Manually controllable LED correlated color temperature light fixture

• US 10,091,855 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2018
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: ETI Solid State Lighting Incorporated (Elec-Tech International Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: ETI Solid State Lighting Incorporated (Elec-Tech International Company Limited)
• Inventors: Van Winkle, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Jimmy
• Application Number:
  US15/871,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20180206305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 315185 R, 315150-158, 315209 R, 315210, 315291, 315307, 315308, 315312
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/002 the fastening means engaging the encapsulation or the packaging of the semiconductor device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An LED light fixture having at least two LED light sources, each having a different correlated color temperature, with a manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly to control an electric circuit to select a particular LED light source or combination of LEDs, and a concealment for selectively rendering the manually controllable color correlated color temperature switching assembly inaccessible or for rendering the switching assembly accessible for operation.

Claims

1. An LED light fixture comprising:

at least two electrically operated LED light sources for emitting illumination, the illumination of each of said at least two LED light sources having different, predetermined correlated color temperatures; and

an electric circuit connectable to an electric power source for supplying electric power to one of the group consisting of a selected one of said at least two LED light sources and a selected combination of said at least two LED light sources, said electrical circuit comprising;

a switching circuit operable for connecting said selected one of the group consisting of a selected one of said at least two LED light sources, and said combination of said at least two LED light sources, to said electrical circuit to receive electrical current and emit illumination of a predetermined correlated color temperature;

a manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly to operate said switching circuit to connect said selected one of said group to the electric power source to effect the illumination of said selected one of said group of one of said at least two LED sources and a combination of said at least two LED light sources, said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly including a digitally operated switch actuating member for actuating said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly;

a switch holding structure for holding for operation said digitally operated switch actuating member; and

a concealment for concealing said switch holding structure to render said digitally operated switch actuating member inaccessible for operation, and for selectively rendering said digitally operated switch actuating member accessible for digital operation.

2. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 and further comprising an electronics container for holding and rendering accessible said digitally operated switch actuating member;

wherein said concealment comprises an LED light fixture receptacle for releasably holding said LED light fixture to render said digitally operated switch actuating member inaccessible for operation, and for enabling the release of said LED light fixture from said receptacle to render said digitally operated switch actuating member accessible for operation.

3. An LED light fixture according to claim 2 wherein said LED light fixture is a downlight, and said LED light fixture receptacle is a can.

4. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said LED light fixture further comprises:

a cover support; and

a diffuser removably attachable to said cover support;

wherein said digitally operative switch attachment member is operatively attached to said cover support; and

wherein said concealment comprises;

said cover support;

said diffuser; and

attachment structure for cooperating with said cover support and said diffuser for selectively attaching said diffuser to said cover support to conceal said digitally operated switch actuating member, and to selectively detach said diffuser from said cover support to render said digitally operated switch actuating member accessible for operation.

5. An LED light fixture according to claim 4 wherein said cover support, said diffuser and attachment structure each comprise a selected one of the group consisting of cooperating screw threads on said cover support and said diffuser, and cooperating screw and screw hole assembly on said cover support and said diffuser, both to enable the attachment of said diffuser to said cover support and to enable the detachment of said diffuser from said cover support.

6. An LED light fixture according to claim 4 wherein said concealment comprises:

bracketing assembly for removably bracketing said diffuser and said cover support together to conceal said digitally operative switch actuating member, and for unbracketing said diffuser from said cover support to render said digitally operated switch actuating member accessible for operation.

7. An LED light fixture according to claim 4 wherein LED light fixture includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and said rearward portion is proximal a ceiling when said LED light fixture is mounted for operation to the ceiling and said LED light fixture further comprises a rearward side;

and wherein said concealment comprises;

a digitally operative switch actuating member support structure for supporting said digitally operated switch actuating member located at said rearward side, said digitally operated switch actuating member being inaccessible for operation when said LED light fixture is mounted for operation to the ceiling, and said digitally operated switch actuating member being accessible for operation in response to the demounting of said LED light fixture from the ceiling.

8. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said manually controllable correlated color switching assembly comprises:

a slide switch including;

an indicator for indicating particular correlated color temperatures to assist in the determination of a correlated color temperature; and

a manually operated slide slidable along said indicator to select a particular correlated color temperature operatively connected to said switching circuit and to operate said switching circuit to effect the selection of the particular correlated color temperature.

9. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said switch holding structure is a switch holding compartment alternating between a non-accessible condition for preventing access by a user'"'"'s fingers to said digitally operated switch actuating member, and an accessible condition for enabling access by a user'"'"'s fingers to operate said digitally operated switch actuating member.

10. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one printed circuit board, and wherein said at least two electrically operated LED light sources comprise:

at least two sets of LEDs, each set of LEDs having a predetermined correlated color temperature that is different from the respective predetermined correlated color temperature of the remaining sets of LEDs; and

wherein said respective sets of LEDs are each operatively attached to said at least one printed circuit board, said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly being manually switchable to a selected one of the group consisting of one of said sets of LEDs and a combination of said sets of LEDs, each of said sets of LEDs and said combination of sets of LEDs having a predetermined correlated color temperature different from the correlated color temperature of the other sets and combination of said sets, for emitting illumination of the predetermined correlated color temperature.

11. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said LED light fixture comprises a fan LED light kit, said fan light kit comprising:

a cover support located proximal a ceiling when said fan LED light kit in mounted for use; and

a light transmitting cover removably attachable to said cover support and being distal the ceiling when said fan LED is mounted for use between said cover support and said cover when said cover is attached to said cover support;

wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching device is operatively attached to said cover support and disposed on said electrics container when said cover is attached to said cover support; and

wherein said concealment comprises;

attachment structure for cooperating with said cover support and said light transmitting cover for selectively attaching said light transmitting cover to said cover support to conceal said digitally operated switch actuating member, and to selectively detach said light transmitting cover from said cover support to render said digitally operative switch actuating member accessible for operation.

12. An LED light fixture according to claim 11 wherein said fan LED light kit further comprises:

at least two printed circuit board adapters, each of said at least two printed circuit board adapters including at least one LED light source, each of said at least one LED light source having a different correlated color temperature different from the correlated color temperature of each of said LED light sources included on the other at least two printed circuit board adapters.

13. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a toggle switch, a single pole double throw switch, a double pole, double throw switch, a rotary switch and a DIP switch.

14. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a base for holding said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly, wherein said base is proximate a ceiling when said LED light fixture is in use, and said base includes a slot wherein said digitally operated switch actuating member extends through said slot; and

said base including a configuration to render said digitally operated switch actuating member inaccessible when LED light fixture is in use;

wherein said concealment comprises said configuration of said base.

15. An LED light fixture according to claim 14 wherein said base is located at one end of said LED light fixture, and wherein said concealment includes:

a hollow diffuser releasably mountable on said base to cover and render said manually operable correlated color temperature switch inaccessible;

said hollow diffuser being detachable from said base to provide access to said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch to enable a person to operate said manually controllable switch actuating member.

16. An LED light fixture according to claim 15 wherein said base and said hollow diffuser cooperate to form a housing for said at least two LED light sources and said electric circuit.

17. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said LED light fixture further comprises:

a base located at one end of said light fixture and being attachable to a ceiling;

a diffuser located at another end of said light fixture distal from the ceiling and operatively attachable to said base when said LED light fixture is in use; and

at least one releasable bracket having a closed position for securing said diffuser to said base, and an open position for releasing said diffuser from said base to render said digitally operated switch actuating member accessible;

wherein said concealment comprises said base, said diffuser and said at least one releasable bracket.

18. An LED light fixture according to claim 1 wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a toggle switch, single pole single throw toggle switch, single pole double throw switch, double pole double throw switch, a rotary switch, a three pole four way rotary switch, dual in-line package switch, a push button switch, a push-to-make switch and a push-to-break switch.

19. An LED light fixture comprising:

at least one printed circuit board;

an electrical circuit at least partially disposed on said printed circuit board, said electrical circuit including;

at least two groups of LEDs mounted on said printed circuit board, each of said at least two groups of LEDs emitting illumination of particular correlated color temperature different from the correlated color temperature of said other of said at least two groups of LEDs in response to receiving electric power;

at least two subcircuits, each of said at least two subcircuits including a different one of said at least two groups of LEDs, and electrical switching components for each of said at least two subcircuits, said electrical switching components being alternately actuable for connecting the group of LEDs in said subcircuit to electrical power in response to the actuation of said electrical switching components in said subcircuit that said group of LEDs being connected is disposed; and

a manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly manually actuable to actuate a selected one of said electrical switching components to connect a selected group of LEDs to electrical power to cause said selected group of LEDs to emit illumination of the particular correlated color temperature of said selected group of LEDs.

20. An LED light fixture according to claim 19 wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly is a manually slideable slide switch, and said electrical switching components of said at least two subcircuits are selectively actuable by said slide switch to effect the transmission of electrical power to said group of LEDs in said selected subcircuit.

21. An LED light fixture according to claim 19 wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a toggle switch, a single pole double throw switch, a double pole double throw switch, a rotary switch and a DIP switch.

