Lighting equipment

Abstract

In particular, a lighting device for automotive lighting applications includes a plurality of lighting elements arranged in one or more rows to form a light-emitting band, each lighting element including at least one light-emitting diode. The plurality of lighting elements are divided into one or more segments, with the lighting elements within each segment being electrically connected in series or parallel. The lighting device further includes at least one contact element for providing current to the plurality of lighting elements, with at least a first contact element providing current to a first group of segments such that the groups of lighting elements can be independently and dynamically controlled.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device, in particular for automotive lighting applications, and more particularly in the form of a luminous band or lighting ribbon. [Background technology]

[0002] In the automotive technology field, it is a current trend to implement lighting fixtures that can be dynamically controlled. This means that it is no longer sufficient to switch the lighting device on / off, but additional parts of the lighting device must be individually adjustable. For example, individual parts may be switched on and off or dimmed to generate dynamic lighting effects. The availability of light-emitting semiconductors (LEDs) has significantly improved the development of light-emitting devices that can be dynamically controlled.

[0003] The LEDs can be individually controlled by addressing each LED with a separate electronic wire. However, this results in a large number of wires that need to be connected to a lighting driver to individually control each light-emitting diode. This increases the effort required to fabricate and implement such lighting devices. Furthermore, the large number of wires and complex wiring easily exceed the space constraints of lighting devices, especially for automotive lighting applications.

[0004] To avoid complex wire routing in a lighting device, flat ribbon cables can be used instead. However, using such flat ribbon cables limits the flexibility of the lighting device because the flat ribbon cables are only flexible in one direction and are not flexible and bendable in the plane in which the wires of the flat ribbon cable are arranged. Modern automotive lighting devices often need to conform to complex three-dimensional (3D) shapes. Therefore, flat ribbon cables are not suitable for 3D applications.

[0005] Alternatively, it is well known to combine each LED with a control chip, such as an integrated circuit (IC) or a microprocessor, where the control chips of the entire lighting device communicate via a bus wire. However, implementing a control chip in each LED increases the cost of the lighting device. This is especially true in the automotive field, where each IC or microprocessor must be tested and certified. This reduces the applicability of this solution and extends the required development and design time. Furthermore, in the automotive field, error detection is typically required and has to be implemented by additional circuitry, which further increases the complexity.

[0006] U.S. Patent Application Publication US2018 / 078072A1 describes a lighting string having parallel circuits each driven by three independent command signals that merge in a common return path. Each circuit may have a unique color scheme and / or spatial distribution, for example, to provide a lighting effect. One or more lighting elements in any of the circuits may be individually addressable, for example, by a serial command supplied to a corresponding command signal.

[0007] US Patent US2011 / 050109A1 relates to a reverse polarity series type LED, which is formed by an assembly of two sets of reverse polarity series connected LEDs and diodes, where the first set consists of at least one or more homopolar series or parallel connected or series and parallel connected LEDs, and the second set consists of at least one or more unipolar parallel or series connected or series and parallel connected LEDs for further connection to a driving circuit formed by a current limiting impedance, and / or a power storage and discharge device, and / or a voltage limiting circuit device to generate the required operating characteristics. Summary of the Invention

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device which is flexible, dynamically controllable, less complex and suitable for error detection. The given object is achieved by a lighting device according to claim 1 and by a lighting device according to claim 17. Further advantageous embodiments of the lighting device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, a lighting device is provided that is particularly suitable for automotive lighting applications, in particular in cars. According to claim 1, a plurality of lighting elements are arranged in a row, where each lighting element comprises at least one LED, so that a light-emitting band or ribbon of light is formed that can be placed, for example, underneath or between other lighting devices of the car, and that is convenient for styling signaling functions.

[0010] In addition, by arranging many lighting elements in a row, a long and very narrow lighting device can be realized. The lighting device has a length that extends the width of the lighting device. For example, the length of the lighting device can be more than 200 mm, or more than 500 mm, while the width of the lighting element can be less than 10 mm, or less than 6 mm, for example. The lighting elements are also known or called interposers. Preferably, the lighting elements are identically configured. The lighting elements may include a printed circuit board (PCB) carrying the LEDs. The LEDs can be mounted on the PCB by directly attaching a bare die, or they can be mounted as a surface mounted device (SMD), as a through-hole technology (THT) component, or any other type of component. The PCB may include one LED or more than one LED.

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned plurality of lighting elements is further divided into a plurality of segments, and the lighting elements in each segment are electrically connected in series. In addition, each segment may include the same or different number of lighting elements. Furthermore, the physical connections between the lighting elements in each segment are preferably also physically arranged in series for convenient control and design of lighting and dimming patterns. The segmentation of the lighting elements allows random resolution and dimming of the light-emitting bands depending on the length of each segment. Furthermore, the complexity of the lighting device can be reduced by the individually controllable segments of lighting elements, while still providing a diverse range of lighting functions.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a first contact element is arranged at a first end of said row of lighting elements providing current to a first group of segments, the first group of segments including at least one segment of lighting elements. The first end may be either of the two ends of the light emitting band. The electrical connection between the first contact element and the first group of segments according to the light emitting band design is physically arranged substantially parallel to or along the row of lighting elements. Thus, for a particular group of segments, only one contact element is required for power supply, thus reducing the required number of contact elements, which contact element controls the illumination and dimming of this group independently of the other groups.

