Patent Grant
9726363
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device including a light source that includes a light-emitting diode (LED), and relates to a light-emitting device including a heat-releasing structure.
Description of the Related Art
A light-emitting device including an LED and a heat-releasing structure is known to the public.
For example, it is open to the public that a light-emitting device includes a base made of a metallic material and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) thermally connected to the base (For reference, see U.S. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0160302 A1).
Also, it is open to the public that a lamp includes an air-cooling unit including a motor and a fan that is rotary-driven by the motor (For reference, see U.S. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0026185 A1).
In a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a light-emitting device includes a magnetic circuit including a magnetic gap; a movable member including a coil that is electrically connectable to an alternating current power source and arranged in the magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit; and a light source including a light-emitting diode and arranged above the movable member, and the movable member is able to be activated with a voltage falling in a range of one to five percent of an entire voltage range that is applicable to the light-emitting device.
In a second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a light-emitting device includes a casing including an opening; alight source supported by the casing; an air passage arranged adjacent to the light source; a magnetic circuit including a yoke, a permanent magnet arranged in contact with the yoke, a top plate arranged on the permanent magnet to form a magnetic gap between the top plate and the yoke; and a movable member being positioned below the light source in the casing and including a coil that is arranged in a magnetic gap.
In a third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a light-emitting device includes a magnetic circuit including a yoke, a permanent magnet arranged in contact with the yoke, and a top plate arranged on the permanent magnet to form a magnetic gap between the top plate and the yoke; a movable member including a coil to which an alternating current is supplied when the light-emitting device is activated; a rectifier to which the alternating current is supplied when the light-emitting device is activated; and a light source to which a rectified current rectified from the alternating current by the rectifier is supplied when the light-emitting device is activated, the coil of the movable member to which the alternating current is configured to be supplied before the alternating current is supplied to the rectifier.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the subject matter. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As illustrated in the figures submitted herewith, some sizes of structures or portions may be exaggerated relative to other structures or portions for illustrative purposes. Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer or region to another element, layer or region as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of a device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to drawings included herewith. Same and/or similar reference numbers refer to same and/or similar and/or corresponding and/or related structures throughout. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic in nature.
According to an embodiment of a light-emitting device of the subject invention, the light-emitting device 100 includes a magnetic circuit 22 including a magnetic gap 22a; a movable member 2 including a coil 12 that is electrically connectable to an alternating current (AC) power source and arranged in the magnetic gap 22a of the magnetic circuit 22; and a light source 4 including an LED and arranged above the movable member 2.
In an alternating current (AC), the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction. AC is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences, and thus, an alternating current power source 1 is positioned outside of the light-emitting device 100.
The movable member 2 is able to be activated with a voltage that is applied to the coil 12. The voltage that is applicable to the coil 12 may fall in a range of one to five percent of an entire voltage range applicable to the light-emitting device 100. Accordingly, the movable member 2 with the coil 12 arranged in the magnetic gap 22a of the magnetic circuit 22 is able to be activated by a comparatively small voltage range in an entire voltage range to the light-emitting device.
The light-emitting device 100 may further include a rectifier 3 that is electrically connectable to an AC power source 1. The rectifier 3 is configured to rectify an AC originating from the AC power source 1 to supply a rectified current to the light source 4. The light-emitting device 100 may include parts that include a fuse 5 and a varistor 6. A fuse is a device used in an electrical device and/or system to protect against an excessive current. A varistor is an electronic component with an electrical resistivity that varies with a voltage applied.
Also, the reference number 5 shown in
The movable member 2 may further include a panel 16 arranged on the coil 12. The word “panel” here includes a diaphragm. The magnetic circuit 22 may include a yoke 15, a permanent magnet 14 arranged on the yoke 15, and a top plate 17 arranged on the permanent magnet 14 to form a magnetic gap 22a between the top plate 17 and the yoke 15. The permanent magnet 14 may be arranged in a recessed portion 15a of the yoke 15, and a lower portion of the permanent magnet 14 is in contact with the yoke 15.
