ZA201003145B

ZA201003145B - An led lamp

Info

Publication number: ZA201003145B
Application number: ZA201003145A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Otto Horlacher
Original assignee: Otto Horlacher
Priority date: 2009-06-10
Filing date: 2010-05-05
Publication date: 2010-10-27
Also published as: WO2010143144A2; WO2010143144A3

Description

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AN LED LAMP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a lamp of the kind using one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The lighting industry has long since turned to LEDs as a more energy efficient alternative light source. The ongoing progress and development of LEDs has been significant. Where previously the lower levels of light emitted had been a disadvantage, LEDs are now being produced which can compete with the light levels of the less efficient products used previously.

The optimal current required to drive LEDs for maximum light output results in the generation of a significant amount of heat. One of the main problems with

LED lamps remains the dissipation of heat — often in confined spaces.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the current invention to provide an LED lamp which includes means to deal with dissipation of heat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided an LED lamp including an outwardly curved reflector connected to a base plate, the base plate extending across an inner end of the reflector and a printed circuit board carrying an LED light source mounted to the base plate, with the reflector and base plate made from heat conductive material to provide a heat sink.

The invention further provides for the base plate to have a passage to accommodate an electric cable to the printed circuit board.

A further feature of the invention provides for the reflector and base plate to be integral.

Further features of the invention provide for an additional body of heat conductive material to be fixed on the side of the base plate opposite to the : LED light source; and for the body to include a passage to accommodate the electric cable.

The reflector, base plate and body will be manufactured from aluminum or some -other suitable metal or alloy. : Where positive and negative terminals are spaced apart on the printed circuit board, the base plate will have two correspondingly spaced apertures to accommodate each of a pair of electrical supply cables. A pair of suitable openings in the body will also be provided.

, 03145

The invention extends to a reflector for use with an LED lamp as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING oo

These and other features of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: : Figures 1 and 2 are respectively schematic part cross-sectional and side views of one embodiment of one form of an LED lamp;

Figures 3and4 are similar views of another form of LED lamp; and

Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of yet another form of LED lamp without the mounting arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION :

Referring to the drawings, an LED lamp in accordance with this invention is indicated generally by reference numeral (1).

The lamp (1) includes a part ellipsoidal, outwardly curved reflector (2) with an integral base plate (3). The base plate (3) is located across an inner end of the reflector (2).

The inner end of the reflector (2) is completely sealed save for two spaced apart passages (not shown) in the base plate (3). These provide apertures that are sized and located to accommodate a pair of electric cables (not shown). These cables are respectively connected to positive and negative terminals on a printed circuit board (4). The printed circuit board (4) is mounted against the

- 8010/0514 5 base plate (3). The passages (3) match the location of the terminals to facilitate the flush fitting of these components (3) and (4) against each other.

The printed circuit board (4) carries an LED light source (5). The reflector (2) and base plate (3) are made from heat conductive material. This will preferably be polished and anodized aluminum but any suitable metal with the required properties of heat conductivity can be used.

Ce The reflector (2) and base plate (3) provide a heat sink for dissipation of heat emitted by the LED light source (5) and can be made as an integral unit. In particular, the reflector (2) with base (3) will be spun from high purity aluminum and polished with an anti-glare, non tarnish finish.

An additional heat conductive body (6) is mounted on the side of the base plate (3) opposite to the LED light source (5). The body (6) will also be made of aluminum or other suitable heat conductive material. This extension provides a heat sink assembly with additional capacity for dissipation of heat generated by the lamp (1) in use.

The surfaces of the heat sink components may be anodized but the inside of the reflector (2) component will be polished or provided with a suitable coating to give the required reflection of light from the LED light source (5).

It will be understood that the lamp (1) will include the usual other components necessary for lamps of this kind.

The invention however avoids the use of a collimator and provides a reflector (2) which serves as a heat sink to dissipate the heat generated by the LED light source (5).

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The heat sink assembly provided by components (2), (3) and (6) also makes efficient use of the space available around the LED light source (5) in the lamp (1). This can be particularly advantageous where LED lamps are used as retrofit options in place of incandescent lights. ,

The two embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 show lamps (1) in a housing (7) for a ceiling mounted spot light. It will however be appreciated that the lamps (1) may be used in mountings of any of a number of configurations. The components of the lamp (1) can similarly be varied in their configuration — particularly for adaption to different fittings serving different functions. The mounting of the lamp (1) within a housing or fitting will be within the design competence of one suitably skilled in the art.

A further embodiment is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This shows the reflector (2) used in combination with a collimator lens.

Claims

CLAIMS nO

1. An LED lamp including a reflector connected to a base plate, the base plate extending across an inner end of the reflector and a printed circuit board carrying an LED light source mounted to the base plate, with the reflector and base plate made from heat conductive material to provide a heat sink.

2. An LED lamp as claimed in claim 1 in which an electrical cable connection passage is provided through the base plate.

3. An LED lamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the reflector and base plate are integral.

4, An LED lamp as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which an additional body of heat sink material is fixed to the side of the base plate opposite the circuit board.

5. An LED lamp as claimed in claim 4 in which the body has a passage therethrough aligned with the connection passage.

6. An LED lamp as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 in which a pair of passages are provided to provide for separate cable connections.

7. An LED lamp as claimed in claim 4 in which the reflector, base plate and body are manufactured from suitable metal material. :

8. An LED lamp as claimed in claim 7 in which the metal surface on the inside of the reflector is polished aluminum.

9. An LED lamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the LED light source is an array of LED's. REPLACEMENT SHEET

- €010/03145

10. An LED lamp substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or3 and 4 or 5 and 6. :

11. A reflector for use with an LED lamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. DATED THIS 5" DAY OF MAY 2010 : ££) hod K\g 4 DESSIN( DE BEER FOR TNE APPLICANT