22. An LED light fixture according to claim 19 wherein said at least two groups of LEDs emit illumination of correlated color temperatures of respectively 3000K, 4000K and 5000K.

23. An LED light fixture according to claim 19 wherein said LED light fixture includes a light module, said light module comprising:

said at least one printed circuit board;

a heat sink adjacent said printed circuit board for absorbing heat generated by said at least two groups of LEDs; and

said manually controllable correlated color temperature switching assembly.

25. An LED light fixture according to claim 23 wherein said actuating member is not readily observable and not accessible for operation when said actuating member is not ready for use, and said LED light fixture comprises structure far rendering said actuating member readily observable accessible for use.

24. An LED light fixture comprising:

a housing assembly;

at least one printed circuit board operatively attached to said housing assembly;

at least two sets of LED light sources mounted on said at least one printed circuit board, each of said sets of at least two LED light sources having a correlated color temperature different from the correlated color temperature of every other of said sets of LED light sources;

an electric circuit operable to supply electricity to said at least two sets of LED light sources;

a manually controllable correlated color temperature switch for selectively connecting said electric circuit to a selected one of said sets with LED light sources to actuate said selected one of said sets with LED light sources to effect the selective illumination of said at least one LED in said selected one of said sets of LED light sources to emit illumination of the color correlated temperature of said selected one with said sets of LED light sources, said manually operated switch being operatively attached to said housing and comprising a digitally operable actuating member to effect the selection of one of the sets of LED light sources; and

a diffuser operatively attachable to said housing assembly for transmitting illumination from said selected set of LED light sources to a space remote from said LED light fixtures.

26. An LED light fixture according to claim 24 wherein said electric circuit comprises at least two subcircuits, each of said at least two subcircuits including one of said sets of LED light sources, said subcircuits being mounted on said at least one printed circuit board;

and

said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch is selectively connectable to one or a combination of said subcircuits to actuate the selected one of the group consisting of said set of LED light sources in said selected subcircuit and the selected set of LED light sources in said combination of said subcircuits, wherein said digitally operable actuating member makes said selective connection of said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch.

27. An LED light fixture according to claim 26 wherein said at least two subcircuits and manually controllable correlated color temperature switch are mounted on at least one printed circuit board.

28. An LED light fixture according to claim 27 wherein said LED light fixture is a downlight, and wherein:

said housing assembly comprises;

a light module including;

a light module housing;

wherein said at least one printed circuit board is mounted on said light module housing.

29. An LED light fixture according to claim 28 wherein said light module further includes:

a truncated heat sink comprising a relatively narrow end portion and a relatively wide opposite end portion for transmitting illumination from said LED light fixture;

a box for containing said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch;

wherein said at least one printed circuit board is proximal said narrow end portion for emitting illumination from said LED light sources through said relatively wide end portion of said truncated heat sink.

30. An LED light fixture according to claim 29 wherein said box for electrical components has an opening through which opening said digitally operated switch extends, and wherein said module further comprises an indicator indicating the specific correlated color temperatures to which said digitally operable switch is settable to select the selectable one of the group consisting of said LED light source in said selected subcircuit and the selected LED light sources in said combination in said subcircuits.

31. An LED light fixture according to claim 29 wherein said box for electrical components is proximal said narrow end portion of said truncated heat sink and distal said wide end portion of said truncated heat sink.

32. An LED light fixture according to claim 24 wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch is a slide switch.

33. An LED light fixture according to claim 24 wherein said LED light fixture is a ceiling light fixture, and

wherein said LED light fixture is a ceiling light fixture, and

wherein said housing assembly comprises a base for being attached to a ceiling for connection to an electric power source, said base including on outside edge portion;

wherein said at least one printed circuit board and said manually operated correlated color temperature switch are operatively attached to said base;

wherein said diffuser has an outside diffuser edge portion that is operatively attachable to and selectively detachable from said outside edge portion of said base;

wherein said ceiling light fixture further comprises;

a manually controllable correlated color temperature switch holder for containing at least;

a portion of said manually operated correlated color temperature switch; and

a blocking structure for selectively blocking manual access to said digitally operable actuating member;

wherein said manually controllable correlated color temperature switch holder provides access to a user'"'"'s hand to operate said digitally operable actuating member when said blocking structure does not block said manually operable actuating member to prevent the user'"'"'s hand from operating said actuating members.

34. An LED light fixture according to claim 24 wherein said at least two sets of LED light sources are mounted on said at least one printed circuit board in a predetermined arrangement to provide a predetermined area of illumination for each of said at least two sets of LED light sources.

35. An LED light fixture according to claim 34 wherein said predetermined arrangement provides a uniform area of illumination for each of said at least two sets of LED light sources.