OLED Lamp Socket with Modular Polarity Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar lamps with OLED illuminants face challenges in accurate alignment and easy mounting, particularly when multiple units are arranged in rows or columns, due to complex socket designs that complicate electrical connections and require laborious replacement of center illuminants.
Innovation Solution
A modular socket design with a socket housing that allows for simple mechanical and electrical connections via a socket connection device, featuring short-circuit connectors for polarity management and strain relief, enabling easy expansion and alignment of multiple sockets, and an illuminant connection device with detent means for secure and tool-free mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tab with electrical strip conductors is used for connection, then electrical contact is established, but accurate alignment of multiple substrates on a common plane cannot be accomplished with desired accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into separate functional elements: a connection element with connection surfaces for electrical contact, and a mounting element with mounting surfaces for mechanical alignment. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently - the mounting element ensures precise alignment while the connection element provides reliable electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting element acts as an intermediary between the substrate and the connection element. It provides mounting surfaces that enable accurate alignment of multiple substrates on a common plane, while the connection element handles the electrical connection function. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between alignment precision and connection simplicity.
2Ease of repair
If bracket-shaped sockets enclosing the substrate are used, then mechanical connection is achieved, but replacement of center illuminants becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is divided into a separate mounting element and connection element. The mounting element provides simple mechanical attachment with mounting surfaces for easy alignment, while the connection element handles electrical connections. This segmentation enables tool-free assembly and simple replacement of illuminants by allowing the connection element to be detached independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection element is designed to be dynamically detachable from the mounting element. This allows the illuminant to be easily removed and replaced by detaching the connection element, while the mounting element remains fixed to the substrate. The dynamic connection enables quick maintenance without requiring tools or complex disassembly procedures.
3Ease of operation
If supply connections are provided on several socket housing sides, then electrical wiring is simplified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical mounting of the substrate, alignment surfaces for precise positioning, and structural support for the connection element. By making the mounting element multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thus simplifying the overall structure while enabling supply connections on multiple sides for flexible wiring.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an illuminant (23) and a socket (20) for a lamp (15). The features of the socket can be implemented also independently of the features of the illuminant (23). The socket has supply terminal areas on multiple sides of the socket housing such that the socket (20) can be selectively supplied with electricity and wired from different sides or also simultaneously from multiple sides. Independently of the number and the arrangement of the supply terminal areas (94), multiple electrical supply terminals (95) having the same polarity are provided on the socket (20). Said supply terminals (95) having the same polarity are electrically short-circuited by means of a shorting connector (116), in particular two identical shorting connectors (116) being arranged in the socket housing. Said socket (20) and illuminant (23) modularly achieve large total illumination surfaces in a lamp (15) and an appealing appearance in a very simple manner.