RU2803649C1 - Installation electrical diagram pcb for planar led strips - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention is related to manufacturing blocks of electrical equipment elements, namely to structural elements for connecting boards with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for lighting units. The result is achieved in that the light emitting diode (LED) strip assembly contains the first LED board and the second LED board, which include: a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with the first side and the second side opposite the first side of the PCB substrate, a plurality of LEDs disposed on the first side of the PCB substrate, an end portion, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outwardly from a second side of the PCB substrate and is compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the PCB substrate; and a backplane that includes the third PCB substrate having a first region and a second region, the third PCB substrate including: a plurality of first electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate, and a plurality of second electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the substrate of the third PCB and in a second region of the substrate of the third PCB, wherein each first electrically conductive pad is electrically connected to at least one of the second electrically conductive pads via an electrically conductive connection board track, and an end portion of the first board with the LED is located near an end portion of the second LED board, the first side of the third PCB substrate faces the second side of the first LED board and the second side of the second LED board, each compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive pads, and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the plurality of second electrically conductive pads.

EFFECT: provision of a low-profile electrical connection while maintaining the location of the LEDs in the same plane along the LED boards.

20 cl, 9 dwg

Description

INCLUDED BY REFERENCE

[0001] The PCT Request Form is filed concurrently with this specification as part of this application. Each application for which this application claims benefit or priority as set forth in a contemporaneously filed PCT request form is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

PREREQUISITES FOR CREATION OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used as a part of the assembly that provides a lighting and illumination effect to the device. LEDs can be placed on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and connected together. In some applications, multiple LED PCBs with electrical pass-through capability may be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] New techniques and devices are described herein to improve the configuration and design of interconnect assemblies between LED boards.

[0004] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the invention is provided in the following accompanying graphics and description. Other features, aspects and advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims. The following non-limiting embodiments are considered part of the specification; other embodiments will also be apparent from the description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0005] In some embodiments, a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting strip assembly may be provided that includes an LED board, a second LED board, and an interconnect board. The first LED board may include a first printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the first PCB substrate, a plurality of LEDs disposed on a first side of the first PCB substrate, each LED emitting light from a first side of the first board. with an LED, as well as an end portion and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outwardly from a second side of the substrate of the first PCB. Likewise, the second LED board may include a second PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate, a plurality of LEDs disposed on a first side of the second PCB substrate, each LED emitting light from the first side of the second LED board. , as well as an end portion and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outwardly from a second side of the second PCB substrate. The backplane may include a third PCB substrate having first and second regions. The third PCB substrate may include a plurality of first electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and a first region of the third PCB substrate, and a plurality of second electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and a second region of the third PCB substrate; each first electrically conductive plate may be electrically coupled to at least one of the second electrically conductive plates via an electrically conductive backplane track. In such embodiments, an end portion of the first LED board may be proximate to an end portion of the second LED board, wherein a first side of the third PCB substrate may face a second side of the first LED board and a second side of the second LED board, each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board. with an LED may be in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates, wherein each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board may be in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of a plurality of second electrically conductive plates, and the height of the LED lighting strip assembly if each compressible an electrically conductive element of the first LED board is pressed into electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates, and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is pressed into electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive plates, may be substantially equal to the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the third PCB the connecting board and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

[0006] In some embodiments, the compressible electrically conductive elements may be spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the plurality of first electrically conductive plates and the plurality of second electrically conductive plates may be at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the LED board , in which a spring contact is installed.

[0007] In any of the embodiments described above, each of the compressible electrically conductive elements may extend at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board.

[0008] In any of the embodiments described above, the assembly may further include at least one first hole located in a first substrate region of the third backplane PCB, at least one second hole located in a second substrate region of the third backplane PCB, at least one hole located in the first LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane, and at least one hole located in the second LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second area of the substrate of the third PCB backplane.

[0009] In any of the embodiments described above, the height of the LED lighting strip assembly may be less than about 5.5 mm.

[0010] In any of the embodiments described above, each compressible electrically conductive element may be a spring-loaded contact.

[0011] In any of the embodiments described above, the width of the end portion of the first LED board and the end width of the second LED board may be less than about 12 mm.

[0012] In any of the embodiments described above, the LEDs in each plurality of LEDs may be spaced apart (center to center) by a distance of about 12 mm or less.

[0013] In some embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB) interconnect may be provided that includes a first board having a first PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the first PCB substrate, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from the second side of the substrate of the first PP. The assembly may also include a second board having a second PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements each extending outwardly from a second side of the second PCB substrate. The assembly may further include a backplane that includes a third PCB substrate having first and second regions, the third PCB substrate including a plurality of first electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate. , and a plurality of second electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a second region of the third PCB substrate; each first electrically conductive plate may be electrically coupled to at least one of the second electrically conductive plates via an electrically conductive backplane track. In such embodiments, each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board may be in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates, each compressible electrically conductive element of the second board may be in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of a plurality of second electrically conductive plates, and the height of the connection assembly is PP, when each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board is pressed into electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates, and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second circuit board is pressed into electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive plates, is substantially approximately equal to the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the third PCB interconnect board and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

[0014] In some such embodiments, the compressible electrically conductive elements may be spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the plurality of first electrically conductive plates and the plurality of second electrically conductive plates may be at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the board, in which a spring contact is installed.

[0015] In any of the embodiments described above, each of the compressible electrically conductive elements may extend at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first board or the second board.

[0016] In any of the embodiments described above, the assembly may further include at least one first hole located in a first substrate region of the third backplane PCB, at least one second hole located in a second substrate region of the third backplane PCB, at least one hole located in the first board and aligned with at least one hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane, and at least one hole located in the second board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane.

[0017] In any of the embodiments described above, the height of the PCB connector assembly may be less than about 5.5 mm.

[0018] In any of the embodiments described above, each compressible electrically conductive element may be a spring-loaded contact.

[0019] In any of the embodiments described above, the width of the first board and the width of the second board may be less than about 12 mm.

[0020] Some embodiments provide a method for assembling an LED-based lighting strip assembly. The method may include placing a backplane having a first printed circuit board (PCB) substrate on a support structure; the substrate of the first PCB may have first electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the substrate of the first PCB in a first region of the substrate of the first PCB, and second electrically conductive plates disposed on the first side of the substrate of the first PCB in a second region of the substrate of the first PCB, and the first electrically conductive plate may be electrically connected with the second electrically conductive plate using the electrically conductive track of the connection board. The method may further include placing a first LED board having a second PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on a first side thereof such that a second side of the second PCB substrate opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate is adjacent to the first side of the first PCB substrate. connection board such that a first compressible electrically conductive member extending outwardly from a second side of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive plate, placing a second LED board having a third PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on the first one side such that a second side of the substrate of the third PCB, opposite the first side of the substrate of the third PCB, is adjacent to the first side of the substrate of the first PCB and such that a second compressible electrically conductive element extending outward from the second side of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a second electrically conductive plate, and applying one or more compressive forces to the first LED board and the second LED board to mechanically connect the first LED board and the second LED board to at least one of the connecting board or support structure.

[0021] In some embodiments of the method, the first and second compressible electrically conductive elements may be spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the first electrically conductive plate and the second electrically conductive plate may be at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the board with LED, in which a spring contact is installed.

