AT517059B1 - Arrangement with a flat illuminant carrier, method for producing a flat illuminant carrier having a predetermined bend, flat illuminant carrier, and lighting devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement with a flat illuminant carrier (1) arranged on a carrier plate, the carrier plate being designed for attachment to a lighting device. The illuminant carrier has: lighting units (2) arranged distributed over the illuminant carrier; a plurality of lateral U-shaped indentations (3) with an arc-shaped bottom section, which are formed in at least one predetermined side area of the illuminant carrier and each form a material bridge (4); and electrical conductor tracks, which extend over the respective associated material bridge. The number, arrangement and dimensions of the individual indentations define a maximum bending radius of the illuminant carrier at least in the same plane. The notch with an associated material bridge is formed between each two adjacent lighting units. The carrier plate is designed as a bent plate for forming the illuminant carrier with a predetermined bend in its plane. The bending sheet has the ultimately desired bending shape. The invention also relates to a flat illuminant carrier (1), lighting devices and a production method.

Description

description

ARRANGEMENT WITH A SURFACE LAMP SUPPORT, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SURFACE LAMP SUPPORT HAVING A PREDETERMINED BEND, SURFACE LIGHT SUPPORT, AND LIGHTING DEVICES

The present invention relates to an arrangement with a flat illuminant carrier, a lighting device with such an arrangement, and a method for producing a flat illuminant carrier having a predetermined curvature. The invention also relates to a further flat illuminant carrier and a lighting device with such a flat illuminant carrier.

Due to the increased use of LEDs in the field of lighting devices, the doors have been opened for previously unfeasible lighting device shapes, such as oval, round or spiral lights in strip form or the like. In the case of lighting devices which have bending radii, individual, smaller or specially designed circuit boards have hitherto been manufactured, each of which has one of the different bending radii, and connected to one another electrically and mechanically. This is disadvantageously associated with high manufacturing complexity and high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the individual modules on the individual circuit boards are usually disadvantageously spaced apart from one another, so that homogeneous illumination cannot be guaranteed with such an arrangement.

[0003] US Pat. No. 4,439,818 A also describes a flexible electrical light strip. The light strip is formed by an adhesive tape on which a large number of light-emitting diodes are attached. A plurality of triangular sections are removed from each side of the adhesive tape, forming triangular notches.

[0004] JP 2012 124 106 A shows an elongated circuit board with V-shaped recesses at the edge, with the circuit board being able to be brought into a ring shape.

[0005] US 2012 217 520 A1 describes a strip with a multiplicity of LEDs mounted thereon, the strip being said to be easily bendable into a desired shape. Notches are formed on both side surfaces of the strip.

[0006] US 2012 243 212 A1 deals with a portable, bendable light, with gaps between light cells intended to facilitate bending and twisting.

[0007] Furthermore, EP 2 716 959 A1 describes a light emitting device with a bendable tube, a flexible plate accommodated in the tube, and with light-emitting elements which are fixed on the flexible plate. The flexible plate has a plurality of protrusions on both sides which contact an inner wall of the tube such that the inner wall clamps the flexible plate in a bent position.

Thus, the present invention is based on the object of forming a flat illuminant carrier, at least in the plane of the illuminant carrier, with predetermined bending radii in a further improved, simple and cost-effective manner.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an arrangement with the features of patent claim 1, by the method for producing a light source carrier having a predetermined bend with the features of patent claim 10, by a lighting device with the features of patent claim 15, by a flat light source carrier with the features of patent claim 16 and by a lighting device having the features of patent claim 17.

The idea on which the present invention is based is that the planar light source carrier lighting units, which are arranged distributed over the light source carrier; a plurality of lateral indentations which are formed in at least one predetermined side region of the illuminant carrier and which each form a material bridge; and

has electrical conductor tracks which extend over the respective associated material bridge for the electrical connection of the lighting units; wherein the number, arrangement and dimensions of the lateral indentations define a maximum bending radius of the illuminant carrier at least in the plane of the illuminant carrier.

Thus, the present invention has the advantage over the known approaches according to the prior art that a strip-shaped illuminant carrier designed in this way can then be bent easily and inexpensively into a desired curved shape, at least in the plane of the illuminant carrier, due to the predefined notches . With the appropriate number, arrangement and dimensions of the lateral notches, any bending radii can be realized. The flat illuminant carrier can also advantageously be designed with different radii of curvature.

