EP2425176B1 - Lighting system comprising at least one luminous band - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to lighting system with at least one light strip and at least one connecting element.

State of the art

There are known quasi-endless LED light strips, which consist for example of a contiguous sequence of band-shaped unitary circuit boards or unit circuit board sections and which can be separated at fixed intervals between two unit circuit boards, z. B. every 200 mm. Such light bands are for example from the LINEARLight series FA. OSRAM known.

Separation at distances other than the predetermined distances between the unitary circuit boards (ie, cutting through a unitary board) would result in an interruption of the circuit, and thus destruction of the LED strip. For some applications, however, other than the fixed predetermined tape lengths are required, for example, to move the LED tape accurately in a corner.

From the DE 10 2009 008 095 It is known to provide a contact region with bridging contacts between two semiconductor light sources, which are formed as SMD contacts. If the light strip is now to be separated at such a location, between the bridging contacts by means of soldered SMD resistors of the circuit be closed the light strip. Due to the shortening of the light band and the resulting reduced number of semiconductor light sources, these resistors are designed so that at rated current, the excess voltage drops.

For many users of such light strips, manual soldering of SMD resistors is difficult to handle. Furthermore, the resistance values of these terminal resistors are dependent on the current of the circuit. This can lead to confusion or errors in the selection of suitable resistors.

The US 4,173,035 and the DE 100 51 528 A1 each show a light strip, which can be subdivided and reconnected by means of suitable plug after a cut or connected to a power supply.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system which offers an easy-to-implement possibility for assembling light strips, in particular for a separation within a unit printed circuit board.

This object is achieved by a lighting system according to claim 1.

Particularly advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The lighting system comprises at least one connecting element, in particular plug-in and / or clamping connection element, and at least one light strip with at least one strip-shaped unit printed circuit board, wherein the unit board is equipped with at least two semiconductor light sources, in particular light-emitting diodes (LED), and has at least one arranged between at least two semiconductor light sources contact area, wherein the contact region is formed cut and the contact area and the connecting element such are configured such that after a severing of the contact region, the connecting element can be applied to the contact region and at least one circuit on the unit circuit board can be closed by applying the connecting element to the contact region.

In the context of this application, all devices for making electrical contact with a printed circuit board, which are provided by mechanical means, i. Substantially suitable for avoiding heat and / or chemical processes are, depending on the embodiment, also releasable electrical connection.

The light strip can be separated in the contact area by simple means, for example by cutting, scribing, breaking or the like, and thus brought to the desired length. Subsequently, the now open circuit is closed on the circuit board by the connecting element applied to the separation point, for example, postponed in the case of a connector element, which can be done much easier than, for example, an SMD soldering. In addition, a thermal load is avoided by the soldering process. The choice of closing the circuit suitable component, so for example, the correct resistance can also be simplified by the design of the connecting element, since this can be configured so that a confusion is excluded.

By at least one electronic component, in particular at least one resistor and / or at least one diode being provided for closing the at least one circuit, it is ensured that the circuit is adequately, i. so that an overload of components, in particular the semiconductor light sources and / or the power supply excluded and the desired performance is achieved.

According to the arrangement of the contacts in the contact region is formed depending on the number of semiconductor light sources between a Stromeinspeisestelle and / or a terminal of the light strip and the contact area and the position of the contacts is correlated with the number of separated or remaining semiconductor light sources, which thus easily recognizable is and thus allows the selection of a suitable device for closing the circuit or a suitable connecting element.

By a connecting element with the arrangement of the contacts on the light strip matching arrangement of mating contacts, which are operatively connected to suitable elements for closing at least one circuit, it can be ensured that the circuit in an adequate manner, ie such that an overload of components, in particular the semiconductor light sources and / or the Power supply excluded and the desired performance is achieved. In addition, optionally by selecting a suitable connecting element, a selection are taken, which circuit of the light strip is closed and so, for example, the selection of a lighting function are taken.

It is also advantageous if, depending on the number of semiconductor light sources between a power feed point and / or a terminal of the light strip and a contact area different circuits can be closed. This can also ensure that the circuit is adequately, i. so that an overload of components, in particular the semiconductor light sources and / or the power supply excluded and the desired performance is achieved.

Expediently, at least one contact, which is provided for transmitting a potential that is approximately the same at a plurality of, in particular all, contact regions, has the same position in the transverse direction at these contact regions. This allows a simple design of the attachable to the severed contact area connecting element, since the mating contact for this potential can always be arranged at the same point of the connecting element.

Expediently, further contacts of the same contact area with an increasing number of semiconductor light sources between a power feed point and / or an end point of the light band and the contact area are further away from the at least one contact provided for transmitting a potential that is approximately equal to several, in particular all, contact areas ,

Thereby, a particularly simple connection of the contacts can be made in the connecting element, in which the crossing of connecting lines is avoided.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one electronic component provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged in the region of the connecting element, in particular within a housing which encloses the connecting element at least partially. As a result, a particularly simple design with few components is achieved, which can be mounted with little effort. If the light strip for dissipating heat on a corresponding substrate, such as a heat sink, arranged, the connecting element can also be easily brought into operative connection with it and so the heat of the electronic components are easily dissipated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one electronic component provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged spatially separated from the connecting element. Thereby, the connecting element can be made very compact, which may be advantageous, for example, the fitting of the light strip in confined spaces. The electronic components can be arranged at a suitable installation location, even at some distance to the light strip.

Expediently, at least one electronic component provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged on a cooling device, in particular a heat sink. The electronic components For example, especially when many LEDs are separated from the unit board and thus much power flows into the electronic components, they can develop considerable heat, which can thus be easily dissipated.

It is advantageous if the connecting element comprises at least one zero-force connecting element, in particular designed as a zero-force connecting element. As a result, the connecting element can be applied to the light strip easily and with a low risk of damage.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if at least two current-carrying elements, in particular contacts and / or printed conductors, which are arranged in at least one contact region on opposite sides of the light strip and can be acted upon with different potentials during operation of the light strip, are arranged transversely spaced from one another in the contact region. In typical light bands has the flexible circuit board, which is occupied on the top and bottom with each conductor tracks and / or contacts, as thin as possible. As a result of the construction according to the invention, a contact between the current-carrying components located on the upper side and the lower side is unintentionally produced during cutting.

The features described for the lighting system according to the invention can also be realized individually in the components forming the system, ie a light strip and matching connecting elements, which can also be sold individually.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

ein Leuchtband nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2

ein Leuchtband für ein erfindungsgemäßes Beleuchtungssystem,

Fig. 3

ein Verdrahtungsschema eines erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungselements,

Fig. 4

ein Steckelement als Beispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Verbindungselement,

Fig. 5

ein weiteres Steckelement als Beispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Verbindungselement,

Fig. 6

eine Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Leuchtbandes.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the exemplary embodiments and figures, identical or identically acting components may each be provided with the same reference numerals. The illustrated elements and their proportions with each other are basically not to be regarded as true to scale, but individual elements, such as layers, components, components and areas, for better representability and / or better understanding exaggerated thick or large dimensions. The figures show:

Fig. 1

a light strip according to the prior art,

Fig. 2

a light strip for a lighting system according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a wiring diagram of a connecting element according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a plug-in element as an example of a connecting element according to the invention,

Fig. 5

another plug-in element as an example of a connecting element according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a representation of a light strip according to the invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

FIG. 1 shows in top plan view of a conventional flexible light strip 1 from, for example, two contiguous Each of the unit circuit boards 2 has a flexible substrate 3 made of polyimide, whose visible front side is equipped with four light-emitting diodes 4. The light-emitting diodes 4 are equally spaced (equidistantly) with respect to a longitudinal direction of the unit printed circuit board 2. At both end regions (seen with respect to the longitudinal direction), each of the unit printed circuit boards 2 has electrical contacts 5, in this case two contacts 5 each.

In the manufacture of the luminous band 1, the unit boards 2 are integrally formed with the substrates 3 of the unit boards 2 as a single, one-piece quasi-endless substrate of the luminous ribbon 1. Likewise, the adjacent contacts 5 of two adjacent unit boards 2 are designed as a single contact strip which extends over both unit boards 2.

To separate the light strip 1, this can, as symbolically indicated by the scissors, be separated along a dividing line T. So that a separation of the light strip 1 does not lead to a power interruption of all unit circuit boards 2, the unit circuit boards 2 hang electrically parallel. In a separation thus only those unit circuit boards 2 are cut off from a power supply, which of a -. B. external - electrical supply source can be separated. However, a separation between light emitting diodes 4 of a unit board 2 causes all LEDs 4 of this unit board 2 to fail because the LEDs 4 of a unit board 2 are electrically connected in series.

FIG. 1 shows in the middle in plan view a unit PCB 2 according to the prior art in a detailed view. Between each pair of light-emitting diodes 4, a pair of bridging contacts 6 in the form of solder fields is arranged. Each of the pairs of bridging contacts 6 can, for example, be bridged by soldering on a surface-mountable resistor (not shown). By this arrangement, the unit board 2 can be severed between two LEDs 4, z. B. along a dividing line U, more precisely between a pair of bridging contacts 6 and the electrically connected, here: further right, LED 4.

FIG. 1 At one, left here, end, the unit board 2 is equipped with a control circuit 7, which has two transistors Q1, Q2 and two resistors R1, R2. The control circuit 7 is connected via the contacts 8 and / or 9 to an electrical supply (not shown). The control circuit 7, the LEDs 4 are electrically connected in series. Will the unit board 2 without further action along the dividing lines U from FIG. 1 cut above, the circuit of this unit board 2 is interrupted, causing all the LEDs 4 would not light up. By an electrical bridging a pair of bridging contacts 6 by means of a respective bridging resistor R3, R4 and R5, the circuit before (with respect to the control circuit 7) the bridging contacts 7 are closed again, whereby the then closed again part of the circuit existing light emitting diodes 4 can shine , Because of the bridging resistors R3, R4, R5, a favorable size for SMD resistors of at least 0603 (inch code, 1608 in metric code), 0805 (inch code, 2012 in metric code) or, in particular, 1206 (inch) Code, 3216 in metric code) is preferred. In a substantially resistanceless bridging over the still powered LEDs 4 too low voltage drop would occur.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a unit circuit board 2 of a light strip 1 for a lighting system according to the invention in plan view. Also shown schematically is the layout of the unit board 2. The basic structure corresponds to that in FIG. 1 shown light strip 2, that is, at both (seen with respect to the longitudinal direction) end portions E, each of the unit circuit boards 2 electrical contacts 5a, 5b, here two contacts 5a, 5b.

To separate the light strip 1, this can, as symbolically indicated by the scissors, be separated along a dividing line T.

The layout of the unit board 2 substantially corresponds to that in FIG FIG. 1 Below shown diagram, wherein a representation of the control circuit 7 has been omitted. There are two continuous tracks 10, 11 are provided, which can also be used to power subsequent unit circuit boards 2, so that the unit circuit boards 2 a light strip 1 are electrically connected in parallel. Within a unit circuit board 2, the LEDs 4 are connected in series by means of a conductor 12 connecting the LEDs 4.

In each case, a contact region 13 is provided at the separating lines T, at which a first continuous conductor track 10 and the conductor track 12 connecting the LEDs 4 are each provided with a contact 14a, 14b. If the unit circuit board 2 is severed without any further measures along one of the separating lines T, the circuit is interrupted by the light-emitting diodes 4. By electrically bridging a pair of contacts 14a, 14b by means of a respective bridging element of the circuit can be closed again, whereby the then closed again part of the circuit existing light emitting diodes 4 can shine. For this purpose, for example, an adapted resistor is required, which degrades the required power depending on the number of operated or separated LEDs 4.

The contacts 14b of the continuous conductor 10 (which of course have approximately the same potential at all contact regions 13) are located at all contact regions 13 in the transverse direction of the light strip 1 at the same position, whereas the position of the contact 14a of the conductor 4 connecting the LEDs 12 varies depending on the number of LEDs 4 between the separation point T and the contacts 5a for power supply to the unit board 2. In the present embodiment decreases with increasing number of LEDs 4 operated, the distance between the contact 14b of the continuous conductor 10 and the contact 14a of the interconnecting conductor tracks 12, ie with increasing number of separated LEDs 4, the distance between the contact 14b of the continuous decreases Conductor 10 and the contact 14a of the LEDs 4 connecting conductor 12 to.