[0013] In addition, the contact elements serve to connect the lighting device to the lighting driver, where the contact elements can be constructed as an integral part of the lighting device or as a separate entity. More specifically, the current can be supplied directly to the lead frame via wires, for example by soldering structures included in the lighting element (see, for example, FIG. 9 showing the contact elements in the form of soldering points). And the current can also be supplied via a connector, which is preferably an independent entity separate from the lighting element (see, for example, FIGS. 1-6 showing the contact elements in the form of a connector).

[0014] Thus, the one or more contact elements function to both control the lighting device and provide power for the lighting device. To achieve dynamic lighting, the one or more contact elements can correspond to individual segments of the lighting element.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention has the advantages of independent, flexible and dynamic control of illumination and dimming of lighting elements with random resolution, as well as reduced complexity and space of the luminous band.

[0016] In particular, each segment is further divided into at least two subsegments, and within each segment, any two consecutive subsegments are electrically connected in anti-series with each other. Anti-series refers to two subsegments connected in series, but with polarities of the respective lighting elements opposite to each other. Thus, each subsegment is switched on only for a given period before the current of each subsegment is reversed. And the current through the LEDs of each subsegment is higher than the average current, since not all subsegments are used at a given moment. As a result, the resolution of lighting and dimming per segment is increased. That is, within each segment, it is possible to flexibly select which subsegments are turned on during a given period. Furthermore, the increase in the resolution of lighting and dimming can be flexibly controlled by changing the amount of lighting elements in each subsegment and each segment.

[0017] In particular, each LED is electrically connected in anti-parallel to at least one rectifier diode, where anti-parallel refers to each LED and at least one rectifier diode being connected in parallel with opposite polarity to each other, so that the current at a given moment on the un-used sub-segments is bypassed via at least one rectifier diode located in the unused sub-segments.

[0018] In particular, the first contact element comprises a number of pins referenced to power supply terminals, preferably arranged in a column and comprising at least one voltage supply pin and at least one ground pin, the voltage supply pin providing a high or low voltage, the high voltage supply pin also called anode pin or positive pin and the low voltage supply pin also called cathode pin or negative pin.

[0019] In particular, the second contact element is preferably disposed at a second end of the string of lighting elements providing current to at least a second group of segments, the second group of segments including at least one of the segments other than the segments in the first group. The second end is preferably different from and opposite the first end described above. The second contact element increases the number of addressable groups without increasing the complexity of the wire routing, such that a large number of groups can be individually addressed by at least two contact elements to provide dynamic lighting.

[0020] In particular, the electrical connections between the second contact element and the second group of segments are physically arranged substantially parallel to or along the row of lighting elements, and the physical parallelism between the second contact element and the second group of segments, as well as the physical parallelism between the first contact element and the first group of segments, enhances the maneuverability of independent and dynamic control.

[0021] In particular, the second contact element comprises a plurality of pins, the pins being preferably arranged in a column, and the number of pins being preferably the same as the number of pins of the first contact element. The second contact element may include only an anode pin. Alternatively, the second contact element may also include one or more anode pins and one ground pin. Alternatively, the second contact element may include two or more ground pins.

[0022] In particular, at least one contact element is disposed between the first contact element and the second contact element along the row of lighting elements, each of the at least one or more contact elements providing current to one group of segments not powered by the first or second contact elements, the at least one or more contact elements increasing the number of addressable groups without increasing the complexity of wire routing such that even more groups can be individually addressed for dynamic lighting.

[0023] In particular, the electrical connections between at least one or more contact elements and each group of segments are arranged substantially parallel to or along the row of lighting elements, the physical parallelism between the contact elements and each group of segments enhancing the operability of the independent and dynamic control.

[0024] In particular, each contact element between the first and second contact elements comprises a plurality of pins, the pins being preferably arranged in two rows, the number of pins in each row being preferably the same as the number of pins of the first and / or second contact elements. Each contact element between the first and second contact elements may include one or more anode pins.

[0025] In particular, the lighting device according to the invention comprises one, two or three contact elements, with three or fewer contact elements allowing independent, flexible and dynamic control of the lighting and dimming patterns without resorting to complex solutions provided by a microcontroller or occupying a lot of space within a narrow light emission band area.

[0026] In particular, the rows of lighting elements are connected by a plurality of bendable electric wires arranged substantially parallel to each other. Thus, the electrical connections in the lighting device can be routed in the bendable electric wires. The individual lighting elements are connected by a plurality of electric wires. The direct connection between the subsequent lighting elements may include one or more physical connections, which serve to connect the lighting elements in the structure of the lighting device. Such physical connections may again be wires, more specifically, one or more electronic wires may provide the physical connection and thus have a double function. Thus, the lighting elements may be connected by a plurality of electronic wires and further physically connected. If the lighting elements are constructed as a circuit board, the wires may be physically connected to or through the PCB and may electrically contact one or more LEDs of a particular lighting element.

