MODULAR LED-BASED LIGHTING FIXTURES HAVING SOCKET ENGAGEMENT FEATURES

• US 20060262544A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Bass, Michael A., Piepgras, Colin, Mollnow, Tomas, Morgan, Frederick M., Chemel, Brian, Blackwell, Michael, McCormick, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/373
• 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 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Modular lighting fixtures that allow convenient installation and removal of LED-based light-generating modules and controller modules. In one example, a modular lighting fixture includes a housing configured to be recessed into or disposed behind an architectural surface such as ceiling, wall, or soffit, in new or existing construction scenarios. The fixture housing includes a socket configured to facilitate one or more of a mechanical, electrical and thermal coupling of the light-generating module to the fixture housing. The ability to easily engage and disengage the LED-based light-generating module with the socket, without removing the fixture housing itself, allows for straightforward replacement of the light-generating module upon failure, or exchange with another module having different light-generating characteristics. Modular lighting controllers for such fixtures also may be easily installed in or removed from the fixture housing via the same access route by which the light-generating module is installed and removed.

Claims

1. A modular lighting fixture, comprising:

a fixture housing having at least one thermally conductive portion; and

a socket mounted to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing,

wherein the socket is configured to facilitate a thermal conduction path between a light-generating module installed in the socket and the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing.

2. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing constitutes a majority of a surface area of the fixture housing.

3. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing includes a plurality of surface deformations to facilitate heat dissipation from the fixture housing.

4. The fixture of claim 3, wherein the plurality of surface deformations include a plurality of fins.

5. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the fixture housing is configured to be disposed primarily behind an architectural surface.

6. The fixture of claim 5, wherein the architectural surface is a ceiling.

7. The fixture of claim 6, further comprising a reflector cone coupled to the thermally conductive housing and configured to provide a light exit aperture for the lighting fixture, wherein the reflector cone is recessed in the ceiling.

8. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the socket includes an essentially round collar forming a space therein in which the light-generating module is installed in the socket.

9. The fixture of claim 8, wherein the collar is formed of a thermally conductive material.

10. The fixture of claim 9, wherein the collar is formed of die-cast metal.

11. The fixture of claim 8, wherein the collar is formed of molded plastic.

12. The fixture of claim 8, wherein the collar includes a plurality of flanges to facilitate coupling of the socket to the fixture housing.

13. The fixture of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of flanges includes a hole to facilitate a fixed coupling of the socket to the fixture housing via a plurality of screws.

14. The fixture of claim 8, wherein the collar includes at least one exterior feature to facilitate an interlocking mechanical engagement with the socket.

15. The fixture of claim 14, wherein the at least one exterior feature includes an embossed spiral path.

16. The fixture of claim 14, wherein the at least one exterior feature includes an exterior thread to facilitate a screw-type connection with the socket.

17. The fixture of claim 14, wherein the collar includes at least one interior feature to facilitate a straight docking path for the light-generating module when installed in the socket.

18. The fixture of claim 17, further including at least one first electrical connector portion coupled to the fixture housing and located within an area delineated by the collar, wherein the at least one interior feature of the collar facilitates engagement of the at least one first electrical connector portion with at least one complimentary second electrical connector portion associated with the light-generating module when the light-generating module is installed in the space formed by the collar.

19. The fixture of claim 14, further including an essentially circular grip ring having at least one interior feature complementary to the at least one exterior feature of the collar such that the grip ring forms the interlocking mechanical connection with the socket.

20. The fixture of claim 19, further comprising the light-generating module installed in the socket, wherein the grip ring is configured to fit over at least a portion of a perimeter of the light-generating module and hold the light-generating module in the socket via the interlocking mechanical connection.

21. The fixture of claim 20, wherein the light-generating module includes a thermally conductive base that is placed in contact with the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing to form the thermal conduction path when the grip ring forms the interlocking mechanical connection with the socket.

22. The fixture of claim 19, wherein the at least one exterior feature of the collar and the at least one interior feature of the grip ring include complementary threads to facilitate a screw-type interlocking mechanical connection as the grip ring is placed on and rotated relative to the socket.