This allows a particularly simple construction of the connecting element 15, whose circuit diagram is exemplified in FIG. 3 is shown. A contact 16 of the connecting element 15 is provided for contacting the contact 14b of the continuous conductor track 10, while the contacts 17 are provided for contacting the contacts 14a of the conductor tracks 12 connecting the LEDs 4. The elements 18 represent electronic components 18a, which are needed to close a circuit of the light strip 1. An element 18 is provided in each case for compensating for the absence of an LED 4, that is to say on the element 18 the voltage drops to the same extent as on an LED 4 used on the light strip 1. Thus, as the distance between the contacts 14a and 14b decreases as the number of cut-off LEDs 4 increases (or as the number of powered LEDs 4 decreases), the connector 15 can be made without crossing traces, which simplifies manufacturing.

The elements 18 may for example consist of individual resistors or diodes or also of arrays of such electronic components 18a. A use of resistors offers itself as a simple and cost-effective variant, if in all applications the light strip is operated with constant current, because then the voltage drop across the resistor is clearly defined. If the connecting element 15 can be operated at different currents, the more complicated use of diodes is advisable, since they always have the same voltage drop as would occur on the separated LEDs 4.

FIG. 4 shows various embodiments of a connecting element according to the invention. In FIG. 4 a is a Verbindungslement 15 shown, which is essentially of a so-called ZIF connector 19, ie, a zero force connection element 19, with a directly and firmly connected to FR4 board 20, that is constructed of an epoxy resin and glass fiber fabric board built. The connecting element 15 can be used to replace up to three separate LEDs 4, which are substituted by 3 diodes 21 as electronic components 18 a. The structure corresponds to the in FIG. 3 shown scheme. FIG. 4b shows a lot of the in FIG. 4a shown identical connection element 15, wherein now an additional (hidden in the ZiF plug 19) contact for connection to the second continuous conductor 11 of the light strip is provided. Thus, the two continuous conductor tracks 10, 11 can be continued beyond the connecting element 15 by means of the connection cable 22, for example, to be connected to further light bands 2.

Figure 4c shows a variant of in FIG. 4b shown connecting element 15, in which a housing 23, the circuit board 20, the diodes 21 and partially the ZIF connector 19 and the connecting cable 22 surrounds. The housing 23 is designed in the present embodiment as an injection molded part, which is filled for better heat dissipation with so-called seal gel, ie a heat-dissipating, electrically insulating and possibly moisture-proof mass. Other embodiments of the housing 23 are conceivable, both with regard to the shaping and the production as well as the material used, for example in the form of a potting or by applying a hot melt adhesive.

FIG. 4d shows a further embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention 15. In contrast to the in Figure 4c shown example, the board 20 is designed as a metal core board, which allows better heat dissipation from the electronic components 18a. In order to further improve the heat dissipation, the circuit board 20 is not surrounded on its underside by the housing 23 and can be connected directly to an adhesive layer 24 with a heat sink, not shown here, which serves for example for cooling the light strip 1.

Another embodiment of the connecting element is shown schematically in FIG FIG. 5 shown. Here, a plug 19 is connected as a connecting element 15 by means of a cable connection 25 with an electronic module 26 which contains the elements 18 required for closing the circuit and in turn is arranged on a cooling body 27. This design is particularly useful when high power must be dissipated because the spatial separation of the electronic module 26 of the light strip 1 its thermal load can be significantly reduced. In addition, the plug 19 at the end of the light strip 1 requires much less installation space than when an arrangement according to FIG. 4 is installed.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an inventive, not yet equipped with components strip light 1 in the overall view (bottom) and in three detailed views (above). On the back B of the luminous band 1, ie on the side facing away from the LED 4 side two continuous tracks 28, 29 are provided, which can also be used to power subsequent unit circuit boards 2. On the front side A further strip conductors 10, 11, 12 are arranged, which are provided primarily for the power supply of the LEDs. On the sides while the continuous tracks 10, 11 are provided, which can also be used to power subsequent unit circuit boards. These printed conductors 10, 11 can also be contacted by a slipped ZIF plug 19 after cutting through, while commercially available ZIF plugs offer no possibility for contacting the printed conductors 28, 29 on the underside B. In the detailed views, in each case a contact region 13 is shown which has contacts 14a of the conductor track 12 connecting the LEDs 4 and also contacts 14b of the conductor track 10. In the case of light strips according to the prior art, in particular those in which a relatively thin carrier material and relatively thick conductor tracks are used, as in the present embodiment, in which a polyimide film of 25 .mu.m thickness is arranged between copper conductor tracks of 50 .mu.m thickness, it can be cut through occur a separation point T that the two copper layers come into contact with each other, so that it can lead to a short circuit at different potential. In order to avoid this, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the lower conductor tracks 28, 29 are provided with recesses 30 in the contact region 13, so that they are spaced transversely from the overlying contacts 14a, which may have a different potential. Such a principle is applicable to all separable light bands, regardless of whether a connecting element 15 or a soldered connection are used or even no further processing takes place.