[0022] In any of the above-described method embodiments, the first and second compressible electrically conductive elements extend at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board. In any of the above-described method embodiments, one or more LEDs of the first LED board and one or more LEDs of the second LED board are spaced apart (center to center) by a distance of about 12 mm or less. In any of the above embodiments of the method, the height of the LED-based lighting strip assembly if the first compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive plate, and the second compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the second electrically conductive plate , is substantially approximately equal to the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the first PCB backplane and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

[0023] It should be understood that all combinations of the above concepts and additional concepts described in more detail below (provided that such concepts are not mutually contradictory) are considered part of the subject matter described herein and/or can be combined to achieve special advantages special aspects. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this specification are considered part of the subject matter described herein.

[0024] These and other features of the described embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the corresponding drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC MATERIALS

[0025] Various embodiments described herein are shown by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals refer to like elements.

[0026] In FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portion of a lighting assembly as described herein.

[0027] In FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of a connecting assembly as described herein.

[0028] In FIG. 3 is a view of a connection board used in a connection assembly as described herein.

[0029] In FIG. 4 is an assembled view of a portion of a lighting assembly as described herein.

[0030] In FIG. Figure 5 shows a view of assembled LED boards connected to each other.

[0031] In FIG. 6 is a view of one side of the curved LED board.

[0032] In FIG. 7 is a view of the other side of the curved LED board.

[0033] In FIG. 8 is a view of the lighting assembly as described herein.

[0034] In FIG. 9 shows a view of a compressible electrically conductive element.

[0035] In FIG. 1-7 and 9 show the scales within each figure, however the scale may vary depending on the figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the following description, many specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of the presented embodiments. The embodiments described herein may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other cases, well-known technological steps are not described in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of the described embodiments. Although the described embodiments will be further described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it should be understood that the specific embodiments are not intended to be limiting to the described embodiments.

[0037] The present description refers to the connection diagram of the light panel. A plurality of straight or curved long narrow rigid LED linear array printed circuit boards (hereinafter referred to as "LED boards") can be used as part of a lighting assembly and electrically connected to each other in a through-hole manner. Such LED boards can be used to provide peripheral lighting, such as a surface adjacent to and perpendicular to the LED boards, or a light diffuser for an interior backlight.

[0038] To improve the visual aesthetics and uniformity of illumination provided by the LEDs, all LEDs may be located in the same plane. The LED board assembly may also have a low profile, such as less than 7 mm or less than about 5.5 mm of an overall height in a direction perpendicular to the board, and an overall width of less than 11 mm along one dimension. This small LED board profile may be advantageous for use in thin or low profile lighting assemblies to reduce the area of the assembly and/or reduce the frame/seam volume of the lighting assembly. Such LED board assemblies can be manufactured as one continuous circuit board, but this may not be cost effective for larger LED boards that follow curved paths. For example, a U-shaped PP strip measuring 2 feet on the side and 1 cm wide can use a 2 foot square sheet of PP to make a solid part, and in some cases 99% of the material can be cut off to produce a finished part. Thus, the LED board assembly can be composed of smaller PCBs that can be connected in an end-to-end manner to provide the desired end PCB layout. This allows for more efficient production, easier repairs and more compact transport.

[0039] Various off-the-shelf (COTS) and other wiring arrangements have been considered for inter-LED board connections, but none provide the preferred tolerances, current carrying capacity, compactness, and ease of assembly required. The new connection between each pair of adjacent LED boards was designed to satisfy these aspects.

[0040] Various embodiments of a connection assembly for LED lighting strips are described herein. Each node includes a connection and two LED boards. The connection includes one backplane, i.e. a printed circuit board, which is placed under adjacent LED boards, i.e. on the side of the LED boards opposite to the side in which the LEDs are installed, and provides an electrical connection between them through open electrical contact plates facing the LED boards. The connection also uses a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, such as spring-loaded contacts or spring connectors, to connect the LED boards to the electrical plates of the backplane. Some implementations use spring-loaded contacts sized to not block the light emitted by the LEDs while still meeting the desired vertical height profile. The LED boards and backplane may be secured by aligned holes in each board such that a fastener can be used to connect the LED board and backplane to a supporting structure, such as a housing, frame, or other rigid component. Moreover, the mutual connection can be designed to carry large currents, i.e. greater than 4 amperes by providing a plurality of compressible electrically conductive members electrically coupled to each other within the LED board and corresponding electrical plates electrically coupled to each other within the interconnect board.

[0041] Such interconnect assemblies simplify manufacturing and assembly, as well as replacement of parts, since the interconnects can be created by simply stacking LED boards on top of the interconnect board. Such connections can provide a minimum distance between LEDs (ie, approximately 12 mm center to center or less) without disrupting the lighting structure. The connections can also resolve board-to-board misalignments in the x, y, and theta-z axes without compromising performance.

[0042] In FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an example of an interconnected LED board assembly 166 having a plurality of interconnect assemblies 100 in accordance with some embodiments. As described above, multiple boards with LEDs 128 can be used as part of a lighting assembly in cases where the manufacture of one PCB for the entire lighting assembly is impractical. In such cases, interconnect assembly 100 may be used to connect two adjacent smaller LED boards 128 using interconnect board 102. Interconnect assembly 100 may be attached to support structure 150. Attaching interconnect assembly 100 to support structure 150 may be advantageous to provide a specific design or structure of the connecting node 100, which may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. When connecting three or more LED boards 128, a plurality of connector nodes 100 can be used. Typically, when there are multiple LED boards connected together in a chain, connector nodes N-1 can be used. Each connector assembly 100 connects adjacent boards in series with an LED 128. Each connector assembly 100 includes two adjacent boards with an LED 128 and a connector board 102. For example, in FIG. 1 shows seven LED boards 128 and six interconnect boards 102 that form six interconnect assemblies 100.

[0043] In FIG. 2 is a close-up exploded view of the components of the connector device 100. The connector assembly 100 may include a connector board 102, a first LED board 130 of an LED board 128, and a second LED board 132 of an LED board 128. In some embodiments, the The LED 128 that is the first LED board 130 of one connector node may be the first LED board 130 or the second LED board 132 of another connector node 100, and vice versa. The designation of the LED board 128 as a first LED board 130 or a second LED board 132 is for illustrative purposes only in this specification.

[0044] Each of the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132 may have one and/or multiple LEDs 136 arranged along their length, which may be electrically coupled to each other or to an integrated circuit LED driver 138. In some embodiments, the LED 136 may have a center-to-center distance of approximately 12 mm. In some embodiments, due to the connection configuration, the same center-to-center distance can be maintained at the junctions between LED boards 128. In such embodiments, the LED 136 on the first LED board 130 can be 12 mm center-to-center from the nearest LED. 136 on the second LED board 132. This may be desirable to ensure uniform light distribution to an outside observer.

[0045] Both the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132 may also have one or more LED drivers 138. In some embodiments, the LED drivers 138 may be absent or located remotely from the LED boards. Each LED driver 138 may be electrically coupled to and control at least one LED 136. In some implementations, each LED driver 138 may drive four LEDs 136. In other implementations, each LED driver 138 may drive one LED 136, two LEDs 136, three LEDs 136, or four LEDs 136 or more. The LED driver 138 may be placed on the board with the LED 128 in a position as close as possible to the LEDs 136 that it controls. In some implementations, if LED driver 138 drives four sequential LEDs 136 along a board containing LED 128, it may be positioned between LEDs 136 such that two of the LEDs 136 it drives are on each side of LED driver 138. The placement of LED drivers 138 may be selected so that they do not block the distance between them and the light from the LED 136.

[0046] In embodiments in which the LEDs 136 and LED drivers 138 are arranged as described above, the boards with the LEDs 128 may have limited space for other components or elements, such as compressible electrically conductive elements or holes. In some implementations, this limits the connection assembly between the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132. For example, in embodiments in which the LEDs 136 may be spaced approximately 12 mm center to center and the LED drivers 138 may be located between every fourth and fifth LED 136, the LED boards 128 may have limited space for connecting compressible electrically conductive elements to the LED boards 128 and holes for attaching the LED boards 128 to the supporting structure.

[0047] One or more spring connectors 134 may be located at end portions 144 of the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132. The spring connectors 134 or compressible conductive members are electrical connectors electrically coupled to the LEDs 136 and/or drivers. LEDs 138 that may provide a spring-loaded electrical connection including an electrical contact that may be movable along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the board with LED 128; the movable portion of the electrical connectors may be biased, for example, by using a spring or other resilient component to move the movable portion or resilient component toward the backplane 102. Although the present embodiment is described with reference to LED 136 and/or LED drivers 138 for boards with LED 128, such components may be omitted and/or other components such as transducers, acoustic elements, etc. may be used instead. In some embodiments, the spring connectors 134 may be spring contacts, which, as the name suggests, are electrical contacts with a spring-loaded plunger movable along an axis perpendicular to the PCB in which such electrical contacts are mounted. The spring connectors 134 are substantially operative to be electrically coupled to the first conductive plates 106 or the second conductive plates 114 on the interconnect board 102.

[0048] The spring connectors 134 are coupled to the conductive plates 106, 114 by a mechanical force that causes a portion of the spring connectors 134 to movably contact the conductive plates 106, 114. In some embodiments, the spring connectors 134 are advantageous because a spring or other elastic the deformable component allows misalignment between the interconnect board 102 and one of the LED boards 128 while maintaining an electrical connection between them. In some embodiments, such misalignment may include inaccurate distance between the conductive plates of adjacent LED boards (offset in the x-axis direction; this may be caused by a change in the gap between adjacent ends of two LED boards), inaccurate alignment between the longitudinal center lines of adjacent LED boards, LEDs that may still be parallel (misalignment in the y-axis direction; this may also be caused by lateral misalignments between the ends of two LED boards), and imprecise alignment between the longitudinal center lines of adjacent LED boards, hence they are not parallel, a are located at an angle to each other (displacement along the theta-z axis).

[0049] The spring connectors and conductive plates may be sized to provide the above displacement while maintaining electrical connection. For example, in some embodiments, the size of the conductive plates may be such that, under any connection assembly tolerance conditions, the worst case centerline of the corresponding spring connector for each conductive plate can be at least 0.25 mm from the edge of the corresponding conductive plate, thereby thereby creating a potential contact area of 0.5 mm in diameter (spring connectors such as spring contacts can often have a hemispherical or domed tip, resulting in a theoretical "zero" contact area (assuming the tip is a perfect hemisphere and the conductive plate represents is an ideal plane), although various factors such as imperfect machining, material deformation, etc. tend to result in a larger contact area than zero, or such a larger contact area may be achieved intentionally for conductivity purposes). With conductor plates measuring 2.5mm on the side, an offset of up to 2mm between adjacent LED boards is acceptable. It should be understood that other dimension values may be used instead depending on the desired offset tolerances, and the above example is only one possible scenario. In some embodiments, the conductive plates may be sized to fit within a circle that is at least 2.75 times the diameter, such as 2.75 to 4 times the diameter of the spring contact plunger or other spring connector used.

[0050] In some embodiments, the connecting node 100 allows varying degrees of displacement. In some embodiments, the connecting assembly 100 may tolerate displacement in the x- and/or y-axis direction of less than ±0.5 mm, ±0.4 mm, ±0.3 mm, ±0.2 mm, and/or less than ±0.1 mm. In some embodiments, the connecting assembly 100 may tolerate movement in the z-axis direction of less than 0.1 mm and/or less than 0.2 mm.

[0051] In some embodiments, the spring connector 134 may extend from the surface of the LED board 128 facing the backplane 102 by at least about 0.9 mm. If the interconnect board 102 and the LED board 128 are offset so that there is no more than 0.2 mm of space between them at any given position between the two boards (which may occur due to rotation of one board relative to the other or loosening of the fastener connecting them each other, in addition to the above offset), the spring connector 134 can still maintain electrical contact with the corresponding conductive plates 106, 114 on the connection board 102. Thus, the spring connectors 134 increase the tolerances of the connection assembly 100 and allow increased tolerances for the production of various 100 connection components.

[0052] In the embodiment described herein, the LED boards 128 are connected via a backplane 102 that has conductor plates 106, 114 coupled to spring connectors 134 of the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132. In some embodiments implementation, the backplane 102 includes a first region 104 and a second region 112, wherein the first region 104 has a first plurality of conductive plates 106 and the second region 112 has a second plurality of conductive plates 114. Each conductive plate of the first plurality of conductive plates 106 is connected to a corresponding one of the spring connectors 134 of the first LED board 130. Likewise, each conductor plate of the first plurality of conductor plates 114 is connected to a corresponding one of the spring connectors 134 of the first LED board 132.

[0053] Each conductive plate of the first plurality of conductive plates 106 is electrically coupled via a conductive path of the backplane 102 to at least one of the conductive plates of the second plurality of conductive plates 114. In other embodiments, the first plurality of conductive plates 106 and the second plurality of conductive plates 114 may represent is a single continuous conductive plate or other electrically conductive configuration that may be suitable for conducting electricity from one portion of the backplane 102 to another portion of the backplane 102. FIG. 3 is a view of backplane 102 showing traces 108. In some embodiments, two of the conductor plates of the first set of conductor plates 106 are connected to two of the conductor plates of the second set of conductor plates 114. This may be advantageous to increase the amperage that may pass through tracks 108, conductor plates 106, 114, and spring connectors 134, and which in some embodiments may exceed 4 amps. For example, in some embodiments, spring connectors 134 may not be rated at 4 amps or rated at least 2 amps and less than 4 amps.

[0054] In such embodiments, parallel use of two or more spring connectors 134 allows the amperage to be shared, helping each spring connector 134 conduct less than 4 amps, thereby reducing the likelihood of failure of any spring connector 134. Parallel use of spring connectors in some embodiments implementations can also provide redundancy to improve reliability. The tracks between each conductive plate can be of different sizes and shapes or made of different materials. In some embodiments, traces designed to carry 4 amps of current (or more) will be thicker or wider than tracks that will carry less than 4 amps of current. In some embodiments, traces that will carry high current, such as greater than 4 amps, may use copper planes on one or more layers of the backplane PCB.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive plates and tracks in the first region 104 and the second region 112 are symmetrical about a line of symmetry between the first region 104 and the second region 112. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, a plurality of conductive plates 106, 114 and tracks 108 may be asymmetrical. The conductor plates 106, 114 and tracks 108 may be arranged in any design that allows the interconnect board 102 to electrically connect two boards to the LED 128 as described herein.

