Illumination device

[0001] Related subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent applications with an application Ser. No. 13/301,797 and a title of LIGHT TUBE HOLDER, an application Ser. No. 13/301,799 and a title of ILLUMINATION DEVICE, an application Ser. No. 13/301,800 and a title of ILLUMINATION DEVICE, an application Ser. No. 13/301,801 and a title of ILLUMINATION DEVICE, an application Ser. No. 13/301,805 and a title of ILLUMINATION DEVICE, and an application Ser. No. 13/301,810 and a title of ILLUMINATION DEVICE, which have the same assignees as the current application and were concurrently filed.

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to illumination devices, and particularly, to a light-emitting diode (LED) illumination device for adapting an LED tube and a fluorescent tube.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Generally, a conventional light tube holder for fluorescent tubes can not be used with LED tubes. When attempting to use an LED tube, the conventional light tube holder needs to be replaced. It is desirable and useful if a light tube holder can adapt to both fluorescent tubes and LED tubes.

[0006] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an illuminating device 1 includes a tube holder 10 and a tube 20 mounted on the tube holder 10. The tube 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a light-emitting diode (LED) tube 20. A conductive pin 21 and an insulated pin 22 are symmetrically arranged on each end of the LED tube 20. The tube 20 also can be a traditional fluorescent tube which has two conductive pins on one end thereof and two conductive pins on an opposite end thereof.

[0028] The tube holder 10 includes a base 11 and two connectors 12 at opposite ends of the base 11. Each connector 12 includes a cap 13, a retainer 15, and a rotary member 14. The cap 13 is attached to one end of the retainer 15. The cap 13 and the retainer 15 cooperatively define a space to receive the rotary member 14 therein. In the embodiment, a through hole 16 is defined in the retainer 15. The rotary member 14 is smaller in diameter than the though hole 16, thereby allowing the rotary member 14 to be received and to rotate in the through hole 16. The rotary member 14 is in the shape of a hat, including a brim 140, a body 141, and a first groove 142. The brim 140 is larger in diameter than the though hole 16, and abuts the outside end face of the retainer 15 around the though hole 16. The first groove 142 is diametrically defined in the body 141 and divides the body 141 into two substantially equal parts. The first groove 142 can receive the two pins of the tube 20 therein. An opening 150 is defined in the retainer 15, on a line substantially perpendicular to, and furthest from, the base 11, and extends from an external surface of the sidewall of the through hole 16, and communicates with the through hole 16.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, an elastic member 17 consisting of three elastic pieces 17a, 17b, 17c is positioned in the retainer 15 around the through hole 16. Each elastic piece 17a, 17b, 17c is made of an elastic metal sheet by stamping. The elastic piece 17a has a configuration of a half of a circle, while each of the elastic pieces 17b, 17c has a configuration of one fourth of a circle. A second groove 151 is defined in the retainer 15 opposite the opening 150. In this embodiment, at least one buffer pad 152 is formed on the side wall between the opening 150 and the second groove 151. The opening 150, the second groove 151, and the at least one buffer pad 152 are used to separate the three elastic pieces 17a, 17b, 17c of the elastic member 17 from each other. The three elastic pieces 17a, 17b, 17c of the elastic member 17 can then be electrically insulated from each other. The tube holder 10 further includes an LED tube drive circuit board 18 and a fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19 mounted in the base 11. The elastic pieces 17a, 17b are connected to the LED tube drive circuit board 18 and the elastic pieces 17a, 17c are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19.

[0030] When installing the tube 20, the rotary member 14 is first rotated to cause the first groove 142 to align with the opening 150. The pins 21 of the tube 20 can then be inserted into the through hole 16 and supported in the first groove 142. The tube 20 can then be rotated to misalign the first groove 142 of the rotary member 14 with the opening 150, and securely retain the tube 20 in the retainer 15.

[0031] When the tube 20 is rotated to a predetermined position (indicated by a mark (not shown) on the connector 12), the rotary member 14 is rotated to a first position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 make contact with the elastic pieces 17a, 17b of the elastic member 17. Thus, the tube 20 can be driven by the LED tube drive circuit board 18. When the element 14 is rotated to a second position, the pins 21 of the tube 20 make contact with the elastic pieces 17a, 17c of the elastic member 17, allowing the tube 20 to be driven by the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19. By virtue of these arrangements, the tube holder 10 can well adapt to any type of the tube 20.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the elastic member 17 includes three elastic pieces 17a, 17b, and 17c. The length of the elastic piece 17a is about 0.5 A, where A represents the perimeter of the through hole 16. The lengths of the elastic pieces 17b and 17c are both 0.25 A. The number of the at least one buffer pad 152 is one. Thus, the elastic pieces 17a, 17b, and 17c are separated from each other by the opening 150, the second groove 151 and the buffer pad 152.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the elastic pieces 17a and 17b may be connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19, and the elastic pieces 17a and 17c may be connected to the LED tube drive circuit board 18.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment, there are four elastic pieces 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d constituting the elastic member 17. The lengths of the four elastic pieces 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d are all 0.25 A. The number of the at least one buffer pad 152 is two. Thus, the elastic pieces 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d are separated from each other by the opening 150, the second groove 151 and the two buffer pads 152.

