LED Light Source With Clamped Spring Contacts

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LED light sources designed to replace fluorescent or gas discharge lamps are complex to assemble, costly, and inefficient in utilizing LED light emission, often requiring manual and error-prone wiring and assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

The LED light source employs conductor tracks, contacting surfaces, and spring contacts to facilitate clamped and electrical contacting of LED circuit boards within a housing, allowing for tool-free assembly and eliminating the need for complex wiring, with the option to connect multiple boards in series or parallel and accommodate different lengths using adjustable contact surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wiring and assembly methods are used for LED circuit boards, then reliable electrical connections are achieved, but assembly complexity and production costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual wiring and mechanical assembly with an automated insertion system. The LED circuit boards are automatically inserted into the housing with electrical contacts that engage automatically, eliminating the need for manual wiring operations and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical contacts are designed to automatically engage and establish electrical connections when the LED circuit board is inserted into the housing. The system serves itself by having the insertion action simultaneously accomplish both mechanical mounting and electrical connection, eliminating the need for separate wiring operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly operations are used for connecting LED circuit boards, then precise electrical connections can be made, but productivity decreases and error susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection precisionVSAvoidassembly productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual assembly operations with an automated insertion system that precisely positions and connects LED circuit boards. The automated system maintains manufacturing precision through consistent positioning mechanisms while dramatically increasing productivity by eliminating manual operations and reducing error susceptibility through standardized automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If fixed wiring configurations are used in housing, then electrical connections are stable, but adaptability to different LED board lengths is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidboard length adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs adjustable contact surfaces instead of fixed wiring configurations. The contact surfaces can be positioned at different locations along the housing to accommodate LED circuit boards of various lengths. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains stable electrical connections while providing versatility for different board configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable contact surfaces serve multiple functions: they can accommodate different LED board lengths, maintain stable electrical connections, and adapt to various lighting configurations. This universal design allows the same housing structure to support multiple board length variations without requiring separate wiring configurations for each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution simplifies the assembly process, reduces production costs, and enhances the efficient use of LED light emission by enabling automated production and flexible implementation of various light emission characteristics, while ensuring reliable electrical connections and mechanical stability.

Implementation Method 1

mit dem mindestens einen LED-Leiterplatte zwischen den beiden Gehäuseteilen in einer geklemmten und elektrisch kontaktierten Weise gehalten wird

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3171078B1LED light source
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3171078B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3171078B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3171078B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

An LED light source (100) comprises a first housing part (20), a second housing part (40) which is joinable with the first housing part (20) and is designed to be at least partially translucent, at least one LED board (10) and means for electrical contacting the at least one LED board (10), wherein the means for electrical contacting are formed by conductor tracks (45), contact surfaces (44) and spring contacts (12), which are arranged on at least one of the two housing parts (20, 40) and the at least one LED board (10) such that the at least one LED board (10) is held clamped and electrically contacted between the two housing parts (20, 40).