the third wire of another LED module and the first wire are used to balance the wire length difference between the LED module and the driver via the first wire and the second wire.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first pair of interconnects is adapted to be coupled to a positive voltage output of the driver, and the second pair of interconnects is adapted to be coupled to a negative voltage output of the driver.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the first conductive line and the first interconnection pair are current inflow terminals, and the second conductive line and the second interconnection pair are current outflow terminals.

[0027] In one embodiment, the LED module further comprises a jumper terminal located between the third interconnection pair and one of the first interconnection pair and the second interconnection pair, wherein the jumper terminal is adapted to receive a jumper to form the connection between the third wire and the other of the first wire and the second wire.

[0028] This embodiment provides a manual method for forming the connection. The installer or maintenance personnel of the LED modules can conveniently install the connection at the last LED module.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the connection is made in an electrical and automatic manner. More specifically, the LED module further comprises a circuit connecting the third wire and the other of the first wire and the second wire, the circuit comprising: a detector adapted to detect whether the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side; and a first switch adapted to be triggered by the detector to electrically connect the third wire and the other of the first wire and the second wire.

[0030] In this embodiment, it does not require human manual operation and is resistant to human errors.

[0031] In another embodiment, a specific implementation of a detector is provided: the LED module includes a fourth terminal connected to a reference voltage, and the detector is suitable for being connected to a fourth terminal of another module or floating when the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side, wherein the detector is suitable for determining whether the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side by detecting whether the voltage at the detector corresponds to the reference voltage.

[0032] In this embodiment, the fourth interconnection pair is used to distinguish the last LED module from other modules, which makes the detector easy to implement. It should be noted that there are other implementations of the detector.

[0033] In addition, the inventors found that in a high brightness mode with a high operating current, the non-uniform light output is not significant, while in the high brightness mode, the power loss is large, so in an improved embodiment, the reconfiguration depends on the high / low brightness of the lamp. More specifically, the selection circuit includes a current detection circuit suitable for detecting the current through the LED lighting arrangement as an operating condition; and a second switch connected between the LED lighting arrangement and the other of the first and second conductors, if the detected current is higher than a threshold, the second switch is suitable for being triggered to close and connect the LED lighting arrangement in the LED module and the other of the first and second conductors, if the detected current is less than the threshold, the second switch is suitable for being triggered to open to keep the LED lighting arrangement connected to the third interconnection pair of another LED module.

[0034] In this embodiment, the LED module can automatically adapt according to the operating current to achieve negligible output difference and provide high efficiency in high brightness mode.

[0035] In another embodiment, the LED lighting arrangement comprises a plurality of LED units distributed along the length of the LED module.

[0036] This embodiment provides linear light emission.

[0037] In a second aspect of the present invention, an LED lighting assembly is provided. The LED lighting assembly comprises a plurality of LED modules as described above, wherein the LED modules are suitable for being connected in a daisy chain.

[0038] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an LED lamp comprising the LED lighting assembly according to the second aspect and a driver adapted to connect an LED module via a first interconnection pair and a second interconnection pair and provide power to the LED module.

[0039] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] 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:

[0041] Figure 1 An existing topology of LED module subassemblies connected in a daisy chain is shown;

[0042] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Equivalent circuit of the existing topology;

[0043] Figure 3 Schematically shows Figure 1 The brightness difference of LED module sub-assemblies in the existing topology;

[0044] Figure 4 shows an LED module subassembly according to a basic embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 An equivalent topology of the LED module subassembly of claim 4 assembled in a daisy chain is shown;

[0046] Figure 6 An LED module subassembly according to an improved embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0047] Figure 7 Shown in daisy chain assembly Figure 6 A plurality of LED module subassemblies;

[0048] Figure 8 shows an LED module subassembly according to another improved embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Fig. 9 Shown in daisy chain assembly Figure 8 A plurality of LED module subassemblies;

[0050] Fig.10shows an LED module subassembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0051] Fig.11 Shown in daisy chain assembly Fig.10 Multiple LED module sub-assemblies. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, 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 invention will be better understood through the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to indicate the same or similar components.

