# US 2013/0003365 A1 · Illumination device

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- Number: US 2013/0003365 A1
- Document ID: US20130003365A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/301,805
- Filed: 2011-11-22
- Published: 2013-01-03
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-29
- Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.; HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
- Inventors: QING-SHAN CAO; YU HU; JIAN-PU CHEN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130003365A1

## CPC

- F21S 8/031: {the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube}
- H01R 33/90: adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
- F21K 9/27: Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
- F21K 9/272: Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts (F21K9/278 takes precedence)
- F21V 19/0085: {at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. resilient contact blades, piston-like contact}
- F21V 23/006: {the substrate being distinct from the light source holder}
- F21V 23/026: {Fastening of transformers or ballasts}
- F21Y 2103/00: Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H01R 33/7692: {for supporting a tubular fluorescent lamp (for two-pole devices H01R33/06)}
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

An illumination device includes a light tube holder including two connectors for receiving either a light-emitting diode (LED) tube or a fluorescent tube. The connector includes three conductive elastic pieces therein. One elastic piece is electrically connected to an LED tube drive circuit board and a fluorescent tube, and the other two elastic pieces are respectively electrically connected to the LED and fluorescent tube drive circuit boards. A normally closed switch is located in the one of the connectors. The switch has a first end connected between a power supply and a first end of a ballast, and a second end connected to a second end of the ballast. When the LED tube is mounted to the holder, the switch is closed, and when the fluorescent tube is mounted to the holder the switch is open.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An illumination device comprising:
a light tube holder comprising:
a base;
a drive circuit board mounted in the base and comprising a power supply, a ballast having one end connected to a positive terminal of the power supply, a light-emitting diode (LED) tube drive circuit board, and a fluorescent tube drive circuit board mounted in the base;
first and second connectors at opposite ends of the base for selectively receiving one of a fluorescent tube and an LED tube, the fluorescent tube comprising two conductive pins arranged on one end thereof and another two conductive pins arranged on an opposite end thereof, the LED tube comprising a conductive pin and an insulating pin at each of two opposite ends thereof;
wherein each of the first and second connectors comprises:
a retainer defining a though hole;
a rotary member rotatably received in the through hole, and defining a first groove to receive the two pins at on one end of one of the tubes;
first, second and third elastic pieces positioned in the retainer around the through hole, wherein the first and third elastic pieces are connected to the LED tube drive circuit board and the second and third elastic pieces are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board;
a starter; and
a switch positioned in the first connector and having one end connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and another end connected to an opposite end of the ballast, wherein the switch is normally closed to bypass the ballast;
wherein when the LED tube is mounted to the first and second connectors at a first position, the insulating pins of the LED tube are respectively connected to the first elastic pieces of the first and second connectors, the conductive pins of the LED tube are respectively connected to the third elastic pieces of the first and second connectors, the starter is connected between the second elastic pieces of the first and second connectors, the another end of the switch and the opposite end of the ballast are connected to the third elastic piece of the second connector and the third elastic piece of the first connector is connected to a negative terminal of the power supply; and
wherein when the fluorescent tube is mounted to the first and second connectors at a second position different from the first position, the conductive pins of the fluorescent tube at one end thereof are respectively connected to the second and third elastic pieces of the first connector, the conductive pins at the other end of the fluorescent tube are respectively connected to the second and third elastic pieces of the second connector, the starter is connected between the second elastic pieces of the first and second connectors, the another end of the switch and the opposite end of the ballast are connected to the third elastic piece of the second connector, the third elastic piece of the first connector is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, and the switch is open to cause electrical current from the positive terminal of the power supply to flow to the third elastic piece of the second connector via the ballast.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tube holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the each of the first, second and third elastic pieces has an arced configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tube holder as recited in claim 1, wherein an opening is defined in the retainer of the first connector and extends from an external lateral surface to a sidewall thereof surrounding the through hole, and communicates with the through hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The tube holder as recited in claim 3, wherein the first connector further comprises:
a second groove defined in the retainer thereof opposite the opening; and
at least one buffer pad formed on the side wall, between the opening and the second groove, the opening, the second groove, wherein the at least one buffer pad separate the first, second and third elastic pieces from each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The tube holder device as recited in claim 4, wherein a length of the third elastic is about half of a perimeter of the through hole, and lengths of the second and third elastic pieces are both about a quarter of the perimeter of the through hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The illumination device as recited in claim 5, wherein the switch is positioned next to the second elastic piece of the first connector and wherein the switch is moved from the normally closed position to be open by an activation of the second elastic piece of the first connector when the fluorescent tube is mounted to the first and second connectors at the second position.