[0056] In some embodiments, the backplane 102 has a thickness 124 of less than 1.6 mm. This may be advantageous to minimize the overall thickness of the interconnect assembly 100. In some embodiments, the interconnect board 102 has a width 126 of less than 10.5 mm. It may be preferable for the backplane to be placed in the lighting assembly as described herein.

[0057] Returning to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, each of the conductive plates 106, 114 is sized to allow easy connection to the spring connectors 134 of the first and second LED boards 130, 132. The conductive plates 106, 114 are shown in FIG. 2 are square, but may also be rectangular, circular, pentagonal, or any other shape that facilitates electrical connection to the spring connector 134 and allows some movement between the spring connectors 134 and the conductive plates 106, 114. In some embodiments, the conductive plates 106, 114 may have a diameter (or equivalent perpendicular dimensions) of at least 2.5 mm. This may allow the conductive plates 106, 114 to maintain electrical connection to the spring connectors 134 of the LED boards 128 without precise positioning.

[0058] In some embodiments, the size of the conductive plates 106, 114 is selected based on a manufacturing tolerance range and the arrangement of the backplane 102 and LED boards 128 such that the LED boards 128 and backplane 102 can maintain an electrical connection between each conductor plate 106, 114 and corresponding spring connector 134 within the tolerance range. In some embodiments, this tolerance range may be less than about 1 mm between the backplane 102 and either the first LED board 130 or the second LED board 132 in a direction parallel to the surface of the backplane 102. In some embodiments, the tip of the spring connector contacting the conductive plate, may have a contact area with a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm. In such embodiments, the center contact point of the spring connector 134 may be offset from the center of its corresponding conductive plate 106, 114 by up to about 1 mm and still have the entire contact area of the tip of the spring connector in contact with the conductive plate 106, 114. In some embodiments implementation, the diameter (or equivalent perpendicular dimensions) may be at least about 5 times larger, at least about 4 times larger, at least about 3 times larger, or at least about 2 times larger than the diameter of the contact area of the spring connector 134. For example, if the spring connectors 134 have a contact area diameter of approximately 0.5 mm, the conductive plates 106, 114 may have a diameter of at least 2.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 1.5 mm, or 1.0 mm.

[0059] In some embodiments, the backplane 102 has at least one mounting hole 120. In some embodiments, the mounting hole 120 may be sized to accommodate a sleeve 154 (not shown in FIG. 2) protruding from the support structure 150 to which the backplane 102 may be attached. In some embodiments, the mounting hole 120 may be smaller in size than the bushing 154 such that the backplane 102 rests on the top of the bushing 154 (or in an alternative embodiment, the mounting threaded hole may simply be provided in the member without using bushing 154). In some embodiments, a mounting hole 120 may be present in the first area 104 and in the second area 112, and in other embodiments, there may be only one single mounting hole 120 located in any area 104, 112. In some embodiments, mounting holes 120 may be absent . In such embodiments, the backplane 102 may be attached to the support structure 150 by another mechanism, such as a clamp that is placed on top of the LED cards and/or backplane 102, or by an adhesive.

[0060] In some embodiments, the backplane 102 has at least one mounting hole 118. The mounting hole 118 may be smaller than the mounting hole 120 and may be used to circumferentially install a stud 152 protruding from the support structure 150. The size of the mounting hole 118 may be slightly larger than the stud 152 for easier placement around the stud 152 while minimizing movement of the backplane 102 along a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the stud 152. In some embodiments, a mounting hole may be present in both the first region 104 and the second region 112 118, and in other embodiments there may be only one mounting hole 118 located in any one area 104, 112. In some embodiments, mounting holes 118 may be absent. In such embodiments, the backplane 102 may suitably be positioned by another mechanism, such as the recess 158 shown in FIG. 1, the backplane 102 is positioned such that the dimensions of the recess 158 and the LED cards 128 located above the backplane 102 in the backplane assembly 100 prevent movement of the backplane 102. In some embodiments, the position of the backplane 102 is secured with adhesive.

[0061] Similar to the backplane 102, the first LED board 130 and the second LED board 132 may also have at least one mounting hole 142 and/or at least one mounting hole 140. The mounting hole 142 of the first or second LED board may be located around the stud 152 and be aligned with the mounting hole 118 in the backplane 102. In some embodiments, the mounting hole 142 may have a different shape, such as a groove that is larger than the stud 152 and therefore can be positioned around the stud 152 without restricting the movement of the backplane 102 in the x and/or y axis direction. Although the mounting hole 120 in the backplane 102 may be slightly larger than the bushing 154 of the support structure 150, the mounting hole 140 in any of the LED cards may be smaller than the mounting hole 120. However, in some embodiments, the mounting hole 120 may be the same size , as the mounting hole 140, so that the sleeve 154 will not fit through both holes. Instead, the fastening holes 118, 140 may be sized to allow the body of the fastener 156 to pass through while not allowing the head of the fastener 156 to pass through.

[0062] In some embodiments, mounting holes 142, mounting holes 140, mounting hole 118, and mounting hole 120 may be located along the longitudinal centerline of each of the LED boards and the interconnect board. In other embodiments, one or more holes may be located off the longitudinal centerline. Off-center hole placement can simplify assembly since there can only be one correct orientation for positioning the LED and interconnect boards.

[0063] When the connector assembly 100 is assembled, the fastener 156 slides the LED boards 128 and the connector board 102 together, allowing the spring connectors 134 to contact the conductor plates 106, 114. Thus, between the spring connectors 134 of the first LED board 130 and the spring connectors 134 of the second LED board 132, an electrical circuit is formed by a first plurality of conductive plates 106, a second plurality of conductive plates 114, and conductive paths 108 therebetween in the interconnect board 102. In some embodiments, if the LED boards 128 are not properly aligned, the spring connectors 134 may support electrical connection due to a spring or other movable part extending from the spring connector 134 outward to the interconnect board 102, and due to the large size of the conductive plates 106, 114 on the interconnect board 102. Significant movement is tolerated because each spring connector 134 can be independently pressed against the interconnect board 102.

[0064] Returning to FIG. 1, LED boards 128 can be used as part of an LED light strip assembly or an associated LED board light assembly 166 that provides illumination for a larger device. In some embodiments, the connected LED board lighting assembly 166 includes a support structure 150 to which the LED boards 128 and backplanes 102 are attached as a connection assembly 100. The support structure 150 may have a recess 158 for each connection assembly 100, the size of which allows for the placement of a backplane 102. In some embodiments, each recess 158 is approximately the same depth as the thickness 124 of the backplane 102 and a width and length at least the same as the width and length of the backplane 102. This may be advantageous for to ensure that the LED boards 128 are in the same plane because the backplane 102 does not extend beyond the recess 158. Since the LED boards 128 are in the same plane, the LEDs 136 are also in the same plane, which increases the uniformity of the visual effect of the LED 136. B In some embodiments, the backplanes may be positioned on top of the support structure 150 without the recesses 158. Although the present example is described with reference to the LED 136 and LED boards 128, the use of the backplane 102 may allow the implementation of other electrical components and boards, such as acoustic components, MEMs, and etc.