Of course, other embodiments of the invention are conceivable, in particular, the expert will be able to find a suitable practice requirements combination of the features shown in the individual embodiments without difficulty. For example, it is conceivable for the electronic components 18a to be integrated directly in a plug 19. Also, the layout of the light strips 1 as well as the connecting elements 15 can be adapted by simple means to the specifics of the applications. In particular, it is conceivable to use identical connection elements 15 for different types of light bands 1 or different connection elements 15 for identical light bands 1, which are matched to the respective intended use, for example, due to their geometry, the components 18a used or other features. As examples of this can also be the different embodiments in FIG. 4 serve, which can be used in each case with identical light bands 1.

The separation of the light strip 1 can be accomplished for example by cutting or scribing and breaking. The printed circuit board 2 can be advantageously flexible, inter alia for laying the light strip 1, even on curved surfaces ('Flexband').

As a semiconductor light source, instead of or in addition to LEDs 4, laser diodes can also be used. Instead of a ZIF plug 19, the contacting of the light strip 1 can also be done by means of other suitable connecting elements, in particular by means of another plug or a clamp connection.

Claims (10)

1. Lighting system comprising at least one connection element (15), in particular plug and/or clamping connection element (15), and also at least one luminous strip (1) having at least one strip-shaped standard printed circuit board (2), wherein the standard printed circuit board (2) is equipped with at least two semiconductor light sources (4), in particular light-emitting diodes (4), and has at least one contact region (13) arranged between at least two semiconductor light sources (4), wherein the contact region (13) is embodied such that it can be severed, and the contact region (13) and the connection element (15) are configured in such a way that, after severing of the contact region (13), the connection element (15) can be applied to the contact region (13) and at least one electric circuit on the standard printed circuit board (2) can be closed by means of the connection element (15) being applied to the contact region (13), characterized in that the arrangement of contacts (14a, 14b) in the contact region (13) is embodied in a manner dependent on the number of semiconductor light sources (4) between a current feed-in location (5a) and/or an end location (E) of the luminous strip and the contact region (13) and the position of the contacts (14a, 14b) is correlated with the number of semiconductor light sources that have been separated or have remained.
2. Lighting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one electronic component (18a) in particular at least one resistor and/or at least one diode (21), is provided for closing the at least one electric circuit.
3. Lighting system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that different electric circuits can be closed depending on the number of semiconductor light sources (4) between a current feed-in location (5a) and/or an end location (E) of the luminous strip (1) and a contact region (13).
4. Lighting system according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one contact (14b) provided for transmitting a potential that is approximately identical at a plurality of, in particular all, contact regions (13) has the same position in the transverse direction at said contact regions (13).
5. Lighting system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that as the number of semiconductor light sources (4) between a current feed-in location (5a) and/or an end location (E) of the luminous strip (1) and the contact region (13) increases, further contacts (14a) of the same contact region (13) are further away from the at least one contact (14b) provided for transmitting a potential that is approximately identical at a plurality of, in particular all, contact regions (13).
6. Lighting system according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one electronic component (18a) provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged in the region of the connection element (15), in particular within a housing (23) at least partly enclosing the connection element (15).
7. Lighting system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at least one electronic component (18a) provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged in a manner spatially separated from the connection element (15).
8. Lighting system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at least one electronic component (18a) provided for closing the at least one electric circuit is arranged on a cooling device (27), in particular a heat sink (27).
9. Lighting system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connection element (15) has at least one zero insertion force connection element (19), in particular is embodied as a zero insertion force connection element (19).
10. Lighting system according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at least two current-carrying elements (14a, 28, 29), in particular contacts (14a) and/or conductor tracks (28, 29), which are arranged in at least one contact region (13) on opposite sides (A, B) of the luminous strip (1) and can be subjected to a different potential during the operation of the luminous strip (1) are arranged in a manner spaced apart from one another transversely in the contact region (13).

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