As shown in
Namely, the coil 12 of the movable member 2 is arranged in the magnetic gap 22a of the magnetic circuit 22, which is arranged in the casing 11 at a position lower than a position of the movable member 2. The light source 4 may be directly supported by the casing 11. The light source 4 includes a substrate 7 to which the LED is electrically connected. An outer surface of the casing 11 may be covered by an electrically-insulating layer 18 as shown in
If the number of LEDs arranged in a light source 4 increases and/or the size of each LED increases, the light source and/or a light-emitting device including the light source require a heat-releasing structure to release heat from the LEDs. The casing 11 may be made of metallic material and thermally connected to the light source 4. The substrate 7 may be a ceramic substrate. The substrate 7 may include a metal plate and/or a heatsink that is thermally connected to the LED and to the casing 11. The substrate 7 may include an electrically-insulating layer that is made of a resin.
Also, the light source 4 may be supported by the casing 11 through a metal plate 7′ and/or a heatsink that is additionally arranged.
Furthermore, an air passage 10 may be arranged at a position below the light source 4 and above the panel 16 of the movable member 2. The air passage 10 may be arranged adjacent to the light source 4 to release heat generated in the light source 4 efficiently. The casing 11 may include an air passage 10 at a peripheral side portion of the casing 11.
The up and down movement of the coil 12 conform to up and down shapes of AC waveform. When the coil 12 on which the panel 16 is arranged is at a higher position as an up position, the movable member 2 pushes air heated by the light source 4 in the casing 11 toward outside of the casing 11 of the light-emitting device 100. When the coil 12 on which the panel 16 is arranged is at a lower position as a down position, the movable member 2 introduces air from outside of the casing 11 of the light-emitting device 100 into a space in the casing 11. Accordingly, the heated air in the casing 11 is able to be circulated to cool down the light source 4 in the light-emitting device 100.
A light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes means for circulating air that is heated by a light source when the light source is activated; means for flowing alternating current through a coil of a movable member; and means for flowing rectified current through the light source.
According to an embodiment of a light-emitting device of the present invention, a light-emitting device 100 may include a casing 11 including an opening 11a; a light source 4 that is supported by the casing 11. The light source 4 may be supported by an upper stepped portion of the casing 11. The light-emitting device 100 may further include a magnetic circuit 22 including a yoke 15, a permanent magnet 14 arranged in contact with the yoke 15, a top plate 17 arranged on the permanent magnet 14 to form a magnetic gap 22a between the top plate 17 and the yoke 15. The light-emitting device 100 may further include a movable member 2 that is positioned below the light source 4 in the casing 11 and includes a coil 12 arranged in a magnetic gap 22a between the top plate 17 and the yoke 15. The movable member 2 of the light-emitting device 100 may further include a panel 16 arranged on the coil 12. The light source 4 may include LEDs that are arranged in an area positioned above the panel 16 of the movable member 2. The permanent magnet 14 may be arranged in a recessed portion 15a of the yoke 15.
When the light-emitting device 100 is activated, the coil 12 of the movable member to which a part of AC is supplied will be activated. The movable member 2 is included in the light-emitting device. The movable member 2 is able to be activated by a small voltage of about 3 to 5 volts, for example. The AC except a part of the AC supplied to the coil 12 may be rectified by the rectifier 3 to supply a rectified current to the light source 4.
The movable member 2 includes a coil 12. The coil 12 includes a wire 12b winding around a bobbin 12a. AC is configured to be supplied to the coil 12 of the movable member 2 before being supplied to the rectifier 3.
The coil 12 of the movable member 2 is electrically positioned between an AC power source and the rectifier 3. The rectifier 3 may convert AC, which periodically reverses direction, to a rectified current, which flows in only one direction.
For more details about the magnetic gap 22a, the magnetic gap 22a is formed between a periphery of the top plate 17 and an upper portion of the yoke 15. The movable member 2 includes a coil 12, which includes a bobbin 12a and a wire 12b winding around the bobbin 12a. The movable member 2 may include an FPC (flexible printed circuit) 23. The FPC 23 may be partly attached to the movable member 2. Of course, the arrangement of an FPC 23 is not limited to an arrangement shown in
The light-emitting device 100 may further include a base 19 that includes a first terminal 19a and a second terminal 19b.
As shown in
The first lead wire 9a may be soldered on the first electrode 8a of the light source at one end of the first lead wire 9a. The second lead wire 9b may be soldered on the second electrode 8b of the light source 4 at one end of the second lead wire. The rectifier 3 may be electrically connected to the coil 12 of the movable member 2, an AC power source 1, and the light source 4. The rectifier 3 may be a bridge rectifier.