[0065] In addition, each recess 158 may have at least one bushing 154 and at least one stud 152. The studs 152 may be used to accommodate the interconnect board 102 and LED boards 128 and facilitate assembly of the interconnect assembly 100. The bushings 154 may provide additional depth for the fastener. In some embodiments, the depth of the support structure 150 below each recess 158 is insufficient to properly grip the fastener and therefore hold the connector assembly 100 in the assembled state. Thus, the sleeve 154 can be used to provide sufficient depth for the fastener while also allowing the recess 158 to have a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the backplane 102.

[0066] The dimensions of the support structure 150 may limit the possible dimensions of the LED light strip assembly 166. Thus, in some embodiments, the LED boards 128 are rigid PCB less than about 11 mm wide. Additionally, in some embodiments, the height of the connection assembly 100 is less than 7 mm. This may prevent the connection assembly from influencing the light from the LEDs 136, which may cause a noticeable disruption of the lighting pattern from the LEDs 136 that will be visible to an observer. This may also provide sufficient material in the support structure 150. As shown in FIG. 1, the recess 158 in the support structure 150 is sized to accommodate the backplane 102. A thicker connection structure may use a deeper recess/thinner support structure below the connection to keep the LED 136 in a plane. This may increase the likelihood of failure of the support structure 150 in the recess 158, increase the complexity of the support structure 150, and/or reduce the rigidity of the support structure 150, which is undesirable.

[0067] In FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the connected LED board assembly 166 shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, view 460 shows a close-up view of the assembled interconnect assembly 100. The interconnect board 102 is shown installed in the recess 158. Each of two fasteners 156 secures a corresponding LED board 128 to the interconnect board 102 and support structure 150.

[0068] As noted above, in some embodiments, the connector assembly 100 has an overall height that allows for an overall low profile height, such as less than 7 mm or less than about 5.5 mm, in a direction perpendicular to the board. In some embodiments, the height of the interconnect assembly 100 when assembled is substantially equal to the sum of the thickness 124 of the interconnect board 102 and the greater height of either the first LED board 130 or the second LED board 132. Being substantially equal, in this context, may include the assumption height equal to this amount or equal to this amount plus an additional value, for example less than 0.2 mm or less than 0.1 mm, to account for possible small gaps between the interconnect board 102 and either the first LED board 130 or the second LED board 132, for example, gaps less than 0.2 mm, less than 0.1 mm or no gaps. The height of the LED board 128 as used herein is the maximum normal distance between the bottom or second side of the LED board 128 and the topmost or top surface of components mounted on the first side of the LED board, such as the top surface of the LED 136, the top surface of the LED driver 138, the upper surface of the compressible electrically conductive element 134, etc. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the height of the LED board 128 does not include the distance that the compressible electrically conductive element 134 extends from the bottom or second side of the LED board 128, since the compressible electrically conductive element 134 may be compressed into the board in some examples. with LED 128. As further described below with reference to FIG. 9, the compressible electrically conductive member 134 may be compressed when the connector assembly 100 is assembled and may not extend from the bottom or second side of the LED board 128 when compressed.

[0069] In FIG. 5 shows another view of the connected LED board assembly 166, which is missing the supporting structure 150.

[0070] In FIG. 6 and 7 are front views and rear views of the curved LED board 129. The curved LED board 129 includes a PCB 146 with one and/or multiple LEDs 136 and/or LED drivers 138 housed thereon. The curved LED board 129 also has spring connectors 134, a mounting hole 142, and a mounting hole 140 at both end portions 144.

[0071] The curved board containing the LED 129 flexes within the plane of the PCB 146. In general, the LEDs 136 may have higher illuminance per unit of energy expended when emitting light in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the surface on which they are mounted, compared to emitting light parallel plane of the surface on which they are installed. Thus, if the board with LED 129 is bent in the plane of the PCB 146, the LEDs 136 can operate more efficiently to achieve the same degree of luminescence as if the board with LED 129 were curved in the plane of the PCB 146. If the board with LED 129 is curved outside the plane of the PCB 146, for example, using a flexible circuit board, the LEDs 136 must emit light parallel to the surface on which they are mounted, which will increase the energy expended to achieve similar luminescence. Additionally, if the LED board is bent out of the PCB plane, such as using a flexible circuit board, the overall height of the LED board in the direction of the curvature axis may be greater than the height of the embodiment, as shown in the figure where the LED board is bent into the PCB plane. . The curved LED board 129 may also be straight at each end portion 144 to facilitate connection to the backplane 102. In some embodiments, both the end portion of the LED board 129 and the backplane 102 may be curved.

[0072] In FIG. 7 is a rear view of the curved LED board 129. The mounting holes 142 and mounting holes 140 are still visible, as are the plungers of the spring connectors 134, i.e. parts of compressible electrically conductive elements. The back side of the bent LED board 129 may have no other elements, and the end portions 144 may connect to a backplane 102 to electrically connect the bent LED board 129 to another LED board 128, 129. In some embodiments, spring connectors 134 may extend from the back of the curved 129 LED board by approximately 0.9 mm. Additionally, the spring connectors may extend from the front of the curved LED board 129 by less than about 2.2 mm or about 2.15 mm.

[0073] In FIG. 8 is a partial view of a lighting assembly 864 having two interconnected LED board assemblies 866 as described herein, each having a first LED board 830, a second LED board 832, and a connector board 802. Each of the LED boards 830 and 832 may have a plurality of LEDs 836 and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements 834 as described above. Each of the interconnected LED board assemblies 166 may be located within and hidden from the lighting assembly 864. One connected LED board assembly 866 is mounted at the bottom of the lighting assembly 864 and has LEDs 836 positioned to emit light upward, and another connected LED board assembly is mounted at the top of the lighting assembly 864 and has LEDs 836 positioned to emit light downward. Although only one connection node is shown for the upper and lower connected LED board nodes 866, each connected LED board node 866 may have multiple connection nodes as described above. Light from each LED 836 may then be emitted onto a section of light 870 between two interconnected LED board assemblies, which may, for example, be defined by a diffuser panel or other light diffuser device to form a uniformly illuminated wall or surface.

[0074] In FIG. 9 is a view of a sample of the compressible electrically conductive member 134. The compressible electrically conductive member 134, or spring connector 134, may have three main parts: an inner housing portion 184, a plunger 186, and an outer housing portion 182; an internal spring (not shown) is located within the housing portions 182, 184 and applies a force to the plunger 186, causing the plunger 186 to be pushed out of the open end of the internal housing portion 184. The internal housing portion 184 may be mounted within the PCB if the compressible electrically conductive member 134 is installed in hole in PP; this differs from typical spring contacts, which have housings that often extend outward on both sides of the PCB in which they are installed (the design of typical spring contacts does not allow the contacts to be fully compressed in the PCB). Thus, the inner body portion 184 may have a length, measured along a central axis perpendicular to the circular cross-section of the compressible electrically conductive member 134, of less than about 1.44 mm such that the inner body portion 184 does not exceed the thickness of the PCB with which it interacts.

[0075] The plunger 186 extends from the inner housing portion 184 and is movable relative to the inner housing portion 184 along a central axis. As part of the connection assembly 100, the plunger 186 of each compressible electrically conductive element 134 is in electrically conductive contact with the conductive plate 106, 114 on the interconnect board 102, pressing the plunger 186 against the inner housing 184. In some embodiments, the plunger 186 may be the only part of the compressible electrically conductive element 134. which extends beyond the surface of the PCB on the side of the LED board 128 facing the backplane 102.