[0054] Figure 4 An LED module subassembly according to a basic embodiment of the present invention is shown. The LED module subassembly is suitable for being assembled with another LED module subassembly to form a string having a driver side to be connected to a driver and an opposite side, such as Figure 5 The LED module subassembly extends along its length and includes:

[0055] LED lighting arrangements D1 to D9, where Figure 4 The LED lighting arrangement is shown to be a 3×3 LED matrix (3 parallel branches of 3 series-connected LED units), and it will be appreciated that any other arrangement of LED units is applicable;

[0056] A first interface pair X1, X5 at opposite sides of the subassembly and a first wire 40 connecting the first interface pair X1, X5, the first wire spanning the length of the LED module subassembly; as later Figure 5 As shown, the first interface pair is adapted to be coupled to a first output + of the driver and a first interface pair X1 , X5 of another LED module subassembly;

[0057] A second pair of interfaces X4, X8 at opposite sides of the subassembly, and a second wire 42 connecting the second pair of interfaces X4, X8 and spanning the length of the LED module subassembly; as later Figure 5 As shown, the second interface pair is suitable for coupling to the second interface pair X4, X5 of another LED module subassembly and the second output - of the driver; and

[0058] Third interface pairs X2, X6 at opposite sides of the subassembly, and third wires 44 connecting the third interface pairs X2, X6 across the length of the LED module subassembly are suitable for coupling to the third interface pairs X2, X6 of another LED module subassembly.

[0059] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the third wire 44 is suitable for coupling the LED lighting units D1 to D9 with the first wire 40 . In other words, the LED lighting units D1 to D9 are located between the first wire 40 and the third wire 44 .

[0060] In addition, if Figure 5 As shown, for the last LED module subassembly #N at the opposite side of the string away from the driver, the LED module subassembly #N is adapted to form a connection 50 between the third conductive line 44 and the second conductive line 42 .

[0061] In this manner, each LED module subassembly in the string is coupled to the driver via the other LED module subassemblies and the connection 50 at the last LED module subassembly at the opposite side.

[0062] More specifically, for the first LED module subassembly #1, current flows from the positive + output of the driver and into the LED arrangement, and out of the first LED module subassembly #1 through the third conductor 44, rather than Figure 1 The current then flows out through the second wire 42 as in the prior art. The current then flows to the remaining LED module subassemblies via the third interface pair X2, X6 and the corresponding third wire 44 until the last LED module subassembly #N. The current then flows to the second interface pair X2, X6 of the last LED module subassembly #N via the connection 50, and returns to the negative output - of the driver via the second interface pair and the second wire of all LED module subassemblies. The current is indicated by the arrow line I 1 In this path, in addition to other wire resistances, there are three wire resistances R of three third wires 44 .

[0063] And, for the last LED module subassembly #N, the current flows out of the positive + output of the driver, and flows through the first interface pair X1, X5 and the first wire 40 of the previous LED module subassembly, and flows into the last LED module subassembly #N and the LED arrangement. Then, the current flows to the second interface pair X6, X8 of the last LED module subassembly #N via the connection 50, and returns to the negative output - of the driver via the second port pair X6, X8 and the second wire 42 of all LED module subassemblies. The current is indicated by the arrow line I NIn this path, there are three wire resistances R of the first wire 40 in addition to other wire resistances. It is worth noting that the three wire resistances R of the first wire 40 of the last subassembly #N are equal to the three wire resistances R of the third wire 44 of the first subassembly #1. In addition, both the first subassembly and the last subassembly are connected back to the negative output of the driver via the same length of all second wires 42 of all subassemblies.

[0064] It can be seen that the total wire resistance of the first LED module subassembly #1 and the last LED module subassembly #N is the same. Based on similar principles, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the wire resistance of each LED module subassembly (such as #2 and #3) is also the same between the first LED module subassembly and the last LED module subassembly. Therefore, each LED module subassembly is connected to the same voltage output of the driver with the same wire resistance, and each LED module subassembly emits uniform / same light.

[0065] For the connection 50 , the present application provides two embodiments, but is not limited thereto.

[0066] In a first embodiment, the connection is provided manually. Each LED module subassembly includes a jumper terminal located between a third interface X6 and a second interface X8, wherein the jumper terminal is adapted to receive a jumper to form the connection 50 between the third wire and the second wire. An installer who installs or maintains the LED module subassembly can insert the jumper into the last LED module subassembly.

[0067] In a second embodiment, the connection is provided electrically and automatically. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, each LED module subassembly includes a circuit connecting the third wire 44 and the second wire 42, and the circuit includes:

[0068] a detector X7 adapted to detect whether the LED module subassembly is the last LED module subassembly at the opposite side; and

[0069] A first switch U1 is adapted to be triggered by the detector to electrically connect the third conductive line 44 and the second conductive line 42 .