Furthermore, the idea on which the present invention is based is that the method for producing a flat illuminant carrier having a predetermined bend has the following method steps: providing lighting units on the illuminant carrier, which are arranged distributed over the illuminant carrier; Provision of a large number of lateral indentations, which are formed in at least one predetermined side area of the illuminant carrier (1), the number, arrangement and dimensions of the indentations defining a maximum bending radius of the illuminant carrier, at least in the plane of the illuminant carrier, and which each form a material bridge ; Provision of electrical conductor tracks, which extend over the respective associated material bridge for the electrical connection of the lighting units; and forming the illuminant carrier with a predetermined bend at least in the plane of the illuminant carrier.

Thus, the present invention has the advantage over the known approaches according to the prior art that in an improved manner with the notched illuminant carrier an arbitrarily curved illuminant carrier can also be produced in the plane of the illuminant carrier, which provides homogeneous illumination along its entire extent realized.

Advantageous developments and improvements of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to a preferred development, the notches are arranged at regular intervals. On the one hand, this is advantageous from the point of view of production technology and, on the other hand, it enables a uniform curvature of the illuminant carrier if required. However, it is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that the indentations can be provided at irregular intervals.

[0016] According to a further preferred development, the notches are provided between all adjacent lighting units. This advantageously makes it possible for the illuminant carrier to be curved with a maximum bending radius. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the indentations can also be provided only between every second pair of adjacent lighting units, with arbitrarily larger distances between them or in areas without lighting units.

[0017] According to a further preferred development, all the notches are formed with the same dimensions. This ensures simple and cost-effective production and, if necessary, enables the illuminant carrier to be bent uniformly along its longitudinal extent in a reproducible manner. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the individual indentations can also be formed with different dimensions.

According to a further preferred development, the notches are dimensioned such that the material bridges formed are sufficiently stable for carrying out a desired bending process. This advantageously ensures that the illuminant carrier does not break apart in the area of the material bridges during a predetermined bending process, but rather that these material bridges can stably absorb the flow of forces during the bending process.

[0019] According to a further preferred refinement, the illuminant carrier has electrical connection sections for an electrical connection of the illuminant carrier in the region of the lighting units which terminate in each case at the end face. As a result, the illuminant carrier can be electrically connected in a simple and cost-effective manner. It is also conceivable that a number of such illuminant carriers are electrically connected to one another via these electrical connection sections.

[0020] According to a further preferred development, the lighting units each have one or more LEDs. The individual LEDs of a lighting unit can emit the same wavelength or different wavelengths. In a particularly advantageous manner, each lighting unit has only one LED, so that the largest possible bending radius can be achieved with as many notches as possible.

According to a further preferred development, the lateral indentations are provided in the same side area or in different side areas, for example opposite side areas.

According to a further preferred development, the notches are arranged and dimensioned such that the illuminant support is flexible in the plane of the illuminant support and/or out of the plane of the illuminant support, in particular anywhere in 3-dimensional space.

According to a further preferred development, the notches are arranged and dimensioned such that the illuminant support is flexible in the plane of the illuminant support and/or out of the plane of the illuminant support in different bending directions, for example in a serpentine or S-shape.

[0024] According to a further preferred development, the illuminant carrier is bent in the direction of the side having the notches. As a result, the force input into the material bridges is kept as low as possible, so that the risk of breakage in the area of the material bridges is reduced. However, it is obvious to the person skilled in the art that bends counter to the direction of the side having the indentations, snake-shaped bends, S-shaped bends or the like in the plane of the illuminant carrier and in 3-dimensional space, bends oriented as desired are also possible.

[0025] According to a further preferred development, the bending plate has fastening pins at predetermined points in such a way that the illuminant carrier is bent by engagement of predetermined notches with associated fastening pins along these fastening pins. In this case, the metal sheet can advantageously be used both as a bending device and as a final carrier plate, so that after the bending process the illuminant carrier is already suitably positioned on the carrier plate. In this case, the material bridges must be designed to be particularly stable and are of particular importance.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and further examples with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawing. From the figures show:

1 shows a plan view of an illuminant carrier according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

2 shows a perspective view of an illuminant carrier according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

3 shows a perspective view of an illuminant carrier according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a bender according to an example;

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a bending process of a lamp carrier by means of a bending device according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a fastening means for fastening an illuminant carrier to a carrier device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention along section line B-B of Fig. 5.

The accompanying figures of the drawing are intended to provide a further understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. They illustrate exemplary embodiments and an example and together with the description serve to explain principles and concepts of the present invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned arise with regard to the figures of the drawing. The elements of the figures are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to one another.