[0076] The outer housing portion 182, when installed on the LED board 128, may extend from the side of the PCB facing away from the backplane 102. The outer housing portion 182 has a flange that can restrict the movement of the compressible electrically conductive element 134 through the PCB during installation, such thereby ensuring that the compressible electrically conductive element 134 is installed at the appropriate height/depth relative to the PCB. The outer housing portion 182, including the flange, may be less than about 2.2 mm in length so as not to interfere with the light emitted by the LED 136.

[0077] It should be understood that the connections shown herein may be well suited for making end-to-end connections between relatively thin long PCBs, such as those that may be used for LED strip lighting. Such PPs may have a width of approximately 1 cm and a length on the order of their magnitude. Some LED lighting applications use at least two conductive paths that must be made through each such through-connection; For LED lighting applications in which the color of the LEDs can be controlled, such connections may have at least four conductive paths that must be routed through each such through connection (power, ground, clock, and data). Establishing a reliable and easy-to-assemble end-to-end connection between the adjacent LED boards described above can be challenging. In fact, several alternatives are being considered, but the above connection arrangement had the preferred level of performance.

[0078] For example, one alternative for the above connecting fixture uses a 90° slotted male connector with a female connector located at the end of one board and a male connector located at the adjacent end of the other board. A pin connector has a plurality of contacts that protrude from the end of the board along the longitudinal axis of the board (i.e., along the longest axis of the board at that end of the board); the female connector has a corresponding number of receiving compartments that are positioned to receive these contacts when the two boards are properly aligned with each other and pushed toward each other along the longitudinal axis. However, the use of such connectors poses several problems. For example, the use of such connectors adds complexity to assembly because electrical connections may need to be made between the boards before placing the boards in a specific position. In addition, such connectors may use relatively precise positioning, which may be difficult to achieve with the tolerance packages of the design depicted. A similar option is that the pin connector uses spring-loaded contacts oriented to allow translational movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the board and outward from the end of the board; however, it has been found that such connections cannot meet the mechanical tolerances of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

[0079] Unlike the butt-mounted contact connectors described above, the previous embodiments advantageously provide simpler assembly. In the example structure shown in FIG. 1, the boards may be placed in a position on top of positioning contacts that are perpendicular to the planes of the boards, wherein, once positioned, the contacts may prevent lateral and/or longitudinal movement of the boards. The connector assembly described above can be convenient because it is easier to assemble by simply laying the boards over the contacts, does not require assembly before placement, and provides offset in the x and y directions, for example, in terms of manufacturing tolerances. In addition, the embodiments described above provide an acceptable short distance between LEDs on two adjacent boards while also ensuring sufficient current for the LED circuit.

[0080] Another alternative is an open-ended cartridge edge connector. These connectors are H-shaped in cross-section and are designed to accommodate the edges of the PCB in both the top and bottom slots of the H-shaped cross-section. The edges of the PCB used in such a connection will have exposed conductive plates, which the cartridge end connector will connect to each other electrically through the use of conductive elements within the connector. During testing, it was found that these connectors are too large, i.e. It would be impossible to use LEDs located adjacent to the cartridge edge connectors close enough to each other to meet requirements of, for example, ~12mm LED center-to-center spacing along the PCB and across the through-connection. The above-described embodiments, in contrast, provide closer spacing because the spring connectors can be positioned so that they do not overlap the end portions of each LED board, allowing the LEDs to be placed closer to the end of each LED board.

[0081] In addition, some solutions using custom hardware have been explored. For example, another option considered was through-soldering connections between adjacent boards, but such connections can be difficult to make, thin, may complicate assembly as the boards may need to be bonded together before assembly, and may make disassembly difficult if found the fact that one LED board has a manufacturing defect and/or needs to be replaced. The advantage is that the above-described embodiments of such a thin assembly do not require assembly, but can instead be assembled by installing circuit boards, such as onto studs and fasteners, to maintain the electrical connection.

[0082] Another option considered was to provide separate small conductive clamps with upper and lower cams that could be placed on each side of two adjacent PCBs such that each clamp contacted exposed conductive plates located along the edges of each through edge of the PCB; the clamps can then be tightened individually using a screw that passes through one cam into the threaded hole of the other cam. However, this solution may involve conductive path connections that use three parts (two cams and a screw), components that can be small and difficult to handle, and screws that can become loose, making the connection unreliable. The embodiments described above can eliminate such aspects by using conductive plates with an area larger than the contact area on the spring connector, allowing the electrical connection to be maintained despite misaligned boards, and handling small parts during the assembly process may not be necessary.

[0083] The wiring diagram described herein provided the most robust wiring solution that still provided the desired LED interconnect spacing, low overall profile, current rating, and board offset tolerance.

[0084] It should be understood that various elements described herein may also be implemented in a zoom-out (or zoom-out) format. For example, when using lower output LEDs and/or using fewer LEDs, the current level that must be maintained may be lower, and smaller and/or fewer compressible conductive elements may be required, which thus making it possible to reduce the size and/or reduce the number of conductive contact areas.

[0085] Embodiment 1: An LED lighting strip assembly comprising: a first LED board that includes: a first printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the first PCB substrate, a plurality of LEDs, disposed on a first side of the substrate of the first PCB, each LED emitting light from a first side of the first LED board, as well as an end portion and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive members each extending outwardly from a second side of the substrate of the first PCB; a second LED board that includes: a second PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate, a plurality of LEDs disposed on a first side of the second PCB substrate, each LED emitting light from a first side of the second LED board , as well as an end portion and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outwardly from a second side of the second PCB substrate; and a connection board that includes a third PCB substrate having a first region and a second region, the third PCB substrate including: a plurality of first electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate; and a plurality of second electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the substrate of the third PCB and in a second region of the substrate of the third PCB, wherein each first electrically conductive plate is electrically connected to at least one of the second electrically conductive plates via an electrically conductive path of the connecting board, wherein: an end portion of the first board with The LED is located near an end portion of the second LED board, the first side of the third PCB substrate faces the second side of the first LED board and the second side of the second LED board, each compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates; each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the plurality of second electrically conductive plates, and the height of the LED lighting strip assembly when each compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive plates, substantially equal to approximately the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the third PCB interconnect board and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

[0086] Embodiment 2: The LED light strip assembly of Embodiment 1, wherein the compressible electrically conductive members are spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the plurality of first electrically conductive plates and the plurality of second electrically conductive plates is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger a corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the LED board in which the spring contact is installed.

[0087] Implementation option 3: The LED lighting strip assembly of any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein each of the compressible electrically conductive elements extends at least about 0.9 mm from a second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board.

[0088] Implementation option 4: The LED-based lighting strip assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, further comprising: at least one first hole located in a first substrate region of the third circuit board, at least one second hole located in a second substrate region of the third circuit board a backplane, at least one hole located in the first LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in a first substrate region of the third PCB of the backplane; and at least one hole located in the second LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane.

[0089] Embodiment 5: The LED light strip assembly of any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the height of the LED light strip assembly is less than about 5.5 mm.

[0090] Implementation option 6: The LED-based lighting strip assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein each compressible electrically conductive element is a spring-loaded contact.

[0091] Implementation option 7: The LED lighting strip assembly of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein both the end portion width of the first LED board and the end portion width of the second LED board are less than about 12 mm.

