GB2594158A

GB2594158A - Elongate LED lighting strip

Info

Publication number: GB2594158A
Application number: GB2105473.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Shermie
Original assignee: All Led Ltd
Current assignee: All Led Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-16
Filing date: 2021-04-16
Publication date: 2021-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-16
Also published as: GB202105473D0; GB2594158B

Abstract

An elongate LED lighting strip 2 comprises a plurality of first LEDs 4, each electrically connected to one another in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a first polarity, and a plurality of second LEDs 6, each electrically connected to one another and each of the first LEDs 4 in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. A pair of DC electrical supply ports 8, 10 are provided, each port being electrically connected to the plurality of first LEDs 4 and to the plurality of second LEDs 6, and are adapted to connect to a DC electrical power supply in the direction of the first polarity or the second polarity, such that in use only the plurality of first LEDs 4 or the plurality of second LEDs 6 are illuminated.

Description

ELONGATE LED LIGHTING STRIP

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an elongate LED lighting strip that may be used to provide lioht in one of two colours or colour temperatures. The device may have particular application, although not exclusively, in the field of industrial and domestic ig hting.

A light emitting diodes (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. However, unlike a traditional incandescent lamp, an LED will illuminate only when voltage is applied in the forward direction of the diode. No current flows through the diode, and therefore no light is emitted, if voltage is applied in the reverse direction.

Known LED lighting strips comprise a plurality of LEDs configured in parallel such that the lighting strip can be cut to the required size by a user while a complete electrical circuit is maintained. A DC electrical power supply may be applied to the electrical circuit so that the polarity of the voltage corresponds to the polarity of the LEDs, thereby causing the LEDs to illuminate.

The simplicity of such LED lighting strips contributes both to their low cost and ease of use. However, such LED lighting strips are also limited due to their simplicity in that all of the LEDs forming part of the electrical circuit will illuminate simultaneously and there is no potential to vary the colour or colour temperature of the light that is emitted.

Other own LED lighting str pr re more complex, comprising different types of LEDs more advanced electrical circuit arrangements and/or a controller that enables different sets or LEDs to be illuminated at different times. Although the increased complexity provides a greater range of functionality, there is an associated increase in cost. There may also be greater restriction on how such LED lighting strips can be cut to a particular size, for example certain elements may be connected in series.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an elongate LED lighting strip comprising: a plurality of first LEDs, each electrically connected to one another in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a first polarity; a plurality of second LEDs, each electrically connected to one another and each of the first LEDs in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; and, a first DC electrical supply port and a second DC electrical supply port, each port being electrically connected to the plurality of first LEDs and to the plurality of second LEDs, and being adapted to connect to a DC electrical power supply in the direction of the first polarity or the second polarity, such that in use only the plurality of first LEDs or the plurality of second LEDs are illuminated.

The first and second LEDs are all electrically connected to one another in parallel, However, the first LEDs are electrically connected to the second LEDs in anti-parallel, meaning that they are connected in parallel but with their respective polarities reversed. In other words, any one of the first LEDs is electrically oriented in the opposite direction to any one of the second LEDs.

This means that, when a DC electrical power supply is connected to the first and second DC electrical supply ports in the direction of the first polarity, electrical current may is flow through the plurality of first LEDs but will be blocked by the plurality of second LEDs. Conversely, when the DC electrical power supply is connected in the direction of the second polarity, electrical current may flow through the plurality of second LEDs but will be blocked by the polarity of first LEDs.

Hence, by means or the invention, light may be emitted by only the plurality of first LEDs or only the plurality of second LEDs depending on the direction in which DC electrical power is supplied to the diodes which may be determined by the end user, for example. The user is able to choose between use of two different sets of LEDs but no controller is required to determine which plurality of LEDs are illuminated in use and hence the cost of the elongate LED lighting strip may be minimised.

In embodiments of the invention the first and second LEDs may all be substantially aligned with one another and may further be positioned in an alternating order. The LEDs may therefore be aligned with one another along the length of the elongate LED lighting strip such that, in use, the eiongate LED lighting strip may emit a substantially uniform light along its length either from the plurality of first LEDs or the plurality of second LEDs.

In embodiments of the invention the elongate LED lighting strip may comprise a plurality of pairs of DC electrical supply ports. In such embodiments of the invention, the elongate LED lighting strip may be divided into two or more separate sections. Each portion may comprise at least one pair of DC electrical supply ports such that a DC electrical power may be supplied to each section independently of the other sections and optionaliy with a different polarity. The end user may therefore be provided with the ability and freedom to determine the length and size of several lighting strip sections, derived from a single elongate LED lighting strip, depending on the desired application.

