Light source, lamp socket and illumination device using the lamp socket
AssigneePanasonic Corporation
InventorsSatoshi Fukano, Yoshihisa Ando, Yosihide Imaoka, Noboru Miyakawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light source has an outer size set equal to the dimension of a straight tubular fluorescent lamp. The light source includes a straight light emitting tube and end caps provided at the opposite end portions of the light emitting tube. Each of the end caps includes first pins arranged at the same positions as lamp pins of the fluorescent lamp. The first pins have the same shape as the lamp pins of the fluorescent lamp. Further, at least one of the end caps includes a current-feeding second pin.
Claims15
A light source having an outer size set equal to the dimension of a straight tubular fluorescent lamp, comprising:
- a straight light emitting tube;
- and
- end caps provided at the opposite end portions of the light emitting tube, wherein each of the end caps includes a pair of first pins arranged at the same positions as a pair of lamp pins of the fluorescent lamp, the first pins having the same shape as the lamp pins of the fluorescent lamp, and a current-feeding second pin protruding outwardly from each of the end caps,
- wherein a lighting current is fed to the light source through the second pin, and
- wherein the lighting current does not flow through the first pins.
A light source differing from a fluorescent lamp, comprising:
- a light-emitting unit;
- end caps mountable to sockets of an existing illumination device for the fluorescent lamp;
- a current-feeding unit for feeding a lighting current to the light-emitting unit via a current-feeding path detouring the sockets, the current-feeding unit being positioned to face the illumination device when the end caps are mounted to the sockets;
- and
- a straight tubular body arranged to accommodate the light-emitting unit, the end caps being provided at the opposite ends of the tubular body,
- wherein a pair of dummy pins is protruded from the end caps
- wherein the pair of dummy pins and the end caps are electrically insulated from the light-emitting unit, and
- wherein the end caps are provided in pair, the current-feeding unit being arranged in a middle position between the end caps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.