[0035] In the embodiment, the elastic pieces 27a and 27b are connected to the LED tube drive circuit board 18, and the elastic pieces 27c and 27d are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19. The first position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic pieces 27a and 27b, and the second position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic pieces 27c and 27d.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment, there are three elastic pieces 37a, 37b and 37c constituting the elastic member 17. The lengths of the three elastic pieces 37a, 37b, and 37c are all 0.25 A. The number of the at least one buffer pad 152 is two. Thus, the elastic pieces 37a, 37b, and 37c are separated from each other by the opening 150, the second groove 151 and the two buffer pads 152.

[0037] In the embodiment, the elastic pieces 37a and 37b are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19, and the elastic piece 37c is connected to the LED tube drive circuit board 18. The first position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic piece 37c, and the second position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic pieces 37a and 37b.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, in a fourth embodiment, there are three elastic pieces 47a, 47b, and 47c constituting the elastic member 17. The lengths of the three elastic pieces 47a, 47b, and 47c are all 0.25 A. An insulation piece 47d is positioned in the retainer 15 around the through hole 16. The insulation piece 47d is resilient and has a configuration of a quarter of a circle. The length of the insulation piece 47d is about 0.25 A. The number of the at least one buffer pad 152 is two. Thus, the elastic pieces 47a, 47b, 47c, and the insulation piece 47d are separated from each other by the opening 150, the second groove 151 and the two buffer pads 152.

[0039] When installing the tube 20, the rotary member 14 is rotated to a position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic piece 47c and the insulation piece 47d, the elastic piece 47c and the insulation piece 47d can tightly press against the two pins 21 of the tube 20, thereby holding the tube 20 in position.

[0040] In the embodiment, the elastic pieces 47a and 47b are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19, and the elastic piece 47c is connected to the LED tube drive circuit board 18. The first position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic piece 47c, and the second position mentioned above is the position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 stay in contact with the elastic pieces 47a and 47b.

[0041] The illumination device 1 may include two connectors 12 of FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, or FIG. 7. Alternatively, the illumination device 1 may include one connector 12 of FIG. 4, and one connector 12 of FIG. 5.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 8-11, in the embodiment, the illumination device 1 includes two connectors 12a and 12b of FIG. 5. The elastic piece 27a of the connector 12a is connected to the positive terminal of a power supply 51 and the elastic piece 27a of the connector 12b is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 51. The elastic pieces 27b of the connector 12a and 12b are disconnected. A starter 53 is connected between the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12b and the elastic piece 27d of the connector 12a. A ballast 52 is connected between the positive terminal of the power supply 51 and the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12a. The elastic piece 27c of the connector 12a is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 51 via a ballast 53. The elastic piece 27d of the connector 12b is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 51.

[0043] When installing the LED tube 20, the two pairs of pins can be inserted into the though holes 16 of the connectors 12a and 12b. The LED tube 20 can be rotated, and when the LED tube 20 is rotated to the first position, the two conductive pins 21 make and stay in contact with the elastic piece 27a of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27a of the connector 12b, and the two insulated pins 22 make and stay in contact with the elastic piece 27b of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27b of the connector 12b, thus allowing the two conductive pins 21 of the LED tube 20 to be connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply 51. The ballast 52 and starter 53 are disconnected from the LED tube drive circuit board 18. Thus, the LED tube 20 can be driven by the LED drive circuit board 18 (shown in FIG. 8).

[0044] When the LED tube 20 is rotated to a position to make the two conductive pins 21 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12b, and the two insulated pins 22 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27d of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27d of the connector 12b, this causes one conductive pin 21 of the LED tube 20 to be connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 51 via the ballast 52. Thus, the LED tube 20 cannot be driven by the LED drive circuit board 18 (shown in FIG. 9).

[0045] When the LED tube 20 is rotated to a position to make the two conductive pins 21 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27b of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27b of the connector 12b, and the two insulated pins 22 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27a of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27a of the connector 12b, this causes the two insulated pins 22 of the LED tube 20 to be connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply 15. Thus, the LED tube 20 cannot be driven by the LED drive circuit board 18 (shown in FIG. 10).

