US 8,708,525 B2Granted

Light emitting diode light bulb and incandescent lamp conversion apparatus

AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated

InventorJames Aliberti

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods separate the functions of light emission, heat dissipation, and power conversion in LED lighting. Doing so may facilitate cost-effective LED lighting and enable the conversion of existing incandescent lamps to LED service. An LED light bulb includes a thermal path from LED dies to a thermal transfer contact having an externally available surface. The LED light bulb and an incandescent lamp adapter are consumer-installable in an incandescent lamp. A heat spreader component of the lamp adapter contacts the thermal transfer contact of the LED light bulb to dissipate heat originating at the LED dies. A lamp adaptable LED power supply plugs into a standard AC power outlet and includes a receptacle to accept insertion of a lamp cord plug to deliver power to the LED light bulb. A lock-in safety device prevents retraction of the lamp cord plug from the LED power supply once inserted.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A lamp adaptable LED power supply assembly, comprising:

a power supply module capable of electrical connection to at least one of an electrical outlet or an electrical extension cord plugged into the electrical outlet, the power supply module adapted to utilize AC current from the electrical outlet and to provide electrical power appropriate to at least one LED component of an LED light bulb;
an electrical receptacle component of the power supply module to accept electrical contact prongs associated with a lamp cord plug;
and
a lock-in device to couple to the lamp cord plug and to the power supply module to prevent retraction of the lamp cord plug from the power supply module, the lock-in device further comprising:
at least two retainer extensions to surround at least a portion of the lamp cord plug and capable of insertion into lock-in channels situated within the power supply module;
and
a lateral portion coupled to one end of each of the retainer extensions to support and maintain spacing between the retainer extensions and to abut the lamp cord plug to inhibit extraction of the lamp cord plug from the power supply module following insertion of the retainer extensions into the lock-in channels.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/366,091Filed 3 Feb 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Mar 2011
Published: US 2012/0224374 A16 Sep 2012
Granted: 29 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

H05B 45/357
Driver circuits: specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
F21K 9/23
Light sources comprising attachment means: retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for…
F21K 9/232
Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with…
F21V 23/06
Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices: the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors