LED Lighting Edge Connectors for Modular Tile Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved electrical connectivity in solid state lighting assemblies that allows for cost, compactness, and reliability enhancements as the density and size of LED light source arrays increase, particularly in large-scale backlight and illumination applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of an edge connector with a plurality of contacts connected to wires, which are configured to releasably connect to an edge of a tile with electrical pads, providing direct electrical connection to LED light sources and guiding wires at a non-zero angle to minimize interference and maintain a low profile, with locking mechanisms to secure the connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If higher density and larger arrays of LED light sources are used, then illumination performance and coverage are improved, but electrical connectivity complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into modular tile units, each containing a subset of LED light sources with their own electrical pads. This segmentation allows independent connection of individual tiles to the edge connector, reducing the overall electrical connectivity complexity while maintaining high-density illumination across the complete array of tiles.
2Area of stationary object
If more LED light sources are connected to expand coverage, then area coverage is improved, but connection reliability and cost management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The edge connector is designed as a universal interface that can connect to multiple tile units through standardized electrical pads. This multi-functional connector handles both electrical connection and mechanical attachment functions, ensuring consistent connection reliability across all tiles while expanding area coverage without increasing complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If edge connector height is reduced to maintain low profile, then compactness is improved, but wire routing and connection accessibility become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The edge connector utilizes three-dimensional wire routing channels that guide wires through vertical and lateral paths within the connector body. This dimensional approach allows wires to reach electrical pads on the tile surface while maintaining a low external profile, resolving the conflict between compactness and wire routing accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An LED light unit includes a tile, a plurality of discrete LED light sources, and an edge connector. The LED light sources are on and dispersed across a major surface of the tile and are electrically connected to electrical pads along an edge region of the tile. The edge connector includes a plurality of contacts that are connected to a plurality of wires extending away from the edge connector, and is configured to releasably connect to an edge of the tile so that the contacts directly connect to the pads and electrically connect the wires of the edge connector to the LED light sources. An LED lighting assembly includes a plurality of the discrete tiles mounted to a plurality of bars, and a plurality of edge connectors that are each connected to an end one of the tiles along different ones of the bars.