Cob holder

Abstract

A CoB holder (130) comprising a holding structure for a chip-on-board (CoB) light source, at least one terminal positioning slot (140) configured to receive a terminal, and at least one terminal (120) received within a respective terminal positioning slot. The at least one terminal comprises a receiving portion (121) for receiving a wire, a contact portion (122) that for making electrical contact with a CoB light source held by the CoB holder, and a connecting portion (123) connecting the receiving portion to the contact portion. The connecting portion is a twisted plate-shaped portion.

Description

[0001] COB HOLDER

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to holders for chip-on-board light sources, and, in particular, to terminals used in such holders.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Conventional plug-in terminals comprise rigid blocks or pins. A high position accuracy is required in fixing such terminals to a CoB light source (e.g. by soldering), in order that the CoB light source and terminals can be fitted to a CoB holder.

[0006] Flexible terminals, such as wires and flexible plates, are sometimes used instead of rigid terminals. However, flexible plates are only bendable in a single dimension, which is of limited utility, while wires are 360°-bendable, and therefore are not suitable for some purposes. In particular, wires do not provide a reliable connection to a CoB light source when used as terminals of a CoB holder.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0009] According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a CoB holder comprising: a holding structure configured to secure a chip-on-board, CoB, light source to the CoB holder; and at least one terminal positioning slot; and at least one terminal, each terminal being received within a terminal positioning slot of the CoB holder and comprising: a receiving portion for receiving a wire; a contact portion for providing contact between the plug-in terminal and the CoB light source; and a connecting portion connecting the receiving portion to the contact portion, wherein the connecting portion is a plate-shaped portion twisted such that a first end of the connecting portion, connected to the receiving portion, has a non-zero angle with respect to a second end of the connecting portion, connected to the contact portion.

[0010] The torsional deformation of the connecting portion enables a small amount of relative movement between the receiving portion and the contact portion in two directions, thus allowing the CoB light source with plug-in terminals attached to be more easily fitted into the CoB holder.

[0011] In particular, the angle between the first and second ends of the connecting portion can be configured (by the amount of twisting in the connecting portion) so that the relative movement between the receiving portion and the fixing portion is in desired directions. The desired direction of relative movement between the receiving portion and the fixing portion will depend on the relative positions and orientations of the holding structure and each terminal positioning slot.

[0012] The inventors have recognized that the relative movement achieved in this way is sufficient to improve the tolerance in position accuracy when fixing the plug-in terminal to the CoB holder and a CoB light source, without the flexibility of the terminal being too great, which would make it difficult to provide a reliable electrical connection to the CoB light source.

[0013] In particular, the contact portion may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the contact portion in order to bring the contact portion closer to a CoB light source secured within the CoB holder.

[0014] The receiving portion may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the plane of an area of the receiving portion connected to the connecting portion, which allows adjustment of the relative position between the receiving portion and the contact portion, thus enabling adjustment of which area of a CoB light source the contact portion comes into contact with. In this way, the position of the contact portion can be adjusted so that the contact portion touches / overlaps an electrode pad on the CoB light source.

[0015] In some examples, the at least one terminal positioning slot comprises at least two terminal positioning slots; and the at least one terminal comprises at least two terminals.

[0016] In some examples, each terminal positioning slot is configured to receive a terminal; and each terminal is received within a respective terminal positioning slot of the CoB holder.

[0017] Alternatively, the at least one terminal positioning slot may be configured to receive two or more terminals, and the at least one terminal may comprise two or more terminals received within a same terminal positioning slot.

[0018] In some examples, for each terminal, the non-zero angle between the first end of the connecting portion and the second end of the connecting portion is in the range of from 85° to 95°.

[0019] In other words, the connecting portion is twisted such that the first end of the connecting portion is substantially perpendicular to the second end of the connecting portion. In this way, relative movement between the receiving portion and the contact portion (and therefore the CoB light source) is enabled in two directions that are substantially perpendicular to one another.

[0020] In some examples, for each terminal, the non-zero angle between the first end of the connecting portion and the second end of the connecting portion is in the range of from 88° to 92°.

[0021] In some examples, for each terminal, the non-zero angle between the first end of the connecting portion and the second end of the connecting portion is 90°.

[0022] In some examples, for each terminal, the receiving portion, contact portion and connecting portion are integrally formed.

[0023] In some examples, the at least one terminal comprises at least one plug-in terminal.

[0024] In some examples, each plug-in terminal further comprises a push-in connector for securing a wire against the receiving portion.

[0025] This provides a simple, secure connection between the plug-in terminal and a wire.

[0026] In some examples, for each terminal, the contact portion and a first area of the receiving portion connected to the connecting portion are substantially planar.

[0027] In some examples, the non-zero angle between the first end of the connecting portion and the second end of the connecting portion, causes the plane in which the first area of the receiving portion lies to make a non-zero angle with respect to the plane in which the contact portion lies.

