US3863075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light emitting diode assembly
Assignee: Plessey Overseas Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A light emitting diode assembly which includes a light reflector formed at one end of, and as an integral part of a first electrical supply lead; a light emitting diode mounted within the reflector, one side of the diode junction being connected in electrical contact with the reflector which in association with the first lead provides a high heat sinking facility; and a second electrical supply lead one end of which is connected in electrical contact with the other side of the diode junction. The diode, the reflector and the said one end of the second lead are encapsulated in a bead of a light transparent material. A method producing the assembly using a U-shaped member from which the first and second leads are formed in described.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Albert Ironmonger
- 👤 Roy Billam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:40
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/80; H10H20/85; H10H20/852; H10H20/853; H10H20/855; H10H20/856; H10W; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A light emitting diode assembly which includes a light reflector formed at one end of, and as an integral part of, a first electrical supply lead; a light emitting diode mounteD within the reflector, one side of the diode junction being connected in electrical contact with the reflector; and a second electrical supply lead, one end of which is connected in electrical contact with the other side of the diode junction, the diode, the reflector and the said one end of the second electrical supply lead being encapsulated in a bead of a light transparent material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A light emitting diode assembly which includes a light reflector formed at one end of, and as an integral part of, a first electrical supply lead; a light emitting diode mounteD within the reflector, one side of the diode junction being connected in electrical contact with the reflector; and a second electrical supply lead, one end of which is connected in electrical contact with the other side of the diode junction, the diode, the reflector and the said one end of the second electrical supply lead being encapsulated in a bead of a light transparent material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said one end of the second electrical supply lead is connected in electrical contact with the said other side of the diode junction by means of a electrically conductive wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light reflective surface of the reflector is formed by a film of a light reflective electrical contact material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light transparent bead is encapsulated in a member of a light transparent material, that part of the member which extends upwardly of the reflector being of a shape which is such that the light rays emitted by the diode are radiated in a desired manner, the remainder of the member extending downwardly of the reflector being of regular cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein that part of the member which is of regular cross-section is provided with a collar of an opaque material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 4 which includes panel mounting means for the encapsulated diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel mounting means include a bush having a flange at one end for limiting the insertion of the bush into an aperture in a panel, an annular shoulder with chamfered side edges at the other end, at least two longitudinally extending slots in the bush wall at the said other end for allowing the wall to be inwardly collapsed and a bore which is adapted to receive, and to retain, the said member in a position whereat the shaped end of the member projects beyond the flanged end of the bush.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the length of that portion of the bush between the flange and the chamfered annular shoulder is substantially equal to the thickness of the said panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the panel mounting means also include a spacing washer which has a bore that is adapted to receive that portion of the bush between the flange and the chamfered annular shoulder, and which is adapted to retain the flange of the bush in an abutting relationship with the said panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the spacing washer is of a length less than the length of the said bush portion by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the said panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A light emitting diode assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bore of the spacing washer is inwardly bevelled at one end at substantially the same angle as that one of the chamfered side edges of the annular shoulder that is contiguous with the said bush portion, the length of the spacing washer from the other end thereof to the inner edge of the said bevel being less than the length of the said bush portion by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the said panel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of producing a light emitting diode assembly which includes the steps of providing a U-shaped member of an electrically conductive material; forming the free end of one limb of the U into a dish-shaped section; forming a film of a light reflective contact material on at least the inner surface of the dish-shaped section; providing and mounting a light emitting diode within the dish-shaped section such that one side of the diode junction is connected in electrical contact with the said film; forming a film of a contact material on at least the free end of the other limb of the U; connecting the free end of the said other limb in electrical contaCt with the other side of the diode junction; encapsulating the diode, the dish-shaped section and the free end of the other limb of the U in a bead of a light transparent material; and severing each limb of the U adjacent to the base of the U to provide two electrical supply leads for the diode.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of producing a light emitting diode assembly which includes the steps of providing a U-shaped member of an electrically conductive material; forming the free end of one limb of the U into a dish-shaped section; forming a film of a light reflective contact material on at least the inner surface of the dish-shaped section; providing and mounting a light emitting diode within the dish-shaped section such that one side of the diode junction is connected in electrical contact with the said film; forming a film of a contact material on at least the free end of the other limb of the U; connecting the free end of the said other limb in electrical contaCt with the other side of the diode junction; encapsulating the diode, the dish-shaped section and the free end of the other limb of the U in a bead of a light transparent material; and severing each limb of the U adjacent to the base of the U to provide two electrical supply leads for the diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the free end of the said other limb is connected in electrical contact with the other side of the diode junction by means of a electrically conductive wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dish-shaped section is formed in the end of the said one limb by an upsetting operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the formation of the dish-shaped section includes the steps of flattening the free end of the said one limb; forming the dish-shaped section from the flattened portion; and bending the free end of the said one limb such that the inner surface of the dish-shaped portion is uppermost in relation to the base of the U-shaped member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the said one side of the diode junction is connected in electrical contact with the said film by means of a solder interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the solder interface is a gold/germanium alloy solder interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 which includes the step of encapsulating the light transparent bead in a member of a light transparent material which has a shape forwardly of the reflector that is such that internal light reflections are minimised, the remainder of the member extending backwardly of the reflector being of regular cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 which includes the steps of providing a collar of an opaque material; and securing the collar around that part of the member which is of regular cross-section during encapsulation of the light transparent bead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the U-shaped member is of nickel plated copper, and wherein the light reflective contact material is gold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |