METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING LIGHTING VIA A GRID SYSTEM OF A SUSPENDED CEILING

• US 20060262521A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Solid State Lighting Solutions Inc (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Piepgras, Colin, Mollnow, Tomas, Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/149
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/71 using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing sources of light, or mechanical and/or electrical connections for light sources, via a grid system of a suspended ceiling. All or a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling may be configured to support the generation of light. Lighting units may be coupled to various portions of the grid system in a removable and modular fashion, so as to be completely or substantially recessed above the ceiling surface, or as pendant components hanging below the ceiling surface. Lighting interface components of the grid system also may be configured to facilitate significant thermal dissipation from lighting units. In one exemplary implementation, one or more LED-based lighting units may be coupled to one or more lighting interface components of the grid system so as to provide controllable multi-color an/or essentially white light.

Claims

1. A lighting interface component that forms at least a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling, the lighting interface component comprising:

a first flange configured to support a first ceiling tile when the first ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling;

a second flange configured to support a second ceiling tile when the second ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling; and

a central channel portion disposed between the first flange and the second flange and configured to provide at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to at least one lighting unit when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion.

2. The lighting interface component of claim 1, in combination with the at least one lighting unit.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes at least one LED-based lighting unit.

4. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the lighting interface component is configured to form at least a portion of a main channel of the grid system.

5. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the lighting interface component is configured to form at least a portion of a cross channel of the grid system.

6. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the lighting interface component is formed so as to provide at least one intersection of at least one main channel and at least one cross channel of the grid system.

7. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the lighting interface component is configured to form a plurality of main channels and a plurality of cross channels of the grid system.

8. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the central channel portion includes at least one structural support member mechanically coupled to the first flange and the second flange.

9. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the at least one structural support member is formed integrally with the first flange and the second flange.

10. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the at least one structural support member is configured to extend into a plenum above the suspended ceiling when at least the first ceiling tile and the second ceiling tile are installed in the suspended ceiling.

11. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the at least one structural support member is an essentially U-shaped member.

12. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein a cross-section of the at least one structural support member has a curved shape.

13. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein a cross-section of the at least one structural support member has a substantially angular shape.

14. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein a cross-section of the at least one structural support member has one of a rectangular shape and a trapezoidal shape.

15. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the at least one structural support member is configured to form a space in which the at least one lighting unit is disposed, such that at least a portion of the at least one lighting unit, when coupled to the lighting interface component, resides above a lower surface of the suspended ceiling.

16. The lighting interface component of claim 15, wherein the at least one structural support member is configured to form the space such that the at least one lighting unit, when coupled to the lighting interface component, resides completely above the lower surface of the suspended ceiling.

17. The lighting interface component of claim 15, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes at least one light exit surface, and wherein the at least one structural support member is configured to form the space such that when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the lighting interface component, the at least one light exit surface is essentially flush with the suspended ceiling.

18. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection includes at least one interlocking electrical connection.

19. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection includes a plurality of electrical contact points disposed on the at least one structural member.

20. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection includes a plurality of conductive tracks coupled to the at least one structural member.

21. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection is configured to provide at least one of an operating power and at least one control signal to the at least one lighting unit.

22. The lighting interface component of claim 21, wherein the electrical connection is configured to provide the operating power and the at least one control signal to the at least one lighting unit.

23. The lighting interface component of claim 8, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one interlocking mechanical connection.

24. The lighting interface component of claim 23, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one snap-fit mechanical connection.

25. The lighting interface component of claim 24, wherein the central channel portion is mechanically associated with an essentially rigid member that is configured to engage with at least one resilient tab mechanically associated with the at least one lighting unit.

26. The lighting interface component of claim 24, wherein the central channel portion is mechanically associated with a resilient member that is configured to engage with at least one essentially rigid tab mechanically associated with the at least one lighting unit.

27. The lighting interface component of claim 23, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one sliding mechanical connection.

28. The lighting interface component of claim 27, wherein the central channel portion is mechanically associated with at least one rail that facilitates a sliding engagement of the at least one lighting unit with the central channel portion.

29. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the central channel portion is formed so as to facilitate a significant flow of air in the central channel portion when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion, so as to dissipate heat generated by the at least one lighting unit.

30. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the central channel portion is formed so as to facilitate a significant thermal conduction when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion, so as to dissipate heat generated by the at least one lighting unit.

31. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein:

the central channel portion includes at least one structural support member mechanically coupled to the first flange and the second flange;

the at least one structural support member is configured to extend into a plenum above the suspended ceiling when at least the first ceiling tile and the second ceiling tile are installed in the suspended ceiling;

the central channel portion is formed so as to facilitate a significant thermal conduction to the plenum when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion so as to dissipate heat generated by the at least one lighting unit into the plenum; and

the central channel portion further is formed so as to preclude a flow of air between the plenum and an area below the suspended ceiling.

32. The lighting interface component of claim 1, wherein the central channel portion includes at least one air circulation component to facilitate a flow of air in the central channel portion.

33. A lighting system, comprising:

at least one lighting interface component that forms at least a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling; and

at least one lighting unit coupled to the at least one lighting interface component.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes at least one LED-based lighting unit.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting interface component is configured to form at least a portion of a main channel of the grid system.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting interface component is configured to form at least a portion of a cross channel of the grid system.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting interface component is formed so as to provide at least one intersection of at least one main channel and at least one cross channel of the grid system.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting interface component includes a plurality of lighting interface components configured to form a plurality of main channels and a plurality of cross channels of the grid system.

39. The system of any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes a plurality of lighting units coupled to the at least one lighting interface component.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of lighting units are essentially identical lighting units.

41. The system of claim 39, where at least two lighting units of the plurality of lighting units are different.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of lighting units includes a plurality of LED-based lighting units.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of lighting units includes a plurality of addressable lighting units.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting interface component is configured such that the at least one lighting unit is recessed above a lower surface of the suspended ceiling.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting unit resides substantially below a lower surface of the suspended ceiling.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one lighting unit includes at least one first light source configured to provide indirect lighting in an environment below the suspended ceiling and at least one second light source configured to provide direct lighting in the environment below the suspended ceiling.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising at least one controller configured to independently control the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source.

48. A suspended ceiling, comprising:

a plurality of tiles; and

a grid system for supporting the plurality of tiles, the grid system including a plurality of main channels and a plurality of cross channels arranged in a grid pattern,

wherein at least a portion of at least one main channel or at least one cross channel comprises a lighting interface component, the lighting interface component comprising;

a first flange configured to support a first ceiling tile of the plurality of tiles when the first ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling;

a second flange configured to support a second ceiling tile of the plurality of tiles when the second ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling; and

a central channel portion disposed between the first flange and the second flange and configured to provide at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to at least one lighting unit when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion.

49. A lighting unit configured to be installed in at least a portion a grid system of a suspended ceiling, the grid system including at least one lighting interface component configured to provide at least one of a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the lighting unit, the lighting unit comprising:

at least one structural feature that mechanically engages with the at least one lighting interface component of the grid system in an interlocking manner so as to form the mechanical connection; and

at least one LED-based light source.

50. The lighting unit of claim 49, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one snap-fit mechanical connection, wherein the at least one lighting interface component includes at least one essentially rigid member to facilitate the at least one snap-fit connection, and wherein:

the at least one structural feature of the lighting unit includes at least one resilient tab.

51. The lighting unit of claim 49, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one snap-fit mechanical connection, wherein the at least one lighting interface component includes at least one resilient member to facilitate the at least one snap-fit connection, and wherein:

the at least one structural feature of the lighting unit includes at least one essentially rigid tab.

52. The lighting unit of claim 49, wherein the mechanical connection includes at least one sliding mechanical connection, wherein the at least one lighting interface component includes at least one rail to facilitate the at least one sliding connection, and wherein:

the at least one structural feature of the lighting unit includes a platform to engage with the at least one rail.

53. The lighting unit of claim 49, further comprising at least one air circulation component to facilitate a flow of air proximate to the lighting unit.

54. The lighting unit of claim 49, further comprising at least one second structural feature configured to facilitate heat dissipation from the lighting unit when the lighting unit is mechanically engaged with the at least one lighting interface component.

55. The lighting unit of claim 49, wherein the at least one LED-based light source includes at least one first LED-based light source configured to provide indirect lighting in an environment below the suspended ceiling and at least one second LED-based light source configured to provide direct lighting in the environment below the suspended ceiling.

56. The lighting unit of claim 55, further comprising at least one controller configured to independently control the at least one first LED-based light source and the at least one second LED-based light source.

57. The lighting unit of claim 49, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to generate essentially white light.

58. The lighting unit of claim 57, further comprising at least one controller coupled to the at least one LED-based light source and configured to control at least a color temperature of the essentially white light.

59. The lighting unit of claim 58, further comprising a plurality of electrical contact points configured to engage with the electrical connection of the at least one lighting interface component so as to provide an operating power and at least one control signal to the at least one controller.

60. The lighting unit of claim 59, wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller, wherein the at least one control signal includes address information and lighting information, and wherein the at least one addressable controller is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on the address information and the lighting information.