The present invention generally relates to flashing light beacons for use on vehicles.
Beacons provide flashing light signals for vehicles such as fire trucks and police cars. Beacons typically have a plurality of lights (e.g., LEDs) mounted inside a lens or other outer cover. The lights are typically connected to a controller that controls operation of the lights. The controller can turn off all the lights for periods when no signal lighting is needed. Further, when signal lighting is desired, the controller can turn the lights on and off (e.g., in a sequence in which some of the lights are on and others may be off during a particular instant) in various patterns to create various signal lighting effects. It can be complicated to connect each of the lights to the controller during assembly of a beacon because the lights are typically positioned so they collectively form an annular configuration and face radially outward in different directions and this complicates the assembly.
One aspect of the invention is a beacon for a vehicle. The beacon has a base configured for mounting on the vehicle. A plurality of LED arrays are mounted on the base. Each LED array has an LED array circuit board extending upwardly from the base, a plurality of LEDs mounted on the circuit board, and an electrical connector supported by the LED array circuit board and connected to the LEDs. The LED arrays are being arranged to direct light signals outward in multiple different radial directions. The beacon has a common circuit board connected to each of the plurality of LED arrays. The common circuit board includes a plurality of electrical connectors supported by the common circuit board and connected to electrical components on the common circuit board. The electrical connectors on the common circuit board are connected to the electrical connectors of the LED arrays so the LEDs are in electrical connection with the electrical components on the common circuit board. The electrical connectors of the LED circuit boards and the common circuit board are substantially identical to one another.
Another aspect of the invention is a beacon for a vehicle. The beacon has a base configured for mounting on the vehicle. A plurality of LED arrays are mounted on the base. Each LED array has an LED array circuit board extending upwardly from the base, and a plurality of LEDs mounted on the circuit board, and an electrical connector supported by the LED array circuit board and connected to the LEDs. The LED arrays are arranged to direct light signals outward in multiple different radial directions. The beacon has a common circuit board connected to each of the plurality of LED arrays. The common circuit board has a plurality of electrical connectors supported by the common circuit board and connected to electrical components on the common circuit board. The electrical connectors on the common circuit board are connected to the electrical connectors of the LED arrays to form mated connector pairs so the LEDs are in electrical connection with the electrical components on the common circuit board. Each mated connector pair includes a spade terminal on one of the electrical connectors of the mated electrical pair received in a socket of the other electrical connector of the mated electrical pair. The spade terminal extends into the socket from a side of the socket.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of connecting an LED array of a signal lighting beacon to a common circuit board of the signal lighting beacon. The method includes inserting a spade terminal of an electrical connector on one of the LED array and common circuit board into a socket of another electrical connector on the other of the LED array and common circuit board, wherein inserting the spade into the socket comprises inserting the spade terminal into the socket from a side of the socket.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to the figures, a beacon 100 is illustrated for a vehicle such as the vehicle 200 as shown in
As illustrated, the beacon 100 suitably has a circular base 102 configured for horizontal mounting on the fire truck 200. For example, the base 102 may have a socket 104 (
As illustrated in
Each LED array 110 is connected to and vertically supported by the base 102. Referring to
The LED arrays 110 are suitably arranged in a cylindrical configuration in which each LED array has an upright orientation and the LEDs 112 are positioned to direct light generally radially outward, as shown in
The LED circuit boards 114 of the LED arrays 110 are electrically connected to a common central circuit board 130 via connectors 118, 128. Referring to
Because the single-sided circuit boards 114, 130 require all electrical connections to be on a particular side of the board, electrical connectors 118 for the LED arrays 110 are on the side of the respective boards facing radially outward. Likewise, the electrical connectors 128 on the common central board 130 are on the side of the board facing down toward the circular base 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical connectors 118 on the LED array circuit boards 114 are substantially identical to the electrical connectors 128 on the common central board 130. The electrical connectors could be different within the scope of the invention. However, the use of the same type of connector 118, 128 for each board 114, 130 simplifies the inventory requirements for a manufacturing process that makes the beacon 100.
Referring to
Referring to
One consequence of the offset connectors 118, 128 is that the connectors do not make full use of their potential connectivity. For example, the connectors 118, 128 in the illustrated embodiment have the capacity to make four electrical connections, but the way they are connected in the beacon 100 results in only three electrical connections. Three electrical connections are all that is needed in this embodiment, in which each LED array 110 has three LEDs 112. Moreover, connectors that are designed to make two or four connections are readily available from various commercial suppliers, while connectors that are designed to make exactly three electrical connections when fully connected are not as readily available, particularly not at the same relatively low cost as the four-pin connectors 118, 128 used in the illustrated beacon 100.
