Title of Invention

DEFORMABLE ILLUMINATION MODULE

Abstract This invention relates to a deformable illumination module with a plurality of circuit boards (1) that have at least one optical emitter arranged thereon, respectively, and that are connected into a chain by way of tow electrical power supply wires (3.4) wherein the electrical power supply wires (3,4) run without interruption across all circuit boards (1) of the chain thereby creating a parallel connection of the circuit boards (1) of the chain, and wherein the circuit boards (1) are printed circuit boards or circuit boards manufactured by means of MID technology.
Full Text Deformable Illumination Module
The invention relates to a deformable illumination module with a
plurality of circuit boards that have at least one optical
emitter arranged thereon, respectively, and that are connected to
form a chain via electrical power supply wires. The invention
relates in particular to illumination modules for back-lighting
light-permeable materials such as e.g. acryl in luminous letters.
Known illumination modules of this kind, such as e.g. the Tetra®
LED system by GELCore or the LED hose by Hansen-neon, do not
allow for changing the distances from one light-emitting diode
component part to another light-emitting diode component part;
they are therefore not scalable in terms of their luminance and,
depending on the radiation characteristics with regard to a
luminance that is as homogenous as possible, only usable for a
very limited magnitude range of luminous letters. Moreover, the
maximum length of these illumination modules is very limited.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an
illumination module of the kind as set forth in the introduction
that allows for easy varying of the luminance whereby longer
chains are possible than to date.
This object is achieved with an illumination module that has the
characteristics as stated in claim 1. Advantageous improvements
of the illumination module are outlined in the dependent claims.
A plurality of circuit boards is provided for an illumination
module according to the invention.


and arranged on the circuit boards is respectively at least one
optical emitter, in particular a light-emitting diode component
part, and the circuit boards are connected via two massive
electrical power supply wires into a chain. The electrical power
supply wires run without interruption across all circuit boards
of the chain. The circuit boards of the chain are connected in
parallel with regard to each other by way of these power supply
wires.
Covered by the term "without interruption" are all configurations
that have the power supply wires severed on the circuit board but
that are continually electrically connected on the circuit board
without considerable reduction of the cross-section.
Aside from the at least one optical emitter, it is possible to
arrange on each circuit board additionally at least one further
electronic component that is electrically connected to the
optical emitter.
A preferred embodiment provides that for the purpose of
reinforcing the connection between two respective circuit boards
the electrical power supply wires are connected into a bundle
between the circuit boards, for example by crimping.
In a special embodiment the circuit boards are grouped into a
plurality of circuit board pairs and the optical emitters of each
circuit board pair are connected by way of a connecting wire
between the two circuit boards.
Light-emitting diode component parts are particularly preferred
optical emitters.


The power supply wires between respectively two circuit boards
run preferably in a meanderlike fashion. This allows, on the one
hand, for varying the distance between two circuit boards and, on
the other hand, the bending radius of the chain can be changed
easily.
It is particularly preferred for the circuit boards to be tapered
in the direction of their ends that are pointing toward each
other and for the power supply wires to run together, starting
from a widened middle part, along the edges of the circuit
boards. The circuit boards are preferably configured in
rhomboidal fashion or in the fashion of a flat-pressed hexagon or
octagon having their long axes arranged along the main direction
of extension of the chain.
Usable as circuit boards are both printed circuit boards (PCB's)
as well as metallic lead frames that have the optical emitters
and, if need be, the associated electronic component parts
arranged thereon. In addition, it is possible to manufacture
circuit boards by means of MID technology, including e.g. hot
pressing.
A special advantage of the illumination module according to the
invention lies in the fact that, without having to change
production, it can easily be adjusted for special customer
wishes. The meandering form of the power supply cable bundle
between the circuit boards allows for extensive variations of the
distance between the circuit boards and thereby also for
variation of the length of one and the same illumination module.
An illumination module according to the invention can
advantageously be manufactured easily via a reel-to-reel process



whereby power supply lines that are available in "infinite" form
are stripped at certain intervals, and the circuit boards are
contact connected at these locations to the otherwise continuous
power supply lines and joined to the latter.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the power supply lines run
only on the front side of the circuit boards which is also where
the optical emitters are located. The circuit boards can then
advantageously feature a flat back side thereby allowing, for
example, for the technically simple and direct fastening by way
of a screw through a hole that is provided for this purpose or by
way of double-sided adhesive tape.
Further advantages, improvements and advantageous embodiments
become clear based on the exemplary embodiment that is explained
in conjunction with the figure.
The figure shows a schematic depiction of a top view onto the
embodiment.
The figure is, as a matter of principle, not to be understood as
true to scale. Also, individual component parts are, as a matter
of principle, not depicted as representing their actual size-
specific dimensions relative to each other.
The exemplary embodiment features a plurality of circuit boards
1. Arranged on said circuit boards 1 are two light-emitting
diode component parts 2, respectively, as optical emitters which
are connected by way of two electrical power supply wires 3, 4
into a chain. The electrical power supply wires 3, 4 are guided
across all circuit boards 1 without interruption creating a
parallel connection of the circuit boards 1 of the chain.