[0028] In some examples, for each terminal, the contact portion comprises an protrusion. The protrusion may be used to improve contact between the terminal and an electrode pad on a CoB light source.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a lamp comprising: a chip-on-board, CoB, light source configured to emit light; and the CoB holder described above.

[0030] 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

[0031] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates a lamp, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a CoB light source with two terminals in contact with respective electrode pads of the CoB light source;

[0034] Figure 3 illustrates a terminal;

[0035] Figure 4 illustrates the contact between the terminal and the CoB light source, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0036] Figure 5 illustrates the contact between the terminal and the CoB light source, according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.

[0039] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0040] The invention provides a CoB holder comprising a holding structure for a chip- on-board (CoB) light source, at least one terminal positioning slot configured to receive a terminal, and at least one terminal received within a respective terminal positioning slot. The at least one terminal comprises a receiving portion for receiving a wire, a contact portion that for making electrical contact with a CoB light source held by the CoB holder, and a connecting portion connecting the receiving portion to the contact portion. The connecting portion is a twisted plate-shaped portion.

[0041] Embodiments are at least partly based on the realization that twisting the connecting portion of the terminal enables deformation of the terminal in two directions, which allows the terminal to more easily fit into the CoB holder and make contact with a desired region (i.e. an electrode pad) of the CoB light source held by the CoB holder. Figure 1 illustrates a lamp 100, according to an embodiment of the invention. The lamp comprises a chip-on-board (CoB) light source 110 configured to emit light, and a CoB holder 130. The CoB holder is, itself, an embodiment of the invention.

[0042] The CoB holder 130 comprises a holding structure configured to secure the CoB light source 110 to the CoB holder, at least one terminal positioning slot 140, and at least one terminal 120 received within a respective terminal positioning slot of the CoB holder.

[0043] The CoB holder 130 shown in Figure 1 comprises two terminal positioning slots, each receiving a terminal. However, alternative arrangements for receiving one or more terminals within CoB holder are also envisaged. For instance, the CoB holder may comprise at least one terminal positioning slot configured to receive two or more terminals (e.g. a single terminal positioning slot may receive two terminals).

[0044] In Figure 1, the CoB holder 130 is an integrally-formed optic assembly comprising a lens and a holding structure configured to secure the CoB light source 110 such that a light-emitting surface of the CoB light source faces the lens. However, the skilled person will readily appreciate that the CoB holder may be separate to any optical components of the lamp 100, as is the case with conventional CoB holders.

[0045] As the skilled person will readily appreciate, the CoB holder may comprise further elements, such as one or more apertures for receiving a screw to secure the CoB holder to one of more further components of a lamp (e.g. to a heatsink).

[0046] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the CoB light source 110 (i.e. showing the light-emitting surface of the CoB light source), with two terminals 120 in contact with respective electrode pads 111 of the CoB light source. In Figure 2, the terminals 170 are plugin terminals; however, other types of terminals are also envisaged.

[0047] The structure of the terminals 120 is shown more clearly in Figure 3. Each terminal comprises a receiving portion 121 for receiving a wire, a contact portion 122 for providing contact between the terminal and the CoB light source 110, and a connecting portion 123 connecting the receiving portion to the contact portion. The receiving portion (or at least an area of the receiving portion connected to the connecting portion) and the contact portion may each be substantially planar.

[0048] The connecting portion 123 is a plate-shaped portion that is twisted such that a first end 123a of the connecting portion, which is connected to the receiving portion 121, has a non-zero angle with respect to a second end 123b of the connecting portion, which is connected to the contact portion 122. In other words, the connecting portion is a torsionally deformed plate-shaped portion. The non-zero angle between the first end 123a of the connecting portion and the second end 123b means that there is a non-zero angle between the plane in which the receiving portion lies and the plane in which the area of the receiving portion connected to the connecting portion lies.

[0049] Preferably, the first end 123a of the connecting portion 123 is substantially perpendicular to the second end 123b of the connecting portion. For instance, the non-zero angle between the first end 123a and the second end 123b may be in the range 85°-95°, for example 88°-92°. In Figure 3, the angle between the first end of the connection portion and the second end, and therefore between the plane of the contact portion 122 and the plane of the area of the receiving portion 121 connected to the connecting portion, is 90°.

[0050] The torsional deformation of the connecting portion 123 allows plastic deformation of the plug-in terminal 120 in two directions, in order to provide a better fit between the plug-in terminal, a CoB light source 110 and the terminal positioning slot 140 of the CoB holder 130.

[0051] In particular, the contact portion 122 of the plug-in terminal 120 may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the contact portion to reduce or eliminate a gap between the contact portion and the CoB light source 110 (e.g. sufficiently close that an elastic deformation of the contact portion is able to bring the contact portion into contact with the CoB light source).