In the figures of the drawing, the same functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components are provided with the same reference numbers, unless stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an illuminant carrier 1 according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illuminant carrier 1 is designed, for example, as a strip-shaped circuit board and has a large number of lighting units 2 . The lighting units 2 preferably consist of one or more LEDs. In Fig. 1, each lighting unit 2 is shown as an example as an individual LED. The individual LEDs of the lighting units 2 can, for example, emit light in the same wavelength range or in different wavelength ranges, i.e. with different color components. Alternatively, each lighting unit 2 can have one or more CoB modules (chip-on-board modules) or corresponding LED-based lighting means. Furthermore, other light sources can be provided or a combination of different light sources.

According to a preferred embodiment, the light source carrier 1 is designed as an aluminum circuit board. Alternatively, however, versions as a plastic printed circuit board, possibly with an aluminum core, as a hard paper printed circuit board or the like are also provided.

Furthermore, a lateral notch 3 is provided on a predetermined longitudinal side of the illuminant carrier 1 between two adjacent lighting units 2 in each case. Corresponding material bridges 4 are formed on the longitudinal side of the illuminant carrier 1 opposite the lateral notches 3 by forming the notches 3 . Alternatively or additionally, indentations 3 can also be provided on other sides.

The lateral indentations 3 and the associated material bridges 4 are preferably provided in a regular arrangement such that such a lateral indentation 3 with an associated material bridge 4 is provided between each lighting unit 2, as illustrated in FIG. Furthermore, the lateral indentations 3 and the material bridges 4 are dimensioned in such a way that the material bridges 4 formed are designed to be sufficiently stable for carrying out a desired bending process in the plane of the illuminant carrier 1 . For example, with a light source carrier width of 15 mm, a notch 3 can have a depth of approximately 11 mm and a width of approximately 4 mm. The associated material bridge 4 therefore has an extension of approximately 4 mm in the transverse direction of the illuminant carrier 1. This information is only to be understood as an example and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that any conceivable dimensions are possible as required.

The individual lighting units 2 are preferably electrically connected to one another via correspondingly assigned conductor tracks (not shown). These electrical conductor tracks run from a lighting unit 2 to the respective adjacent lighting unit via the intermediate material bridge 4. Accordingly, the transverse extent of the material bridge 4 must be dimensioned at least sufficiently large that the placement and routing of the associated conductor tracks can be implemented. Conductor tracks of this type are embedded, for example, in a copper coating provided on the aluminum carrier.

Depending on the desired bending radius, the number, arrangement and dimensions of the individual lateral notches 3 can be varied and changed. It is only necessary to note

that the remaining material bridges 4 can absorb the forces generated without the lamp support breaking during the bending process.

As is further illustrated in FIG. 1, according to this preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the illuminant support 1 has electrical connection sections 5 on the end-side lighting units 2, which provide an electrical connection of the illuminant support 1 to an electrical supply and/or an electrical Connection with a further, adjacent illuminant carrier are used.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an illuminant carrier 1 according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illuminant carrier 1 is therefore designed with a different geometry, namely as a U-shaped circuit board and has a large number of lighting units 2 . In this regard, reference can be made to the statements relating to FIG. 1, provided nothing to the contrary is stated below.

The flat light source carrier 1 according to FIG. 2 has two lateral, opposite legs 6, which each have the lateral notches 3 on the outside. Indentations 3 can also be additionally provided on other sides. Consequently, these indentations 3 also serve to bend the illuminant support 1 about any bending axes in space.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an illuminant carrier 1 according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illuminant carrier 1 is therefore designed with a different geometry, namely as a U-shaped circuit board with slightly bent legs 6 and has a large number of lighting units 2 . In this regard, reference can be made to the statements relating to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, provided nothing to the contrary is stated below.

The flat light source carrier 1 according to FIG. 3 has two lateral, opposite and slightly upwardly bent legs 6, which each have the lateral notches 3 on the outside. Indentations 3 can also be additionally provided on other sides. Consequently, these indentations 3 also serve to bend the illuminant support 1 about any bending axes in space.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that any planar geometries of the flat illuminant carrier are possible, with indentations being provided on predetermined side regions to ensure bending of the illuminant carrier about predetermined bending axes.

An example of a method for producing an illuminant carrier 1 having a predetermined bend is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 4, a bending mold 7 is formed, for example, as a wooden panel, which has, for example, a plate thickness of about 12 mm. One or more cut-outs 8, 9 with a milling depth of 4-6 mm, for example, are worked into this bending mold 7 in such a way that by inserting the linear and strip-shaped illuminant carrier 1, it is bent in the plane of the illuminant carrier 1 in accordance with the specified bends of the Millings 8, 9.