Aside from the light-emitting diode component parts 2, the
circuit boards 1 have arranged on them further electronic
component parts 5, respectively, that are electrically connected
to the light-emitting diode components 2.
Electrical power supply wires 3, 4 are combined into bundles,
respectively, and crimped to reinforce the connection between two
respective circuit boards 1. In the alternative, it is also
possible to use a ribbon cable that is unpicked in the area of
the circuit boards.
In an embodiment in which the light-emitting diode component
parts of two circuit boards that are adjacent to each other,
respectively, are connected with one another, with the connection
being achieved by way of a further connecting wire between the
two circuit boards.
The power supply wires 3, 4 between two given circuit boards 1
run in a meanderlike fashion.
In the direction of the extension of the chain, circuit boards 1
have the shape of an elongated octagon, and the power supply
wires 3, 4 run together along the edges of the circuit boards,
starting at the widened middle part. In particular, they do not
have back-side contacts which means that, during the installation
of an illumination module, it is not necessary to take special
steps to prevent, for example, a short circuit.
The circuit boards have e.g. a flat back side whereby, for
example, direct fastening by


way of a screw through a hole provided for that purpose or by way
of double-sided adhesive tape is possible.
The illumination module can advantageously be manufactured by way
of a reel-to-reel process whereby power supply lines that are
available in "infinite" form are stripped at certain intervals.
At these stripped locations circuit boards 1 are contact
connected to the otherwise continuous power supply lines and
joined to the latter.
The illumination module can optionally have secondary optics for
beam-forming, for example in the form of detachably (e.g. via a
plug-and-socket device or a clamping connection) or non-
detachably (e.g. using glue) fastened collecting or diverging
lenses and/or diftractive optics (not shown in the figures).
This allows for adjusting the luminance and/or the homogeneity of
the luminance of the illumination module by changing the
radiation characteristics of the light-emitting diode components
2.
The description of the invention by way of the embodiment shall
naturally not be seen as a limitation of the invention to this
embodiment alone. The characteristics of the invention that are
disclosed in the present description, in the drawing and in the
claims can have essential significance either individually or in
any combination for the implementation of the invention.

WE CLAIM
1. Deformable illumination module with a plurality of circuit boards (1) that
have at least one optical emitter arranged thereon, respectively, and that
are connected into a chain by way of tow electrical power supply wires
(3.4) wherein the electrical power supply wires (3,4) run without
interruption across all circuit boards (1) of the chain thereby creating a
parallel connection of the circuit boards (1) of the chain, and wherein the
circuit boards (1) are printed circuit boards or circuit boards manufactured
by means of MID technology.
2. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one further
electronic component (5) is arranged on a circuit board, in addition to the
at least one optical emitter (2), and electrically connected to the optical
emitter (2).
3. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical power
supply wires are connected to form a bundle between two circuit boards,
respectively, in order to reinforce the connection between two circuit
boards.
4. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit boards are
grouped into a plurality of circuit board pairs and wherein the optical
emitters, respectively, of a circuit board pair are connected by way of a
connecting wire between the two circuit boards.
5. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical emitters are
light-emitting diode component parts.


6. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply wires
between two respective circuit boards run in a meanderlike fashion.
7. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit boards are
capered in the direction of their ends that are pointed toward each other
and wherein the power supply wires run together starting from the
widened middle part, along the edges of the circuit boards.
8. Illumination module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the circuit boards are
configured I rhomboidal fashion or in the fashion of a flat-pressed
hexagon or octagon having their long axes arranged along the main
direction of extension of the chain.
9. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the bending
radius between two circuit boards as well as the distance between the two
circuit boards can be varied.
10. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the electrical
power supply wires is a continuous wire that forms a single electrical
contact to each of the plurality of circuit boards.
11. Illumination module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two electrical
power supply wires run along opposite edges of each of the circuit boars.


This invention relates to a deformable illumination module with a plurality of
circuit boards (1) that have at least one optical emitter arranged thereon,
respectively, and that are connected into a chain by way of tow electrical power
supply wires (3.4) wherein the electrical power supply wires (3,4) run without
interruption across all circuit boards (1) of the chain thereby creating a parallel
connection of the circuit boards (1) of the chain, and wherein the circuit boards
(1) are printed circuit boards or circuit boards manufactured by means of MID
technology.

Documents:

02145-kolnp-2006-abstract-1.1.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-claims-1.1.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-correspondence others-1.1.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-correspondence others.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.2.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-drawings-1.1.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-1.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-18.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-2.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-26.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-3.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-form-5.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-international search report.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-pct form.pdf

02145-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE1.1.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-Examination Report Reply Recieved.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM 26.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.1.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM 5.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-FORM-27.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

2145-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-02145-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 249857
Indian Patent Application Number 2145/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 46/2011
Publication Date 18-Nov-2011
Grant Date 16-Nov-2011
Date of Filing 31-Jul-2006
Name of Patentee OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
Applicant Address WERNERWERSTRASSE 2, 93049 REGENSBURG, GERMANY
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SCHINZEL STEPHAN PRINZ-RUPPRECHT-STRASSE 34 93053 REGENSBURG GERMANY
2 STOYAN HARALD FRANZ-VON-TAXIS RING 48 93049 REGENSBURG GERMANY
PCT International Classification Number F21S 4/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/DE2005/000143
PCT International Filing date 2005-01-31
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10 2004 004 777.4 2004-01-30 Germany