[0027] In particular, the bendable electronic wire is flexible in two axes. For example, at a given surface of the car, it is possible to bend the lighting device along a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. In this way, various ways of styling the signaling function can be adapted to the signaling system of the car. Preferably, the wire is arranged in a common plane. Bending of the lighting device perpendicular to this plane is possible to adapt the shape of the lighting device to a specific application. Even complex 3D shapes are possible. Preferably, the two bendable axes are mutually perpendicular and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lighting device. The longitudinal axis of the lighting device is defined as the axis that runs along the row or lighting element. The possible bending radius is preferably less than 100 mm, more preferably less than 50 mm, most preferably less than 25 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the lighting device can be twisted around the longitudinal axis. Preferably, a twist of the lighting device of 90° is possible within 100 mm, more preferably within 75 mm, most preferably within 50 mm. A lighting device with such flexibility is suitable for a large number of applications and can be adapted to any kind of shape.

[0028] In particular, the number of bendable electronic wires is the same as the number of pins of the first contact element and / or the second contact element and / or the third contact element, if any. Preferably, the arrangement of the wires between each of the lighting elements is identical along the complete row.

[0029] In particular, the lighting device according to the invention comprises three or four bendable electronic wires. Preferably, the number of wires between each of the lighting elements is the same along the complete lighting device. Increasing the number of wires between each of the lighting elements also increases the ability to control more groups of lighting elements. At the same time, the complexity of the lighting device increases and the required installation space also increases. Thus, with a maximum of four wires between each of the lighting elements, a sufficient number of groups can be controlled to provide dynamic lighting.

[0030] In particular, at least two segments are composed of the same number of lighting elements. This allows, for example, a lighting driver to compare the currents and / or voltages of the two segments and detect errors if there is a current or power deviation between two identical segments. Preferably, each segment is composed of the same number of lighting elements, and even more preferably, each segment of a lighting element is composed of the same number of LEDs. The currents and voltages of each segment can thus be compared with one another in order to obtain a reliable error detection.

[0031] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a lighting device is provided that is suitable for lighting applications, particularly in cars, in particular automotive lighting applications. For the sake of brevity, in the following, similar features related to the present invention as described above with respect to the first aspect of the present invention are omitted. According to the present invention, a plurality of lighting elements are arranged in one or more parallel rows, where each lighting element comprises at least one LED. Each of the aforementioned parallel rows may include the same or different number of lighting elements. In this case, a light-emitting band or lighting ribbon is formed that includes rows of one or more lighting sources, which can be flexibly positioned in locations where space is limited, but also allows for more versatile patterns of lighting and dimming required by different signaling functions.

[0032] The lighting elements are divided into a number of segments, and the lighting elements in each segment are electrically connected in parallel. In addition, each of the aforementioned segments may include the same or different number of lighting elements, and the lighting elements belonging to the same segment are preferably arranged in the same lighting element row. Furthermore, the physical connections between the lighting elements in each segment are preferably arranged in parallel as well, for convenient control and design of the lighting and dimming patterns. As disclosed above, the segmentation of the lighting elements allows random resolution of the lighting and dimming of the lighting bands depending on the length of each segment compared to the lighting band. And the complexity of the lighting device is reduced by the individually controllable segments of lighting elements, while still providing various lighting functions. Furthermore, the parallelism mentioned here provides an alternative solution for dynamic control mechanisms between the lighting elements in one segment, in addition to the parallelism described above.

[0033] According to the invention, the current of the plurality of lighting elements is supplied by a first contact element comprising at least three power pins. The first contact element is arranged at one end of one or more parallel rows of lighting elements and electrically connected thereto, where the electrical connections between them are physically arranged substantially parallel to the one or more rows of lighting elements, forming a light-emitting band. Thus, it is flexible to assign two pins as power supply for a given segment of lighting elements from the at least three power pins, such that different segments can be independently controlled by the respective power pins connected thereto. Also, the complexity is reduced, since one contact element can flexibly control all segments.

[0034] Thus, similar to the above, the present invention has the advantages of independent, flexible and dynamic control of illumination and dimming of segments of lighting elements with random resolution, as well as reduced complexity and space of the luminous band.

[0035] Moreover, as mentioned above, independent dynamic control of the lighting elements results from further grouping of segments and then assigning different groups to different contact elements. The same effect is now achieved by segmenting the lighting elements across one or more rows and assigning segments to different pairs of pins included in only one contact element.

[0036] In particular, across any two power pins, at least two segments electrically connected to them are connected in anti-parallel to each other. In other words, at least two segments are connected in parallel, but the polarity of the respective lighting elements is opposite to each other. Thus, given any two power pins, it is possible to flexibly select which of the segments therein is switched on during a given period. Alternatively, the length of each segment across any two power pins can be extended by adding more lighting elements. Any two consecutive segments across any two power pins may include the same or different number of lighting elements, depending on the need of the styling function of the lighting application. Considering one or more columns, even more patterns can be achieved. As a result, across any two power pins, the resolution of illumination and dimming as well as the patterns of lighting functions formed along all the light-emitting bands are further increased.

[0037] Moreover, as mentioned above, further increments of the aforementioned resolution are achieved by adding rectifier diodes to each lighting element and by sub-segmentation of the segments, where any two consecutive sub-segments are electrically connected in anti-series with each other, such that at a given moment only one sub-segment is switched on. On the other hand, the same or a similar effect is achieved by an alternative solution, where two consecutive segments across two power pins are electrically connected in anti-parallel with each other, so that given a given value of the pair of pins only one segment can be switched on.

[0038] In particular, the three power pins included in the first contact element are preferably arranged in a row and the values ​​of the voltages provided by the three pins are preferably different from one another. This configuration of the power pins serves to ensure that, between any two power pins, some segments connected between them are switched on, while other segments connected between them but of opposite polarity are not switched on.

[0039] In particular, each lighting element is electrically connected in series to a current limiter. The current limiter, as is well known in the form of a resistor, is used to ensure that there is not enough power across any two given power pins to switch on a segment of opposite polarity to the switchable segment. Given a first power pin, a second power pin, and a third power pin in order of decreasing current values, it is possible that the first segment between the first and second power pins is connected with a current limiter connected between the cathode pin of the first segment and the second power pin, and the second segment is connected in anti-parallel to the first segment as described above with a current limiter connected between the anode pin of the second segment and the second power pin. Alternatively or additionally, the first segment between the second power supply pin and the third power supply pin can be connected with a current limiter connected between the cathode pin of the second segment and the third power supply pin, and the second segment can be connected in anti-parallel to the first segment as described above with a current limiter connected between the anode pin of the second segment and the third power supply pin. And, alternatively or additionally, the first segment between the third power supply pin and the first power supply pin can be connected between them with a current limiter connected between the anode pin of the first segment and the first power supply pin, and the second segment can be connected in anti-parallel to the first segment with a current limiter connected between the cathode pin of the second segment and the first power supply pin as described above. Thus, it is possible to achieve flexible and dynamic patterns of illumination and dimming across any row of light-emitting bands, as well as across any two power supply pins, with selected voltages provided by the respective pins connected to the lighting driver. Thus, very complex patterns of different or remote lighting elements or illumination and dimming methods are possible with the present invention.

[0040] In particular, the lighting driver that provides power via the power pins is an active B6 bridge.

[0041] In particular, similar to the first aspect of the invention, the lighting device further comprises a plurality of bendable electronic wires extending through the row of lighting elements and arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0042] In particular, similar to the first aspect of the invention, the bendable electronic wire is flexible in two axes and / or twistable along the longitudinal axis of the lighting device, whereby preferably the two bendable axes are mutually perpendicular and / or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0043] In particular, the number of bendable electronic wires is preferably 3. Since three power pins are provided, the three electronic wires are sufficient to apply independent control over different rows along the light-emitting band and different segments across any two power pins, which greatly reduces the complexity and space required for various lighting applications, as well as ensuring versatile and complex patterns of lighting functions.

[0044] In particular, the invention further comprises one or more of the features described in relation to the first aspect. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0045] The non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention described above refer to the following figures, in which like or similar elements are designated by like reference numerals: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5-1] FIG. 5-1 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5-2] FIG. 5-2 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the lighting device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the lighting element. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a contacting scheme for a lighting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details such as specific architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. are described in order to fully understand the concepts of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. Similarly, the text of this specification is directed to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings and is not intended to limit the claimed invention beyond the limits expressly contained in the claims. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. The following description should not be understood to limit the allocation of any particular feature to a particular embodiment. Thus, the features of the embodiments described below can be freely combined with each other.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a realization of a lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device comprises a number of lighting elements 10, in the example of FIG. 1 the lighting device comprises ten lighting elements 10. The lighting elements 10 are then divided into five segments 12, each segment consisting of two lighting elements 10. Of course, the lighting device may have less than ten lighting elements 10 or more than ten lighting elements 10. In addition, each segment may be composed of one or more lighting elements 10. Each lighting element comprises, in the example of FIG. 1, one light-emitting diode 14. Each lighting element 10 may comprise two or more LEDs 14. In particular, it is not necessary that each lighting element 10 has the same number of LEDs 14. However, it is preferable that each lighting element 10 has the same number of LEDs 14, and it is even more preferable that each segment 12 comprises the same number of lighting elements 10 as shown in FIG. 1. It is therefore preferable that each segment has the same number of LEDs.

[0048] All LEDs 14 are oriented in the same direction. Thus, only a half space is emitted along the completed lighting device. The lighting device can then only emit light with an aperture angle of emission of 180° or less, more preferably 120° or less, or 90° or less. To further enhance the light-emitting properties, a reflective element can be placed on a plane parallel to the common plane of the LEDs (corresponding to the image plane in FIG. 1) to reflect all the light into the desired half space. Furthermore, the width of the lighting device is less than 10 mm, preferably less than 6 mm. Thus, a very narrow and long light-emitting band can be made, which can increase the efficiency of the lighting.

[0049] The lighting elements 10 are arranged in a row, where each lighting element 10 is directly connected to the preceding and / or following lighting element 10 by wires 16a, 16b, 16c. Thus, the lighting device of FIG. 1 comprises three wires between each lighting element. In the example of FIG. 1, the number of wires 16 between each lighting element 10 is the same. However, it is also possible to have an unequal number of wires between at least two or more lighting elements 10. The lighting elements 10 are electrically connected to each other by wires, and the same wires provide the physical connection of the lighting elements. However, within the scope of the present invention, the physical connection does not have to be the same as the electrical connection. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the first lighting element 10a is directly electrically and physically connected to the second lighting element 10b by wires 16a to 16c.

