1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to illuminating systems and, particularly, to an illuminating system using a universal lamp holder and an light-emitting diode (LED) lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
LEDs are widely used due to their advantageous characteristics. However, conventional lamp holders, for example fluorescent lamp holders, cannot be used to hold LED lamps, and also, LED lamp holders cannot be used to hold fluorescent lamps. Therefore, if users want to replace a fluorescent lamp with an LED lamp or replace an LED lamp with a fluorescent, they have to replace the holders as well.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an illuminating system, a universal lamp holder, and an LED lamp. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The LED lamp 23 includes a lamp tube 203, a pair of conductive lamp bases 2031 and 2032, and at least one fixing lamp base 2033. At least one LED 200 is encapsulated within the lamp tube 203. The conductive lamp bases 2031 and 2032 extending from one end of the lamp tube 23 are connected to two pins (not shown) of the at least one LED 200, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, an AC/DC convertor (not shown) is employed to connect the conductive lamp bases 2031 and 2032 to the pins of the LED 200. The at least one fixing lamp base 2033 extending from the other end of the lamp tube 23 is not electrically connected to the pins of the LED 200. The at least one fixing lamp base 2033 cooperates with the conductive lamp bases 2031 and 2032 to fix the LED lamp 23 to the universal lamp holder 21. In the embodiment, the at least one fixing lamp base 2033 includes a pair of fixing lamp bases 2033. The fixing lamp bases 2033 are made of insulating material.
The universal lamp holder 21 further includes a ballast 201, a starter 204, a first socket 206, and a second socket 208. The first socket 206 includes two first jacks (not labeled) and the second socket 208 includes two second jacks (not labeled). The ballast 201 is connected to a voltage-input terminal 31 and one of the first jacks of the first socket 206. The starter 204 is connected to the other first jack of the first socket 206 and the switch unit 30. One of the second jacks of the second socket 208 is connected to the switch unit 30 and the other second jack is connected to a voltage-output terminal 32. The switch unit 30 is further connected to the voltage-input terminal 31.
In the embodiment, the switch unit 30 is configuring for selectively connecting the second socket 208 to the starter 204 or connecting the second socket 208 to the voltage-input terminal 31. In the embodiment, as shown in
In the embodiment, the switch unit 30 is a single-pole double throw switch. The switch unit 20 includes a moveable terminal 303, a first terminal 301 and a second terminal 302. The first terminal 301 is connected to the voltage-input terminal 31. The second terminal 302 is connected to the starter 204. The moveable terminal 303 is connected to one of the second jacks of the second socket 208. When the moveable terminal 303 is switched to be connected to the first terminal 301, the system 20 is switched to the LED lamp mode. When the moveable terminal 303 is switched to be connected to the second terminal 302, the system 20 is switched to the fluorescent lamp mode. In an alternative embodiment, the switch unit 30 can be a double-pole double throw switch or a light-coupled semi-conductor switch.
It is understood that the disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201010301100.X | Feb 2010 | CN | national |