WO2009002090A2

WO2009002090A2 - Light emitting diode module

Info

Publication number: WO2009002090A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae Sun Jang
Original assignee: Inix Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-25
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: WO2009002090A3

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) module is disclosed. The LED module includes a base (10), which has a seating groove and is provided with boss parts and extension parts, and a printed circuit board (20), which is provided on the base, and to which an LED is mounted. The LED module further includes at least one connection member (50), which has a pointed connection part and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and a transparent cover (30), which defines a hollow space therein and is coupled to the printed circuit board. A pair of depressions is formed in the transparent cover, and the extension parts of the base are fitted into the corresponding depressions. The LED module further includes a sealing member (40), which is interposed between the transparent cover and the base and has protrusion parts to cover the corresponding boss parts of the base.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title]

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE MODULE

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates, in general, to light emitting diode modules and, more particularly, to a light emitting diode module which can ensure the airtightness thereof and facilitate operation of connecting wires, such as power lines, to the module.

[Background Art]

As is well known to those skilled in the art, light emitting diodes (hereinafter, referred to simply as "LEDs") are semiconductor devices which create minority carriers (electrons or holes), injected using P-N junction structures of semiconductors, and emit light energy using recombination of the minority carriers. Compared to prior light sources, the LEDs are small and have relatively long lifetime. In addition, in the case of the LEDs, because electric energy is directly converted into light energy, light emitting efficiency is high. Such LEDs are widely used, for example, as display devices of instrument panels of vehicles, display lamps in various kinds of electronic equipment, such as light sources for optical communication, etc., numeral/character/figure display devices, illuminators, card readers, or backlights of liquid crystal displays.

Due to the above-mentioned advantages, LED modules, having at least one LED, are widely used as illuminators or various kinds of display devices. Particularly, recently, input power and output luminosity of LED modules have become markedly increased, so that fields in which the LED modules are used have been further expanded.

Such a LED module includes a printed circuit board, to which several LEDs are mounted, and a housing, which supports the printed circuit board therein. Wires, such as power lines for power supply and signal lines for controlling the LEDs, are connected to the printed circuit board.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a conventional LED module includes a printed circuit board 3, to which several LEDs are mounted, a housing 2, which supports the printed circuit board therein, and a transparent cover 1, which is provided above the LEDs 4 of the printed circuit board 3. Wires W, such as power lines or signal lines, are connected to the printed circuit board 3.

The wires W pass through the housing 2. Particularly, to prevent foreign substances or water from entering the housing 2 through the junction between the wires W and the housing 2, the wires W are integrated with the housing 2 through an injection molding process.

In order to assemble the LED module, after coverings of portions of the wires W which are disposed in the housing 2 are removed from the wires W, ends of the portions of the wires W from which the coverings are removed are connected to the printed circuit board 3 through terminals. Thereafter, the printed circuit board 3 is placed in the housing 2, and the transparent cover 1 is coupled to the housing 2, thus completing the assembly of the LED module.

Recently, to increase brightness and luminous intensity of apparatuses using LED modules or to improve display functions thereof, methods in which several LED modules are connected to each other and are arranged into various structures or shapes are widely used.

However, in the conventional LED module, because the wires W are integrated with the housing 2, a length, to which each wire W is led from the housing, is fixed. Hence, when several LED modules are connected to each other, if a distance between adjacent LED modules is longer than the lengths of the wires W that are led from the housings 2, a separate extension wire is required, thus inconveniencing a worker. Thus, there are disadvantages in that the arrangement of the LED modules cannot be freely determined, and the wiring structure thereof is complex.

In particular, in the case where several LED modules are connected to each other using separate extension wires, current leakage may occur at junctions between the wires W and the extension wires, with the result that transmission of electricity is unsatisfactory.

Furthermore, if some LED modules of the several LED modules are damaged, the operation of connecting the LED modules to each other or the wiring operation must be conducted again. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that the maintenance and repair costs are increased.