[0050] A first connector or contacting element 18, located at a first end, i.e. the leftmost end, of the row of lighting elements 10, is connected to the row of lighting elements 10 via wires 16a to 16c. In addition, a second connector 20 is also located at a second end, i.e. the rightmost end, of the row of lighting elements 10 and is connected to the row of lighting elements 10 by wires 16a to 16c. The first and second connectors each have three pins 22, the number of pins of the connectors 18, 20 being equal to the number of wires of the lighting device. Thus, by using two connectors 18, 20 and three wires 16a to 16c, the lighting device of FIG. 1 can have five segments 12 individually controlled by a lighting driver (not shown) connected via the first connector 18 and the second connector 20. Thus, a sufficiently large number of segments can be dynamically controlled, while the wiring complexity of each segment is low, using only three wires between each lighting element 10.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the distance A between each of the lighting elements 10 is less than the length of each of the wires 16a to 16c. In the example of FIG. 1, the distance A between each of the lighting elements 10 is equal. However, it is also possible to have at least two or more distances between each of the lighting elements 10 that are different from each other. The wires are bent or serpentine in order to provide extra length. This extra length allows bending of the lighting device to compensate for further thermal expansion of the lighting device. In addition, the outer wires 16a and 16c have a longer length than the inner or central wire 16b. Thus, the lighting device can be bent in a plane in which the wires 16a to 16c are arranged corresponding to the plane of the image plane of FIG. 1. Thus, the lighting device can be adapted to any three-dimensional (3D) shape of the application. In particular, certain configurations are possible in which the lighting device is twisted by 90° within a short length, providing sufficient flexibility, i.e., shape, to be adapted to any different kind of application. Furthermore, the bending radius is preferably less than 100 mm, more preferably less than 50 mm, and most preferably less than 25 mm.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a lighting device according to Fig. 1 with five segments 12, each segment 12 being equipped with seven LEDs 14 in the example of Fig. 2, where each LED 14 can be arranged on an individual lighting element 10, or one or more LEDs can be arranged on a single lighting element 10 of one segment 12, up to the case where all seven LEDs 14 are arranged on a single lighting element 10. Furthermore, the lighting device of Fig. 2 has a first connector 18 and a second connector 20. Three parallel wires 16a, 16b and 16c from the first connector 18 are arranged in parallel along the entire length of the lighting device, which also connects the second connector 20. The LEDs 14 are arranged along rows to define a light-emitting band or lighting ribbon.

[0053] The first connector 18 includes a ground pin 24 as well as a first anode pin 26 and a second anode pin 28. The second connector 20 includes a third anode pin 30, a fourth anode pin 32 and a fifth anode pin. Here, the first anode pin 26 controls a first segment 12a of the LEDs 14, which is in turn connected to the ground pin 24 of the first connector 18. By means of an additional anode pin of the first connector 18 or the second connector 20, respectively, the segments 12 of the LEDs 14 can be directly addressed by a lighting driver connected to the lighting device via the first connector 18 and the second connector 20. Thus, the first connector 18 controls a first group of segments including 12a and 12b, and the second connector 20 controls a second group of segments including 12c, 12d and 12e. The five segments 12 of the LEDs 14 can be individually addressed to provide dynamic lighting. This is achieved by using only three parallel wires along the entire length of the lighting fixture, thereby maintaining the ability to bend the lighting fixture in all directions and providing low complexity of wire routing within the lighting fixture.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention. Each segment 12 consists of only a single LED 14, and there are seven segments 12 in Fig. 3. However, each segment 12 may include two or more LEDs 14. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a smaller number of segments 12.

[0055] The first connector 18 includes a first ground pin, a second ground pin, a first anode pin, and a second anode pin. The second connector 20 includes a third ground pin and a fourth ground pin, and a third anode pin and a fourth anode pin. Furthermore, the first connector 18 controls a first group of segments including 12a, 12b, and 12c, and the second connector 20 controls a second group of segments including 12d, 12e, 12f, and 12g. The first connector 18 and the second connector 20 are connected to the lighting elements 10 of the lighting device by four wires arranged in parallel along the entire length of the lighting device. Thus, each segment 12 can be individually controlled to provide dynamic lighting by the pins of the first connector 18 and the second connector 20 that connect the lighting device to a lighting driver.

[0056] 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, where each segment 12 is illustrated with two LEDs 14 which can be located on different lighting elements 10 or on the same lighting element 10. However, additional LEDs 14 and / or additional lighting elements 10 can be introduced into each segment 12.

[0057] The lighting device of FIG. 4 shows a first connector, which is identical to the connector of FIG. 2. Moreover, the lighting device comprises a second connector 20, which is identical to the second connector 20 of FIG. 2, except for the pin 30 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, also in the embodiment of FIG. 4, three parallel wires are foreseen along the lighting device. However, in addition, a third connector 36 is arranged between the first connector 18 and the second connector 20. In particular, the third connector 36 is arranged between the fifth segment 12e and the sixth segment 12f, counting from the leftmost segment of the lighting device. The third connector 36 has six anode pins arranged in two rows and connected to a lighting driver to individually control the segments 12 of the LEDs 14 to achieve dynamic lighting. As shown in FIG. 4, the first connector 18 controls a first group of segments including 12a and 12b, the second connector 20 controls a second group of segments including 12i and 12j, and the third connector 36 controls a third group of segments including 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, and 12h.