[0092] Implementation option 8: The LED light strip assembly of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the LEDs in each plurality of LEDs are spaced apart (center to center) by a distance of about 12 mm or less.

[0093] Embodiment 9: A printed circuit board (PCB) interconnect assembly comprising: a first circuit board that includes: a first PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the first PCB substrate, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from the second side of the substrate of the first PP; a second board that includes: a second PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from a second side of the second PCB substrate, each compressible electrically conductive element having an outer a surface on the side of the compressible electrically conductive element facing away from the first side of the second board; and a connection board that includes a third PCB substrate having a first region and a second region, the third PCB substrate including: a plurality of first electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate; and a plurality of second electrically conductive plates disposed on a first side of the substrate of the third PCB and in a second region of the substrate of the third PCB, wherein each first electrically conductive plate is electrically connected to at least one of the second electrically conductive plates via an electrically conductive backplane track, wherein: each compressible electrically conductive element of the first the board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates; each compressible electrically conductive element of the second board is in electrically conductive contact with the corresponding one of the plurality of second electrically conductive plates, and the height of the connecting node is PP, when each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board is in electrically conductive contact with the corresponding one of the first electrically conductive plates, and each compressible electrically conductive element is the second the board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive plates, substantially equal to approximately the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the third PCB interconnect board and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

[0094] Implementation option 10: PP connecting unit according to embodiment 9, in which the compressible electrically conductive elements are spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the plurality of first electrically conductive plates and the plurality of second electrically conductive plates is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the board, in which the spring contact is installed.

[0095] Implementation option 11: The PCB connector assembly of any one of embodiments 9 to 10, wherein each of the compressible electrically conductive elements extends at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first board or the second board.

[0096] Implementation option 12: The PCB connecting assembly according to any one of embodiments 9 to 11, further comprising: at least one first hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane, at least one second hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane, at least one hole located in the first board and aligned with at least one hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane; and at least one hole located in the second board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane.

[0097] Implementation option 13: The PCB connector as in any one of embodiments 9 to 12, wherein the height of the PCB connector in a direction perpendicular to the first side of the third PCB substrate is less than about 5.5 mm.

[0098] Implementation option 14: PP connecting unit according to any of the implementation options from 9 to 13, in which each compressible electrically conductive element is a spring-loaded contact.

[0099] Implementation option 15: The PCB interconnect assembly of any one of embodiments 9 through 14, wherein both the width of the first board and the width of the second board are less than about 12 mm.

[0100] Implementation option 16: A method for assembling a lighting strip assembly based on LEDs, including: placing a connecting board having a first printed circuit board (PCB) substrate on a supporting structure, wherein: the first PCB substrate has a first electrically conductive plate placed on a first side of the first PCB substrate in a first region of the first substrate PCB, and a second electrically conductive plate placed on a first side of the substrate of the first PCB in a second region of the substrate of the first PCB, and the first electrically conductive plate is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive plate by an electrically conductive path of the connecting board; positioning a first LED board having a second PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on a first side thereof such that a second side of the second PCB substrate opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate is proximal to the first side of the first PCB substrate of the backplane, and such that the first compressible electrically conductive member extending outwardly from the second side of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive plate; arranging a second LED board having a third PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on a first side thereof such that a second side of the third PCB substrate opposite the first side of the third PCB substrate is adjacent to a first side of the first PCB substrate, and thus such that a second compressible electrically conductive member extending outwardly from a second side of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the second electrically conductive plate; and applying one or more compressive forces to the first LED board and the second LED board to mechanically connect the first LED board and the second LED board to at least one of the interconnect board or support structure.

[0101] Implementation option 17: The method of Embodiment 16, wherein the first and second compressible electrically conductive members may be spring contacts, and each electrically conductive plate of the first electrically conductive plate and the second electrically conductive plate is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the LED board , in which a spring contact is installed.

[0102] Implementation option 18: The method as in any one of embodiments 16 to 17, wherein the first and second compressible electrically conductive elements extend at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board.

[0103] Implementation option 19: The method as in any one of embodiments 16 to 18, wherein the one or more LEDs of the first LED board and the one or more LEDs of the second LED board are spaced apart (center to center) by a distance of about 12 mm or less.

[0104] Implementation option 20: The method as in any one of embodiments 16 to 19, wherein the height of the LED lighting strip assembly if the first compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive plate and the second compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with electrically conductive contact with the second electrically conductive plate is substantially approximately equal to the sum of the thickness of the substrate of the first PCB interconnect board and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.

Conclusion

[0105] The above description is provided to enable one skilled in the art to practice the various configurations described herein. Although the technology that is the subject of the document is described in particular with reference to various figures and configurations, it should be understood that it is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the technology that is the subject of the document.

[0106] Terms such as “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” “nominal,” and the like, when used in reference to quantities or similar quantifiable properties, should be understood to include values within ±10 % of given values unless otherwise stated. In some cases, the terms may include values less than or equal to ±5%, such as less than or equal to ±2%, such as less than or equal to ±1%, such as less than or equal to ±0.5%, such as less than or equal to ±0.2% , for example less than or equal to ±0.1%, for example less than or equal to ±0.05%.

[0107] It should also be understood that any use of ordinal indicators, such as (a), (b), (c), etc., herein is for structuring purposes only and is not intended to assign any particular sequence or importance of the elements associated with each ordinal indicator. However, there may be cases in which some items associated with ordinal indicators may by their nature use a particular sequence, for example “(a) obtain information about X; (b) determine Y based on information about X; and (c) obtain information about Z"; in this example, (a) would be performed before (b), since (b) is based on the information obtained in points (a)-(c), but could be performed before or after (a) and/or (b).

[0108] Additionally, it should be understood that the word "each", for example in the phrase "for each <element> of one or more <elements>" or "each <element>", as used in the context of this document, is intended to include as a group of one element or a group of many elements, i.e. the phrase “for each...” is used in the sense in which it is used in programming languages to refer to each element of any subset of elements. For example, if the collection of elements referred to is a single element, then the term "each" will refer only to that single element (even though dictionaries often define "each" as "each of two or more objects") and will not imply, that there must be at least two of these elements. Likewise, when a selected element may have one or more sub-elements, and the selection of one of those sub-elements, it should be understood that if the selected element has one and only one sub-item, then the selection of that one sub-item is its own selection of the element itself.

[0109] There are many other implementations of the technology that is the subject of the document. The various functions and elements described in this document may be separated in a manner different from that presented without departing from the scope of the technology that is the subject of the document. Various modifications to these embodiments may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may apply to other embodiments. Thus, one skilled in the art can make many changes and modifications to the technology that is the subject of the document without departing from the scope of the technology that is the subject of the document. For example, different numbers of these modules or blocks may be used, different types of a given module or block may be used, a given module or block may be added, or a given module or block may be removed.

[0110] Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are for convenience only and do not limit the technology that is the subject of the document and are not mentioned in connection with the interpretation of the description of the technology that is the subject of the document. All structural and functional equivalents of elements of the various embodiments described herein that are known or later become known to those skilled in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are deemed to be covered by the technology subject to this document. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be made available to the general public, whether or not such information is expressly stated in the description above.

