Patent Application
20140092602
The present invention relates to a lighting device, and more particularly to a modular lighting device using engaging structures for coupling associated components.
Generally, a lamp bulb comprises a lamp cover, a lamp body, a lamp holder, and an illumination module. If the lamp bulb is a multifunctional lamp bulb, more components should be installed within the lamp bulb. Conventionally, the components of the lamp bulb are combined together by using screws to fasten the components or using glue to bond the components together. However, since the components of the lamp bulb are all small-sized components, it is difficult to tighten the screws or dispense the glue. In other words, the assembling process of the conventional lamp bulb is time-consuming, and the throughput of the conventional lamp bulb is low.
On the other hand, if the lamp bulb has been used for a time period, a great deal of heat is generated by the lamp bulb. Due to the inherent properties of the glue, the glue is readily subject to deformation or molten by the high temperature. If the glue is molten, the components bonded by the glue may be shifted or damaged. Under this circumstance, the reliability of the lamp bulb is reduced.
For solving the above drawbacks, a LED lamp disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 201126094 comprises a lamp holder and a lamp body with a LED module. The lamp holder and the lamp body are coupled with each other through clasping means. In addition, a lamp disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 201142188 comprises a lamp body and a lamp cover which is matching the lamp body. Corresponding to a latching element of the lamp cover, a fixing groove is located near an end of the lamp body. Due to the engagement between the latching element and the fixing groove, the lamp cover is fixed on the lamp body.
Moreover, the conventional LED lamp bulb uses fins to remove heat. Since the fins are costly, the uses of the fins may increase the fabricating cost of the LED lamp bulb. In addition, the uses of the fins need a special design or increase the overall weight of the lamp bulb.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a lamp bulb with enhanced heat dissipating efficiency and reduced fabricating cost.
For obviating the drawbacks encountered from the prior art technology, the present invention provides a heat dissipation module and a modular lighting device with the heat dissipation module. In accordance with the present invention, the heat dissipation module can be easily installed in a lamp body. Due to the engagement between the matching engaging structures of the lamp body and a transparent lamp cover, the lamp body and the transparent lamp cover may be directly coupled with each other by the assembly worker. In other words, the process of assembling the heat dissipation module and the modular lighting device is simple and efficient, and thus the product reliability is enhanced.
For obviating the drawbacks encountered from the prior art technology, the present invention provides a heat dissipation module and a modular lighting device with the heat dissipation module. In accordance with the present invention, the fins used in the conventional lamp bulb are replaced by the smooth surface of the lamp cup. Similarly, the lamp cup and the transparent lamp cover may be easily assembled by the assembly worker. Consequently, the assembling efficiency is increased, and the fabricating cost of the product is reduced.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat dissipation module for a modular lighting device. The modular lighting device includes a lamp body, a circuit board, a LED illumination module and a transparent lamp cover. The lamp body includes a receiving chamber and a middle sleeve within the receiving chamber. The circuit board includes at least one electronic component and a part of the circuit board is accommodated within the middle sleeve. The LED illumination module is disposed on the lamp body. The transparent lamp cover covers the LED illumination module and is coupled with the lamp body. The heat dissipation module includes at least one heat dissipation block and a ring-shaped heat dissipation structure. The at least one heat dissipation block is contacted with the electronic component. The heat dissipation block is penetrated through a sidewall of the middle sleeve, so that at least one part of the heat dissipation block is exposed outside the sidewall of the middle sleeve. The ring-shaped heat dissipation structure is contacted with the exposed part of the heat dissipation block, sheathed around the sidewall of the middle sleeve and disposed within the receiving chamber.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat dissipation module for a modular lighting device. The modular lighting device includes a lamp body, a circuit board, a LED illumination module and a transparent lamp cover. The lamp body includes a receiving chamber and a middle sleeve within the receiving chamber. The circuit board includes at least one electronic component and a part of the circuit board is accommodated within the middle sleeve. The LED illumination module is disposed on the lamp body. The transparent lamp cover covers the LED illumination module and is coupled with the lamp body. The heat dissipation module includes at least one heat dissipation block and a ring-shaped heat dissipation structure. The at least one heat dissipation block is contacted with the electronic component, wherein the heat dissipation block is penetrated through a sidewall of the middle sleeve, so that at least one part of the heat dissipation block is exposed outside the sidewall of the middle sleeve. The ring-shaped heat dissipation structure is contacted with the exposed part of the heat dissipation block, sheathed around the sidewall of the middle sleeve and locked on the sidewall of the middle sleeve.