[0070] There are many implementations of detectors. This application is Figure 6 and Figure 7An example is given in FIG. The first switch U1 is a MOSFET. The gate of the MOSFET U1 is connected to the first wire 40 via two resistors R1 and R2, and the resistors R1 and R2 can drive the MOSFET. The interconnection point between the resistors R1 and R2 is provided with a fourth interface X7. The LED module subassembly has another fourth interface X3 that is pulled to a reference voltage (such as connected to the negative / second interface X4).

[0071] like Figure 7 As shown, when an LED module subassembly is not the last LED module subassembly and is connected to a downstream LED module subassembly, the fourth interface X7 is connected to the fourth interface X3 of the downstream LED module subassembly and is pulled to the second interface X4, which is actually the zero voltage / negative output of the driver, so the gate of the first switch U1 is pulled to zero, and the first switch U1 is not driven but disconnected. Therefore, the third wire 44 of the LED module subassembly is not connected to the second wire 42.

[0072] When one LED module subassembly #N is the last LED module subassembly, the fourth interface X7 is floating, not connected to any point, and therefore is not pulled to the second interface X4, which is actually the zero voltage / negative output of the driver. Therefore, the gate of the first switch U1 is pulled up by the resistor R1 relative to the first wire 40, and the switch U1 is driven to close. Therefore, the third wire 44 of the LED module subassembly #N is connected to the second wire 42 and forms a connection 50.

[0073] The inventors also noticed that Figure 1 and Figure 2 Compared with the prior art in the prior art, some additional wire resistances are added to the LED module subassemblies, especially on the driver side or near the string close to the driver. Therefore, these additional wire resistances will cause some power losses. Through experiments and field tests, the inventors found that when the linear lamp is set to operate in high brightness mode, the uneven light output is tolerable / ignorable to some extent. This is because, in high brightness mode, the output current is quite high, and the current difference caused by different wire resistances accounts for only a small part of the high output current. In low brightness mode, the output current is smaller, and the current difference caused by different wire resistances accounts for only a large part of the low output current, so the unevenness is not negligible. However, at low brightness, power loss is generally acceptable. Therefore, an improved embodiment of the present invention proposes that, in order to reduce power loss, when uneven light output is acceptable, a flexible selection circuit is used to switch the LED module subassembly from the mode of routing current to the remaining LED module subassemblies as described above to the mode of routing current to the same Figure 1 and Figure 2In the case where uneven light output is unacceptable but power loss is acceptable, such as in low brightness mode, the selection circuit maintains the LED module subassembly in the mode of routing current to the remaining LED module subassemblies as described above.

[0074] More specifically, the LED module subassembly further comprises a selection circuit adapted to select, according to operating conditions:

[0075] the LED lighting arrangement being coupled to said third interface pair of another LED module subassembly, whereby each LED module subassembly is coupled to the driver via a connection at the other LED module subassembly and a last LED module subassembly at the opposite side; or

[0076] The LED lighting arrangement is coupled to the other of the first and second conductors within the LED module subassemblies such that each LED module subassembly is coupled to a driver without a connection at another LED module subassembly and a last LED module subassembly at an opposite side.

[0077] In one embodiment, the selection depends on the driving current provided to the LED module subassembly. And, the selection circuit includes:

[0078] a current sensing circuit adapted to sense current through the LED lighting arrangement as an operating condition; and

[0079] A second switch between the LED lighting arrangement and the other of the first wire and the second wire, if the detected current is higher than a threshold value, the second switch is suitable for being triggered to close and connect the LED lighting arrangement within the LED module subassembly and the other of the first wire and the second wire, if the detected current is lower than the threshold value, the second switch is suitable for being triggered to open.

[0080] like Figure 8 As shown, the current detection circuit includes a resistor R6, a comparator U3 and a MOSFET U2 connected in series with the LED lighting arrangement D1 to D9. The second switch is also implemented by MOSFET U1. The negative input of the comparator U3 is connected to the resistor R6, and the positive input of the comparator U3 is coupled to the interface X7, which is coupled to the interface X3 of the next LED module subassembly and the reference voltage VCC. The reference voltage VCC sets the threshold.

