LED strip

Abstract

Light-emitting diode strip (1) with an elongated channel-shaped profile (8) with a bottom wall (12) with a bottom side (14) and side walls (11) extending laterally from the bottom wall (12) and having a respective cover surface (15), and an inner recess (19) formed between the bottom wall (12) and the side walls (11), and an elongated light-emitting diode strip (5) arranged in the inner recess (19), wherein the light-emitting diode strip (5) has a flexible conductor track (10) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (9) arranged on the conductor track (10) in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip (5), and contacting means (6) are arranged in the inner recess (19), which contacting means are designed to supply the light-emitting diodes (9) with electrical energy, and the inner recess (19) is provided with a casting compound (7), characterized in that the light-emitting diode strip (5) has at least two Distance (A) arranged adjacent conductor track segments (2,3) which are mechanically connected to one another and electrically coupled to one another by means of a flexible connecting element (17) projecting outwards from the longitudinal direction (LR) of the light-emitting diode strip (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode strip with an elongated channel-shaped profile having a bottom wall with a bottom side and side walls extending laterally from the bottom wall and having a respective cover surface, and an inner recess formed between the bottom wall and the side walls, and an elongated light-emitting diode strip arranged in the inner recess, wherein the light-emitting diode strip has a flexible conductor track and a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged on the conductor track in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip, and contacting means are arranged in the inner recess, which are designed to supply the light-emitting diodes with electrical energy, and the inner recess is provided with a casting compound, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The aforementioned LED strip is a flexible LED strip, which is intended, for example, for lighting purposes in a building, a piece of furniture, or a vehicle. The intended use of the LED strip according to the invention means that the LED strip often has to be attached to curved surfaces or mounting locations. These mounting locations can also have curvatures in more than one spatial direction, so the attachment of an LED strip at the mounting location that does not offer particularly good flexibility or adaptability to the mounting location is not possible.

[0003] A light-emitting diode strip attributable to the applicant has become known from DE 20 2025 101 445.

[0004] This well-known LED strip has already proven itself in practice, but still has potential for improvement with regard to the flexibility of the LED strip in the three spatial directions.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a light-emitting diode strip which is characterized by simple mounting on irregularly curved surfaces and has a high degree of flexibility in the three spatial directions.

[0006] To achieve this object, the invention has the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments thereof are described in the further claims.

[0007] The invention provides a light-emitting diode strip with an elongated channel-shaped profile with a bottom wall having a bottom side and side walls extending laterally from the bottom wall and having a respective cover surface, and an inner recess formed between the bottom wall and the side walls, and an elongated light-emitting diode strip arranged in the inner recess, wherein the light-emitting diode strip has a flexible conductor track and a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged on the conductor track in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip, and contacting means are arranged in the inner recess, which are designed to supply the light-emitting diodes with electrical energy, and the inner recess is provided with a potting compound, wherein the light-emitting diode strip has at least two adjacent conductor track segments arranged at a distance from one another,which are mechanically connected and electrically coupled to one another by a flexible connecting element projecting outwards from the longitudinal direction of the LED strip.

[0008] The LED strip provided according to the invention has an elongated channel-shaped profile, also referred to as a base profile, which has a bottom wall with a lower side and side walls extending laterally from the bottom wall and having a respective cover surface. The base profile is formed in one piece and has a trough-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section, for example, a U-shaped configuration. It can be made, for example, from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), or, for example, from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material or from a thermosetting material.

[0009] An inner recess is formed between the bottom wall and the side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the base profile. An elongated LED strip is provided in the inner recess. The LED strip has a flexible conductor track and a plurality of LEDs arranged along the conductor track in the longitudinal direction of the LED strip. Contacting means are also provided in the inner recess, which are designed to supply the LEDs with electrical energy. The inner recess is provided with a potting compound that covers the LED strip and is, for example, diffusely colored.The LEDs are arranged on the conductor track using chip on board (COB) technology and are spaced so closely apart that the user of the LED strip according to the invention cannot recognize the individual LEDs as separate light points, but perceives the illuminated LED strip as a continuous light source.

[0010] The LED strip according to the invention is characterized in that the LED strip has at least two adjacent conductor track segments arranged at a distance from one another, which are mechanically connected to one another and electrically coupled to one another by a flexible connecting element projecting outwards from the longitudinal direction of the LED strip.

[0011] The LED strip of the LED strip according to the invention thus has at least two conductor track segments arranged at a distance from and adjacent to each other. The conductor track of the LED strip according to the invention is designed to be flexible, so that the conductor track segments of the conductor track are also designed to be flexible.