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat dissipation module for a modular lighting device. The modular lighting device includes a lamp body, a circuit board, a LED illumination module and a transparent lamp cover. The lamp body includes a receiving chamber and a middle sleeve within the receiving chamber. A part of the circuit board is accommodated within the middle sleeve. The LED illumination module is disposed on the lamp body. The transparent lamp cover covers the LED illumination module and is coupled with the lamp body. The heat dissipation module includes plural heat dissipation blocks, a ring-shaped heat dissipation structure, and at least one thermal conductive adhesive. The plural heat dissipation blocks are in thermal contact with the circuit board. The plural dissipation blocks are penetrated through plural perforations of a sidewall of the middle sleeve, so that at least one part of the heat dissipation blocks is exposed to the plural perforations of the middle sleeve. The plural heat dissipation blocks are aligned with the plural perforations, respectively. The ring-shaped heat dissipation structure is contacted with the exposed part of the heat dissipation blocks, sheathed around the sidewall of the middle sleeve and disposed within the receiving chamber. The at least one thermal conductive adhesive is arranged between the plural heat dissipation blocks and the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure for fixing the plural heat dissipation blocks and the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular lighting device with one of the above heat dissipation modules. The modular lighting device further includes a lamp cup and a sensing and driving module. The lamp cup is included in the lamp body. The lamp cup includes an installation plane with a hollow part. The installation plane includes a first engaging structure. The sensing and driving module includes the circuit board and a sensing device. The sensing device is penetrated through the hollow part of the installation plane and protruded over the installation plane. The LED illumination module is supported on the installation plane of the lamp body. In addition, the transparent lamp cover is coupled to the lamp body through the first engaging structure.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, and both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces. Alternatively, the sensing and driving module further includes a light-sheltering cover for enclosing the sensing device, and the sensing device includes a passive infrared human body sensor. Alternatively, the LED illumination module is supported on the installation plane and coupled to the middle sleeve. Alternatively, wherein the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes a second engaging structure, and the lamp holder module is coupled to the lamp body through the second engaging structure. Alternatively, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module and plural foreign matter preventing structures, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, and the plural foreign matter preventing structures are arranged between the transparent lamp cover and the lamp body and between the lamp body and the lamp holder module.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, and both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces. Moreover, the sensing device includes a passive infrared human body sensor or a microwave sensor. Moreover, the LED illumination module is supported on the installation plane of the lamp body and coupled to the middle sleeve. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes a second engaging structure, and the lamp holder module is coupled to the lamp body through the second engaging structure.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces, and the outer surface, the inner surface, the installation plane and the first engaging structure are integrally formed with each other or detachably coupled to each other. Moreover, the sensing and driving module further includes a light-sheltering cover for enclosing the sensing device, and the sensing device includes a passive infrared human body sensor. Moreover, the transparent lamp cover includes an opening at a top end and a lens, the light-sheltering cover is embedded into the opening, and the light-sheltering cover is capped by the lens. Alternatively, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes a second engaging structure, and the lamp holder module is coupled to the lamp body through the second engaging structure.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces, and the outer surface, the inner surface, the installation plane and the first engaging structure are integrally formed as a one-piece metal part or detachably coupled to each other. Moreover, the sensing and driving module further includes a light-sheltering cover for enclosing the sensing device, and the sensing device includes a passive infrared human body sensor. Moreover, the transparent lamp cover includes an opening at a top end and a lens, the light-sheltering cover is embedded into the opening, and the light-sheltering cover is capped by the lens. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes a second engaging structure, and the lamp holder module is coupled to the lamp body through the second engaging structure. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes plural foreign matter preventing structures, and the plural foreign matter preventing structures are arranged between the transparent lamp cover and the lamp body and between the lamp body and the lamp holder module.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces, and the outer surface, the inner surface, the installation plane and the first engaging structure are integrally formed as a one-piece metal part or detachably coupled to each other. Moreover, the sensing and driving module further includes a coupling element for coupling the sensing device with the middle sleeve, and the sensing device includes a microwave sensor. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes a second engaging structure, and the lamp holder module is coupled to the lamp body through the second engaging structure. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes plural foreign matter preventing structures, and the plural foreign matter preventing structures are arranged between the transparent lamp cover and the lamp body and between the lamp body and the lamp holder module.
