Universal light emitting diode illumiation device and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing a light emitting diode and driving circuitry integrated into a component module that will retrofit common incandescent lightbulb applications. The disclosed embodiments will perform with high efficiency at a wide operating voltage range with a very small size allowing for the incorporation within the envelope and form of existing lightbulb bases. Therefore, a single universal LED light bulb module can be used to replace the dozens of conventional LED and incandescent lights currently being used. The electronic circuitries used to drive the LEDs are extremely compact and consequently can be incorporated in nearly any standard bulb base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An assembly for an illumination device that incorporates a light fixture, the assembly comprising:
 a printed circuit board having (i) top and bottom opposed, substantially rectangular surfaces, and (ii) first and second shorter-length sides (a) having lengths less than lengths of the remaining two sides and (b) spanning the top and bottom surfaces;   first and second electrical connectors on opposing ends for (a) use as electrical input and output and (b) direct physical mounting in and direct electrical connection with the light fixture without wires attached to the first and second electrical connectors, wherein (i) the first electrical connector is disposed on the first shorter-length side, (ii) the second electrical connector is disposed on the second shorter-length side, and (iii) the first and second electrical connectors protrude from the first and second shorter-length sides (a) in opposite directions, and (b) in directions substantially parallel to surface normals of the first and second shorter-length sides;   at least one solid-state light emitter electrically connected to the printed circuit board; and   disposed on the printed circuit board, a driving circuit in electrical communication with the electrical connectors and the at least one solid-state light emitter for providing suitable current to the at least one solid-state light emitter.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one solid-state light emitter comprises a plurality of solid-state light emitters disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the top or bottom surface of the printed circuit board is reflective. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit and the at least one solid-state light emitter are disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein (i) the at least one solid-state light emitter is disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board and (ii) the driving circuit is disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein (i) the at least one solid-state light emitter is disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board and (ii) the driving circuit is disposed on the bottom surface of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the assembly is compact enough to fit within a standard volume envelope of a conventional bulb that does not incorporate solid-state light emitters. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the at least one solid-state light emitter for conducting heat therefrom. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one solid-state light emitter comprises at least one light-emitting diode chip embedded in a transparent lens. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit comprises an AC-to-DC converter. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit comprises a high-frequency DC-to-DC converter. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one solid-state light emitter comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes each emitting light of a different color. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit is configured to receive line power on the printed circuit board and supply suitable current to the at least one solid-state light emitter. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first or second electrical connector comprises an electrically conductive bump. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one solid-state light emitter comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein at least two of the light-emitting diodes output different colors of light. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit outputs a substantially constant voltage. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the driving circuit outputs a substantially constant current. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one of a cover or a diffuser disposed over the at least one solid-state light emitter.