Modular light fixture with power pack

• US 10,660,172 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2019
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Ernst, Ronald E., Verfuerth, Neal R., Wetenkamp, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander K
• Application Number:
  US16/272,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20190174586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/061 with a non-rigid pendant, i.e. a cable, wire or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• 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 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 : Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 : Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 : Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 : with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 : for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 : Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 : Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 : comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 : Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 : Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 : Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 : using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 : Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A light fixture includes a fixture body, a support structure, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) a driver, a cover, and a connector. The fixture body includes a first raceway, a second raceway, and a channel. The second raceway is substantially parallel to the first raceway. The channel is coupled to the first raceway and the second raceway such that the channel is substantially orthogonal to the first raceway and the second raceway. The support structure is coupled to the first raceway and the second raceway. The plurality of LEDs is coupled to the support structure and spaced apart along a length of the support structure between the first raceway and the second raceway. The driver is positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs. The cover is detachably coupled to the channel and extends from the first raceway to the second raceway.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a fixture body comprising;

a first panel;

a second panel substantially parallel to the first panel; and

a channel coupled to the first panel and the second panel such that the channel is substantially orthogonal to the first panel and the second panel, the first panel and the second panel each extending from an end of the channel;

a support structure coupled to the first panel and the second panel;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spaced apart along a length of the support structure between the first panel and the second panel;

a driver positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs;

a cover extending from the first panel to the second panel, the cover configured to encapsulate the driver within the channel; and

a connector electrically coupled to the driver, the connector configured to facilitate coupling of the driver to a power supply.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the connector facilitates coupling of the driver to the power supply without removing the cover.

3. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a battery backup positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the driver.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a proximity sensor and motion sensor, the at least one of the proximity sensor and motion sensor electrically coupled to the driver;

wherein the driver is configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of LEDs in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence of a person or object near the light fixture.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs project light from a first side of the light fixture and the channel is provided on a second side of the light fixture opposite the first side.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the driver and configured to determine a temperature associated with the light fixture.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a smoke detector having an alarm, the smoke detector configured to selectively activate the alarm in response to detecting smoke near the light fixture.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor electrically coupled to the driver;

wherein the driver is configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of LEDs based on an amount of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs are attached to a plurality of strips;

and

wherein each of the plurality of strips is individually coupled to the support structure using a plurality of fasteners.

10. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to be detachable using tools.

11. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a socket portion and a plug portion, wherein one of the socket portion and the plug portion is coupled to the driver and the other of the socket portion and the plug portion is configured to be coupled to the power supply.

21. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the channel is coplanar with a reference plane passing through the first panel and the second panel.

22. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the first panel defines a first end of the light fixture and wherein the second panel defines a second end of the light fixture opposite the first end.

23. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein a width of the channel is less than a width of each of the first panel and the second panel such that the channel, the first panel, and the second panel together form an I-frame.

12. A light fixture comprising:

a fixture body comprising;

a first panel;

a second panel substantially parallel to the first panel; and

a channel coupled to the first panel and the second panel such that the channel is substantially orthogonal to the first panel and the second panel, the first panel and the second panel each extending from an end of the channel;

a support structure coupled to and extending between the first panel and the second panel;

a rail coupled to the support structure and defining a plurality of apertures;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a driver positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs; and

a cover extending from the first frame panel to the second panel, the cover configured to encapsulate the driver within the channel.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the plurality of LEDs is divided into a first plurality of LEDs and a second plurality of LEDs;

and

wherein the first plurality of LEDs is controllable independent from the second plurality of LEDs.

14. The light fixture of claim 12, further comprising a connector electrically coupled to the driver, the connector configured to facilitate coupling of the driver to a power supply.

15. The light fixture of claim 14, wherein the connector facilitates coupling of the driver to the power supply without removing the cover.

16. The light fixture of claim 12, further comprising a battery backup positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the driver.

17. A light fixture comprising:

a fixture body comprising;

a first panel;

a second panel substantially parallel to the first panel; and

a channel coupled to the first panel and the second panel such that the channel is substantially orthogonal to the first panel and the second panel, the first panel and the second panel each extending from an end of the channel;

a support structure coupled to the first panel and the second panel;

a rail coupled to the support structure;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) associated with the rail; and

a driver positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs.

18. The light fixture of claim 17, further comprising a connector electrically coupled to the driver, the connector configured to facilitate coupling of the driver to a power supply.

19. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein the support structure extends an entire length between the first panel and the second panel.

20. The light fixture of claim 17, further comprising a battery backup positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the driver.