In an embodiment, the lamp cup includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface, both of the outer surface and the inner surface are smooth surfaces, and the outer surface, the inner surface, the installation plane and the first engaging structure are integrally formed as a one-piece metal part or detachably coupled to each other. Moreover, the sensing and driving module further includes a light-sheltering cover for enclosing the sensing device, and the sensing device includes a passive infrared human body sensor. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes a lamp holder module, the lamp holder module and the LED illumination module are respectively located at two ends of the lamp body, the lamp holder module includes an inner tube and a conductive outer casing, and the conductive outer casing is sheathed around the inner tube. Moreover, the modular lighting device further includes plural waterproof sealing rings, and the plural waterproof sealing rings are arranged between the transparent lamp cover and the lamp body and between the lamp body and the lamp holder module.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The lamp cup 110 comprises an outer surface 110a and an inner surface 110b. The outer surface 110a and the inner surface 110b are both smooth surfaces. Moreover, the outer surface 110a and the inner surface 110b are opposed to each other. Especially, a receiving chamber 111 is defined by the inner surface 110b of the lamp cup 110 in order to accommodate the middle sleeve 113. Moreover, the lamp cup 110 further comprises an installation plane 112 with a hollow part. The installation plane 112 is located at an end of the lamp cup 110 that faces the transparent lamp cover 17. In addition, at least one first engaging structure 112a is distributed on an outer periphery of the installation plane 112, and at least one second engaging structure 112c is distributed on a periphery of the hollow part of the installation plane 112. Moreover, the outer surface 110a is slightly protruded over the installation plane 112. Consequently, a lateral wall is formed around the installation plane 112 and the at least one first engaging structure 112a.
In this embodiment, the first engaging structure 112a of the installation plane 112 is engaged with the first engaging structure 17b of the transparent lamp cover 17. Due to the engagement between the first engaging structure 112a and the first engaging structure 17b, the transparent lamp cover 17 is coupled to the lamp cup 110 of the lamp body 11. The profiles of the first engaging structure 112a and the first engaging structure 17b are not restricted as long as they have matching structures. For example, the first engaging structure 112a and the first engaging structure 17b may be an engaging recess and a hook, a slot and a hook, or an engaging recess and a fastener, respectively. Moreover, if plural first engaging structures are distributed on the installation plane 112 and the periphery of the transparent lamp cover 17, these first engaging structures may be identical or different.
Moreover, the installation plane 112 is used for supporting the LED illumination module 13. The second engaging structure 112c of the installation plane 112 and the first engaging structure 130c of the base plate 130 are aligned with each other. The second engaging structure 112c of the installation plane 112 is also engaged with the third engaging structure 113c of the middle sleeve 113. Moreover, the outer surface 110a, the inner surface 110b, the installation plane 112, the first engaging structure 112a and the second engaging structure 112c of the lamp cup 110 may be integrally formed as a one-piece metal part or detachably coupled to each other.
From the above discussions, since the outer surface and the inner surface of the lamp cup 110 are smooth surfaces, the lamp cup 110 is more cost-effective when compared with the conventional fin-type lamp cup. Moreover, since the installation plane 112 has the engaging structure, after the LED illumination module 15 is placed on the installation plane 112, the lamp cup 110 may be directly coupled with the transparent lamp cover 17 through the engagement between the engaging structure of the installation plane 112 and the corresponding engaging structure of the transparent lamp cover 17. In other words, the assembling process is simplified. Optionally, a foreign matter preventing structure 161 is located at the contact region between the lamp cup 110 and the transparent lamp cover 17, so that the lamp cup 110 and the transparent lamp cover 17 are combined together more tightly. Moreover, for achieving the lightweight and heat-dissipating purposes, the lamp cup 110 is preferably made of a metallic material or an alloy material (e.g. aluminum or aluminum alloy).
Moreover, due to the engagement between the first engaging structure 130c of the base plate 130 and the third engaging structure 113c of the middle sleeve 113, the base plate 130 of the LED illumination module 13 can be directly coupled to the middle sleeve 113. In comparison with the prior art technology of fixing the base plate 130 on the installation plane 112 through screwing means, the component complexity of the modular lighting device 1 of the present invention can be reduced.