In this case, the lamp support 1 inserted into the cutouts 8, 9 is preferably bent in the direction of the long side having the notches 3, i.e. after the bending, the notches are preferably located on the inner curve of the bent lamp support 1. However, for a person skilled in the art obvious that it can also be bent in the opposite direction or in any other direction.

All conceivable bending radii and bending shapes of the light source carrier 1 can be realized by such bending shapes 7 with corresponding cutouts 8, 9. The cutouts 8, 9 only have to be designed according to the desired bending shape. Even serpentine or S-shaped bends with uniform or different bending radii can be easily designed if required.

According to a further example, the bending mold 7 has cutouts 8, 9, which generate a U overbending of the inserted illuminant carrier 1 in a predetermined manner in such a way that after the removal of the illuminant carrier 1 from the assigned cutout 8, 9, after the completion of a deflection of the illuminant carrier 1 finally learns the desired bending shape. In other words, the cutouts 8, 9 preferably have a bending shape modified somewhat with regard to the ultimately desired bending shape such that the radii of the cutouts 8, 9 or of the individual cutout sections are designed somewhat smaller than the ultimately desired radii of the correspondingly assigned sections of the lamp carrier 1. A corresponding degree of deflection of the lamp support 1 after removal from the bending mold 7 can be determined in advance for the lamp support 1 and bending molds used in each case, so that, depending on the ultimately desired bending shape of the lamp support 1, correspondingly assigned cutouts 8, 9 in the bending mold 7 are provided. Any deflection depends in particular on the material of the illuminant carrier 1 and the width of the material bridge 4 .

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that it is alternatively also possible to adapt the cutouts 8, 9 in the bending mold 7 exactly to the ultimately desired bending shape of the light source carrier 1. In this case, the illuminant carrier must be re-bent accordingly after removal from the bending mold 7 due to any rebound.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the cutouts 8, 9 can have any shape. In Fig. 4, for example, the left section of the cutout 8 has a first bending radius, the right section of the cutout 8 has a second bending radius, the left section of the cutout 9 has a third bending radius and the right section of the cutout 9 has a fourth bending radius. The number of bending forms, the cutouts provided on them and the different bending radii of the individual cutouts can be selected according to the respective requirements.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a bending method according to the present invention, wherein in this embodiment the bending device is designed both as a bending plate 11 and as a carrier plate for subsequent attachment to an associated lighting device.

The bending plate 11 already has the ultimately desired bending shape and has, for example, centrally along the longitudinal extent of the bending plate 11 spaced-apart receiving holes 12 . Associated fastening pins 13 can be inserted into these receiving holes 12, which are used both for a bending process of the illuminant carrier 1 and for a stable attachment of the illuminant carrier 1 to the flexible metal sheet 11. The illuminant carrier 1 engages with selected indentations 3 respectively associated fastening pins 13 and is bent, for example, manually along these fastening pins 13, as shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the flexible plate preferably has a plurality of fastening holes 15, for example in the side area, for fastening to an associated section of the lighting device.

In FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fastening point of a light source carrier 1 on an associated bending plate 11 along the section line B-B from FIG. 5 is illustrated. The individual fastening pins 13 are designed, for example, as prestressed spring pins 13 with an associated clamping head 14, so that both stable accommodation of the illuminant support 1 on the bending plate 11 and a stable bending process along the individual fastening pins 13 are ensured.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another as desired; in particular, the illuminant carrier can be shaped or bent using a mold according to FIG. 4 and then connected to a correspondingly shaped and assigned carrier plate. This support plate can also be analogous to the bending plate 11 according to FIG. 5 together with the fastening pins 13 and

be formed of the fastening arrangement according to FIG. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that other types of fastening are also conceivable for attaching the illuminant carrier to a carrier plate or to a lighting device.

Although the present invention has been described above on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto but can be modified in many different ways.

It should be pointed out again at this point that the provision of the lateral notches advantageously enables or at least facilitates various bends, such as a bend of the illuminant carrier in the same plane in and/or opposite to the direction of the side having the notches or an intermediate direction in this plane. Any bending in 3-dimensional space is also guaranteed by these lateral indentations. Advantageously, the illuminant support can thereby be bent at least about two mutually perpendicular axes in space or over at least two planes.

