A light string plug
By integrating the control circuit inside the light string plug, using an MCU to control the metal terminals, and employing ultrasonic welding and sealant, the problems of complex structure, high cost, and poor waterproof performance of traditional light string plugs are solved, achieving functional expansion and improved waterproof performance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUANG ZHOU TING SHEN ELECTRIC
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Traditional string light plugs are complex in structure, expensive, have poor waterproof performance, and limited functionality, making it difficult to flexibly expand external components.
The control circuit is integrated inside the plug housing, the metal terminals are controlled by an MCU, the fuse is integrated and multi-functional output is realized inside the plug, and ultrasonic welding and sealant are used to improve waterproof performance.
It reduces the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity of the light string system, improves waterproof performance and functional expandability, and enhances the application flexibility of the light string.
Smart Images
Figure CN122159014A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of lighting decoration technology, specifically to a string light plug. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional string light products (such as decorative LED string lights) typically consist of three parts: a plug, a control box, and the string itself. The plug is only used to connect to mains power, while the control box is independently located between the plug and the string, housing a control chip or circuitry to achieve effects such as flashing and gradation. This split structure has significant drawbacks: First, the independent control box increases the number of parts and assembly processes, resulting in a higher overall manufacturing cost for the light string. Second, the connection between the plug and the control box requires additional wires and connectors, which not only makes the structure complex and bulky but also prone to problems such as poor contact or waterproofing failure. Third, the internal space of traditional plugs cannot accommodate circuit boards with control chips (such as MCUs), resulting in limited plug functionality and an inability to flexibly expand external components (such as switches, sensors, remote control receiver modules, etc.), thus limiting the application scenarios and intelligence level of the light string.
[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a string light connector that is compact, cost-controllable, can be equipped with an MCU, and supports functional expansion. Summary of the Invention
[0004] One of the technical problems to be solved by the present invention is to provide a light string plug with good waterproof performance; the control circuit is integrated inside the plug housing, and the MCU is used to realize the multi-functional output and expansion of the metal terminals, thereby reducing system cost, simplifying structure and improving the flexibility of light string applications.
[0005] The second technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a string light plug with good waterproof performance.
[0006] To solve one of the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention is: a string light plug, comprising a housing, metal inserts, a circuit board, and a fuse. The housing includes a front part, a middle part, and a rear part. The metal inserts are fixed to the front part of the housing. The bottom of the front part of the housing has two receiving slots for accommodating the fuses. The metal inserts are connected to the input terminal of the circuit board through the fuses. The circuit board is disposed in the receiving space in the middle part of the housing. The functional circuit on the circuit board includes an MCU chip. The rear part of the housing has three plug interfaces. The plug interfaces have metal terminals that connect to the output terminal of the circuit board. The metal terminals are connected to the MCU chip. The housing includes a base and a cover plate. The cover plate is ultrasonically welded to the base to form the receiving space. The cover plate has openings at the solder joints corresponding to the input and output terminals of the circuit board. The openings are filled with sealant.
[0007] As an improvement, the light string plug also includes a housing that encloses the main unit, and the housing has an access window with a push plate corresponding to the fuse location. This structure allows users to replace the fuse without disassembling the entire unit, improving maintenance convenience.
[0008] As an improvement, the front end of the circuit board extends into the limiting groove at the front of the housing, and the rear section of the circuit board is provided with several clearance grooves. These clearance grooves cooperate with the limiting plate at the rear of the housing, and adjacent clearance grooves form a connecting part. The metal terminals are spot-welded to the connecting part. This structure can limit the circuit board in multiple directions to prevent it from loosening during use, while providing a stable welding platform for the metal terminals.
[0009] As an improvement, the interface is a voltage output port and / or an expansion port. The light string is connected to the metal terminal at the voltage output port via a wire, and the external component is connected to the metal terminal at the expansion port via a wire.
[0010] As an improvement, the external component can be a switch, sensor, or remote control receiver module.
[0011] As an improvement, the control of the light string is achieved by writing a program into the MCU chip in conjunction with an external component. For example, when the external component is a photosensor, the MCU can automatically turn the light string on or off according to the ambient brightness; when the external component is a remote control receiver module, remote mode switching can be achieved.
[0012] As an improvement, the wire is electrically connected by inserting a pin into a metal terminal.
[0013] As an improvement, the rear of the housing is also provided with two tail connectors, and the metal contacts inside the tail connectors connect with the metal inserts. These tail connectors can be used to cascade multiple LED string plugs without the need for an additional splitter.
[0014] To solve the second technical problem mentioned above, the technical solution of the present invention is: a string light plug, comprising a housing, metal inserts, a circuit board, and a fuse. The housing includes a front part, a middle part, and a rear part. The metal inserts are fixed to the front part of the housing. The bottom of the front part of the housing has two receiving slots for accommodating the fuses. The metal inserts are connected to the input end of the circuit board through the fuses. The circuit board is disposed in the receiving space in the middle part of the housing. The rear part of the housing has three or more plug-in interfaces, each plug-in interface having a metal terminal connected to the output end of the circuit board. The housing includes a base and a cover plate. The cover plate is ultrasonically welded to the base to form the receiving space. The cover plate has openings at the solder joints corresponding to the input and output ends of the circuit board, and the openings are filled with sealant. The plug-in interfaces are surrounded by annular retaining walls.
