IP Library Granted Patent US 8,337,214
Granted Patent B2
US 8,337,214 · App. 12/719,287 · Granted Dec 25, 2012

Electrical connectors and light emitting device package and methods of assembling the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,337,214
App. No.
12/719,287
Granted
Dec 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electrical connectors for attachment to electrical contacts of light emitting devices as well as light emitting device packages and lamp assemblies that use such connectors are provided. Further, methods for assembling light emitting device packages that use such connectors are provided. The electrical connector, for example, can have a plug housing with an electrically conductive socket engaging connection for engaging a socket. The electrical connector can also have an electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection. The electrically conductive member can have an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base configured to attach to an electrical contact on a light emitting device.

Claims (75)

1. An electrical connector for a light emitting device that comprises an electrical contact, the connector comprising:

a plug housing;

an electrically conductive socket engaging connection within the plug housing for engaging a socket; and

an electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection, the electrically conductive member comprising an end distal from the plug housing configured to attach to the electrical contact on a surface of a substrate of the light emitting device, the electrically conductive member being configured to attach to the electrical contact and to bend such that, after attachment, the electrical connector extends out from a side of the substrate of the light emitting device to reduce blockage by the electrical connector of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plug housing comprises plastic.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a bar.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive socket engaging connection of the plug housing comprises one or more pins.

5. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the end of the electrically conductive member forms a contact base.

6. The connector according to claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive member is planar such that the contact base and the rest of the electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing are disposed along the same axis.

7. The connector according to claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive member is angled with respect to the contact base.

8. The connector according to claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive member is configured to bend proximal to the contact base.

9. The connector according to claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion that extends in one direction with the contact base extending in a different direction.

10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member extends in a direction that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

11. The connector according to claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion and the contact base of the electrically conductive member forms a pad from which the upper portion extends.

12. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member is disposed along a plane that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

13. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the electrically conductive member is configured to bend proximal to the contact base.

14. The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive members extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection with the number of electrically conductive members corresponding to a number of contacts on the light emitting device and each electrically conductive member comprises an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base configured to attach to a corresponding electrical contact on the light emitting device.

15. The connector according to claim 14 , wherein the electrically conductive socket engaging connection of the plug housing comprises a plurality of pins that correspond to the plurality of electrically conductive members.

16. A light emitting device package comprising:

a substrate for a light emitting device, the substrate having a top surface and a side;

an electrical contact disposed on the top surface of the substrate for connection with the light emitting device;

a light emitting device chip on the top surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the electrical contact;

an electrical connector comprising:

a plug housing;

an electrically conductive socket engaging connection within the plug housing for engaging a socket; and

an electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection, the electrically conductive member comprising an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base attached to the electrical contact on the light emitting device, the electrically conductive member being configured to attach to the electrical contact and to bend such that the electrical connector extends out from the side of the substrate of the light emitting device to reduce blockage by the electrical connector of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

17. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the plug housing comprises plastic.

18. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the plug housing comprises heat resistant plastic.

19. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive socket engaging connection of the plug housing comprises one or more pins.

20. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive member is angled with respect to the contact base.

21. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive member is planar such that the contact base and the rest of the electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing are disposed along the same plane.

22. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the contact base is attached to the electrical contact of the light emitting device by solder reflow.

23. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a bar.

24. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the substrate comprises a top surface and the electrical contact is disposed on the top surface of the substrate.

25. The light emitting device package according to claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts on a top surface of the substrate.

26. The light emitting device package according to claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive members extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection with each electrically conductive member comprising an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base configured to attach to a corresponding electrical contact on the light emitting device.

27. The light emitting device package according to claim 26 , wherein the electrically conductive socket engaging connection of the plug housing comprises a plurality of pins that correspond to the plurality of electrically conductive members.

28. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion that extends in one direction with the contact base extending in a different direction.

29. The light emitting device package according to claim 28 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member extends in a direction that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

30. The light emitting device package according to claim 28 , wherein the electrically conductive member is configured to bend proximal to the contact base to reduce blocking of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

31. The light emitting device package according to claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion and the contact base of the electrically conductive member forms a pad from which the upper portion extends.

