Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
  • H01R13/717—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in light source
  • H01R13/7175—Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S4/00—Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources
  • F21S4/20—Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources with light sources held by or within elongate supports
  • F21S4/22—Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources with light sources held by or within elongate supports flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
  • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
  • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
  • H01R12/78—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S2/00—Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
  • F21V23/06—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being coupling devices, e.g. connectors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
  • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
  • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/465—Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/50—Bases; Cases formed as an integral body
  • H01R13/501—Bases; Cases formed as an integral body comprising an integral hinge or a frangible part
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
  • H01R13/5833—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable the cable being forced in a tortuous or curved path, e.g. knots in cable
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
  • H01R4/50—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw
  • H01R4/5066—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw mounted in an insulating housing having a cover providing clamping force

Definitions

• Connector of flat conductive ribbons especially flexible light ribbons carrying light-emitting diodes.
• the present invention relates to a flat conductor ribbon connector, including flexible light ribbons.
• Light ribbons comprising light-emitting diodes distributed over their length are already known, for example by US5337225 or US2005180162.
• the ribbon comprises round-section conductor wires embedded in a support made of polymeric material, in which the diodes are also encased.
• the light ribbons covered by the invention differ from the ribbons of the above-mentioned document in that they consist of a flexible printed circuit supporting electroluminescent diodes, usually called LEDs, with high brightness.
• the ribbon comprises an insulating support of flexible plastic material on which electrically conductive parallel tracks are formed.
• the tracks are generally coated in the plastic material which ensures their electrical insulation, but they appear locally naked in areas spaced evenly along the ribbon to allow the electrical connection of the LEDs on these tracks, or to allow the electrical connection two ribbons between them.
• the ribbon may comprise two conductive tracks for single two-way tapes, or several tracks, for example four, for multi-path systems.
• Such light ribbons one side of which may be self-adhesive for ease of application, may be used for markup, accent lighting, decoration, etc.
• these ribbons are relatively little used for reasons of complexity installation. A major difficulty comes from the fact that these ribbons are usually connected by welding, which makes their use difficult.
• Connectors have already been proposed to allow easier connection of end-to-end conductive ribbons.
• Such connectors generally use electrical connection strips comprising pointed pins which punch the conductive wires, or V-shaped pins which fit on the electrically conductive wires transversely, the pressure movement which must be exerted on the said bars causing the piercing of the insulation of the conducting wire.
• the latter systems are known essentially for flexible plies of several round conductors of round section, as described in FR2257158, US4027941, or US4415215 for example.
• the implementation of the connector requires that the two conductor elements to be connected are simultaneously present in the connector before making the connection, because said pin bars are simultaneously inserted on the ends of the conductive elements. Thus, it is generally not possible to put the connector on the end of a single ribbon, and only later connect the second ribbon on this connector.
• US7309249 discloses a similar system for connecting ribbons having flat conductive tracks.
• the V-pins of this system fit on the conductive tracks by bending them longitudinally.
• This system is only suitable if the ribbon is always placed in the same direction in the connector, namely with the non-electrically insulated side of the side of said pins. If the ribbon is placed in an inverted direction, the pin will be in contact with the insulating layer, formed by the insulating polymer support, carrying the conductive track, and the electrical contact will not be made or will be random.
• Another common disadvantage of the systems providing the electrical connection by a pin or jumper V inserting transversely on the electrical conductor is that the introduction of the ribbons in the connector and the actual electrical connection are separate operations that he must be performed successively.
• these connectors are generally not removable, or at least there is a significant risk that the driver remains marked at the point where the V-shaped pin was pressed on the driver.
• the present invention aims to solve the problems mentioned above, and aims in particular to allow easy connection of light ribbons, seamless or complex handling. It also aims to provide a reliable electrical connection, allowing the electrical connection regardless of the direction of installation of the ribbon in the connector. It thus aims to allow an easy connection of butt tape in a straight line, or to provide a connection of tapes placed at right angles, or with any angle formed between them, by using an element of intermediate ribbon forming the angle and connected to each of said straight ribbons to connect.