[0012] The at least two adjacent conductor track segments are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction of the LED strip and have end faces that are assigned to one another, i.e., are arranged opposite one another in the inner recess of the, for example, U-shaped profile. Between the end faces of the adjacent conductor track segments, there is a slight distance, which is preferably smaller than the width of the conductor track determined transversely to the longitudinal direction of the conductor track. This slight distance is spanned by a flexible connecting element that projects outward from the longitudinal direction of the LED strip, mechanically connecting the two conductor track segments and electrically coupling them.

[0013] The flexible connecting element thus connects the two adjacent conductor track segments both mechanically and electrically and extends in the longitudinal direction of the LED strip from one side edge of the LED strip in an outward direction.It has been shown that this configuration results in the adjacent conductor track segments being able to follow the curvature of the LED strip very well when the LED strip is bent in the plane during assembly of the LED strip at the assembly location, i.e. when the LED strip is bent out of its straight configuration, and offering little resistance to such a curvature, and thus the LED strip according to the invention can be easily mounted on irregular surfaces, which can also be curved in all three spatial directions, without there being any risk of damage to the LED strip due to tight curvature radii, and the LED strip can also be easily mounted at the assembly location.

[0014] The spacing between the conductor track segments ensures that, even with tight radii of the LED strip, no unacceptable material stresses arise in the conductor track segments, which could lead to damage to the LED strip due to a break in the conductor track. The connecting element is flexible, particularly elastic, and offers no resistance to an angular offset between the respective longitudinal centerlines of the adjacent conductor track segments, allowing the conductor track segments to be curved inward. The longitudinal centerlines of the conductor track segments have a curved configuration rather than a straight line.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the conductor track segments are provided with contacting means segments and the connecting element electrically couples mutually associated contacting means segments of adjacent conductor track segments with each other with correct polarity.

[0016] The aforementioned contacting means in the inner recess can thus be arranged on the conductor segments themselves, for example in the form of printed lines on the surface of the conductor segments, so that the electrical energy required to operate the LEDs is provided by means of printed lines arranged on the surface of the conductor segments in the form of a positive line and a negative line. The contacting means segments thus run together on one surface of the conductor segment or separately from one another on the upper and lower surfaces of the conductor segment.

[0017] The supply voltage for the LEDs arranged on the conductor track segments is thus looped through via the flexible connecting element between the two conductor track segments, so that the supply of electrical energy to the LEDs of the separate conductor track segments is maintained even in the event of a strong curvature of the LED band and thus of the LED strip.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, the connecting element has, in a plan view, a ring-segment-shaped section which is provided with electrically conductive connecting means which couple the contacting means segments of adjacent conductor track segments to one another with correct polarity.

[0019] This configuration ensures that when the LED strip is bent in one direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the LED strip in the plane of the LED strip, for example, arranged on a horizontal surface, the ring-segment-shaped section mechanically and electrically couples the two adjacent conductor segments, and any material stress or strain occurring in one conductor segment when the conductor segment is bent is not transferred to the adjacent conductor segment. This results in the advantage that the LED strip as a whole is highly flexible and will not be damaged at the installation site, even if the radius of curvature of the LED strip is changed multiple times along its longitudinal direction.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the conductor track segments have a respective end face which are arranged parallel to one another in the case of a light-emitting diode strip which runs in a straight line in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] If the LED strip according to the invention has a rectilinear configuration along its longitudinal extent, i.e., is not curved along its longitudinal direction, the respective end faces of the adjacent and mutually associated conductor track segments lie parallel to each other. The flexible connecting element connects the two adjacent conductor track segments to each other in the region of the end faces, so that a clear distance exists between the two end faces and the two end faces do not touch each other when the LED strip is bent from the rectilinear configuration.In other words, this means that the distance between the two end faces of the conductor track segments changes in a direction vertical to the longitudinal extension of the LED strip, i.e. in a direction vertical to the longitudinal center axis of the LED strip along the end faces, and increases or decreases in the vertical axis direction of the opposite end faces, depending on the direction in which the LED strip is curved.

[0022] In other words, this means that when the LED strip is shifted from the straight configuration, the end faces assume a configuration that differs from the parallel opposite configuration.

[0023] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the light-emitting diode strip has a plurality of adjacent conductor track segments arranged at a distance from one another, wherein two adjacent conductor track segments are mechanically connected and electrically coupled to one another by means of a flexible connecting element.

[0024] This configuration ensures that the LED strip according to the invention has a virtually endless configuration with a plurality of adjacent and spaced-apart conductor track segments, each of which is electrically and mechanically coupled to one another by the flexible connecting element. Thus, an endless LED strip is created, which can have any number of curvatures along its longitudinal direction in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the LED strip.

[0025] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the connecting element rests against an inner wall of a side wall and extends from the plane of the conductor track segment in the direction of the cover surface of the side wall.

[0026] It has been shown that this configuration, in which the connecting element conforms to the inner wall of the side wall, is advantageous with regard to the flexibility and elasticity of the LED strip according to the invention and does not offer any resistance to the deflection of the LED strip along its longitudinal direction from the rectilinear configuration to a curved LED strip.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, the light-emitting diode strip is designed to be elastically reversibly deformable in three spatial directions along its longitudinal extent from the rectilinear configuration, wherein adjacent conductor track segments are displaceable in directions which differ from one another.

[0028] This creates a configuration according to which the elongated LED strip can be curved in a horizontal plane, as it were, corresponding to a loop, as well as being curved out of the plane in a direction vertical to the horizontal plane, i.e. can take the form of a three-dimensional loop or loop, without being damaged.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the conductor track segments have an upper side and a lower side designed for the arrangement of light-emitting diodes and contacting means segments are arranged on the upper side and / or the lower side of the conductor track segments and are designed to be elastically deformable.

[0030] This achieves a configuration according to which the contacting means segments can be formed in the form of, for example, the printed lines mentioned above on the top side and / or the bottom side of the conductor track segments and are designed to be elastically deformable.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a light-emitting diode strip according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view of the LED strip according to section II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a plan view of a light-emitting diode strip of the light-emitting diode tape according to the invention; Fig. 4 an enlarged view of section IV according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a light-emitting diode strip which is strongly curved in one direction according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 a top view of the LED strip according to Fig. 5 with a strong curvature in a direction different from the direction of the curvature Fig. 5 deviating direction; and Fig. 7 is a view of a light-emitting diode strip according to the present invention, which is arranged in a direction from the horizontal plane of the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 was strongly curved vertically upwards.

[0032] Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a schematic perspective view of a light-emitting diode strip 1 with a base profile 4, a light-emitting diode strip 5 and potting compound 7 arranged in the base profile 4.

[0033] The light-emitting diode strip 1 has an elongated channel-shaped profile 8, which is designed as an elastic base profile 4, which has a channel-shaped interior 19, in which the light-emitting diode strip 5 is arranged, which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes 9 provided at a slight distance from one another.

[0034] The LED strip 5 can be a Fig. 3 of the drawing have a flexible conductor track 10 and the Fig. 3 The light-emitting diodes 9 shown only schematically can be mounted on the conductor track 10 using chip-on-board (COB) technology.

[0035] Fig. 2 of the drawing shows a schematically illustrated magnetooperative device 32 in the form of, for example, a ferromagnetic band or ferromagnetic strip, which are arranged in the inner recess 19 of the base profile 4 in the region of the inner sides of the side wall 11 and the inner side of the bottom wall 12.This configuration has the advantage that a light-emitting diode strip 1 provided with the magneto-operative device 32 can be arranged on a carrier profile in the form of, for example, a carrier rail or a carrier frame or the like and can be releasably secured to the carrier rail or the carrier frame or the carrier profile by means of permanent magnets provided on the carrier profile or the carrier rail or the carrier frame and thus no intervention in the structure of the carrier rail or the carrier frame or the carrier profile has to be carried out, as is carried out, for example, when the carrier has to be provided with drill holes in order to be able to fasten receptacles for the arrangement and securing of the light-emitting diode strip to the carrier.

[0036] With the COB arrangement, it is possible to arrange the LEDs at such a small distance from each other that the LEDs produce a uniform light for the viewer, i.e. the viewer does not perceive individual points of light, but sees a continuous, one-piece or one-piece LED strip with a homogeneous radiation of the light.

[0037] The base profile 4 can be an elastic profile with a trough-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section, which is made, for example, from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), or also from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material or also from an elastic thermosetting material.

[0038] The base profile 4 of the LED strip 1, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, has, in the embodiment shown, two side walls 11 which are formed in one piece with the bottom wall 12 of the LED strip 1 and extend in the longitudinal direction “L” according to the double arrow Fig. 1 have a longitudinal rib 13 on both sides of the respective side wall, which on the one hand increases the rigidity of the base profile 2 and also increases the preload when the LED strip is arranged in a receiving groove of a piece of furniture or the like.

[0039] Predetermined markings may be provided on the bottom wall 12 of the LED strip 1, which represent cutting lines or positioning aids for the user, at which the user can cut or position the LED strip 1.