The substrate 7 may be a resin substrate. The substrate 7 may include a metal plate 7′ to which the LEDs are thermally connected. The substrate 7 may be a ceramic substrate.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a light-emitting device including: a magnetic circuit 22 that includes a yoke 15, a permanent magnet 14 arranged in contact with the yoke 15, and a top plate 17 arranged on the permanent magnet 14 to form a magnetic gap 22a between the top plate 17 and the yoke 15; a movable member 2 including a coil 12 that is electrically connectable to an AC power source 1 such that AC from the AC power source flows through the coil 12 of the movable member 2; a rectifier 3 electrically connected to the AC power source 1; and a light source 4 electrically connected to the rectifier 3 such that a rectified current that originates from the AC and is rectified by the rectifier 3 flows through the light source 4.
The movable member 2 herein moves repeatedly up and down when AC flows through the movable member. When the AC power source 1 to activate the light-emitting device 100 is switched on, AC from the AC power source 1 flows through the coil 12 of the movable member 2, and AC is rectified by the rectifier 3 to be a rectified current. Then, the rectified current is configured to flow through the light source 4 that includes LEDs to emit light.
Accordingly, a magnetic force produced in the magnetic gap 22a moves the coil 12 with a panel 16 up and down. The up and down movement of the coil 12 conform to up and down shapes of AC waveform. When the coil 12 on which the panel 16 is arranged is at a higher position, the movable member 2 pushes air heated by the light source 4 in the casing 11 toward outside of the casing 11 of the light-emitting device 100. When the coil 12 on which the panel 16 is arranged is at a lower position, the movable member 2 introduces fresh air outside of the casing 11 of the light-emitting device 100 into a space in the casing 11. Accordingly, the heated air in the casing 11 is able to be circulated.
The air circulation in a space below the light source allows the light source to cool down when the light-emitting device is activated. It requires a small voltage to activate the movable member 2 to circulate air in this embodiment of the light-emitting device. For example, the small voltage can be around 3-5 volts. A voltage of around 220-230 volts and a frequency of 50 cycles per second are used in Europe, most of Asia, most of South America and Australia, for example.
Accordingly, the required voltage to activate the movable member in this embodiment is comparatively small to an entire amount of voltage, and with such a small voltage, the light source of the light-emitting device can be cooled down. In other words, the movable member 2 is able to be activated with a voltage falling in a range of one to five percent of an entire amount of voltage that is applicable to the light-emitting device.
Also, as another embodiment, it is possible to arrange two coils that are opposite in phase. Operating sound of the coils in a movable member may be restrained or canceled by each other of the two coils that are opposite in phase.
According to an embodiment of the subject matter, a light-emitting device 100 includes a casing 11 includes an opening; a light source 4 supported by the casing 11; an air passage 10 arranged adjacent to the light source 4; a magnetic circuit 22 including a yoke 15, a permanent magnet 14 arranged in contact with the yoke 15, a top plate 17 arranged on the permanent magnet 14 to form a magnetic gap 22a between the top plate 17 and the yoke 15; and a movable member 2 being positioned below the light source 4 in the casing 11 and including a coil 12 that is arranged in a magnetic gap 22a.
The air passage 10 connects an inside space of the casing 11 and an outside of the casing 11. If the air passage 10 is arranged adjacent to the light source 4, it is possible to circulate heated air by the light source 4 in the casing 11 and fresh air outside the casing 11 effectively. If a surface area of the air passage 10 becomes larger, heat-releasing effect of heated air may increase. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the surface area of the air passage to have a shape of slit as shown in
As shown in
In addition, as an embodiment of the subject matter, the middle portion “b” of the bobbin 12a may be exposed from the winding wire 12b of the coil 12. The magnetic fluid 13 may be positioned on the middle portion of the bobbin 12a.
Furthermore, while certain embodiments of the present inventive subject matter have been illustrated with reference to specific combinations of elements, various other combinations may also be provided without departing from the teachings of the present inventive subject matter. Thus, the present inventive subject matter should not be construed as being limited to the particular exemplary embodiments described herein and illustrated in the Figures, but may also encompass combinations of elements of the various illustrated embodiments.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive subject matter. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken as limiting the inventive subject matter as defined by the following claims. The following claims are, therefore, to be read to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth but all equivalent elements for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and also what incorporates the essential idea of the inventive subject matter.
This application is a new U.S. patent application that claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/118,651, filed on Feb. 20, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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