In embodiments of the invention each first and second LED may be mounted to a substrate. The substrate may support each LED to ensure it remains securely connected to the electrical circuit.

In such embodiments of the invention We substrate may be flexible, rigid or may comprise regions along its length with different degrees of flexibility or rigidity. A rigid substrate may improve the ease with which the elongate LED lighting strip can be mounted to a flat surface such as a wall or ceiling. A flexible substrate may improve the ease with which the elongate LED lighting strip can be mounted to irregular objects or if the strip is required to extend around corners, for example.

The substrate may comprise a cut-line associated with the or each pair of DC electrical supply ports. The cut-line may comprise a visual marker, such as ink printed on the substrate, to mdicate an optimal location for cutting the substrate, i.e., close to a pair of DC electrical supply ports. The cut-line may comprise perforations in the substrate, a line of decreased substrate thickness or any other feature suitable for increasing the ease with which the substrate may be cut along the cut-line, in addition to providina a visual marker.

In embodiments of the invention the first LEDs may be different to the second LEDs. In some such embodiments of the invention the first LEDs may illuminate in a first colour and the second LEDs may illuminate in a second colour different to the first colour.

The elongate LED lighting strip may therefore emit one of two different colours of light despite not having a controller to determine which LEDs receive an electrical current. The elongate LED lighting strip may be considered as havina the functionality of two separate known lighting strips each with LEDs that illuminate in a different colour to the other.

In other embodiments of the invention the first LEDs may illuminate in a first colour having a first colour temperature and the second LEDs may illuminate in a second colour having a second colour temperature different to the first colour temperature.

Rather than the first and second LEDs illuminating in different colours (blue and red for example), the first and second LEDs may illuminate in different colour temperatures. For example, the first LEDs may illuminate in a warm white colour while the second LEDs may illuminate in a cool white colour. As well as providing greater functionality to the end user, an elongate LED lighting strip able to emit light in different colour temperatures, or different colours" reduces space used throughout the supply chain and hence reduces the associated carbon footprint. It also allows stockists of electrical/lighting goods to stock one product rather than two Id hence reduce stock holding requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an elongate LED lighting strip according to an embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the elongate LED lighting strip shown in Figure 1 having been divided into two pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figure 1, an elongate lighting strip 2 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of first LEDs 4, a plurality of second LEDs 6 and three pairs of DC electrical supply ports 8, 10 The plurality of first LEDs 4 and the plurality of second LEDs 6 are each electrically connected to one another in parallel. However, the plurality of first LEDs 4 are electrically oriented in the direction of a first polarity while the plurality of second LEDs 6 are electrically oriented in the direction of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, Each pair of DC electrical supply ports comprises a first DC electrical supply ports 8 and a second DC electrical supply port 10, Each DC electrical supply port 8, 10 is electrically connected to the plurality of first LEDs and to the plurality of second LEDs, and each pair of DC electrical supply ports 3, 10 is adapted to connect to a DC electrical power supply (not shown) in the direction of the first polarity or the second polarity.

When a DC electrical power supply is connected to a pair of DC electrical supply ports 3, 10 in the direction of the first polarity, electrical current may flow through the plurality of first LEDs 4 but will be blocked by the plurality of second LEDs 6.

Conversely, when the DC electrical power supply is connected in the direction of the second polarity, electrical current may flow through the plurality of second LEDs 6 but will be blocked by the polarity of first LEDs 4.

Hence, in use, only the plurality of first LEDs 4 or only the plurality of second LEDs 6 are illuminated depending on the direction that the DC electrical power is supplied.

The first and second LEDs 4, 6 are all substantially aligned with one another along the length of the elongate LED lighting strip 2 in an alternating order. This means that, in use when either the plurality of first LEDs 4 or the plurality of second LEDs 6 are illuminated, the light emitted by the elongate LED lighting strip 2 is substantially uniform and consistent along the length of the strip.

Each of the first and second LEDs 4, 6 are mounted to a substrate 12. The substrate 12 may be rigid or flexible or may have both rigid and flexible regions along its length.

The substrate 12 comprises a cut-line 14 associated with each pair of DC electrical supply points. Each cut-line 14 indicates an optimal location at which the substrate 12 may be cut, with a sharp knife or scissors for example, to divide the elongate LED lighting strip 2 into two sections, as shown in Figure 2. Each cut-line 14 may also be adapted to facilitate a user to more readily divide the elongate LED lighting strip 2.