[0040] Fig. 2 of the drawing also shows that the bottom wall 12 of the base profile 4 has a bottom side 14 and the two side walls 11 of the base profile 4 each have an upper cover surface 15.

[0041] Like it Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the LED strip 5 has electrical contact means 6 in the form of copper tracks 13. The copper tracks 13 can be used to provide electrical energy for the LEDs 9 of the LED strip 5.

[0042] The electrical energy can be transferred via the Fig. 3 of the drawing, the two connecting cables must be provided.

[0043] The inner recess 19 or the interior 19 of the base profile 4 is provided with casting compound 7.

[0044] Fig. 3 of the drawing shows the LED strip 5, which is arranged in the inner recess 19 of the elongated channel-shaped profile 8, as can be seen from the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 of the drawing. These two Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the LED strip 1 without the potting compound introduced into the inner recess 19 and show the high elastic deformability or flexibility of the LED strip 1 according to the invention.

[0045] Fig. 3 of the drawing shows a section of the LED strip 5, which is arranged in the inner recess 19 of the profile 8, wherein it should be noted that the LED strip 5 can also have a length of several meters and can have a plurality of conductor track segments 2, 3.

[0046] As shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing, the conductor track segments 2, 3 are arranged at a distance A from each other, which is shown in more detail in the detailed view according to Fig. 4 of the drawing.

[0047] The clear distance A is spanned by a flexible connecting element 17 which projects outwards in the longitudinal direction LR of the light-emitting diode strip 5 and which mechanically connects the two conductor track segments 2, 3 and also electrically couples them.

[0048] For the electrical connection of the two conductor track segments 2, 3, the connecting element 17 has the previously mentioned two copper tracks 13 designed as contacting means, which transmit the supply voltage provided via the electrical connection lines 16 from the conductor track segment 2 to the conductor track segment 3. Similarly, all connecting elements 17 have such copper tracks 13, which, as can be seen from the Fig. 3 of the drawing, are coated with a protective varnish 18.

[0049] The protective lacquer 18 is used to represent the copper tracks 13 in the area of ​​the connecting element 17 closest to the connecting lines 16 in the Fig. 3 has been removed.

[0050] As shown by Fig. 3, the conductor track segments 2, 3 have contacting means segments 20, which are designed in the form of electrically conductive printed lines and represent the positive line and the negative line for supplying the light-emitting diodes 20 on the conductor track segments 2, 3, which are mechanically and electrically connected to one another by means of the connecting elements 17. The lines can be provided on the top and / or bottom of the conductor track segments.

[0051] The contacting means segments 20 of the conductor track segments 2, 3, which are designed in the form of printed lines, are looped through to one another via the copper tracks 13 of the connecting elements 17, so that all the light-emitting diodes 9 arranged on the light-emitting diode strip 5 are supplied with the supply voltage required for the operation of the light-emitting diodes.

[0052] As the Fig. 4 of the drawing shows, the connecting element 17 has, in a plan view, a ring-segment-shaped section 21 which is provided with the already mentioned copper tracks 13, which represent electrically conductive connecting means and couple the contacting means segments 20 of adjacent conductor track segments 2, 3 with correct polarity.

[0053] The conductor track segments 2, 3 have respective end faces 22, which are formed by Fig. 4 of the drawing, the LED strip 5 is arranged parallel to one another when the LED strip 1 runs in a straight line in the longitudinal direction.

[0054] Fig. Figure 5 of the drawing shows a plan view of a light-emitting diode strip 1 which is arranged resting on a horizontal surface 23 and which has been strongly curved from a rectilinear configuration of the light-emitting diode strip 1 in a first direction 24.

[0055] Similarly, Fig. 6 of the drawing shows the LED strip 1, which has been strongly curved in a second direction 25.

[0056] At the Fig. 5 of the drawing, the two end faces 22 have a distance from each other which becomes smaller from the first edge 27 of the LED strip 1 in the direction of the second edge 28 of the LED strip 1 and thus a tapered inner angle 26 is formed between the two side edges 22.

[0057] When configuring the LED strip 1 according to Fig. 6, a widening second interior angle 29 is formed, from which it can be seen that the two end faces 22 assume a configuration which differs from the parallel opposite configuration when the LED strip 1 is displaced from the rectilinear configuration.

[0058] As shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, the connecting element 17 rests against an inner wall 30 of the side wall 11 and extends from the plane 31 of the conductor track segment 2 in the direction of the cover surface 15 of the side wall 11 of the profile 8.

