Lamp with Movable Contacts for Socket Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems, particularly those transitioning from fluorescent tubes to LED-based lighting, face challenges in preventing electric shocks during installation and operation due to the design of sockets and contact sections, leading to potential mechanical damage and user uncertainty.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a protective device within the light source that can be electrically, mechanically, or thermally activated to prevent electric shocks by ensuring the lighting unit is only fully connected when safe, using a combination of switches and sensors to manage electrical connections and voltage levels, and providing a mechanism to adapt to different socket configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact sections are spaced far apart to prevent electric shock in LED lighting units, then user safety is improved, but compatibility with existing fluorescent tube sockets is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable contact section that can be shifted between two positions: a first position for safe handling (spaced apart from the live contact) and a second position for electrical connection (aligned with the socket contact). This dynamic adjustment allows the same lighting unit to be both safe during installation and compatible with existing sockets during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact section is divided into multiple electrical contacts that can be independently positioned. By segmenting the contact structure, the patent enables selective engagement of contacts with the socket while maintaining safety spacing for other contacts during the installation process.
2Reliability
If a protective device is added to prevent electric shock during installation, then user safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is designed to be automatically actuated by the installation process itself. When the lighting unit is inserted into the socket, the mechanical action of insertion automatically triggers the protective device to switch from a safe state to an operational state, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device is integrated into the existing contact section structure rather than being added as a separate component. The contact section serves dual functions: electrical connection and safety protection, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the contact sections are spaced close together to maintain socket compatibility, then adaptability is improved, but the risk of electric shock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is configured to be activated in advance of full electrical connection. During the insertion process, the protective device switches to a safe state before the live contact establishes electrical connection, preventing electric shock risk even when contact sections are spaced close together for socket compatibility.
4Reliability
If rewiring of sockets is performed to ensure safe operation with LED lighting units, then user safety is improved, but the cost and complexity of installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable contact section acts as an intermediary mechanism between the LED lighting unit and the existing socket infrastructure. Instead of modifying the socket (which would be costly), the movable contact section provides the safety function while maintaining compatibility with standard sockets, avoiding extensive rewiring costs.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4D
AI summary
The invention relates to a lamp (1, 11, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 190, 210), comprising a lamp unit (27, 56, 75, 87, 96, 116, 136, 145, 159, 165, 179, 195, 221), at least two separate contact sections (2, 3) and an electrical connection between the lamp unit (27, 56, 75, 87, 96, 116, 136, 145, 159, 165, 179, 195, 221) and the contact sections (2, 3), wherein each contact section (2, 3) has at least one electrical contact (4) for connecting to a corresponding socket (24, 32, 34, 45, 74, 84, 101, 114, 131, 142, 161, 172, 196, 211). In order to be able to safely operate other lamps as gas discharge lamps in sockets intended therefor, according to the invention there is at least one protection device (5, 12, 21,36, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 185, 222) for preventing an electrical shock on at least one of the electrical contacts (4) in a partially installed state of the lamp (1, 11, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 190, 210) in a corresponding socket (24, 32, 34, 45, 74, 84, 101, 114, 131, 142, 161, 172, 196, 211) and the protection device ( 5, 12, 21, 36, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 185, 222) is designed to assume a deactivated position in the installed state of the lamp (1, 11, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 190, 210) and an activated position in the uninstalled state of the lamp (1, 11, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 190, 210).