[0111] While the foregoing embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways to implement the processes, systems and devices of the presented embodiments and/or they can be combined to achieve the specific benefits of a particular aspect. Accordingly, these embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-restrictive, and the embodiments should not be limited to the details set forth herein.

Claims (72)

1. Lighting strip assembly based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), containing: the first LED board, which includes: a substrate of the first printed circuit board (PCB) with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the substrate of the first PCB, a plurality of LEDs disposed on a first side of the first PCB substrate, each LED emitting light from a first side of the first LED board, end section, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from a second side of the substrate of the first PCB and is compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the substrate of the first PCB; second board with LED, which includes: the substrate of the second PP with the first side and the second side opposite the first side of the substrate of the second PP, a plurality of LEDs disposed on a first side of the second PCB substrate, each LED emitting light from a first side of the second LED board, end section, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from a second side of the second PCB substrate and is compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the second PCB substrate; And a backplane that includes a third PCB substrate having a first region and a second region, the third PCB substrate including: a plurality of first electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate, and a plurality of second electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a second region of the third PCB substrate, each first electrically conductive pad being electrically connected to at least one of the second electrically conductive pads via an electrically conductive backplane track, and: an end portion of the first LED board is adjacent to an end portion of the second LED board, the first side of the third PCB substrate faces the second side of the first LED board and the second side of the second LED board, each compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive pads, each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of a plurality of second electrically conductive pads, and the height of an LED lighting strip assembly when each compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive contact pads, and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive contact pads sites is essentially approximately equal to the sum: thickness of the substrate of the third PP backplane, and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board. 2. The LED-based lighting strip assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compressible electrically conductive elements are spring contacts, and each electrically conductive contact pad of the plurality of first electrically conductive contact pads and the plurality of second electrically conductive contact pads is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the LED board, in which the spring contact is installed. 3. The LED lighting strip assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the compressible electrically conductive elements extends at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from a second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board. 4. LED-based lighting strip assembly according to claim 1, additionally containing: at least one first hole located in a first substrate region of the third PCB backplane, at least one second hole located in a second region of the substrate of the third PCB backplane, at least one hole located in the first LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane; And at least one hole located in the second LED board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane. 5. The LED light strip assembly of claim 1, wherein the height of the LED light strip assembly is less than about 5.5 mm. 6. The LED-based lighting strip assembly according to claim 1, in which each compressible electrically conductive element is a spring-loaded contact. 7. The LED lighting strip assembly of claim 1, wherein both the end portion width of the first LED board and the end portion width of the second LED board are less than about 12 mm. 8. The LED light strip assembly of claim 1, wherein the LEDs in each plurality of LEDs are spaced from each other from center to center by a distance of about 12 mm or less. 9. Printed circuit board (PCB) connection assembly containing: first fee, which includes: a substrate of the first PCB with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the substrate of the first PCB, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive elements, each of which extends outward from a second side of the substrate of the first PCB and is compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the substrate of the first PCB; second fee, which includes: a second PCB substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate and configured to be compressed along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the second PCB substrate, and a plurality of compressible electrically conductive members each extending outwardly from a second side of the substrate of the second PCB, each compressible electrically conductive member having an outer surface on a compressible electrically conductive member side facing away from the first side of the second board; And a backplane that includes a third PCB substrate having a first region and a second region, the third PCB substrate including: a plurality of first electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a first region of the third PCB substrate, and a plurality of second electrically conductive pads disposed on a first side of the third PCB substrate and in a second region of the third PCB substrate, each first electrically conductive pad being electrically connected to at least one of the second electrically conductive pads via an electrically conductive backplane track, and: each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive contact pads, each compressible electrically conductive element of the second board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of a plurality of second electrically conductive pads, and the height of the PCB connection assembly when each compressible electrically conductive element of the first board is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive contact pads, and each compressible electrically conductive element of the second electrically conductive contact pad is in electrically conductive contact with a corresponding one of the second electrically conductive contact pads, is essentially approximately equal to the sum : thickness of the substrate of the third PP backplane, and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board. 10. The PP connecting unit according to claim 9, in which the compressible electrically conductive elements are spring contacts, and each electrically conductive contact pad from the plurality of first electrically conductive contact pads and the plurality of second electrically conductive contact pads is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane the second side of the board in which the spring contact is installed. 11. The PCB connection assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the compressible electrically conductive elements extends at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from the second side of either the first board or the second board. 12. PP connecting unit according to claim 9, additionally containing: at least one first hole located in a first substrate region of the third PCB backplane, at least one second hole located in a second region of the substrate of the third PCB backplane, at least one hole located in the first board and aligned with at least one hole located in the first substrate region of the third PCB backplane; And at least one hole located in the second board and aligned with at least one hole located in the second substrate region of the third PCB backplane. 13. The PP connecting unit according to claim 9, wherein the height of the PP connecting unit is less than about 5.5 mm. 14. The PP connecting unit according to claim 9, in which each compressible electrically conductive element is a spring-loaded contact. 15. The PCB connection assembly of claim 9, wherein both the width of the first board and the width of the second board are less than about 12 mm. 16. A method for assembling a lighting strip assembly based on LEDs, including: placing a connecting board having a first printed circuit board (PCB) substrate on a supporting structure, wherein: the substrate of the first PCB has a first electrically conductive contact pad disposed on a first side of the substrate of the first PCB in a first region of the substrate of the first PCB, and a second electrically conductive contact pad disposed on the first side of the substrate of the first PCB in a second region of the substrate of the first PCB, and the first electrically conductive pad is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive pad via an electrically conductive path of the connection board; positioning a first LED board having a second PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on a first side thereof such that a second side of the second PCB substrate opposite the first side of the second PCB substrate is proximal to the first side of the first PCB substrate of the backplane, and such that a first compressible electrically conductive element extending outwardly from a second side of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive pad, the first compressible electrically conductive element being compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the substrate of the second PCB; arranging a second LED board having a third PCB substrate with one or more LEDs disposed on a first side thereof such that a second side of the third PCB substrate opposite the first side of the third PCB substrate is adjacent to a first side of the first PCB substrate, and thus such that a second compressible electrically conductive element extending outwardly from a second side of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a second electrically conductive pad, wherein the second compressible electrically conductive element is compressible along an axis perpendicular to the second side of the substrate of the third PCB; And applying one or more compressive forces to the first LED board and the second LED board to mechanically connect the first LED board and the second LED board to at least one of the interconnect board or support structure. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first compressible electrically conductive element and the second compressible electrically conductive element are spring contacts, and each electrically conductive contact pad of the first electrically conductive contact pad and the second electrically conductive contact pad is at least larger than the cross-sectional area of the plunger of the corresponding spring contact in the plane of the second side of the LED board, in which the spring contact is installed. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first compressible electrically conductive element and the second compressible electrically conductive element extend at a distance of at least about 0.9 mm from a second side of either the first LED board or the second LED board. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs of the first LED board and the one or more LEDs of the second LED board are spaced from each other from center to center by a distance of about 12 mm or less. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the height of the LED lighting strip assembly when the first compressible electrically conductive element of the first LED board is in electrically conductive contact with the first electrically conductive pad and the second compressible electrically conductive element of the second LED board is in electrically conductive contact with a second electrically conductive pad, is essentially approximately equal to the sum of: thickness of the substrate of the first PP backplane, and the greater of the height of the first LED board and the height of the second LED board.