Quick change power supply

• US 20060145632A1
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beacon Point Capital LLC
• Original Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Inventors: Fiene, Dale E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A power supply module for a lighting system is directly mountable onto a special cover plate for a standard electrical junction box. The power supply module is provided with a plug assembly that mates with a socket assembly incorporated within the special cover plate. The power supply circuit provides an electronically power limited output through multi-conductor connectors. The power supply output is used to connect to luminaires using a multi-conductor cable having multi-conductor connectors that mate with the multi-conductor connectors on the power supply and the luminaires. The luminaires use a circuit to interface between the power supply output and the lamp. The special cover plate is also suitable for receiving a plug assembly incorporated within the base of a lighting base module that can provide temporary incandescent or gas-discharge lighting.

Claims

1. A power supply assembly comprising:

a cover for an electrical junction box, and an enclosure;

the cover having a front side and a back side;

the cover also including a socket with a receptacle for receiving a plug assembly on a first side and having at least two input power leads connected to the socket on a second side;

the at least two input power leads being suitable for connection with electrical power supplied by a power utility;

the socket being mounted in the cover such that the first side of the socket corresponds with the front side of the cover and the second side of the socket corresponds to the back side of the cover;

the enclosure enclosing an electronic power supply circuit and includes a plug assembly suitable to engage and make electrical contact with the socket provided in the cover; and

the enclosure including at least one multi-conductor connector suitable for receiving and making electrical connection to a mating multi-conductor connector connected to a multi-conductor cable.

2. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is for a ceiling lighting system.

3. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is for a gas-discharge lighting system.

4. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector has two terminals;

an alternating voltage existing between the two terminals;

the alternating voltage having a frequency; and

the frequency being greater than 10 kilohertz.

5. The power supply assembly of claim 4 wherein the high-frequency voltage is modulated at a second frequency;

the second frequency being significantly lower than 10 kilohertz; and

the percent of modulation being less than 100%.

6. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector has two terminals;

and

a DC voltage exist between the two terminals.

7. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein output power is drawn from the multi-conductor connector;

and

the output power is electronically limited by the power supply circuit.

8. The power supply assembly of claim 7 wherein the output power is electronically limited to be less than 250 Watts or Volt-Amperes.

9. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors.

10. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors;

and

one member of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors is electrically connected to a second member of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors.

11. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors;

the at least two multi-conductor connectors have terminals; and

the terminals of a first connector of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors are connected in parallel with the terminals of a second connector of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors.

12. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors;

the at least two multi-conductor connectors have terminals; and

the terminals of a first connector of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors are connected in series with the terminals of a second connector of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors.

13. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors;

and

the first member of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors has no direct current connection to the second member of the set of at least two multi-conductor connectors.

14. The power supply assembly of claim 13 wherein the first member is electronically limited to a first power level;

and

the second member is electronically limited to a second power level.

15. The power supply assembly of claim 14 wherein the first power level is substantially the same as the second power level.

16. The power supply assembly of claim 14 wherein the first power level is substantially the different than the second power level.

17. The power supply assembly of claim 14 wherein the first power level is approximately twice the second power level.

18. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector is at least two multi-conductor connectors;

the at least two input power leads is at least three input power leads;

when power is applied between a first input power lead and a second input power lead a first multi-conductor connectors is energized; and

when power is applied between a first input power lead and a third input power lead a second multi-conductor connectors is energized.

19. The power supply assembly of claim 18 wherein the power available from the first multi-conductor connectors is electronically limited to a first power level;

and

the power available from the second multi-conductor connectors is electronically limited to a second power level.

20. The power supply assembly of claim 19 wherein the first power level is substantially the same as the second power level.

21. The power supply assembly of claim 19 wherein the first power level is substantially different than the second power level.

22. The power supply assembly of claim 19 wherein the first power level is approximately twice the second power level.

23. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-conductor connector has at least four terminals;

the at least two input power leads is at least three input power leads;

when power is applied between a first input power lead and second input power lead, output power is available between a first pair of terminals within the at least one multi-conductor connectors; and

when power is applied between a first input power lead and third input power lead, output power is available between a second pair of terminals within the at least one multi-conductor connectors.

24. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure has a certain height, length, and width;

the power supply being mounted on an electrical junction box;

the electrical junction box has a certain height, length, and width; and

the length of the power supply exceeding either the length the width or the length and width of the electrical junction box.

25. The power supply assembly of claim 24 wherein the length and width of the electrical junction box are substantially equal.

26. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is for a lighting system.

27. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is for a lighting system that includes light emitting diodes as a source of illumination.

28. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is held in place on the cover by way of at least one retaining clip.

29. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply assembly is held in place on the cover by way of at least one screw.

30. The power supply assembly of claim 1 wherein the power supply module is held in place on the cover by way of inserting the plug assembly into the socket and rotating the enclosure relative to the cover.

31. A power supply comprising:

i) a cover plate having a socket and being suitable for mounting on an electrical box, ii) an enclosure including a plug assembly, at least one multi-conductor connector and containing an electronic power supply circuit iii) the socket capable of receiving and making electrical contact with the plug assembly.

32. A power supply comprising:

i) a socket suitable for receiving a plug assembly and being connected to a branch circuit of a building'"'"'s electrical system, ii) an enclosure including a cover plate, a plug assembly, at least one multi-conductor connector and the enclosure containing an electronic power supply circuit.

33. A method for installing a power supply, the method comprising the steps of:

wiring a socket assembly to a branch circuit of a building'"'"'s electrical system;

inserting the plug assembly of a power supply into said socket; and

mounting the power supply onto an electrical junction box.

34. A method for installing a lighting base assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

wiring a socket assembly to a branch circuit of a building'"'"'s electrical system;

inserting the plug assembly of a lighting base module into said socket; and

mounting the lighting base module onto an electrical junction box.

35. A method for installing a power supply, the method comprising the steps of:

wiring a socket assembly to a branch circuit of a building'"'"'s electrical system;

mounting a cover plate that includes the socket assembly onto an electrical junction box; and

inserting the plug assembly of a power supply into said socket.

36. A method for installing a lighting base assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

wiring a socket assembly to a branch circuit of a building'"'"'s electrical system;

mounting a cover plate that includes the socket assembly onto an electrical junction box; and

inserting the plug assembly of a lighting base module into said socket.

37. A lighting base comprising:

i) a cover plate having a first socket and being suitable for mounting on an electrical box, ii) an enclosure or plate including a plug assembly, and lamp socket, iii) the first socket capable of receiving and making electrical contact with the plug assembly.

38. The lighting base of claim 37 wherein the enclosure includes a ballasting circuit for a gas-discharge lamp.

39. The lighting base of claim 37 wherein the enclosure includes a power supply circuit for a light emitting diode (LED) light source.

40. The lighting base of claim 37 wherein the lighting base is designed to provide a temporary light source that is latter be replace with a power supply module for a lighting system.