Modular LED Board Connectors for Scalable Lighting Strips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems face challenges in efficiently connecting LED boards of varying lengths without incurring high costs due to the need for multiple LED boards and difficulties in supplying power, leading to increased inventory and system costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of receptacle and plug connectors on LED boards that allow easy and efficient electrical connections between LED assemblies, enabling them to be ganged together in series with safe and efficient power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different LED boards with different lengths are provided to meet different application requirements, then the adaptability of the lighting system is improved, but the inventory complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The LED lighting system is divided into modular LED boards of standardized lengths, each with plug connectors at both ends. These standardized modules can be segmented and recombined in different quantities to create lighting strips of various lengths, eliminating the need to maintain inventory of many different custom-length LED boards while still providing adaptability to different application requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If smaller LED boards are ganged together in longer strips to provide flexibility, then the adaptability is improved, but the difficulty of supplying power and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple LED boards are electrically connected in series through integrated plug connectors that combine both mechanical attachment and electrical connection functions. The plug connector merges the structural joining of boards with the electrical power and data pathways, allowing flexible configuration of multiple boards while maintaining simplified power distribution through a single continuous electrical path.
3Reliability
If LED boards are connected using traditional connection methods, then the electrical connection is established, but the connection speed and safety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plug connector integrates the mechanical attachment structure with the electrical contact structure into a single unified component. When two LED boards are connected, the plug connector simultaneously performs mechanical joining and electrical connection in one action, eliminating the need for separate connection steps and improving both connection speed and reliability while reducing the risk of misalignment or incorrect connections.
Data Source
AI summary
An LED assembly includes a receptacle connector mounted to a first end of an LED board and a plug connector mounted to a second end of the LED board. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing holding receptacle contacts configured to be mated with mating plug contacts of a mating plug connector on another LED board. The receptacle housing includes contact slots having top openings at the top and front openings at the front configured to receive the mating plug contacts. The plug connector includes a plug housing holding plug contacts configured to be mated with mating receptacle contacts of a mating receptacle connector on another LED board. The plug contacts have mating ends configured to be plugged into the mating receptacle contacts of the mating receptacle connector.