LED Connection Element with Below-Plane Spring Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection elements for LED lamps struggle to accommodate varying circuit board thicknesses and thermal interface layers while maintaining optimal contact forces and heat dissipation, leading to potential shadowing of light emission and increased electrical resistance.

Innovation Solution

A two-part connection element with a spring receiving space below the arrangement surface, allowing for a detent spring to provide sufficient contact pressure and accommodate large movement strokes, while minimizing height and avoiding light shadowing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the connection element height is minimized to avoid light shadowing, then light emission efficiency is improved, but there is insufficient space to accommodate the detent spring and compensate for varying circuit board thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission efficiencyVSAvoidcompensation for varying circuit board thicknesses
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The spring receiving space extends below the arrangement surface, utilizing the vertical dimension underneath the mounting plane to accommodate the detent spring. This allows the connection element to maintain a minimal height above the arrangement surface while providing sufficient space for the spring mechanism to compensate for varying circuit board thicknesses, thereby resolving the contradiction between light emission efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If the connection element height is minimized to avoid light shadowing, then light emission efficiency is improved, but there is insufficient space to accommodate the detent spring mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission efficiencyVSAvoidspace for detent spring mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring receiving space is positioned below the arrangement surface, utilizing the vertical dimension underneath the mounting plane. This spatial reconfiguration allows the detent spring mechanism to be accommodated without increasing the height of the connection element above the arrangement surface, thus maintaining light emission efficiency while providing necessary space for the spring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the detent spring exerts sufficient contact force to maintain electrical connection, then electrical contact resistance is reduced, but the spring forces require significant accommodation space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact stabilityVSAvoidspring accommodation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring accommodation space is located below the arrangement surface, utilizing the vertical dimension underneath the mounting plane. This allows the detent spring to exert sufficient contact force on the circuit board while the spring mechanism itself is positioned in the space below the arrangement surface, thereby maintaining electrical contact stability without requiring additional volume above the mounting plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Ensures stable electrical and mechanical connection with minimal light shadowing and optimal heat dissipation, even with varying board thicknesses and thermal interfaces, by using a detent spring arrangement that compensates for tolerances and absorbs spring forces effectively.

Implementation Method 1

locking springs which are arranged in the outer ring, engage over the locking lugs of the inner ring and exert a tensile force on the inner ring in the direction of the arrangement surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

contact fields for the electrical supply of the LED, with a frame which is intended to rest on an arrangement surface of a counter-bearing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4603749A1LED connection element
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 BJB GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4603749A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603749A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4603749A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Connection element for the electrical connection of an LED light source, - wherein the LED light source has a circuit board provided with contact pads for the electrical supply of the LED, - with a frame that is intended to rest on an arrangement surface of a counter-bearing and to hold the circuit board on this arrangement surface, wherein the frame is formed by an outer ring and an inner ring, - with the inner ring, which is held within the outer ring and is intended to overlap the circuit board at least in some areas and thus hold the circuit board vertically to the arrangement surface on the counter-bearing, - with the outer ring, which is intended to surround the circuit board and hold the circuit board parallel to the arrangement surface on the counter-bearing, - with locking lugs formed by the inner ring, - with locking springs arranged in the outer ring,overlap the locking lugs of the inner ring and exert a tensile force on the inner ring in the direction of the arrangement surface, wherein a spring receiving space for the locking spring is provided, which extends in relation to the frame resting on the arrangement surface into an area below the arrangement surface.