Printed Circuit Board With Modular Terminals For LED Reconfiguration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting module printed circuit boards are not easily reusable across different applications due to varying requirements for voltage or current supply, LED configuration, and LED pitch, leading to increased manufacturing and storage costs.

Innovation Solution

A printed circuit board design with modular terminals and selection means, allowing for flexible configuration of LED connections and current regulators, enabling the same board to be used for different lighting modules with varying voltage or current supplies, and adjustable LED pitch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If printed circuit boards are designed specifically for each lighting module application, then the lighting module can be optimized for its specific requirements, but the manufacturing and storage costs increase due to inability to reuse boards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability of printed circuit boardVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The printed circuit board is designed with universal terminals and selection means that enable it to function across multiple lighting module applications. The board includes first and second positive terminals, first and second negative terminals, and selection means with multiple configurations, allowing a single board design to serve various voltage and current supply requirements without needing application-specific variants.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The printed circuit board incorporates selection means that can be configured in different states to adapt the board's functionality. By changing the configuration of the selection means (which may include jumpers, switches, or reconfigurable connections), the same physical board can be dynamically adapted to different electrical configurations, enabling reuse across applications without manufacturing new boards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If printed circuit boards are designed with fixed LED configurations, then manufacturing is simplified, but the boards cannot be reused for applications with different LED pitch or configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidLED configuration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The printed circuit board divides the LED connection path into segments with selection means positioned between them. This segmentation allows independent configuration of different LED string connections by changing the state of the selection means, while the physical board structure remains fixed and manufacturable using standard processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If lighting modules use fixed voltage or current supply configurations, then the design is simpler, but the modules cannot adapt to different electronic converters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign complexityVSAvoidcompatibility with electronic converters
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The printed circuit board incorporates universal terminals and selection means that enable it to function across multiple lighting module applications. The board includes first and second positive terminals, first and second negative terminals, and selection means with multiple configurations, allowing a single board design to serve various voltage and current supply requirements without needing application-specific variants.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3334263B1Printed circuit board, corresponding lighting module, lighting system and method for implementing lighting modules
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 OSRAM GMBH
  • EP3334263B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3334263B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3334263B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

There is described a printed circuit board for implementing lighting modules. The printed circuit board includes metallic zones including: - a first (200a), a second (200e) and a third positive terminal (200f), - a first (200b) and a second (200d) negative terminal, wherein the second negative terminal (200d) is connected to the first negative terminal (200b), and - electric contacts for the mounting of one or more LEDs (L) and electric traces such that the LEDs (L) are connected in series forming a LED string (22). Specifically, the printed circuit board comprises selection means (JP1, JP2) implemented with electric traces and metallic contacts adapted to be shortcircuited via links in order to permit all of the following connections: a) a connection of the LED string (22) between the first positive terminal (200a) and the third positive terminal (200f), b) a connection of the LED string (22) between the first positive terminal (200a) and the first negative terminal (200b), c) a connection of the LED string (22) between the second positive terminal (200a) and the third positive terminal (200f), and d) a connection of the LED string (22) between the second positive terminal (200a) and the first negative terminal (200b).