[0059] Fig. 7 of the drawing shows that the LED strip 1, which is used to explain the three-dimensional deformability of the LED strip 1 in the representation according to the Fig. 7 rests on the surface 23, is also deformable in the direction of a spatial direction orthogonal to the surface 23.

[0060] The respective deformability or bendability of the LED strip 1 is achieved in that the connecting elements 17 ensure that bending stresses occurring within the conductor track segments 2, 3 of the LED strip 5 when the LED strip 1 is deformed or bent in any spatial direction are not transferred from one conductor track segment 2 to the adjacent conductor track segment 3 and thus the bending stress occurring as a result of the deformation or bending of the LED strip 1 within the respective conductor track segment is not transferred to the adjacent conductor track segment and thus bending stresses from the adjacent conductor track segment are not superimposed on the respective conductor track segment.

[0061] The LED strip 1 is thus characterized by being elastically reversibly deformable in three spatial directions along its longitudinal extension from a rectilinear configuration, with adjacent conductor track segments being displaceable in mutually different directions. This achieves excellent bendability of the LED strip, which makes the LED strip according to the invention very suitable for application at mounting locations that have multidimensional curvatures and are irregularly shaped.

[0062] With regard to features of the invention not explained in detail above, reference is expressly made to the claims and the drawings. List of reference symbols 1 LED strip 2 conductor track segment 3 conductor track segment 4 Basic profile 5 LED strips 6 Contacting agents 7 Potting compound 8 Profile 9 LEDs 10 flexible conductor tracks 11 Side wall 12 floor wall 13 copper tracks 14 Bottom 15 deck area 16 connecting cables 17 Connecting element 18 Protective varnish 19 inner recess 20 Contacting agent segment 21 ring segment-shaped section 22 front side 23 horizontal surface 24 first direction 25 second direction 26. First angle 27 First edge 28 second edge 29 second angle 30 interior wall 31 Level 32 Magnetooperative Facility LR longitudinal direction A distance QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2025 101 445

[0003]

Claims

[1] Light-emitting diode strip (1) with an elongated channel-shaped profile (8) with a bottom wall (12) with a bottom side (14) and side walls (11) extending laterally from the bottom wall (12) and having a respective cover surface (15), and an inner recess (19) formed between the bottom wall (12) and the side walls (11), and an elongated light-emitting diode strip (5) arranged in the inner recess (19), wherein the light-emitting diode strip (5) has a flexible conductor track (10) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (9) arranged on the conductor track (10) in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip (5), and contacting means (6) are arranged in the inner recess (19), which contacting means are designed to supply the light-emitting diodes (9) with electrical energy, and the inner recess (19) is provided with a casting compound (7), characterized byin that the light-emitting diode strip (5) has at least two adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) arranged at a distance (A) from one another, which are mechanically connected to one another and electrically coupled to one another by means of a flexible connecting element (17) projecting outwards from the longitudinal direction (LR) of the light-emitting diode strip (5). [2] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the conductor track segments (2, 3) are provided with contacting means segments (20) and the connecting element (17) electrically couples mutually associated contacting means segments (20) of adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) to one another with correct polarity. [3] Light-emitting diode strip according to claim 1 or 2, characterized byin that the connecting element (17) has, in a plan view, a ring-segment-shaped section (21) which is provided with electrically conductive connecting means (13) which couple the contacting means segments (20) of adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) to one another with correct polarity. [4] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conductor track segments (2, 3) have a respective end face (22) which are arranged parallel to one another in a longitudinally rectilinear light-emitting diode strip (1). [5] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the end faces (22) assume a configuration which differs from the parallel opposite configuration when the light-emitting diode strip (1) is displaced from the rectilinear configuration. [6] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the light-emitting diode strip (1) has a plurality of adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) arranged at a distance, wherein in each case two adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) are electrically and mechanically coupled to one another by means of a flexible connecting element (17). [7] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting element (17) rests against an inner wall (30) of a side wall (11) and extends from the plane (31) of the conductor track segment (2, 3) in the direction of the cover surface (15) of the side wall (11). [8] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light-emitting diode strip (1) is designed to be elastically reversibly deformable in three spatial directions along its longitudinal extent from the rectilinear configuration, wherein adjacent conductor track segments (2, 3) are displaceable in directions which differ from one another. [9] Light-emitting diode strip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conductor track segments (2, 3) have an upper side and a lower side designed for the arrangement of light-emitting diodes and contacting means segments (20) are arranged on the upper side and / or the lower side of the conductor track segments (2, 3) and are designed to be elastically deformable.

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