[0081] When the current through the LED lighting arrangement sensed by resistor R6 is greater than the reference voltage VCC, the comparator U3 will output a negative voltage or zero voltage to the gate of the MOSFET U2, and the MOSFET U2 is turned off. VCC drives the MOSFET U1 via resistors R1 and R2 to turn off the MOSFET U1, so that the LED lighting arrangement D1 to D9 is directly connected to the second wire 42 within the LED module subassembly. Note that although the LED lighting arrangement D1 to D9 is still connected to the third interface pair X6, the impedance of the third interface pair X2, X6 and the third wire 33 in the subsequent LED module subassembly is higher than the resistance of the second wire 42, so no current flows to the subsequent LED module subassembly, but the current will flow to the second wire 42 to return to the driver. In another embodiment, a switch can be added at the third interface pair X6 to isolate the LED lighting arrangement D1 to D9 from the third interface pair X6.

[0082] When the current through the LED lighting arrangement sensed by resistor R6 is less than the reference voltage VCC, comparator U3 will output a positive voltage to the gate of MOSFET U2, and MOSFET U2 is turned on. The gate of MOSFET U1 is pulled to a low level to turn off MOSFET U1, so that the LED lighting arrangement D1 to D9 is isolated from the second wire 42 within the LED module subassembly and is electrically connected to the later LED module subassembly via the third interface pair X6. The operation of the entire lamp is similar to Figure 4 and Figure 5 similar.

[0083] It should be noted that the selection may also depend on other operating conditions, such as real-time electricity prices or efficiency requirements: if the electricity price is high or the system needs to operate in a high-efficiency mode, the power loss is preferably low, so the selection circuit selects the LED module subassembly to operate in the traditional mode, which has high efficiency but poor uniformity. If the electricity price is low or the system can operate in a mode with lower efficiency and higher light output performance, the power loss is acceptable, so the selection circuit selects the LED module subassembly to operate in the proposed new mode, which has high uniformity.

[0084] The present application also proposes an LED lighting assembly including a plurality of LED module subassemblies assembled together, and proposes an LED lighting fixture including the LED lighting assembly and a driver for driving the LED module subassemblies.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the third wire 44 is connected to the cathode of the LED lighting arrangement in each LED module subassembly and is connected to the second wire 42 at the last LED module subassembly. This is just an example. Fig.10 and Fig.11In the alternative embodiment shown, the third conductor 44 is adapted to couple the LED lighting arrangement from the third conductor 44 to the second conductor 42, in other words, the LED lighting unit is coupled to the third conductor 44 at the anode and to the second conductor 22 at the cathode. Fig.11 As shown, the third interface pair X6 of one LED module subassembly is connected to the third interface pair X2 of the next LED module subassembly, and the third interface pair X6 of the last LED module subassembly is connected to the first interface pair X5 of the last LED module subassembly to form a connection 50. It can be seen that this embodiment effectively exchanges Figure 4 and Figure 5 The positive power line and the negative power line of the embodiment.

[0086] By studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement variations to the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention. 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] If the word "suitable for" is used in the claims or the description, it should be noted that "suitable for" is intended to be equivalent to "configured to". If the term "arranged" is used in the claims or the description, it should be noted that the term "arranged" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0089] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An LED module adapted to be connected with another LED module to form a string, the string having a driver side to be connected to a driver and an opposite side, the LED module extending along the length of the LED module, the LED module comprising LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9); a first interconnect pair (X1, X5) and a first conductor (40) connecting the first interconnect pair (X1, X5) across the length of the LED module, the first conductor being adapted to couple to a first output (+) of the driver and to a first interconnect pair (X1, X5) of the further LED module; a second interconnect pair (X4, X8) and a second conductor (42) connecting the second interconnect pair (X4, X8) across the length of the LED module, the second conductor being adapted to couple to a second interconnect pair (X4, X5) of the other LED module and to a second output (-) of the driver; as well as a third interconnect pair (X2, X6) and a third wire (44) connecting the third interconnect pair (X2, X6) across the length of the LED module, the third wire being adapted to be coupled to a third interconnect pair (X2, X6) of the other LED module; The LED lighting units (D1 to D9) are connected to one of the first wire (40) and the second wire (42), and the LED module further comprises a selection circuit, which is suitable for selecting according to operating conditions: the LED lighting arrangement being connected to the third interconnected pair (X2, X6) of the further LED module such that each LED module in the string is coupled to the driver via the further LED module and the remaining LED modules up to the opposite side; or The LED lighting arrangement is connected to the other of the first conductor (40) and the second conductor (42) within the LED module so that each LED module is coupled to the driver without passing through the other LED module or remaining LED modules to the opposite side.