[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention compared to the prior art are: 1. High integration: The circuit board with MCU, fuse and metal terminals are all integrated into the plug housing, and the layout is optimized, the size of the plug is reduced, the independent control box is eliminated, and the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity of the light string system are greatly reduced. 2. Expandable Functionality: The MCU enables intelligent control of the metal terminals, allowing the connector to not only output the working voltage of the light string but also serve as an expansion port to connect various external components (switches, sensors, remote control modules, etc.). Users or manufacturers can flexibly configure the light string functions according to their actual needs. 3. Programming flexibility: By writing different programs to the MCU, the same hardware platform can adapt to a variety of control logics, significantly improving the application scenario adaptability of the light string; 4. Fill the opening of the cover plate and the socket formed by the retaining wall with sealant to improve the waterproof performance of the plug shell and circuit board. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the separation of the outer shell and the core.
[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the separation of the base and the cover plate.
[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another type of core housing.
[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the plug and the light string.
[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the plug, switch, and light string.
[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the plug and the light string and the tail plug.
[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the plug and the light string, switch, and tail plug.
[0023] Figure 8 This is the circuit schematic diagram of a functional circuit.
[0024] Figure 9 This is the circuit schematic for functional circuit two.
[0025] Figure 10 This is the schematic diagram of the three-circuit functional circuit. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0027] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, a string light plug includes a housing and a core inserted into the housing. The core includes a housing 1, metal prongs 2, a circuit board 3, and a fuse 4. The housing 1 is made of flame-retardant plastic and is integrally formed from a front part 11, a middle part 12, and a rear part 13. The metal prongs 2 are two standard power pins, fixed in slots in the front part 11 of the housing, for insertion into a mains power socket. The housing 5 is made of hard plastic and has an access window 51 corresponding to the position of the fuse 4. A sliding or flip-up push plate 52 is installed on the window. When the fuse needs to be replaced, simply push open the push plate 52, remove the old fuse with a tool, and insert the new fuse; there is no need to disassemble the housing.
[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, two receiving slots 111 are formed at the bottom of the front part 11 of the housing, and each receiving slot 111 contains a fuse 4. The tail end of the metal insert 2 is electrically connected to one end of the fuse 4 through a conductive spring, and the other end of the fuse 4 is connected to the input terminal of the circuit board 3 through a wire or direct contact. In this way, when the current is too large, the fuse blows, protecting the subsequent circuit and the light string.
[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the central part 12 of the housing is a hollow accommodating space 121, within which the circuit board 3 is horizontally mounted. The circuit board 3 is equipped with a rectifier filter circuit, a step-down circuit, and an MCU chip 31. In this embodiment, the hollow accommodating space 121 is approximately rectangular, and the circuit board 3 has a similar shape. Larger electronic components are located on the back of the circuit board 3 and placed within the accommodating space 121, while smaller electronic components are located on the front of the circuit board 3, resulting in a compact and simple overall structure.
[0030] like Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the rear part 13 of the housing has three or more insertion ports. Each insertion port 131 has a metal terminal 132 fixed inside. Wires can be inserted into the insertion port 131 through pins and connected to the metal terminal to form an electrical connection. The metal terminal 132 is connected to the I / O port or power output terminal of the MCU chip 31 through the printed circuit on the circuit board 3. In this embodiment, at least two insertion ports are used as voltage output ports, directly soldered or plugged into the wires of the light string; the other insertion ports can be used as expansion ports to connect external components, such as switches, sensors, remote control receiver modules, etc. The MCU chip 31 has a program pre-programmed inside, which can change the flashing mode, brightness, and timed shutdown function of the light string according to the signals of the external components. In addition, the rear part 13 of the housing can also be expanded with two tail plug interfaces, whose internal metal contacts are directly connected in parallel with the metal plug 2 through conductive plates. In this way, when the user needs to connect multiple light strings, the pins of another light string plug can be inserted into the tail plug interface to achieve cascaded power supply, while each plug can still independently control its own light string.
[0031] Application Scenario 1: Connect the string light plug of this embodiment to a string of decorative LED lights, and connect a switch to the expansion port. The program in the MCU chip 31 reads the switch signal. When the switch is pressed, the string light automatically switches between flashing modes or turns off. The entire process requires no manual operation from the user, and all control components are integrated inside the plug.
[0032] Application Scenario 2: Connect the string light plug of this embodiment to a string of decorative LED lights, and connect a photosensor to the expansion port. The program in the MCU chip 31 reads the sensor signal, and automatically lights up the string lights and enters a breathing gradient mode when the ambient illuminance is lower than a preset threshold; when the illuminance is higher than the threshold, the string lights turn off. The entire process requires no manual operation from the user, and all control components are integrated inside the plug.
