Lamp Base with Integral Semiconductor Transient Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
LED and CFL lamps are susceptible to overvoltage transients, and existing protection methods, such as metal oxide varistors (MOV), face space constraints within the lamp, necessitating a more integrated and compact solution for effective protection of driver electronics.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a semiconductor transient protection device, such as a metal oxide varistor or TVS diode, directly into the lamp base as a replacement for conventional insulators, combined with a thermal limiting circuit, to provide overvoltage clamping and short-circuit protection, thereby eliminating the need for additional surge protection circuitry on the driver circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal oxide varistor (MOV) is placed on the circuit board to protect driver electronics from overvoltage transients, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the lamp's internal space is consumed and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transient protection device with the lamp base structure itself, making the lamp base serve dual functions: mechanical support and electrical protection. The lamp base is constructed with a housing that contains the transient protection device, eliminating the need for separate protection circuitry on the driver board and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp base is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical insulation, and transient voltage protection. By integrating the transient protection device into the lamp base housing, the same structural element performs multiple functions, optimizing space utilization within the lamp assembly
2Reliability
If a metal oxide varistor (MOV) is placed on the circuit board to protect driver electronics from overvoltage transients, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transient protection device with the lamp base structure itself, making the lamp base serve dual functions: mechanical support and electrical protection. The lamp base is constructed with a housing that contains the transient protection device, eliminating the need for separate protection circuitry on the driver board and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the transient protection function from the driver circuit board and relocates it to the lamp base structure. This separation simplifies the driver board design by removing protection circuitry, while the lamp base independently provides the protection function, thereby reducing overall device complexity
3Reliability
If conventional insulators are used in the lamp base, then electrical isolation is provided, but additional space is required for separate transient protection components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transient protection device with the lamp base structure itself, making the lamp base serve dual functions: mechanical support and electrical protection. The lamp base is constructed with a housing that contains the transient protection device, eliminating the need for separate protection circuitry on the driver board and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp base is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical insulation, and transient voltage protection. By integrating the transient protection device into the lamp base housing, the same structural element performs multiple functions, optimizing space utilization within the lamp assembly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the size and cost of the lamp's internal electronics, enhances safety by containing sparks or flames, and provides reliable protection against electrical transients, leading to cost and volume reductions while minimizing field returns.
Implementation Method 1
In the presence of excess voltage across the line to neutral contacts, the semiconductor provides a shunt path between the line contact and the neutral contact to protect the driver electronics
Implementation Method 2
A metal oxide varistor (MOV) can protect the LED, or CFL, lamp's driver electronics from overvoltage surges by clamping short duration voltage impulses
Implementation Method 3
A thermal limiting circuit (e.g., a fuse or resistor) is placed in series with the line input to open the input power in cases of internal short circuits
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp base including a neutral contact and a line contact, a semiconductor transient protection device having three terminals. The semiconductor transient protection device being an integral portion of the lamp base. A first terminal of the semiconductor transient protection device in mechanical and electrical contact with the neutral contact, a second terminal in mechanical and electrical contact with the line contact, and a third terminal in electrical contact with a lead-in wire. The semiconductor transient protection device configured to isolate the line contact from the neutral contact during a first line voltage input, and to provide a low-resistance shunt path between the line contact and the neutral contact during a second line voltage input.