Modular light-emitting diode lighting system

• US 20060023454A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Pinhas Paul Koren
• Inventors: Koren, Pinhas P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular light system for a spa where replacement of a light emitter, such as but not limited to a LED and/or a cable is accomplished without needing access an area around a tub in the spa and replacing the cable and light emitter can be accomplished individually, the system comprises a light emitter with a first attachment element at a first end, a power source, a controller connected to the power source and a second attachment element for connection to the first attachment element of the light emitter, a cable having a third attachment element at a first end and a fourth attachment element at a second end for connection the cable to the second attachment element on the controller and the first attachment element on the light emitter, and wherein when the light emitter fails, it is disconnected from the cable and replaced with a working light emitter and when and the cable fails it is connected from the light emitter and replaced with a working cable.

Claims

1. A modular light system for a spa where replacement of at least one of a light emitter and a cable is accomplished without needing access to an area around a tub in said spa and replacing said cable and light emitter can be accomplished individually, said system comprises:

a) a light emitter with a first attachment element at a first end;

b) a controller to regulate power and signal to a light emitter and having a second attachment element for connection to said first attachment element of said light emitter;

c) a cable having a third attachment element at a first end and a fourth attachment element at a second end for connection said cable to said second attachment element on said controller and said first attachment element on said light emitter;

d) wherein said light emitter can be at least one of connected and disconnected from said cable and said cable can be at least one of connected and disconnected from said light emitter.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a connection between said cable and said light emitter and a connection between said cable and said controller is severed by activating a release mechanism connected to at least one of said first attachment element, said second attachment element, said third attachment element, and said fourth attachment element.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said release mechanism comprises a detent attached to at least of one of said first attachment element, said second attachment element, said third attachment element, and said fourth attachment element.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a coupler having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attachable to at least one of said first attachment element, said second attachment element, said third attachment element, and said fourth attachment element.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a second cable with said third attachment element and said fourth attachment element wherein said second cable connects to said second end of said coupler.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said light emitter comprises at least one of light emitter diode, fiber optic lighting, nano-tube lighting, surface mount laser lighting, solid state laser lighting, semiconductor laser lighting electrolumencent diode, and electroluminescent tape.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller determines at least one of a timing sequence and an illumination intensity of said light emitter.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said controller uses at least one of a pulse width modulation technique, pulse amplitude modulation technique, bit angel modulation technique, pulse position modulation technique, and an analog control technique to at least one of turn on, turn off, brighten, and dim said light emitter.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of said first attachment element, said second attachment element, said third attachment element, and said fourth attachment element have a male connector end.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of said first attachment element, said second attachment element, said third attachment element, and said fourth attachment element have a female connector end.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein said first end and said second end of said coupler comprises at least one of a male connector end and a female connector end.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein said couple comprises more ends than just said first end and said second end.

13. A modular lighting system, said system comprising:

a) a light emitter;

b) a controller connected to said light emitter for at least one of providing power to said light emitter and regulating illumination intensity and illumination duration of said light emitter;

c) a power source connected to said controller;

d) a cable connecting said light emitter to said controller;

e) at least one of a first connector and a first receiver fixed to each end of said cable;

f) at least one of a second connector and a second receiver connected to said light emitter;

g) at least one of a third connector and a third receiver connected to said controller;

h) wherein at least one of said first connector and said first receiver connected to said cable can be connected to and disconnected from at least one of said second connector and said second receiver connected to said light emitter and can be connected to and disconnected to at least one of said third connector and said third receiver connected to said controller.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein when at least one of said first connector, said second connector, and said third connector is connected to at least one of said first receiver, said second receiver, and said third receiver forming a connection, said connection is severed by activating a release mechanism connected to at least one of said first connector, said second connector, said third connector, said first receiver, said second receiver, and said third receiver.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said release mechanism comprises a detent attached to at least of one of said first connector, said second connector and said third connector.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a coupler having at least a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attachable to at least one of said one of said first connector, said second connector and said third connector, said first receiver, said second receiver, and said third receiver.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a second cable with at least one of a fourth receiver and a fourth connector attached to an end of said second cable that connects with said second end of said joiner.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said light emitter comprises at least one of light emitter diode, fiber optic lighting, nano-tube lighting, surface mount laser lighting, solid state laser lighting, semiconductor laser lighting electrolumencent diode, and electroluminescent tape.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said controller determines at least one of timing sequence and an illumination intensity of said light emitter.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said controller uses at least one of a pulse width modulation technique, pulse amplitude modulation technique, bit angel modulation technique, pulse position modulation technique, and an analog control technique to at least one of turn on, turn off, brighten, and dim said light emitter.

21. A modular light system for a spa, said system comprising:

a) a controller having a receptacle;

b) a cable, having a first end and a second end with release mechanisms, connected to said receptacle at said a first end of said cable;

c) an adapter having at least a first end into which said second end of said cable attaches and a second end; and

d) a light emitter having a first end that connects to said second end of said adapter.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said adapter further comprises a third end to allow a second cable to be connected to said adapter.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising a coupler having at least a first end to which said first cable attaches and a second end to which at least one of a second cable and a second light emitter attaches.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising a second light emitter permanently connected to said first light emitter and that connects to said second end of said adapter.

25. A method for replacing a cable installed within a spa, said method comprising:

a) disconnecting both ends of said cable from other parts of said spa;

b) attaching a first end of a coupler to a first end of said cable;

c) attaching a second cable to a second end of said coupler;

d) threading said second cable into a location of said first cable by pulling said first cable from said spa;

e) disconnecting said coupler from said second cable; and

f) connecting said second cable to said other parts of said spa.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said coupler comprises at least one of a male connector to fit within a female connector attached to other parts of said spa and a female connector to fit around a male connector attached to said other parts of said spa.