• the subject of the invention is a flexible flat conductive ribbon connector having a plurality of parallel conductive tracks, in particular a ribbon carrying light-emitting diodes, for connecting an end of such a ribbon to another ribbon or to a ribbon.
• the connector comprising: a flat casing extending in a general plane and adapted to receive and hold the end of said ribbon in said plane and
• each electrical connection element comprises a slot extending in said plane and adapted to pinch therein an end of a conductive track in a longitudinal direction parallel to said plane and corresponding in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon, so as to ensure by pinching an electrical contact between the connection element and said track, and the connector comprises locking means of said end of the ribbon, arranged to be implemented after insertion of the ends ribbon tracks in said slots.
• connection of the ribbon on the connector is done by inserting the end of the ribbon into the connector, in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon, until the ends of the conductive tracks s' insert electrical connection elements into the slots.
• the electrical connection then being automatically achieved by the pinching of the connection elements on the end of the ribbon at the level of the conductive tracks.
• the electrical connection elements are platelets of conductive metal which extend in a longitudinal plane and perpendicular to said general plane, and which comprise at each end two tabs which define between them said slot. It should be noted that this arrangement makes it possible to ensure the electrical contact whatever the orientation of the ribbon in the connector, despite the presence of the insulating support ribbon, since the ends of the conductive tracks are necessarily in contact with one of the tabs or with the other.
• the pads are kept inserted or overmolded in a body of the housing and the tabs protrude from each side into an insertion housing adapted to receive the end of the ribbon.
• insertion housing adapted to receive the end of the ribbon.
• slides are provided in each housing to guide the ribbon edges when it is inserted into the connector.
• the latter comprises locking means, provided for pinching and jamming the ribbon, beyond the end zones where the electrical connection is made.
• the locking means comprise baffles transverse to the longitudinal direction, which apply to the ribbon and cause it to undergo a succession of alternating bending deformations capable of blocking it.
• the baffles are formed by ribs and grooves formed respectively on the body of the housing and on a connector cover at the ribbon insertion housing.
• the cover is preferably hinged to the body by a side hinge, and locking means are provided to lock the cover on the body of the housing.
• the cover comprises a complementary rib which presses on the tabs of the plates when the lid is closed, to exert an additional pinching force of the ends of the conductive tracks between said tabs.
• the invention also relates to a system of flat light ribbons carrying electroluminescent diodes, composed of a plurality of elements ribbons connected end to end by connectors as defined above.
• the ribbon elements may be connected in alignment with each other, or at any angle, to adapt the arrangement of the ribbon system to the configuration of the medium and the environment where it is desired to place said ribbons.
• connecting elements may in particular provide specific connecting elements to form these angles, comprising a single ribbon, carrying only the conductive tracks excluding LEDs, folded on itself at any angle, and having at each end a connector according to the invention.
• the corner elements can be prepared, and during installation, simply cut the rectilinear elements of light ribbons to the desired length, at the connection pads provided on these ribbons, and insert the ends. thus cut into the connectors mounted on the corner elements.
• polarization markings are preferably provided on the housings.
• FIG. 1 is a view of a set of light strips assembled in line by connectors according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a view of a set of light strips assembled at an angle by connectors according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of a connector connected to one end of a first ribbon element and ready to receive a second one
• FIG. 4 is a view of the connector, in section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a view of detail A of FIG. 4, on an enlarged scale
• FIG. 6 shows a ribbon ready to be connected to a connector according to the invention
• FIG. 7 shows the ribbon after insertion into the connector
• FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment for connecting ribbons having four conductive tracks.
• Figures 1 and 2 show two elements of light ribbons 1 having parallel conductive tracks 10 and carrying LEDs 11 electrically connected to said tracks.
• the conductive tracks are formed, in a manner known per se, on an insulating flexible polymer support 12 and are also covered with an insulating layer 13.
• This insulating layer 13 may either be absent locally or may be removed to make the conductive tracks 10 apparent and able to connect the diodes electrically, distributed over the length of the ribbon, or to achieve the electrical connection of the tracks at the ends of the ribbon elements.
• the conductive tracks devoid of electrical insulation on one side but supported on the other by the polymer support 12, constitute electrical connection areas 14, as can be seen in particular in FIG.
• the elements of light ribbon 1 are arranged in line and connected by a simple flat ribbon 15, without LEDs, connected to the ends ribbon elements 1 by connectors 2 according to the invention.
• the ribbon elements 1 are arranged at right angles and connected by a simple flat ribbon 15 ', without LEDs, folded back on itself at the desired angle, here at 90.degree. °.
• the ribbon 15 ' can also fold the ribbon 15 'at any other angle, according to the wishes of the user.