[0046] When the LED tube 20 is rotated to a position to make the two conductive pins 21 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27d of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27d of the connector 12b, and the two insulated pins 22 stay in contact with the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 27c of the connector 12b, this causes the one insulated pin 22 of the LED tube 20 to be connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 51 via the ballast 52. The starter 53 is connected between one insulated pin 22 and one conductive pin 21 of the LED tube 20. Thus, the LED tube 20 cannot be driven by the LED drive circuit board 18 (shown in FIG. 11).

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, when installing a fluorescent tube 30, the two pairs of pins can be respectively inserted into the through holes 16 of the connectors 12a and 12b. The fluorescent tube 30 can be rotated, and when the fluorescent tube 30 is rotated to the second position, the pins of the fluorescent tube 30 make and stay in contact with the elastic pieces 27c and 27d of the connectors 12a and the elastic pieces 27c and 27d of the connector 12b, thus allowing the two pins of the fluorescent tube 30 to be connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply 51. The starter 53 is connected between the two pins of the fluorescent tube 30, and the ballast 52 is connected between the power supply 51 and the fluorescent tube 30. Thus, the fluorescent tube 30 can be driven by the fluorescent drive circuit board 19 (shown in FIG. 12).

[0048] When the fluorescent tube 30 is rotated to a position whereby the two pairs of pins make and stay in contact with the elastic pieces 27a and 27b of the connectors 12a and the elastic pieces 27a and 27b of the connector 12b, this causes the starter 53 and the ballast 52 are disconnected from the fluorescent tube 30, and then the fluorescent tube 30 cannot be driven by the fluorescent drive circuit board 19 (shown in FIG. 13).

[0049] FIG. 14 illustrates a connector 50 for the fluorescent tube 20. Two elastic pieces 57a and 57b constituting an elastic member 17 are arranged around the through hole 16 in the connector 50, and the lengths of the elastic pieces 57a and 57b are 0.5 A. The elastic pieces 57a and 57b are separated from each other by the opening 150 and the second groove 151. The elastic pieces 57a and 57b are connected to the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19.

[0050] The illumination device 1 may include the one connector 12 of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 and one connector 50 of FIG. 14.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 15, the connector 12 further includes a switch 120 positioned between the edge of the retainer 15 and the elastic pieces 17b which connected to the LED drive circuit board 18. FIG. 16 illustrates a drive circuit of the illumination device 1 with two connectors 12 of FIG. 4 and the LED tube 20 connected thereto. The elastic piece 17a is connected to a negative terminal of the power supply 61. One end of the switch 120 and one end of a ballast 62 are connected to a positive terminal of the power supply 61, and the other end of the switch 120 is connected to the other end of the ballast 62, then connected to the elastic piece 17a of the connector 12b. A starter 63 is connected between the elastic piece 17b of the connector 12a and the elastic piece 17c of the connector 17b. Thus, when the switch 120 is closed, the ballast 53 is shorted.

[0052] When the tube 20 is rotated to a predetermined position (indicated by a mark on the connector 12), the rotary member 14 is rotated to a first position where the pins 21 of the tube 20 make and stay in contact with the elastic pieces 17a, 17b of the elastic member 17. The elastic piece 17b contacted with one pin 21 of the tube 20 is pushed to be deformed and actuated the switch 120 to be closed. As a result, the ballast 62 is shorted out, thereby allowing the tube 20 to be driven by the LED tube drive circuit board 18. When the rotary member 14 is rotated to a second position, the pins 21 of the tube 20 make and stay in contact with the elastic pieces 17a, 17c of the elastic member 17, the elastic piece 17b is then released and out of contact with the switch 120. The switch 120 then becomes open, thereby allowing the ballast 62 to be connected between the positive terminal of the power supply 61 and the elastic piece 17a. The tube 20 can then be driven by the fluorescent tube drive circuit board 19.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 17-19, in a fifth embodiment, the connector 12 having four elastic pieces 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d as shown in FIG. 5 may further include the switch 120 which is positioned next to the elastic piece 27a. In a sixth embodiment, the connector 12 having three elastic pieces 37a, 37b, and 37c as shown in FIG. 6 may further include the switch 120 which is positioned next to the elastic piece 37a. In an eighth embodiment, the connector 12 having three elastic pieces 47a, 47b, and 47c and the insulation piece 47d as shown in FIG. 7 may further include the switch 120 which is positioned next to the elastic piece 47a.

[0054] Alternatively, the illumination device 1 may include the two connectors 12 as shown in FIG. 15, or may include the two connectors 12 as shown in FIG. 17.

[0055] The present disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. 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.