[0052] In addition, the receiving portion 121 of the plug-in terminal 120 may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the plane of an area of the receiving portion connected to the connecting portion 123. This allows the relative position of the receiving portion and the contact portion 122 to be adjusted so that a plug-in terminal in a terminal positioning slot 140 of the CoB holder 130 makes contact with an electrode pad of the CoB light source 110.

[0053] In Figure 3, the receiving portion 121, contact portion 122 and connecting portion 123 of the plug-in terminal 120 are integrally formed. In other examples, one or both of the receiving portion and the contact portion may be a separate element connected to the connecting portion by any suitable connector.

[0054] In Figure 3, the receiving portion 121 of the plug-in terminal 120 comprises a push-in connector 124 for securing a wire within the receiving portion. The push-fit connector is a lever biased to a position that closes off the receiving portion. However, other securing elements may also be used to secure a wire within the receiving portion, and suitable securing elements, such as screws, crimps and springs, will be readily apparent to the skilled person. In some examples, the contact portion 122 of the plug-in terminal 120 comprises a protrusion 125 for improved contact between the plug-in terminal and an electrode pad 111 of the CoB light source 110. The protrusion shown in Figure 3 is formed by a dent in the contact portion, and extends from a surface of the contact portion configured to face the electrode pad, in order to make contact with the electrode pad.

[0055] The contact between the plug-in terminal 120 and the CoB light source 110 is shown in sectional view in Figure 4. The protrusion 125 of the contact portion 122 makes contact with the electrode pad 111 of the CoB light source.

[0056] Figure 5 illustrates an alternative for providing contact between the plug-in terminal 120 and the CoB light source 110. In Figure 5, the contact portion 122 of the plug-in terminal 120 is soldered to the electrode pad 111 of the CoB light source using solder 126. Further alternatives for providing contact between the terminal and the CoB light source will be apparent to the skilled person. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0057] 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.

[0058] If the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to". If the term "arrangement" is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term "arrangement" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0059] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A CoB holder (130) comprising: a holding structure configured to secure a chip-on-board, CoB, light source to the CoB holder; and at least one terminal positioning slot (140); and at least one terminal (120), each terminal being received within a terminal positioning slot of the CoB holder and comprising: a receiving portion (121) for receiving a wire; a contact portion (122) for providing contact between the plug-in terminal and the CoB light source; and a connecting portion (123) connecting the receiving portion to the contact portion, wherein the connecting portion is a plate-shaped portion twisted such that a first end (123a) of the connecting portion, connected to the receiving portion, has a non-zero angle with respect to a second end (123b) of the connecting portion, connected to the contact portion.

2. The CoB holder (130) of claim 1, wherein: the at least one terminal positioning slot comprises at least two terminal positioning slots; and the at least one terminal comprises at least two terminals.

3. The CoB holder (130) of claim 1 or 2, wherein: each terminal positioning slot (140) is configured to receive a terminal; and each terminal (120) is received within a respective terminal positioning slot of the CoB holder.

4. The CoB holder (130) of claim 1, wherein: the at least one terminal positioning slot (140) is configured to receive two or more terminals; and the at least one terminal (120) comprises two or more terminals received within a same terminal positioning slot.

5. The CoB holder (130) of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein, for each terminal (120), the non-zero angle between the first end (123a) of the connecting portion (123) and the second end (123b) of the connecting portion is in the range of from 85° to 95°.

6. The CoB holder (130) of claim 5, wherein, for each terminal, the non-zero angle between the first end (123a) of the connecting portion (123) and the second end (123b) of the connecting portion is in the range of from 88° to 92°.

7. The CoB holder (130) of claim 6, wherein, for each terminal, the non-zero angle between the first end (123a) of the connecting portion (123) and the second end (123b) of the connecting portion is 90°.

8. The CoB holder (130) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein, for each terminal (120), the receiving portion (121), contact portion (122) and connecting portion (123) are integrally formed.

9. The CoB holder of claim any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one terminal comprises at least one plug-in terminal.

10. The CoB holder (130) of claim 9, wherein each plug-in terminal (120) further comprises a push-in connector (124) for securing a wire against the receiving portion.

11. The CoB holder (130) of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein, for each terminal, the contact portion (122) and a first area of the receiving portion (121) connected to the connecting portion (123) are substantially planar.

12. The CoB holder (130) of claim 11, wherein the non-zero angle between the first end (123a) of the connecting portion and the second end (123b) of the connecting portion, causes the plane in which the first area of the receiving portion lies to make a non-zero angle with respect to the plane in which the contact portion lies.

13. The CoB holder (130) of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein, for each terminal, the contact portion (122) comprises an protrusion (125).

14. A lamp (100) comprising: a chip-on-board, CoB, light source (110) configured to emit light; and the CoB holder (130) of any of claims 1 to 13.

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