Moreover, at least one part of the circuit board 190 of the sensing and driving module 19 is penetrated through the middle sleeve 113, and protruded out of the middle sleeve 113 and extended toward the transparent lamp cover 17. Due to this arrangement, the assembling process will not be hindered by the volume of the circuit board 190. Under this circumstance, the space utilization is largely enhanced, and the flexibility of installing the components is increased. Moreover, the first engaging structure 194a of the coupling element 194 is engaged with the second engaging structure 113b of the middle sleeve 113. In this embodiment, the second engaging structure 113b is an engaging leg, and the first engaging structure 194a is an engaging slot. In response to a pushing action of the assembly worker, the engaging leg and the engaging slot can be engaged with each other more easily.
As mentioned above, the third engaging structure 113c of the middle sleeve 113 may be engaged with the LED illumination module 13. Furthermore, the third engaging structure 113c of the middle sleeve 113 may be engaged with the second engaging structure 151c of the inner tube 151 of the lamp holder module 15 in order to confine or fix a ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114, which will be described later.
In this embodiment, the sensing device 191 is a passive infrared human body sensor (PIR) or a microwave sensor. In case that the sensing device 191 is the passive infrared human body sensor (PIR), the sensing and driving module 19 further comprises a light-sheltering cover 197 for enclosing the sensing device 191. Due to the light-sheltering cover 197, the light beam or heat generated by the LED illumination module 13 will not interfere with the sensing device 191. Moreover, a top end of the transparent lamp cover 17 has an opening 17a corresponding to the light-sheltering cover 197. The light-sheltering cover 197 is embedded into the opening 17a in order to achieve a better detecting field. Moreover, the top end of the light-sheltering cover 197 is capped by a lens 197a. The light-sheltering cover 197 and the coupling element 194 may be detachably coupled with each other. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the light-sheltering cover 197 and the coupling element 194 are integrally formed with each other.
Hereinafter, a heat dissipation module for the modular lighting device 1 of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to
In addition to the heat dissipation block 115, the lamp body 11 further comprises a ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114. The ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 is sheathed around the sidewall of the middle sleeve 113. The ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 is in direct contact with the part of the heat dissipation block 115 that is exposed outside the perforation 113d. Alternatively, the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 is sheathed around the middle sleeve 113, and locked on the sidewall of the middle sleeve 113. Alternatively, the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 is disposed within the receiving chamber 111. After the heat dissipation block 115 is in direct contact with at least one of the driving integrated chip 192 and the transformer 193, the heat dissipation block 115 is further in direct contact with the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114. Consequently, the heat can be quickly transferred to the outer surface of the middle sleeve 113. Moreover, the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 may be directly attached on the heat dissipation block 115 through a thermal conductive adhesive (not shown). Alternatively, the third engaging structure 113c at the outer surface of the middle sleeve 113 and the second engaging structure 151c of the inner tube 151 may cooperate with each other to fix the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114.
From the above discussions, the conventional lamp cup 110 uses fins to remove heat. Since the fins are costly, the uses of the fins may increase the material cost and the fabricating cost of the modular lighting device 1. Moreover, since the driving integrated chip 192 and the transformer 193 are continuously improved, the generation of the waste heat is reduced. In other words, the fin-type lamp cup needs to be correspondingly improved. In accordance with the present invention, the heat dissipation module comprises the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114. Consequently, after the heat from the circuit board within the lamp cup 11 is transferred to the outer surface of the lamp cup 11 through conduction, the heat is dissipated away from the receiving chamber 111 of the lamp cup through convection or radiation. Since the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure is cheap and has the function of removing heat, the use of the ring-shaped heat dissipation structure 114 can reduce the fabricating cost of the modular lighting device 1 while achieving a satisfactory heat dissipating efficiency.
Please refer to
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a heat dissipation module and a modular lighting device with the heat dissipation module. Due to the engagement between the matching engaging structures of the lamp body and the transparent lamp cover, the lamp body and the transparent lamp cover can be directly coupled with each other by the assembly worker. Since it is not necessary to couple components by screwing means or glue, the assembling process is time-saving and the product reliability is enhanced.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201220511166.6 | Sep 2012 | CN | national |