The elongate LED lighting strip 2 may therefore be manipulated and/or reduced in size as required for a particular application.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, each DC electrical supply port 8, 10 comprises a solder point adapted to facilitate the soldering of a wire to the elongate LED lighting strip so that it is electrically connected to the first and second LEDs 4, 6 to enable supply of DC electrical power.

In such embodiments of the invention, each cut-line 14 may represent a centreline through a pair of solder points such that cutting the substrate along the cut-line divides each solder point into two smaller solder points, as demonstrated in Figure 2. This means there will be at least one pair of solder points in each section of the elongate LED lighting strip so that each section can be supplied with DC electrical power.

Although the cut-lines represent an optimal location to cut the elongate LED lighting strip 2, an end user is not restricted to cutting the elongate lighting strip 2 at these locations only. By virtue of the first and second LEDs all being connected to one another in parallel, the elongate LED lighting strip 2 can be cut to any length cornpris ci at least one pair of DC electrical supply ports and be operable.

The first LEDs 4 are different to the second LEDs 6. In ernbod m nts of the invention the first LEDs 4 may illuminate in a first colour that may be any suitable colour and the second LEDs 6 may illuminate in a second colour that is any suitable colour different to the first colour. For example, the first LEDs 4 may illuminate in a blue colour while the second LEDs 6 may illuminate in a red colour. In other words, in use, the first LEDs 4 emit a blue light while the second LEDs 6 emit a red light.

In other embodiments of the invention, the first LEDs 4 may iminate in a first colour having a first colour temperature and the second LEDs 6 may illuminate in a second colour having a second colour temperature different to the first colour temperature. The first and second colours and associated colour temperatures may be any suitable colours and colour temperatures wherein the two colour temperatures are different. For example, the first LEDs 4 may illuminate with a warm white colour while the second LEDs 6 may illuminate with a cool white colour.

The elongate LED lighting strip 2 is therefore a single product that allows a user to provide emission of light in one of two distinct colours and/or colour temperatures without requiring a controller. This reduces the complexity of the elongate LED lighting strip 2 and improves the ease of manufacturing it in comparison to known lighting strips that have similar functionality but require a controller to switch between lighting modes. It also saves space throughout the supply chain in comparison to the alternative solution of two separate LED lighting strips and therefore reduces carbon footprint throughout the supply chain.

An electrical store, wholesaler or end customer would have the ability to stock one LED lighting strip that can provide light in one of two colours and/or colour temperatures without having to use any controller at all. Hence stock holding requirements could be reduced without having to pay greater costs for more complex lighting strips that comprise a controller.

Similarly, an end user may purchase an elongate LED lighting strip 2 at low cost, due to the lack of controller, and apply the product in one of two variations merely by adjusting the direction in which DC electrical power is supplied to the LEDs. If one of more of the LEDs being used were to fail, the end user may also have the option to reverse the direction of DC electrical power supplied in order to use the other, previously unused albeit differently coloured, plurality of LEDs,

Claims

CLAIMS1. An elongate LED lighting strip comprising: a plurality of first LEDs, each electrically connected to one another in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a first polarity; a plurality of second LEDs, each electrically connected to one another and each of the first LEDs in parallel and electrically oriented in the direction of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; and, a pair of DC electrical supply ports, each port being electrically connected to the plurality of first LEDs and to the plurality of second LEDs, and being adapted to connect to a DC electrical power supply in the direction of the first polarity or the second polarity, such that in use only the plurality of first LEDs or the plurality of second LEDs are illuminated.is 2. An elongate LED lighting strip according to claim 1, wherein the first and second LEDs are all substantially aligned with one another.3. An elongate LED lighting strip according to claim 2, wherein the first and second LEDs are positioned in an alternating order.4. An elongate LED lighting strip according to any preceding clairn, further cornprisino a plurality of pairs of DC electrical supply ports.a. An elongate LED lighting strip according to any preceding claim, wherein each first and second LED is mounted to a substrate.6. An elongate LED lighting strip according to claim 5" wherein the substrate comprises a cut-line associated with the or each pair of DC electrical supply ports.7. An elongate LED lighting strip according to any preceding claim, wherein the first LEDs are different to the second LEDs.8. An elongate LED lighting strip according claim 7, wherein the first LEDs illuminate in a first colour and the second LEDs illuminate in a second colour different to the first colour.9. An elongate LED lighting strip according claim 7, wherein the first LEDs illuminate in a first colour having a first colour temperature and the second LEDs illuminate in a second colour having a second colour temperature different to the flrs colour temperature.