[0058] FIG. 5-1 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention, which includes the same first connector 18 and the same second connector 20 as the example shown in FIG. 2. Each segment 12 includes four LEDs 14, which are further divided equally into two subsegments. However, it is not necessary that each subsegment in the same segment includes the same number of lighting elements. According to FIG. 5-1, two subsegments in any segment are electrically connected in anti series such that two subsegments cannot be on at the same time. Furthermore, each LED 14 is electrically connected in anti parallel to a rectifier diode 44. The first connector 18 supplies current to a first group of segments including segments 12a and 12b, where two anode pins 26 and 28 of the first connector 18 are located at the two upper positions in the column of pins, and one ground pin 24 is located at the lowest position in the column of pins. As a result, half of the LEDs in the first group of segments, LEDs 141 and 142 in segment 12a and LEDs 145 and 146 in segment 12b, are switched on while their current bypasses the other LEDs via rectifier diodes 443 and 444 in segment 12a and 447 and 448 in segment 12b. A second connector 20 provides current to a second group of segments including segments 12c, 12d, and 12e, where three anode pins 30, 32, and 34 are provided in a row of pins. As a result, half of the LEDs in the second group, LEDs 149 and 1410 in segment 12c, LEDs 1413 and 1414 in segment 12d, and LEDs 1417 and 1418 in segment 12e, are switched on, while their respective currents bypass the other LEDs via rectifier diodes 4411 and 4412 in segment 12c, rectifier diodes 4415 and 4416 in segment 12d, and rectifier diodes 4419 and 4420 in segment 12e.Thus, by arranging the power supplied to the lighting elements in the manner described above, it is possible to further increase the resolution of the lighting and dimming without adding more complex circuitry. In the particular case shown in Figure 5-1, the resolution is twice that of Figure 2, since only half of the LEDs are switched on at a given moment.

[0059] Figure 5-2 corresponds to the example shown in Figure 5-1, but with the anode and ground pins swapped. As a result, all LEDs switched on in Figure 5-1 are bypassed in this example by their connected rectifier diodes 441, 442, 445, 446, 449, 4410, 4413, 4414, 4417, 4418, and all LEDs not switched on in Figure 5-1, i.e. LEDs 143, 144, 147, 148, 1411, 1412, 1415, 1416, 1419, 1420, are now switched on. Since each segment may contain a different number of lighting elements and each group may contain a different number of segments, flexible control of the lighting pattern is possible. Additionally, as shown in Figures 2 through 4, the lighting device shown in Figures 5-1 and 5-2 may have only one connector or three connectors and may have a different arrangement of power pins than the particular connectors shown in Figures 5-1 and 5-2. For example, both of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4 can be modified to obtain twice the resolution of illumination and dimming, just as the example of Figure 2 can be modified to the example of Figures 5-1 and 5-2.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows another example of a circuit diagram of the invention with a first connector 18, where three electronic wires originate from three power pins contained in the first connector 18, namely a first pin 24, a second pin 26 and a third pin 28. Across any two pins there are two LED segments connected between them and in anti-parallel to each other. Within each segment there are five LEDs connected across the respective pins and in parallel to each other. Each segment may contain the same or different number of lighting elements, and each lighting element may of course contain one or more LEDs. Across pins 24 and 26, segments 12a and 12b are preferably connected in anti-parallel to each other via wires 16b and 16c and arranged in the same row, and across pins 26 and 28, segments 12c and 12d are preferably connected in anti-parallel to each other via wires 16a and 16b and arranged in the same row. Across pins 28 and 24, segments 12e and 12f are connected in anti-parallel via wires 16b and 16c and are preferably located in the same row. Different patterns of illumination and dimming can be achieved using selected wire routing, since the segments connected between any pair of pins may also be located in different columns of lighting elements and not necessarily on the same surface of the lighting device due to the electronic wires being bendable in two axes as described above.

[0061] In the example of FIG. 6, the voltages supplied at pins 24, 26, 28 may be in decreasing order, in other words the voltage at pin 24 is higher than the voltage at pin 26, which is higher than the voltage at pin 28. In this way, it is guaranteed that the current flows only through segments 12a, 12c, and 12e. Such a power supply can be provided by an active B6 bridge. Each LED 14 is further connected in series with one current limiter 64. Thus, only segments 12a, 12c, and 12e can be switched on given the above-mentioned power supply configuration. Furthermore, by simply changing the voltage supply at the connector, it is therefore possible to increase the resolution within the segments of the lighting elements. In this particular case, the resolution is doubled. Moreover, by changing the number of lighting elements contained in each segment and the number of segments along the entire light emission band, other ratios of resolution increments, as well as complex lighting patterns, can be obtained.