Moreover, when connecting the LED modules to each other, or when wiring, several separate working tools, such as a soldering device, a cutting device, a connecting device, etc., are required. In addition, the working time is increased. Thus, the assembly and installation costs are increased. As well, there is a disadvantage in that wiring or connection conditions are unsatisfactory. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an LED module which is constructed such that several LED modules can be connected to each other without using a separate extension wire.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an LED module which makes it possible to easily vary the arrangement of the several LED modules depending on an installation position or other installation conditions, and facilitates wiring between the LED modules.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an LED module, in which even if one or more among the several LED modules malfunction, replacement or repair thereof is very simple, and maintenance or installation work is very easy, so that the working time can be reduced and installation and maintenance costs can be markedly reduced. [Technical Solution]

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a light emitting diode module, including: a base, having at least one seating groove, into which a wire is seated, with boss parts protruding upwards from respective opposite ends of the seating groove, and extension parts radially extending outwards from outer surfaces of the respective boss parts; a printed circuit board provided above the base, with at least one LED mounted to the printed circuit board; at least one connection member electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the connection member having a connection part on a lower end thereof, the connection part having a pointed end; a transparent cover, having a hollow space defined by an inner surface of the transparent cover, the transparent cover being coupled to the printed circuit board, with a pair of depressions formed in the transparent cover, so that the extension parts of the base are fitted into the corresponding depressions; and a sealing member interposed between the transparent cover and the base, the sealing member having protrusion parts to cover the corresponding boss parts of the base, with extension parts provided on the sealing member at positions corresponding to the corresponding extension parts of the base and the corresponding depressions of the transparent cover, each of the extension parts of the sealing member, along with the corresponding extension part of the base, being fitted into the corresponding depression of the transparent cover.

Preferably, each of the boss parts of the base may comprise a first protrusion and a second protrusion. Each of the protrusion parts of the sealing member may have a bent structure. A seating hole may be vertically formed in each of the protrusion parts of the sealing member, so that the first protrusion of the base is inserted into the corresponding seating hole of the sealing member.

Furthermore, at least one through hole may be vertically formed through each of the boss parts of the base, and a lower end of the connection member may be inserted through the through hole of the boss part.

In addition, each of the boss parts of the base may have an opening, communicating with the seating groove of the base. Each of the extension parts of the sealing member may have a passing slot, communicating both with the corresponding opening of the base and with the seating groove of the base.

Each of the depressions of the transparent cover and the corresponding extension part of the base may respectively have a coupling protrusion and a coupling notch which correspond to each other.

The transparent cover may have a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion on an inner surface thereof. An edge of the printed circuit board may be fitted into the first stepped portion, and a rim of the sealing member may be fitted into the second stepped portion. [Advantageous Effects]

The present invention does not require a separate extension wire in the operation of connecting several LED modules to each other, thus facilitating the connection between the LED modules.

Furthermore, the present invention can easily vary the arrangement of the LED modules depending on an installation position or other installation conditions, and simplify the wiring between the LED modules.

In addition, even if some of the several LED modules malfunction, replacement or repair thereof is very simple. The maintenance or installation work is very easy. Therefore, the working time can be reduced and installation and maintenance costs can be markedly reduced. [Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an LED module, according to the present invention!

FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the direction of the arrow A of FIG. l;

FIG.3 is an exploded view illustrating the LED module of FIG.2;

FIG.4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a connection member according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a photograph illustrating an LED module according to a conventional technique. [Best Mode] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 5 are views illustrating an LED module according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the LED module according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base 10, which has one or more seating grooves 11, into which one or more wires W are seated, a printed circuit board 20, which is placed on the base 10, a transparent cover 30, which covers the upper surface of the printed circuit board 20, and a sealing member 40, which is interposed between the adjacent edges of the base 10 and the transparent cover 30.

The base 10 has the one or more seating grooves 11 in the upper surface thereof. Each seating groove 11 extends a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction. One or more wires W are seated into the corresponding seating grooves 11, such that the wires W cross the base 10.

Furthermore, boss parts 12 are provided on the base 10 around the respective opposite ends of the seating grooves 11. An extension part 13 radially extends outwards from the outer surface of each boss part 12. Each boss part 12 includes a first protrusion 12c and a second protrusion 12d, which form a stepped shape. One or more through holes 12a are vertically formed through the boss part 12, and an opening 12b is horizontally formed in the boss part 12. Lower ends of connection members 50 are inserted through the respective through holes 12a. The openings 12b communicate with the seating grooves 11. The wires W pass through the opening 12b and are seated into the corresponding seating grooves 11. The extension parts 13 are constructed such that the upper surfaces thereof are lower than the seating grooves 11 of the base 10. Coupling notches 13a, which have shapes corresponding to each other, are formed in the respective opposite ends of each extension part 13.

