US 9,039,271 B2Granted

Interface and fabrication method for lighting and other electrical devices

AssigneeCree, Inc.

InventorEdward Roger Adams

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Abstract

Interfaces for electrical (e.g., lighting) devices involve use of electrically conductive edge contacts arranged on or protruding from edges of printed circuit boards (PCBs) that provide or facilitate electrical connections to first and second externally accessible electrical contacts, such as may include threaded and foot contacts of a lighting device including a screw-shaped male base. First and/or second edge contacts of a PCB may protrude through first and second openings in a housing to form first and second externally accessible contact, or directly engage first and second externally accessible contact elements associated with (e.g., retained by) the housing. A contact element retained by a housing may define a slot in the interior of the housing to directly engage an edge contact of the PCB. Electric power is supplied to the PCB via edge contacts without need for intervening wires or soldered connections.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A light bulb comprising:

a housing defining at least one opening;
at least one light emitting element associated with the housing;
and
a printed circuit board configured for electrical connection to the at least one light emitting element, the printed circuit board including a first face, a second face, at least one edge, a first electrically conductive edge contact arranged on an edge of the at least one edge or protruding from the printed circuit board, and a second electrically conductive edge contact arranged on an edge of the at least one edge or protruding from the printed circuit board;
wherein the housing comprises a first portion proximate to the at least one light emitting element, a second portion proximate to the first and second electrically conductive edge contacts, and a sidewall extending between the first portion and the second portion;
wherein an opening of the at least one opening defined in the housing extends through the sidewall;
and
wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board is arranged within the housing, the first electrically conductive edge contact extends through the opening defined in the sidewall and protrudes laterally beyond the sidewall to form a first externally accessible electrically conductive contact, and the second electrically conductive edge contact extends through the at least one opening to form a second externally accessible electrically conductive contact.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/730,802Filed 24 Mar 2010
Published: US 2011/0234081 A129 Sep 2011
Granted: 26 May 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

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 9/90
Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers: methods of manufacture
F21V 7/0008
Reflectors for light sources: providing for indirect lighting
F21V 23/06
Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices: the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors

Family

US 2011/0234081 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Sep 2011
US 9,039,271 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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