EP2248405A1 - Electronic ballast casing and electronic ballast having the same - Google Patents
Electronic ballast casing and electronic ballast having the sameInfo
- Publication number
- EP2248405A1 EP2248405A1 EP09705549A EP09705549A EP2248405A1 EP 2248405 A1 EP2248405 A1 EP 2248405A1 EP 09705549 A EP09705549 A EP 09705549A EP 09705549 A EP09705549 A EP 09705549A EP 2248405 A1 EP2248405 A1 EP 2248405A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- electronic ballast
- hole
- electronic
- set forth
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/14—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
- H05K7/1417—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards
- H05K7/142—Spacers not being card guides
Definitions
- the present utility model relates to electronic products, and especially to an electronic ballast casing and an electronic ballast having the same.
- the electronic ballast is a crucial member for most fluorescent lamps which is adapted to energize the fluorescent lamp by a high voltage.
- FIGl An example of an electronic ballast according to the prior art is shown in FIGl.
- the electronic ballast generally designated by reference numeral 100 includes a hollow casing and electronic components 103 and 107 mounted within the casing.
- the hollow casing consists of a plurality of members mainly comprising a main body 101 and two end caps 102.
- the main body 101 is formed with mounting holes in side walls thereof through which fasteners such as screws 104 may be inserted to fasten the electronic components 103 and 107 to inner side walls.
- the two end caps 102 may be snapped onto both end portions of the main body 101 respectively and are both formed with a plurality of ventilation holes 111.
- the main body 101 is formed by bending at least two thin plate members and being connected together by fasteners such as screws.
- the above-mentioned electronic ballast casing includes a plurality of members such as end caps 102 and the main body 101 which must be manufactured with a relatively high precision to meet assembly requirements, and additionally a process for assembling the plurality of members together is time-consuming, thereby leading to a relatively high cost.
- An object of the present utility model is to provide an electronic ballast casing with a relatively low cost and a relatively simple structure and assembling process, and an electronic ballast having the same.
- an electronic ballast casing characterized in that it is an integrally formed tubular member.
- an electronic ballast including an electronic ballast casing and an electronic assembly disposed in the electronic ballast casing, characterized in that the electronic ballast casing is an integrally formed tubular member.
- the electronic ballast casing is integrally formed, a time-consuming and thus cost-consuming assembly process in the prior art is eliminated. That is, the cost may be reduced. Further, since it is easy and convenient to fix the electronic assembly within the casing by means of potting materials or a fixing stick, the electronic ballast having the above-mentioned electronic ballast casing may have a reduced cost of manufacture.
- FIG. 1 is a prospective view showing an example of an electronic ballast casing in accordance with the prior art.
- FIG. 2 is a prospective view showing an electronic ballast in accordance with the present utility model, with electronic assembly mounted therein.
- FIG. 3 is a front view of the electronic ballast as shown in FIG.2.
- FIG 4 is a top view of the electronic ballast as shown in FIG.2.
- FIG 5a is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4, especially showing a first embodiment of fixing the PCB with the fixing stick.
- FIG. 5b-5d are schematic sectional views taken along line A-A in FIG. 4, showing another embodiment of fixing the PCB with the fixing stick
- FIG. 6 is an end view of the electronic ballast as shown in FIG.2, viewed from an end portion of the electronic ballast towards interior thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
- FIGs. 2 to 4 an appearance and structure of an electronic ballast including a casing in accordance with the present utility model is shown.
- the electronic ballast in accordance with the present utility model includes a hollow casing generally designated by reference numeral 1 and electronic assembly mounted within the casing.
- the hollow casing is an integrally formed tubular member, which is preferably molded from plastics by injection molding. It should be appreciated that the electronic ballast casing may be integrally formed from any other suitable material by any other suitable manufacturing process.
- the electronic ballast casing 1 has a symmetric structure with both ends opened. Further, the casing 1 has a predetermined length and cross-sectional shape to accommodate the electronic assembly 6 which usually includes a PCB (Printed
- the electronic ballast casing 1 has a rectangular cross section. Moreover, the electronic ballast casing 1 is beveled at each end portion thereof to expose a mounting hole 11 formed in a bottom wall of the casing which is used to facilitate connecting the electronic ballast to or removing it from other structures.
