The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 23, 2010
AL Safarikas, Cary, NC (US);
John R. Rowlette, Raleigh, NC (US);
Craig William Hardin, Apex, NC (US);
Paul Kenneth Pickard, Morrisville, NC (US);
Al Safarikas, Cary, NC (US);
John R. Rowlette, Raleigh, NC (US);
Craig William Hardin, Apex, NC (US);
Paul Kenneth Pickard, Morrisville, NC (US);
Cree, Inc., Durham, NC (US);
Abstract
An LED lighting system using a retro-formed component is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention make use of a component that has an external form factor of a structural element of a pre-existing light fixture. The component, for example, can be a power supply, or a heat sink with a connector. The component allows an LED lighting unit to be used without having the power supply and/or a heat sink take up space within what a consumer would normally see as the light bulb. In some embodiments the form factor is that of a screw-in socket such as an Edison E-26 socket. A connector or connectors can allow removal of the power supply portion of the lighting unit, or of the LED and possibly an optical element from the power supply.