LED Strip Connector with Hinged Lid and Spring Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED strip lighting systems face challenges in quickly connecting and disconnecting power sources without compromising the light output, as traditional connectors often require soldering and are not easily removable, and existing solutions are either bulky or not suitable for low-profile, flat connections to printed circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
A connector system utilizing electrically conductive pressure contacts and a dual-part design, where one part secures wires to a PCB and the other part anchors to an LED, allowing for secure attachment without obscuring light output and enabling quick connection and disconnection, and also allows for joining of two PCB strips at their ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional connectors with soldering are used to connect wires to PCB, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but quick connection and disconnection is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate parts: a first part that connects to wires and a second part that anchors to LEDs on the PCB. This segmentation allows the connector to be easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining reliable electrical connections through spring contacts that engage with PCB traces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional soldering mechanical system with a spring-based electrical contact system. Spring contacts provide reliable electrical connection through elastic force, enabling quick connection and disconnection without compromising connection reliability.
2Ease of operation
If bulky connectors are used to secure wires to PCB, then secure attachment is achieved, but low-profile flat connection is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The connector utilizes the vertical dimension by having the second part anchor to LEDs on the PCB surface, allowing the connector to achieve secure attachment without increasing the horizontal footprint. This enables a low-profile design that maintains security while fitting flat against the PCB.
3Ease of operation
If connectors obscure LED light output, then secure connection is achieved, but light output quality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with local quality differentiation: the second part anchors to LEDs on the PCB but is positioned and shaped to minimize obstruction of light output. The spring contacts and anchoring mechanism are localized to specific areas that do not interfere with the primary light emission paths of the LEDs.
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
Enables fast and secure electrical connections to LED strips without soldering, providing a low-profile, compact solution that maintains light output quality and allows for easy connection and disconnection of LED strips.
Implementation Method 1
spring contacts that deliver power to a PCB strip
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of pins connected to the light strip pierce the insulation on the wires
Data Source
AI summary
An LED connector half (500) mates with a wire connector half (300) to connect a light strip (100) comprising LEDs (115) to a pair of wires. The LED half includes a hinged top (700) with an opening (705) to admit an end LED on the strip when the top is closed, securing the strip to the connector half without blocking the LED. The wire half secures a pair of wires (315) to terminals (305) in a housing (310). The wire half is inserted into the LED half, connecting the Electrodes and terminals. The halves are held together by a tongue (320) and socket (800). In another aspect, a connector (1100) joins two light strips by capturing the LEDs at the ends of the strips in openings (1110) and clamping conductive electrodes (1140) against the strips by closing a lid (1105) against the body, without obscuring LED light output.