REFERENCE LIST

1 bulb holder

2 light unit

3 lateral notch 4 material bridge

5 electrical connection section 6 legs

7 bending shape

8 cutout

9 cutout

11 bending plate

12 mounting holes

13 mounting pin

14 clamp head 15 mounting hole

Claims (1)

patent claims 1. Arrangement with a flat illuminant support (1) arranged on a support plate, the support plate being designed for attachment to an associated lighting device, the flat illuminant support (1) having: Luminous units (2) which are arranged distributed over the planar illuminant carrier (1); a plurality of lateral U-shaped indentations (3) with an arcuate bottom section, which are formed in at least one predetermined side area of the flat illuminant support (1) and which each form a material bridge (4); and electrical conductor tracks which extend over the respective associated material bridge (4) for the electrical connection of the lighting units (2); wherein the number, arrangement and dimensions of the individual lateral U-shaped indentations (3) define a maximum bending radius of the flat illuminant support (1) at least in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1), with the U- shaped indentation (3) with an associated material bridge (4), and wherein the support plate is designed as a bent plate (11) for forming the flat illuminant support (1) with a predetermined bend in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1), and wherein the Bending plate (11) has the ultimately desired bending shape. 2, Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the U-shaped notches (3) are arranged at regular or irregular intervals. 3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the U-shaped notches (3) are provided between all adjacent lighting units (2). 4. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the notches (3) are formed with the same or different dimensions. 5. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat illuminant support (1) has electrical connection sections (5) for an electrical connection of the flat illuminant support (1) in the region of the respective lighting units (2) that terminate at the front. 6. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting units (2) each have one or more LEDs. 7. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral U-shaped notches (3) are provided in the same side area or in different side areas, for example opposite side areas. 8. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the U-shaped notches (3) are arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the flat illuminant carrier (1) is in the plane of the flat illuminant carrier (1) and/or out of the plane of the flat illuminant carrier (1) is flexible. 9. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the U-shaped notches (3) are arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the flat illuminant carrier (1) is in the plane of the flat illuminant carrier (1) and/or out of the plane of the flat illuminant carrier (1) can be bent out in different bending directions, for example in the shape of a snake or S. 10. A method for producing a planar illuminant carrier (1) having a predetermined bend, with the following method steps: providing lighting units (2) on the planar illuminant carrier (1), which are distributed over the planar illuminant carrier (1); Provision of a plurality of lateral U-shaped indentations (3) with arcuate 11. 12. 13. 14 15 16 Austrian AT 517 059 B1 2022-10-15 Bottom section which is formed in at least one predetermined side area of the flat illuminant support (1), the number, arrangement and dimensions of the individual lateral U-shaped indentations (3) ensuring a maximum bending radius of the flat illuminant support (1) at least in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1) and which each form a material bridge (4), and wherein the U-shaped notch (3) with associated material bridge (4) is formed between two adjacent lighting units (2); Provision of electrical conductor tracks which extend over the respective associated material bridge (4) for the electrical connection of the lighting units (2); Arranging the flat light source support (1) on a support plate, which is designed to be attached to an associated lighting device, the support plate being designed as a bent plate (11) for forming the flat light source support (1) with the predetermined bend, and the bent plate (11 ) has the final desired bending shape; and Forming the flat illuminant support (1) with the predetermined bend in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1). Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the flat illuminant support (1) is bent in the direction of the side having the U-shaped notches (3) and/or in the direction of the side opposite the U-shaped notches (3). Method according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the flexible metal sheet (11) has fastening pins (13) at predetermined points in such a way that the flat illuminant support (1) can be secured by engagement of predetermined U-shaped notches (3) with associated fastening pins (13 ) is bent along these mounting pins (13). Method according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the U-shaped indentations (3) are arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the flat illuminant support (1) is in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1) and/or out of the plane of the flat illuminant support (1) becomes pliable out. Method according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the U-shaped indentations (3) are arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the flat illuminant support (1) is in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1) and/or out of the plane of the flat illuminant support (1) Becomes flexible out in different bending directions, e.g. serpentine or S-shaped. Lighting device having an arrangement according to at least one of Claims 1 to 9. Flat bulb holder (1), with: Luminous units (2) which are arranged distributed over the planar illuminant carrier (1); a multiplicity of lateral U-shaped indentations (3) with an arc-shaped base section, which are formed in at least one predetermined side area of the flat illuminant support (1) and which each form a material bridge (4); and electrical conductor tracks which extend over the respective associated material bridge (4) for the electrical connection of the lighting units (2); wherein the number, arrangement and dimensions of the individual lateral U-shaped indentations (3) define a maximum bending radius of the flat illuminant support (1) at least in the plane of the flat illuminant support (1); wherein the flat illuminant support (1) is designed as a U-shaped circuit board and has two lateral, opposite legs (6), which each have the lateral U-shaped notches (3) on the outside, and wherein the lateral legs (6 ) connecting portion of the U-shaped board of the U-shaped notches (3) is free. 17. Lighting device with a flat illuminant carrier (1) according to claim 16. 5 sheets of drawings