32. The light emitting device package according to claim 31 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member is disposed along a plane that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

33. The light emitting device package according to claim 31 , wherein the electrically conductive member is configured to bend proximal to the contact base to reduce blocking of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

34. A lamp assembly comprising:

a light-emitting device package comprising:

a substrate for a light emitting device, the substrate having a top surface and a side; and

an electrical contact disposed on the top surface of the substrate;

an electrical connector comprising:

a plug housing;

an electrically conductive socket engaging connection within the plug housing for engaging a socket; and

an electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection, the electrically conductive member comprising an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base attached to the electrical contact on the light emitting device, the electrically conductive member being configured to attach to the electrical contact and to bend such that the electrical connector extends out from the side of the substrate of the light emitting device to reduce blockage by the electrical connector of light emitted by the light emitting device package; and

a socket connected to a board, the socket configured to receive at least a portion of the electrically conductive socket engaging connection of the plug housing.

35. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the electrically conductive member is angled with respect to the contact base.

36. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the electrically conductive member is planar such that the contact base and the rest of the electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing are disposed along the same plane.

37. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the contact base is attached to the electrical contact of the light emitting device by solder reflow.

38. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a bar.

39. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion that extends in one direction with the contact base extending in a different direction.

40. The lamp assembly according to claim 39 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member extends in a direction that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

41. The lamp assembly according to claim 34 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion and the contact base of the electrically conductive member forms a pad from which the upper portion extends.

42. The lamp assembly according to claim 41 , wherein the contact base of the electrically conductive member is disposed along a plane that is at least generally orthogonal to the upper portion of the electrically conductive member.

43. A method of assembling a light emitting device package comprising:

providing a substrate for a light emitting device, the substrate having a top surface and a side and an electrical contact disposed on the top surface of the substrate for connection with the light emitting device;

providing an electrical connector comprising:

a plug housing;

an electrically conductive socket engaging connection within the plug housing for engaging a socket; and

an electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing and connected to the socket engaging connection, the electrically conductive member comprising an end distal from the plug housing that forms a contact base; and

attaching the electrically conductive member of the electrical connector to the electrical contact on the light emitting device by attaching the electrically conductive member to the electrical contact and bending the electrically conductive member such that the electrical connector extends out from the side of the substrate of the light emitting device to reduce blockage by the electrical connector of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

44. The method according to claim 43 , wherein the electrically conductive member is angled at the contact base such that the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion that extends in one direction with the contact base extending in a different direction, and further comprising bending the electrically conductive member proximal to the contact base so that the plug housing is in a position that reduces blocking of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

45. The method according to claim 43 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises an upper portion and the contact base of the electrically conductive member forms a pad from which the upper portion extends and further comprising bending the electrically conductive member proximal to the contact base so that the plug housing is in a position that reduces blocking of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

46. The method according to claim 43 , wherein the electrically conductive member is planar such that the contact base and the rest of the electrically conductive member extending from the plug housing are disposed along the same plane.

47. The method according to claim 43 , wherein the step of attaching the contact base to the electrical contact of the light emitting device comprises reflowing the contact base to the electrical contact.

48. The method according to claim 43 , wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a bar.

49. A light emitting device package comprising:

a light emitting device comprising a substrate having a top surface and a side and an electrical contact disposed on the top surface of the substrate and electrically connected with a light emitting chip; and

a plug electrically connected to the electrical contact of the light emitting device and adapted for providing electrical connection between the light emitting device and an electrical source apart from the light emitting device package, the plug extending out from the side of the substrate of the light emitting device to reduce blockage by the plug of light emitted by the light emitting device package.

Assignments (5)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: CREELED, INC.; PENGUIN SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (DE); SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS LLC; SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PENGUIN COMPUTING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071755/0001 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 058983/0001 Recorded Jun 25, 2025
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS LLC; CREELED, INC.
Reel/Frame 071725/0207 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS, LLC; SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; CREELED, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058983/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2021
From: CREE, INC.
To: CREELED, INC.
Reel/Frame 055780/0121 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2010
From: SHEEK, KEVIN TODD
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 025016/0994 →