[0062] 6, the voltages supplied to pins 24, 26, and 28 may also be, for example, in increasing order, in other words the voltage on pin 24 is lower than the voltage on pin 26, which in turn is lower than pin 28. In this way, it is ensured that current flows only through segments 12b, 12d, and 12f. Different ways of physically arranging the segments along or on the two columns of lighting elements thus allow versatile lighting patterns.

[0063] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the lighting device. The LED 14 is placed on top of the interposer or lighting element 10. The lighting element 10 is connected by three wires 16a, 16b, 16c in the example of FIG. 5. The light-emitting side of the LED 14 is connected to the light-emitting surface 40 of the lighting device by a transparent polymer 38. The wires 16a, 16b, 16c, the lighting element 10, the LED 14, and the transparent polymer 38 are surrounded by an opaque polymer 42. The opaque polymer 42 acts as a protective cover for the lighting device while still providing sufficient flexibility. In addition, the opaque polymer 42 may be a white polymer that reflects any light that leaves the transparent polymer 38 and returns towards the light-emitting surface 40, thereby increasing the efficiency of the lighting device. Of course, the opaque polymer 42 may alternatively have any other color that is adapted to a particular application.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of an interposer or lighting element 10. The lighting element 10 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 48, with the LEDs 14 arranged on one upper side of the PCB 48. The PCB 48 is connected to the preceding lighting element 10 or contact element in the row by a first set of three wires 15a, 15b, 15c, which are arranged in parallel and connected to the PCB 48 in a first position (upper position in FIG. 6), a second position (middle position in FIG. 6), and a third position (lower position in FIG. 6), respectively. However, in other embodiments, more or fewer wires can be implemented. In addition, the lighting element 10 is connected to the following lighting element 10 or contact element via a second set of three wires 17a, 17b, 17c, which are also arranged in parallel and connected to the PCB 48 on the opposite side to the first set. Here, the wires are also connected to the PCB 48 at positions corresponding to the first, second and third positions. Thus, the dashed lines in FIG. 8 indicate the electrical paths provided by the PCB 48 of the lighting element 10. In the example of FIG. 8, the first anode connections 15a, 17a penetrate the PCB 48, where the first anode connections 15a, 17a are on both sides of the PCB 48 and are connected to the PCB 48 at the first position. However, the second anode connections 15b, 17c may be connected to different positions on both sides of the PCB 48. Furthermore, the ground connection 15c may be connected to the PCB on the first side at one position and then connected to the LED by the circuit of the PCB 48. The anode connection 17b may be connected to the ground connection 15c at the same or different positions on the PCB 48, on the same or opposite side, and then connected to the LED 14. Thus, to power the LED 14, the LED 14 is connected by the circuitry of the PCB 48 to the anode connection 17b and also to the ground connection 15c. In this way, the PCB 48 of the lighting element 10 allows more complex wire routing to be implemented, such as crossing electronic lines to maintain parallel wires between each lighting element. This provides a high degree of freedom in terms of wire routing along the lighting device.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of the lighting device by showing the connections between the interposers or lighting elements 10 when viewed from the top of the lighting device, where the upper part of FIG. 9 is a top view of the lighting element at the bottom level (as indicated by the left arrow 49) and the lower part is a top view of the lighting element at the top level (as indicated by the left arrow 51). In FIG. 9, each lighting element 10 includes one LED 14 located on a PCB 48, below which a set of wires 16a, 16b, and 16c are used to power the LED 14. This is consistent with the examples of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 9, the electrical connections with positive voltage or connected to the anode lead frame are represented by solid lines and shown as anode tracks; the GND electrical connections are represented by dashed lines and shown as GND tracks; and the intra segment connections connecting consecutive LEDs included in one segment are represented by dashed lines.

[0066] As shown in the upper part of Fig. 9, the light-emitting band is composed of ten lighting elements 10 evenly divided into five segments 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, and 12e. At the left end of the light-emitting band, two anode pins 28, 26 and one GND pin 24 are located, and at the right end of the light-emitting band, three anode pins 34, 32, and 30 are located. Within each segment, there are two LEDs 14 interconnected by an intra-segment connection. Thus, two soldering points 19 are provided for each LED 14 in the corresponding lighting element to connect the respective LED 14 to the anode or GND pins as well as to the LEDs 14 contained in the other lighting elements. Take segment 12a as an example, two LEDs therein are connected to each other via an intra-segment connection, while the left side of segment 12a is connected to pin 28 supplying a high or positive voltage, and the right side of segment 12a is provided with a GND track or connection so that the two LEDs in segment 12a are switched on. Take segment 12b as another example, an anode track starting from pin 26 passes through the shaded area shown in segment 12a until it reaches soldering point 19 on the left side of segment 12b, and the two LEDs in segment 12b are switched on. As further shown in the lower part of FIG. 9, the soldering points 19 included in the segments are arranged as staggered segments so that each segment is independently controlled by the corresponding pin. More specifically, segment 12a is electrically connected between anode pin 28 and GND pin 24, segment 12b is connected between anode pin 26 and GND pin 24, segment 12c is connected between anode pin 34 and GND pin 24, segment 12d is connected between anode pin 32 and GND pin 24, and segment 12e is connected between anode pin 30 and GND pin 24.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising a light-emitting band, the light-emitting band comprising: a string of lighting elements divided into a plurality of segments of at least two lighting elements, each of the lighting elements including at least one light emitting diode, and the at least two lighting elements in each segment being electrically connected in series; a first terminal connector at a first end of the string of lighting elements, the first terminal connector configured to supply current to a first group of the plurality of segments; a plurality of wires electrically connected between the first terminal connector and the first group of the plurality of segments and between each of the lighting elements in the string; Including, The lighting device further comprises: a second terminal connector at a second end of the string of lighting elements, the second terminal connector configured to provide current to at least a second group of the plurality of segments; and at least one third terminal connector between the first and second terminal connectors along the row of lighting elements; the at least one third terminal connector configured to provide electrical current to at least one third group of the plurality of segments; the at least one third terminal connector includes a plurality of third power pins arranged in two rows; a number of the third power pins in the two rows is equal to a number of power pins in at least one of the first terminal connector or the second terminal connector; Lighting equipment.