The connectors 118, 128 are suitably configured so they can be connected to one other by extending the spades 142 of one connector into the sockets 144 of the other connector from the sides of the sockets. The connectors 118, 128 are also suitably configured so the connectors can be rotated relative to one another while they are connected to one another.
In the illustrated embodiment, for example, a plurality of electrical barriers 146 made of an electrically-insulting material are positioned between each of the adjacent spades 142 and sockets 144. The barriers 146 are suitably configured so they are effective at maintaining electrical separation between adjacent spades 142 and sockets 144 but so they do not constrain the direction of insertion of spades into the sockets to exclude insertion of the spades into the sockets from the side. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the barriers 146 are substantially planar walls extending from a connection to the connector housing 148 along a single edge of the barrier. Thus, in addition to allowing for insertion of a spade 142 into a socket 144 in a direction from the open end of the socket toward the connector housing 148, the barriers 146 permit insertion of the spades into the sockets from a side direction (e.g., in a direction generally parallel to the surface of the connector housing adjacent the sockets).
As illustrated in
Moreover, once the spades 142 are received in the sockets 144, the barriers 146 do not obstruct rotation of the spades within the sockets. For example, as illustrated in
It is understood the configuration of spades 142, sockets 144, and barriers 146 illustrated in the drawings is one suitable configuration that allows insertion of the spades into the sockets from the side and allows rotation of the connectors 118, 128 while they remain connected to one another and that there are other suitable configurations that could be used instead within the broad scope of the invention.
The common central circuit board 130 is suitably fastened to the brackets 120 to secure it to the LED arrays 110 and maintain electrical connection between the connectors 118, 128, as well as retain it in position relative to the base 102 to which the brackets are secured. For example, the brackets 120 in the illustrated embodiment each have a horizontal mounting tab 160 at their upper end. The common central circuit board 130 is suitably secured to the tabs 160 of the brackets 120 by screws 162 or other suitable fasteners, as illustrated in
The common central circuit board 130 has various electrical components 168 mounted to its underside (
A cylindrical lens cover 132 (
Alternatively, one or more of the LED arrays 110 can be added to the assembly after the common central circuit board 130 has been secured to the brackets 120. This can be accomplished by moving the LED array 110 radially inward until the spades 142 and sockets 144 on the connectors 118, 128 engage one another and thereby establish electrical connection between the LED circuit board 114 and the common central circuit board 130. For example, the LED array 110 can be in a vertical orientation (such that the LED circuit board 114 is generally parallel to the mounting portion 124 of the corresponding bracket) as the LED array is moved radially inward to connector the connectors 118, 128. As another example, the LED array 110 is not in a vertical orientation (e.g., it is in a substantially horizontal orientation) as it is moved radially inward to connect the connectors 118, 128 and after the spades 142 are received in the sockets 144, the LED array 110 is pivoted about the pivot axis 150 generally aligned with the spades and sockets to rotate the LED array into the vertical orientation. Then the LED array 110 is secured to the bracket 120 using screws or other suitable fasteners.
In either case, at least one step of the assembly results in arrangement of corresponding connectors 118, 128 on the LED circuit board 114 and the common central circuit board 130 so the connectors are electrically connected to one another in a generally orthogonal orientation (e.g., perpendicular to one another). The ability to connect the connectors 118, 128 to one another so the spades 142 extend into the sockets 144 from the side provides significant flexibility in the manner of making electrical connections, allows all the connectors 118, 128 for all of the LED arrays 110 to be connected simultaneously in a single step if desired, facilitates a simple yet reliable electrical connection between two single-sided circuit boards 114, 130 that are angularly disposed relative to one another, allows easy removal and/or replacement of one or more LED arrays 110 for repair or maintenance of the beacon 100, and provides other advantages.
The abstract and summary are provided to help the reader quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. They are submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. The summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. The summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the claimed subject matter.
When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantages of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
Not all of the depicted components illustrated or described may be required. In addition, some implementations and embodiments may include additional components. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims as set forth herein. Additional, different or fewer components may be provided and components may be combined. Alternatively or in addition, a component may be implemented by several components.
The above description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is contemplated that various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention. In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.