The printed circuit board 20 is placed on the base 10. One or more LEDs 21 are mounted to the printed circuit board 20. The connection members 50 are mounted at predetermined positions to the printed circuit board 20. The connection members 50 are electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 20.

Each connection member 50 is made of conductive material and includes in the lower end thereof a connection part 51 having a pointed end. The pointed connection part 51 of the connection member 50 passes through a portion of the corresponding wire W, thus connecting the wire W to the circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 20.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, each connection member 50 includes a mounting part 52 above the connection part 51. The mounting part 52 is mounted to the printed circuit board 20 by soldering or the like.

Here, the mounting part 52 is fitted into a corresponding mounting hole 22, which is formed through the printed circuit board 20, and then is soldered to the printed circuit board 20.

As such, the connection part 51 is electrically connected to the corresponding wire W, which may be such as a power line or a signal line. Due to such construction, each connection member 50 individually connects the corresponding wire W electrically to the circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 20.

The connection member 50 further includes a support part 53, which is provided between the mounting part 52 and the connection part 51 and extends in the outer circumferential direction. The support part 53 supports the lower surface of the printed circuit board 20, thus preventing the printed circuit board 20 from being damaged by thermal stress or stress concentration, which may occur around the mounting holes 22 of the printed circuit board 20.

Furthermore, insert holes 11a are vertically formed in the seating grooves 11 of the base 10, so that the lower ends of the connection parts 51 of the connection members 50 which pass through the corresponding wires W are inserted into the corresponding insert holes 11a.

The transparent cover 30 is made of transparent material and is installed on the base to cover the LEDs 21 of the printed circuit board 20.

In addition, the upper portion of the transparent cover 30 has a hemispheric shape and defines a hollow space 31 therein. A first stepped portion 32 and a second stepped portion 33 are formed in the inner surface of the transparent cover 30. The edge of the printed circuit board 20 is fitted into the first stepped portion 32. A rim 41 of the sealing member 40 is fitted into the second stepped portion 33.

A pair of depressions 34 is formed in the lower end of the sidewall of the transparent cover 30. Each depression 34 is formed at a position corresponding to the corresponding extension part 13 of the base 10. Furthermore, coupling protrusions 34a, which face each other, are provided on the respective sidewalls of each depression 34.

The sealing member 40 includes the annular rim 41 made of material, such as rubber, having high elasticity and flexibility. The rim 41 is fitted between the second stepped portion 33 of the transparent cover 30 and the edge of the base 10. Thus, the sealing member 40 airtight Iy seals the transparent cover 30 and the base 10 from the outside.

The sealing member 40 has two protrusion parts 42, which protrude upwards at positions corresponding to the respective boss parts 12 of the base 10. Each protrusion part 42 has a bent structure corresponding to the shape of the corresponding boss part 12 of the base 10, so that the protrusion part 42 is coupled to the corresponding boss part 12 of the base 10 into a shape in which the protrusion part 42 covers the boss part 12. Furthermore, a seating hole 42a is vertically formed through each protrusion part 42. Thus, when each protrusion part 42 of the sealing member 40 is coupled to the corresponding boss part 12 of the base 10, the first protrusion 12c of the boss part 12 is fitted into the seating hole 42a of the sealing member 40.

The sealing member 40 includes two extension parts 43, which radially extend outwards from the rim 41. The extension parts 43 are provided at positions corresponding to the respective extension parts 13 of the base 10. Furthermore, the extension parts 43 are disposed outside the protrusion part 42. In addition, each extension part 43 of the sealing member 40 has a through slot 43a, which extends in a horizontal direction and communicates with the seating grooves 11 and the corresponding opening 12b of the base 10.

The extension parts 43 of the sealing member 40 and the extension parts 13 of the base 10 are fitted into the corresponding depressions 34 of the transparent cover 30. The protrusion parts 42 of the sealing member 40 and the boss parts 12 of the base 10 are disposed in the hollow space 31 of the transparent cover 30. Thus, the reliability of the electric connection of the wires W and the sealing ability of the printed circuit board 20 can be enhanced. In addition, the coupling protrusions 34a of the depressions 34 are locked to the corresponding coupling notches 13a of the extension parts 13, thus further enhancing the sealing ability.

Below, the assembly of the LED module according to the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.