[0033] Application Scenario 3: Connect the string light plug of this embodiment to a string of decorative LED lights, and connect a remote control receiver module to the expansion port. The program in the MCU chip 31 reads the remote control signal. When the remote control transmitter module sends a signal to the receiver module, the string light automatically switches between flashing modes or turns off. The entire process requires no manual operation from the user, and all control components are integrated inside the plug.
[0034] For ease of production and assembly, the housing 1 adopts a split structure, including a base and a cover plate 14. The cover plate 14 is sealed and fixed to the base by ultrasonic welding to form the aforementioned accommodating space 121. Openings 141 are respectively provided on the cover plate 14 at the input solder joint 34 and the output solder joint 35 of the circuit board 3. After welding is completed, epoxy resin sealant is injected into the openings 141, and after curing, a waterproof sealing layer is formed. The plug interface 131 is surrounded by an annular baffle. The shape of the plug interface 131 can be square, circular, or other shapes. The plug interface 131 communicates with the accommodating space 121, and the sealant can be poured into the plug interface 131 from the back of the housing. The baffle prevents the sealant from overflowing, thereby improving the overall sealing performance.
[0035] To enhance the positioning reliability of the circuit board 3, a limiting groove 112 is provided inside the front part 11 of the housing, into which the front end of the circuit board 3 is inserted. Multiple limiting plates 133 are provided inside the rear part 13 of the housing, and several clearance grooves 32 are formed at the rear section of the circuit board 3. The clearance grooves 32 are engaged with the limiting plates 133, and the protruding portions between adjacent clearance grooves constitute the connecting portions 33. Metal terminals 132 are directly soldered to the copper foil of the connecting portions 33 using a spot welding machine. This structure avoids the use of additional wires and reduces contact resistance.
[0036] The functional circuits on the circuit board can be configured according to different light strings, such as... Figure 8As shown, functional circuit one: AC input, AC to DC via rectifier bridge DB1, then powering the MCU chip U1 via Zener diode ZD1. The MCU has an internal program that switches functions via switch S1 to control the changes in the LED string. The output terminals are divided into three channels to control the changes in the LED string. Figure 9 As shown, functional circuit two: AC input, directly driving MCU chip U1. The MCU has an internal program that switches switch S1 to different functions according to different changes, realizing different functional changes for a single LED string. Figure 10 As shown, the third functional circuit is an AC input circuit. The AC input is converted to DC by the rectifier bridge DB1, and then the power is supplied to the MCU chip U1 through the Zener diode ZD1. The MCU has a program written inside, and the switch SW1 switches the function according to different changes. The matrix circuit is used to perform different function changes.
Claims
1. A string light plug, comprising a housing, metal contacts, a circuit board, and a fuse, characterized in that: The housing includes a front, middle, and rear section. A metal insert is fixed to the front section of the housing. Two receiving slots for accommodating fuses are located at the bottom of the front section. The metal insert is connected to the input terminal of the circuit board via the fuses. The circuit board is located within the receiving space in the middle section of the housing. The functional circuitry on the circuit board includes an MCU chip. The rear section of the housing has three or more connectors, each containing a metal terminal connected to the output terminal of the circuit board. The metal terminal is connected to the MCU chip. The housing includes a base and a cover plate. The cover plate is ultrasonically welded to the base to form the receiving space. Openings are provided on the cover plate at the solder joints corresponding to the input and output terminals of the circuit board, and these openings are filled with sealant.
2. A string light plug according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an outer shell that encloses the housing, and the outer shell has an inspection window with a push plate at the location corresponding to the fuse.
3. A string light plug according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the circuit board extends into the limiting groove at the front of the housing. The rear section of the circuit board is provided with several clearance grooves. The clearance grooves cooperate with the limiting plate at the rear of the housing, and a connecting part is formed between adjacent clearance grooves. The metal terminals are spot-welded to the connecting part.
4. A string light plug according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connector is a voltage output port and / or an expansion port. The light string is connected to the metal terminal at the voltage output port via a wire, and the external component is connected to the metal terminal at the expansion port via a wire.
5. A string light plug according to claim 4, characterized in that: The external component is a switch, sensor, or remote control receiver module.
6. A string light plug according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control of the light string is achieved by writing a program into the MCU chip and using external components.
7. A string light plug according to claim 4, characterized in that: The wire is electrically connected to the metal terminal by a pin.
8. A string light plug according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear of the housing is also provided with two tail plug interfaces, and the metal contacts in the tail plug interfaces are connected to the metal plugs.
9. A string light plug, comprising a housing, metal contacts, a circuit board, and a fuse, characterized in that: The housing includes a front, middle, and rear section. The metal insert is fixed to the front section of the housing. The bottom of the front section of the housing has two receiving slots for accommodating fuses. The metal insert is connected to the input terminal of the circuit board through the fuses. The circuit board is located in the receiving space in the middle section of the housing. The rear section of the housing has three or more plug-in interfaces, each containing a metal terminal connected to the output terminal of the circuit board. The housing includes a base and a cover plate. The cover plate is ultrasonically welded to the base to form the receiving space. The cover plate has openings at the solder joints corresponding to the input and output terminals of the circuit board, and the openings are filled with sealant. The plug-in interfaces are surrounded by annular retaining walls.