2. The LED module of claim 1, wherein the LED module is an LED module subassembly and the interconnect pair is an interface pair, If the LED module subassembly is the last LED module subassembly at the opposite side, the LED module subassembly is suitable for forming a connection (50) between the third wire (44) and the other of the first wire (40) and the second wire (42), so that each LED module subassembly in the string is coupled to the driver via another LED subassembly and the remaining LED module subassemblies up to the opposite side and the connection (50) at the opposite side.

3. The LED module according to claim 2 further includes a jumper terminal located between the third interface pair (X2, X6) and one of the first interface pair and the second interface pair, wherein the jumper terminal is suitable for receiving a jumper to form the connection (50) between the third wire (44) and the other of the first wire and the second wire.

4. The LED module according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit connecting the third wire (44) and the other of the first wire and the second wire, the circuit comprising: a detector (X7) adapted to detect whether the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side; as well as A first switch (U1) is adapted to be triggered by the detector (X7) to electrically connect the third wire (44) to the other of the first wire and the second wire.

5. The LED module according to claim 4, wherein the LED module comprises a fourth terminal (X3) connected to a reference voltage, and the detector (X7) is adapted to be connected to a fourth terminal (X3) of another module or to be floated in case the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side, Wherein the detector (X7) is adapted to determine whether the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side by detecting whether the voltage at the detector (X7) corresponds to the reference voltage.

6. The LED module according to claim 1, wherein the selection circuit comprises: a current detection circuit adapted to detect a current through the LED lighting arrangement as the operating condition; as well as a second switch connected between the LED lighting arrangement and the other of the first wire and the second wire, wherein if the detected current is higher than a threshold value, the second switch is adapted to be triggered to close and connect the LED lighting arrangement in the LED module with the other of the first wire and the second wire, and if the detected current is lower than the threshold value, the second switch is adapted to be triggered to open to keep the LED lighting arrangement connected to the third interface pair (X2, X6) of the other LED module.

7. An LED module according to claim 1, wherein the third wire (44) is suitable for coupling the LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9) from the first wire (40) to the third wire (44), and if the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side, the LED module is suitable for forming the connection (50) from the third wire (44) to the second wire (42).

8. An LED module according to claim 1, wherein the third wire (44) is suitable for coupling the LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9) from the third wire (44) to the second wire (42), and if the LED module is the last LED module at the opposite side, the LED module is suitable for forming the connection (50) from the first wire (40) to the third wire (44).

9. The LED module according to claim 1, wherein the first interface pair (X1, X5) is adapted to be coupled to a positive voltage output (+) of the driver, and the second interface pair is adapted to be coupled to a negative voltage output (-) of the driver.

10. The LED module according to claim 1, wherein the LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9) comprises a plurality of LED units distributed along the length of the LED module.

11. An LED lighting assembly, comprising a plurality of LED modules according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the LED modules are suitable for being connected in a daisy chain.

12. An LED lamp comprising the LED lighting assembly according to claim 11 and a driver, the driver being adapted to connect the LED module via the first interconnection pair and the second interconnection pair and provide power to the LED module.

13. An LED lighting system comprising a driver and a plurality of LED modules connected in sequence to form a string, the string having a driver side proximate the driver and an opposite side, each LED module extending along a length of the LED lighting system, each LED module comprising an LED lighting arrangement (D1 to D9); The LED lighting system further includes an anode bus bar and a cathode bus bar extending along the length of the LED lighting system, wherein the LED lighting arrangement is positioned across the anode bus bar and the cathode bus bar along the length of the LED lighting system, a return line extending along the length of the LED lighting system; and Select the circuit, suitable for selection according to the operating conditions: the return line and one of the anode bus and the cathode bus are connected to the driver at the driver side, and the other of the anode bus and the cathode bus is connected to the return line at the opposite side, whereby each LED module in the string is coupled to the driver via the other of the anode bus and the cathode bus and the return line to the opposite side; or Both the anode busbar and the cathode busbar are connected to the driver at the driver side so that each LED module in the string is coupled to the driver without being coupled via any of the busbars up to the opposite side and the return line.

14. The LED lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the selection circuit is adapted to select as the operating condition according to any one of the following: The current in the LED lighting system; Light output performance; and Efficiency requirements.

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