The sealing member 40 is coupled to the upper surface of the base 10. Here, the sealing member 40 is seated onto the base 10 such that the extension parts 13 of the base 10 correspond to the corresponding extension parts 42 of the sealing member 40. Furthermore, the protrusion parts 42 of the sealing member 40 are coupled to the corresponding boss parts 12 of the base 10. The upper portions of the boss parts 12 of the base 10 are fitted into the corresponding seating holes 42a of the sealing member 40.

Thereafter, the wires W pass through the through slots 43a of the sealing member 40 and the openings 12b of the base 10, so that the wires W are seated into the corresponding seating grooves 11 of the base 10 such that the wires W cross the base 10.

Subsequently, a required number of connection members 50 are inserted into the through holes 12a of the base 10. The printed circuit board 20 is electrically connected to the upper ends of the connection members 50. Here, the upper ends of the connection members 50 are connected to the circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 20 by soldering or the like.

The extension parts 43 of the sealing member 40 and the extension parts 13 of the base 10 are thereafter fitted into the corresponding depressions 34 of the transparent cover 30.

In such an assembled state, when a load is applied to the upper portion of the transparent cover 30, the first stepped portion 32 of the cover 30 pushes the edge of the printed circuit board 20. Thereby, the support parts 53 of the connection members 50, which are mounted to the printed circuit board 20, experience a downward pressure.

Accordingly, the connection parts 51 of the connection member 50 are inserted through the corresponding wires W, which are seated into the seating grooves 11 of the base 10. Thus, power and/or signals, which flow through the wires W, are transmitted to the printed circuit board 20.

Simultaneously, the second stepped portion 33 and the depressions 34 of the transparent cover 30 apply pressure to the rim and extension parts 43 of the sealing member 40 such that they come into close contact with each other. At this time, the coupling protrusions 34a of the transparent cover 30 are locked to the coupling notches 13a of the base 10, so that the sealing ability of the LED module can be further enhanced.

Therefore, airtightness between the transparent cover 30, the base 10 and the wires W, which pass through them, can be more reliably ensured by the pressure which is applied to the sealing member 40.

As another embodiment of the present invention, although it is not illustrated in the drawings, the upper portion of the transparent cover 30 may have a convex lens structure, thus focusing light emitted from the LEDs, or adjusting the orientation of the light.

Meanwhile, although the coupling structure of only the LED module for illumination has been illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

A light emitting diode (LED) module, comprising: a base, having at least one seating groove, into which a wire is seated, with boss parts protruding upwards from respective opposite ends of the seating groove, and extension parts radially extending outwards from outer surfaces of the respective boss parts! a printed circuit board provided above the base, with at least one LED mounted to the printed circuit board; at least one connection member electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the connection member having a connection part on a lower end thereof, the connection part having a pointed end; a transparent cover, having a hollow space defined by an inner surface of the transparent cover, the transparent cover being coupled to the printed circuit board, with a pair of depressions formed in the transparent cover, so that the extension parts of the base are fitted into the corresponding depressions; and a sealing member interposed between the transparent cover and the base, the sealing member having protrusion parts to cover the corresponding boss parts of the base, with extension parts provided on the sealing member at positions corresponding to the corresponding extension parts of the base and the corresponding depressions of the transparent cover, each of the extension parts of the sealing member, along with the corresponding extension part of the base, being fitted into the corresponding depression of the transparent cover.

[Claim 2]

The LED module according to claim 1, wherein each of the boss parts of the base comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each of the protrusion parts of the sealing member has a bent structure, and a seating hole is vertically formed in each of the protrusion parts of the sealing member, so that the first protrusion of the base is inserted into the corresponding seating hole of the sealing member.

[Claim 3]

The LED module according to claim 2, wherein at least one through hole is vertically formed through each of the boss parts of the base, and a lower end of the connection member is inserted through the through hole of the boss part .

[Claim 4]

The LED module according to claim 2, wherein each of the boss parts of the base has an opening, communicating with the seating groove of the base, and each of the extension parts of the sealing member has a passing slot, communicating both with the corresponding opening of the base and with the seating groove of the base.

[Claim 5]

The LED module according to claim 1, wherein each of the depressions of the transparent cover and the corresponding extension part of the base respectively have a coupling protrusion and a coupling notch which correspond to each other.

[Claim 6]

The LED module according to claim 1, wherein the transparent cover has a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion on an inner surface thereof, wherein an edge of the printed circuit board is fitted into the first stepped portion, and a rim of the sealing member is fitted into the second stepped portion.