Methods and Apparatus for Flexible Mounting of Light Emitting Devices
AssigneeCree, Inc.
InventorsRussell G. Villard, Robert Edward Higley
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Abstract
LED mounting arrangements are described which provide flexibility for LED users to mount a first LED having different physical, electrical, thermal, or other characteristic footprints from those for a second LED on a mounting pad designed for the second LED. With such arrangements, migration from one LED to another can be facilitated without the need for redesigning the printed circuit board for a lighting application. Flexibility is thereby provided to LED customers.
Claims10
A light emitting device footprint adapter comprising:
- a mounting substrate having a top surface with first mounting contacts for mounting a first light emitting device;
- the substrate having a bottom surface with mounting contacts for mounting the substrate on a mounting surface having second mounting contacts for a second light emitting device having a different footprint than the first light emitting device;
- and
- connections through the mounting substrate for connecting the first mounting contacts of the top surface with the second mounting contacts of the bottom surface.
A method of utilizing a light emitting device footprint adapter to enable replacement of a first light emitting device having a mounting arrangement with a second light emitting device having an incompatible mounting arrangement, the method comprising:
- mounting the second light emitting device on a top mounting surface of an adapter, the top mounting surface having mounting contacts for mounting the second light emitting device, the adapter having a bottom mounting surface with compatible mounting contacts for mounting the adapter on the mounting pad for the first device;
- mounting the bottom mounting surface of the adapter on the mounting pad for the first light emitting device;
- and
- connecting the mounting contacts for mounting the second light emitting device to the compatible mounting contacts for mounting the adapter through the adapter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.