• this connector consists of a double housing 20 comprising a body 21 extending in a general plane P1 which corresponds to the plane of the light ribbons to be connected, that is to say according to the plane of the sheet of Figure 3, and in the longitudinal direction XX of said ribbons.
• the housing comprises two covers 22, 23 one beside the other, pivotally articulated on the body by lateral hinges 29 extending along a hinge line L oriented in the longitudinal direction XX, the two covers being symmetrical with respect to a median plane P2 perpendicular to said longitudinal direction XX.
• the covers 22, 23 are clipped in the closed position on the body by engagement of a cutout 24 of the cover on a lug 25 of the body.
• the covers 22, 23 close housing 26 made in each part of the body and intended to receive the ends of the ribbons to be connected, the housing width corresponding to that of the ribbons.
• slides 27 are formed on the side walls of the housing 26 to guide the end of the ribbon during its insertion into the connector, as will be seen later.
• Electrical connection pads 3, made of conductive metal, are held in the connector, for example by inserting a central foot in a groove provided for this purpose in a wall 28 for separating two housings 21.
• the plates 3 comprise on each side, protruding in the housings 21, tabs 31 forming between them slots 32 extending in the plane Pl and whose width, between the tabs 31, corresponds substantially to the thickness at ribbon, at the electrical connection pads 14.
• the width of the slot 32 is preferably slightly smaller than said thickness of the ribbon, so that the tabs 31 exert a clamping force on the electrical connection pads 14 when the end of the ribbon is inserted into the housing 21 of the connector as far as the stop at the bottom of the slots 32.
• a complementary pinching force is generated during the closing of the covers 22, 23, by pressing the tabs 31 on the side said lid, by a boss 40 formed on the inner face of the lid.
• each plate 3 corresponds to a track 10 'of the ribbon.
• the connectors for ribbons with a number of tracks other than two or four.
• baffles formed in the housing 21, so as to deform the tight tape in said baffles, as can be seen in Figure 5, when the covers 22, 23 are closed and locked.
• These baffles may in particular comprise ribs 41 made on the inner face of the lids 22, 23, and corresponding grooves 42 formed in the bottom wall of the connector body 21.
• FIGS. 6 and 7 The introduction of a connector on the end of a ribbon element 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
• the cover 22 of the connector being open, the end 19 of the ribbon, having the non-insulated connection areas, is inserted in the housing 26 of the body 21 of the connector, in the longitudinal direction XX, the lateral edges of the ribbon being guided under the slideways 27.
• the insertion is continued until the areas of the polymeric support 12 carrying the beaches 14 are engaged between the tabs 31 of the plates 3.
• the cover 22 is then folded by pivoting along the hinge line L.
• the boss 40 presses on the tab 31 to tighten the tabs on the beaches 14, and the ribs 41 rest on the ribbon deforming it, blocking it in the grooves 42 of the connector body.
• the cover is locked on the body by engagement of the cutout 24 with the pin 25.
• the remaining free connector portion can be used thereafter to connect in the same way another ribbon element.
• the connectors carry on their cover and on the body, in the housing 26, polarization markings + and - to facilitate connections avoiding polarity errors.
• polarization markings + and - to facilitate connections avoiding polarity errors.
• FIG. 2 because of the folding of the single flat interconnection tape 15 'to form a flat angle, a polarities inversion of the conductive tracks 10 located towards the inside of the metal 'angle.
• the connector system according to the invention makes it possible to simply manage these inversions because the ends of the ribbons can be placed in the connectors without worrying about the orientation of the ribbon: FIG.
• the connector 2 shows that on one side of the angle , connected to the ribbon 1, the insulating layer 13 of the single ribbon 15 'is located on the top, and on the other side it is the support 12 of the ribbon 15' which is apparent, the conductive tracks being then on this side , below the support 12.
• the connection of the connector remains possible, because the electrical contact between the pads 14 and the pads 3 will then be via the tab 31 of the pads located towards the body of the housing 20 instead of being via the tab located towards the lid, as previously described.
• the connector 2a is then connected to the ribbon 15 'in the opposite direction of the connector 2.
• the said + and - marks make it possible to ensure, in relation to the corresponding tracks of the ribbon, that the polarities are well respected when the connector 2 is connected.
• the tracks and their positions in the connectors can be identified by pins of the RGB type - for example, as shown in Figure 8, or equivalent locations.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiment of the connector described above solely by way of example.
• the pivoting cover could be replaced by any other cover system snap on the body and to ensure the locking tape by baffle systems or equivalent locking systems.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
• Led Device Packages (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=41531559

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (14)

• 2009
  • 2009-07-02 FR FR0954554A patent/FR2947669B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-07-02 CN CN201080027557.4A patent/CN102474031B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-07-02 EP EP10742267.7A patent/EP2449636B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
  • 2010-07-02 WO PCT/IB2010/053047 patent/WO2011001411A1/fr active Application Filing
• 2012
  • 2012-06-22 HK HK12106144.8A patent/HK1165622A1/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (17)

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