# US 7,744,266 B2 · LED socket and replaceable LED assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,266 B2 - Document ID: US7744266B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/432,820 - Filed: 2009-04-30 - Published: 2009-08-20 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-01 - Assignees: Cree, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Edward Higley; Faramarz Hafezi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744266B2 ## CPC - F21L 4/027: {the light sources being a LED} - F21K 9/20: Light sources comprising attachment means - F21V 19/001: {the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs} - F21V 19/004: {by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips} - F21V 19/04: with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret {(auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006)} - H01R 13/7175: {Light emitting diodes (LEDs)} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - H01R 13/24: resilient; resiliently-mounted - Y10S 362/80: Light emitting diode - F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION - 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 - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - 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 - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Socket arrangements for releasably mounting LEDs and light fixtures or assemblies employing such sockets are described. The socket arrangements facilitate the replacement of LEDs to replace an original LED with a brighter replacement, to change the color of the LED, to replace a single LED with a multiple chip LED, to replace a damaged or burned out LED with a new one, or the like. In further assemblies with plural LEDs, the use of ready release sockets facilitates selective replacement of an LED or LEDs and greatly enhances the flexibility of such units. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A socket for releasably mounting a packaged LED lamp comprising a lens and at least one LED chip mounted on a mounting substrate having electrical contacts, the socket comprising: socket power contacts for contacting the electrical contacts on the mounting substrate of the LED lamp and supplying power to the LED chip; and a mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said electrical contacts during operation and for allowing the LED lamp to be readily removed and replaced by hand when it is desired to replace the LED lamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said lamp power contacts comprises a spring biased tray which can be depressed with finger pressure to replace the LED lamp, and which when not depressed provides a spring force to bias said socket power contacts against the lamp power contacts of an LED lamp in said tray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The socket of claim 2 wherein the spring biased tray has an inner dimension slightly greater than an outer dimension of a base of the LED lamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein the packaged LED lamp further comprises a reflective collar and the at least one LED chip is surface mounted on the mounting substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein the socket power contacts and the mechanism for maintaining are combined in an integrated contact and bias mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 further comprising a releasable locking mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein the electrical contacts on the mounting substrate are on a top surface of the mounting substrate and said socket power contacts are arranged to make electrical contact with said top surface electrical contacts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein the electrical contacts on the mounting substrate are on a bottom surface of the mounting substrate and said socket power contacts are arranged to make electrical contact with said top surface electrical contacts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The socket of claim 1 wherein the packaged LED lamp includes multiple LED chips and said socket has socket power contacts corresponding to plural sets of electrical contacts on the mounting substrate for said multiple LED chips. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The socket of claim 5 further comprising a releasable locking mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The socket of claim 5 wherein the LED lamp includes multiple LED chips and said socket has socket power contacts corresponding to electrical contacts of said multiple LED chips. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The LED lighting socket of claim 1 further comprising socket power contacts for multiple packaged LED lamps. ### Claim 13 An LED lighting module comprising: a printed circuit board; and a plurality of LED lamp sockets physically mounted and electrically connected on the printed circuit board, wherein the LED lamp sockets provide a releasable mechanism for the ready insertion and removal of packaged LED lamps, each packaged LED lamp comprising a lens and at least one LED chip mounted on a mounting substrate, in the LED lamp sockets without the use of heat, solder, or physical force beyond normal hand pressure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The LED lighting module of claim 13 further comprising an LED lamp inserted in each LED lamp socket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The LED lighting module of claim 13 wherein each LED lamp socket has electrical contacts for making electrical contact with electrical contacts of an LED lamp inserted therein and a spring bias mechanism for biasing LED lamp contacts against the LED lamp socket electrical contacts when the LED lamp is inserted therein. ### Claim 16 The LED lighting module of 13 wherein each LED lamp socket includes a tray to receive an LED lamp. ### Claim 17 A portable personal LED light with a replaceable LED lamp comprising: a power switch for turning power on and off; a readily releasable LED lamp socket; an LED lamp comprising an LED chip mounted on a mounting substrate; and a housing wherein the LED lamp may be readily removed and replaced by hand, wherein the readily releasable LED lamp socket comprises: socket power contacts for contacting lamp power contacts on the LED lamp and supplying power to the LED chip; and a mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said lamp power contacts during operation and for allowing the LED lamp to be readily removed and replaced when it is desired to replace the LED lamp. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The battery powered portable light of claim 17 wherein said socket power contacts are point contacts. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The battery powered portable light of claim 17 wherein said mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said lamp power contacts comprises a spring biased tray which can be depressed with finger pressure to replace the LED lamp, and which when not depressed provides a spring force to bias said socket power contacts against the lamp power contacts of an LED lamp in said tray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The battery powered portable light of claim 17 wherein the spring biased tray has an inner dimension slightly greater than an outer dimension of a base of the LED lamp.