2. the first terminal connector includes a plurality of power pins including at least one voltage supply pin and at least one ground pin; 10. The lighting device of claim 1.

3. the second terminal connector further comprises a number of second power pins that is the same as the number of the plurality of power pins of the first terminal connector.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2.

4. The lighting device further comprises: a third plurality of wires electrically connected between the third terminal connector and the at least one third group of the plurality of segments.

10. The lighting device of claim 1.

5. the plurality of wires, the second plurality of wires, and the third plurality of wires extend through the row of lighting elements and comprise a plurality of bendable electronic wires arranged parallel to one another.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4.

6. the plurality of bendable electronic wires are at least one of flexible in two bending axes or twistable along a longitudinal axis of the lighting device; The two bending axes are at least one of perpendicular to each other or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5.

7. the number of the bendable electronic wires is equal to the number of power pins of at least one of the first terminal connector, the second terminal connector, and the at least one third terminal connector; 6. The lighting device according to claim 5.

8. The number of the bendable electronic wires is 3 or 4; 8. An illumination device according to claim 7.

9. At least two of the plurality of segments include the same number of lighting elements.

10. The lighting device of claim 1.

10. A lighting device comprising a light-emitting band, the light-emitting band comprising: at least two parallel rows of lighting elements divided into a plurality of segments, each of the lighting elements including at least one light emitting diode, the lighting elements in each of the plurality of segments being electrically connected in parallel; a first terminal connector at an end of one of the at least two parallel rows of lighting elements, the first terminal connector having at least three power pins configured to supply current to the lighting elements; a plurality of wires electrically connected between the first terminal connector and the plurality of segments; Including, The lighting device further comprises: a second terminal connector at a second end of the string of lighting elements, the second terminal connector configured to provide current to at least a second group of the plurality of segments; and at least one third terminal connector between the first and second terminal connectors along the row of lighting elements; the at least one third terminal connector configured to provide electrical current to at least one third group of the plurality of segments; the at least one third terminal connector includes a plurality of third power pins arranged in two rows; the number of the third power pins in the two rows is equal to the number of power pins in at least one of the first terminal connector or the second terminal connector; Lighting equipment.

11. At least two of the plurality of segments of the lighting element are electrically connected in anti-parallel to each other across at least any two of the power pins.

11. The lighting device of claim 10.

12. the at least three power pins are arranged in a row and are configured to supply voltages having different values; 11. The lighting device of claim 10.

13. The lighting device further comprises: a current limiter; Each of the lighting elements is electrically connected in series with the current limiter.

11. The lighting device of claim 10.

14. The power provided via the at least three power pins is supplied by an active B6 bridge.

11. The lighting device of claim 10.

15. the plurality of wires includes a plurality of bendable electronic wires extending through at least two parallel rows of the lighting elements; 11. The lighting device of claim 10.

16. the plurality of bendable electronic wires are at least one of flexible in two bending axes or twistable along a longitudinal axis of the lighting device; The two bending axes are at least one of perpendicular to each other or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

16. An illumination device according to claim 15.

17. the plurality of bendable electronic wires includes three bendable electronic wires; 16. An illumination device according to claim 15.

18. A lighting device comprising a light-emitting band, the light-emitting band comprising: a column of lighting elements divided into a plurality of segments of at least two lighting elements, each of the lighting elements including at least one light emitting diode, and the plurality of segments being further divided into at least two sub-segments; a first terminal connector at a first end of the string of lighting elements, the first terminal connector configured to supply current to a first group of the plurality of segments; a plurality of wires electrically connected between the first terminal connector and the first group of the plurality of segments and between each of the lighting elements in the string; Including, The lighting device further comprises: a second terminal connector at a second end of the string of lighting elements, the second terminal connector configured to provide current to at least a second group of the plurality of segments; and at least one third terminal connector between the first and second terminal connectors along the row of lighting elements; the at least one third terminal connector configured to provide electrical current to at least one third group of the plurality of segments; the at least one third terminal connector includes a plurality of third power pins arranged in two rows; a number of the third power pins in the two rows is equal to a number of power pins in at least one of the first terminal connector or the second terminal connector; Lighting equipment.

19. The lighting device further comprises: a plurality of rectifier diodes, each rectifier diode electrically connected in anti-parallel with a respective light emitting diode; 20. The lighting device of claim 18, comprising:

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