- the electronic ballast casing 1 in accordance with the present utility model is formed with supporting portions for supporting PCB and allowing PCB to slide thereon.
- the supporting portions are two guiding and supporting ribs 7 which protrude oppositely from lower portions of the inner sides of both side walls of the casing 1 and extend in a longitudinal direction of the casing 1.
- the two guiding and supporting ribs 7 protrude from the inner side walls of the casing 1 respectively by a predetermined distance to thus reliably support PCB 61 from opposite edges of a bottom surface of PCB.
- the electronic assembly 6 may be inserted sidewise from the opened end of the casing 1 and slide on the guiding and supporting ribs 7 to a final desired position. Then, the electronic assembly 6 may be fixed within the casing 1 by predetermined methods which will be described hereinafter.
- the electronic ballast casing in accordance with the present utility model does not comprise any end cap. Instead, the openings at both ends of the electronic ballast casing are closed by sheltering members 63 carried by PCB, as shown in FIG. 6.
- the sheltering members 63 may completely close the openings at both ends of the casing, and alternatively may only close lower portions of the openings and leave upper portions of the openings for ventilation.
- the sheltering member 63 may be a certain electronic component with a suitable cross section profile which simultaneously plays a role in the circuit of the electronic assembly, such as a capacitor or an inductor.
- the casing 1 is formed with a first through hole 2 in a top wall thereof.
- suitable potting material such as thermosetting resins may be potted into the casing 1 via the first through hole 2.
- the electronic assembly 6 may be fixed in place after the potting material is hardened.
- the potting material may fill the whole space defined by the hollow casing or just submerge PCB 61 of the electronic assembly.
- the potting material will not overflow out of both ends of the casing since the end openings of the casing 1 are closed by the sheltering members 63.
- the potting materials may be beneficially used for heat dissipation of the electronic assembly. Even, the potting materials may be used for the only purpose of heat dissipation of the electronic assembly and PCB is fixed in other suitable manners.
- PCB 61 is formed with a fixing hole 4.
- a fixing stick 3 is inserted through the first through hole 2 of the casing 1 and the fixing hole 4 to fix PCB 61 and in turn the electronic assembly 6 relative to the casing 1.
- the fixing stick 3 is designed such that a rear end thereof is tightly fixed in the first through hole 2 when a front end 5 thereof is inserted though the first through hole 2 and then is tightly inserted into the fixing hole 4 of PCB 61.
- PCB 61 may be fixed relative to the casing 1 by means of the fixing stick 3.
- the rear end of the fixing stick 3 is sized or constructed such that it may be clamped within the first through hole 2.
- the rear end of the fixing stick 3 is constructed as a structure having a plurality of elastic fingers 32.
- the plurality of elastic fingers 32 are distributed uniformly along a periphery of a main body of the fixing stick. In a free state thereof before being mounted into the casing, each finger extends out from a main body of the fixing stick 3, and preferably extends substantially perpendicular to an axis of the main body of the fixing stick.
- the plurality of elastic fingers is squeezed by the first through hole 2. Once the fixing stick 3 is completely inserted into its final position, the squeezed plurality of elastic fingers allow the fixing stick to be reliably clamped within the first through hole 2.
- FIGs. 5b-5d Another embodiment of fixing PCB with a fixing stick is shown in FIGs. 5b-5d.
- the casing 1 in addition to the first through hole 2 in the top wall, the casing 1 is further provided in the bottom wall with a second through hole 2' in align with the first through hole 2.
- the diameter of the second through hole 2' is decreased from an outer side of the bottom wall to an inner side of the bottom wall so that the second through hole 2' having minimum diameter is adapted to tightly mating with a front end portion of the fixing stick, which will be described in detail hereinafter. It is preferred to form the second through hole as a stepped hole (as shown) or a tapered bore.
- the fixing stick 3 is a plastic rivet inserted consecutively through the first through hole 2 in the top wall, the fixing hole 4 in PCB and the second through hole 2' in the bottom wall with its front end protruding out of the second through hole 2' .
- the first through hole 2 is sized to stop a rear end of the plastic rivet.
- the first through hole 2 is preferably formed as a tapered bore to cooperate with the tapered surface of the rear end of the plastic rivet.
- the first through hole 2 is preferably formed as a stepped hole.
- the first through hole 2 is sized such that the rear end of the plastic rivet is registered with the top wall of the casing 1 when it is stopped by the first through hole 2.
- the front end of the plastic rivet protruding out of the second through hole 2' is deformed, thereby preventing the front end retreating from the second through hole 2'.
- It may be achieved by a heat metal bar 9 as shown in FIG. 5c.
- the heat metal bar 9 has a predetermined temperature so as to enable thermally deformation of the front end of the plastic rivet when contacting with the front end and thus enable enlargement of the front end.
- the plastic rivet may not retreat from the second through hole 2' due to the swelled front end.
- the plastic rivet 3 has a stepped portion formed by a front portion with a relatively small diameter and a rear portion with a relatively large diameter.
- the stepped portion approaches or abuts an upper surface of the PCB when the rear end is stopped by the first through hole 2 so as to restrict an ascending movement of PCB. Since PCB is simultaneously supported by the supporting ribs 7 from its lower surface, PCB is prevented from moving vertically or is just allowed to move slightly in the vertical direction.
- each side wall of the casing may be thermally pressed inwards from a position around middle height thereof, to thus form a locally recessed cross section which may clamp the electronic assembly in position with a suitable clamping force
- the above manners for fixing the electronic assembly may be used individually or in combination.
- the electronic assembly may be preliminarily fixed by the fixing stick or compressing side walls of the casing, and then may be further fixed by potting materials potted through the first through hole
- the potting materials may be used for the purpose of assisting heat dissipation of the electronic assembly instead of fixing PCB.
- PCB is firstly inserted sidewise into the casing by a predetermined distance.
- a desired amount of potting materials is potted through the first through hole 2.
- fixing PCB with the above-mentioned fixing stick when PCB is inserted into its final position.
- the casing 1 is designed such that electrical terminals are still accessible for electrical connections.
- connectors 8 of the electronic assembly 6 shall be designed to locate outsides of the sheltering member 63 to thus facilitate electrical connections.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CNU2008200042199U CN201171241Y (en) | 2008-02-01 | 2008-02-01 | Electronic ballast casing and electric ballast |
PCT/EP2009/050420 WO2009095308A1 (en) | 2008-02-01 | 2009-01-15 | Electronic ballast casing and electronic ballast having the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2248405A1 true EP2248405A1 (en) | 2010-11-10 |
Family
ID=40210291
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09705549A Withdrawn EP2248405A1 (en) | 2008-02-01 | 2009-01-15 | Electronic ballast casing and electronic ballast having the same |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2248405A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN201171241Y (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009095308A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN101835319B (en) * | 2009-03-13 | 2014-05-07 | 奥斯兰姆有限公司 | Shell for electronic ballast |
CN102238787A (en) * | 2010-05-05 | 2011-11-09 | 苏州市昆士莱照明科技有限公司 | Ballast shell for fluorescent lamp |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6376991B1 (en) * | 2001-01-10 | 2002-04-23 | Philips Electronics North America Corporation | Circuit assembly for inclusion within fluorescent lamp |
CN1376024A (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2002-10-23 | 古秋波 | Sealed heat-dissipating casing for great-power electronic ballast |
CN100508682C (en) * | 2005-09-08 | 2009-07-01 | 上海纳米技术及应用国家工程研究中心有限公司 | Dual L seamless high power electronic ballast housing |
US7857498B2 (en) * | 2006-07-19 | 2010-12-28 | Toby Smith | Quick change fluorescent lamp ballast system |
-
2008
- 2008-02-01 CN CNU2008200042199U patent/CN201171241Y/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2009
- 2009-01-15 WO PCT/EP2009/050420 patent/WO2009095308A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-01-15 EP EP09705549A patent/EP2248405A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2009095308A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2009095308A1 (en) | 2009-08-06 |
CN201171241Y (en) | 2008-12-24 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20100610 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA RS |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: OSRAM AG |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: OSRAM GMBH |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: OSRAM GMBH |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20150801 |