23. The fixture of claim 22, further comprising the light-generating module installed in the socket, wherein the grip ring is configured to fit over at least a portion of a perimeter of the light-generating module and hold the light-generating module in the socket via the screw-type interlocking mechanical connection.

24. The fixture of claim 8, further including at least one first electrical connector portion coupled to the fixture housing and located within an area delineated by the collar, wherein the at least one first electrical connector portion is configured to engage with at least one complimentary second electrical connector portion associated with the light-generating module when the light-generating module is installed in the space formed by the collar.

25. The fixture of claim 24, wherein the at least one first electrical connector portion is located at a center of the area delineated by the collar.

26. The fixture of claim 24, wherein the collar includes at least one exterior feature to facilitate an interlocking mechanical engagement with the socket.

27. The fixture of claim 26, wherein the collar includes at least one interior feature to facilitate a straight docking path for the light-generating module when installed in the socket.

28. The fixture of claim 27, wherein the at least one interior feature of the collar facilitates engagement of the at least one first electrical connector portion with the at least one complimentary second electrical connector portion associated with the light-generating module when the light-generating module is installed in the space formed by the collar.

29. The fixture of claim 28, further including an essentially circular grip ring having at least one interior feature complementary to the at least one exterior feature of the collar such that the grip ring forms the interlocking mechanical connection with the socket.

30. The fixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one first electrical connector portion coupled to the fixture housing.

31. The fixture of claim 30, wherein the at least one first electrical connector portion forms part of the socket.

32. The fixture of claim 31, wherein the socket is formed of a thermally conductive material and includes an essentially flat base portion that is at least partially contiguous with the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing, and wherein the essentially flat base portion includes the at least one first electrical connector portion.

33. The fixture of claim 30, further comprising the at least one light-generating module installed in the socket, the at least one light-generating module including at least one complimentary second electrical connector portion electrically connected to the at least one first electrical connector portion.

34. The fixture of claim 33, wherein:

the socket includes an essentially round collar forming a space therein in which the light-generating module is installed in the socket; and

the light-generating module is formed so as to have a shape resembling a hockey puck.

35. A modular lighting fixture, comprising:

a fixture housing having at least one light exit aperture;

a socket mounted to the fixture housing and accessible via the at least one light exit aperture;

a light-generating module installed in and removable from the socket via the at least one light exit aperture; and

a controller module to control the light-generating module, the controller module disposed in the fixture housing and accessible via the at least one light exit aperture to facilitate installation and removal of the controller module.

36. The fixture of claim 35, wherein:

the fixture housing includes at least one thermally conductive portion;

the socket is mounted to the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing; and

the socket is configured to facilitate a thermal conduction path between the light-generating module and the at least one thermally conductive portion of the fixture housing.

37. The fixture of claim 35, wherein the fixture housing is configured to be disposed primarily behind an architectural surface.

38. The fixture of claim 37, wherein the architectural surface is a ceiling.

39. The fixture of claim 35, wherein:

the fixture housing includes at least first and second thermally conductive portions;

the first and second thermally conductive portions are substantially thermally isolated from each other;

the socket is mounted to the first thermally conductive portion; and

the controller module is thermally coupled to the second thermally conductive portion.

40. The fixture of claim 35, wherein:

the light-generating module is configured to provide information to the controller module relating to at least one characteristic of the light generating module; and

the controller module is configured to control the light-generating module based at least in part on the information provided by the light-generating module.

41. The fixture of claim 35, wherein the socket is configured such that the light-generating module is installed in and removed from the socket via a rotating motion.

42. The fixture of claim 41, further comprising a grip ring configured to fit over at least a portion of a perimeter of the light-generating module, the grip ring further configured to hold the light-generating module in the socket via a rotational interlocking mechanical connection between the grip ring and the socket.

43. The fixture of claim 41, wherein:

the socket includes an essentially round collar forming a space therein in which the light-generating module is installed in the socket; and

the light-generating module is formed so as to have a shape resembling a hockey puck.

44. The fixture of claim 35, wherein the light-generating module is an LED-based light-generating module.

45. The fixture of claim 44, wherein the LED-based light-generating module is configured to generate essentially white light.

46. The fixture of claim 45, wherein:

the LED-based light-generating module includes multiple channels, each channel configured to generate radiation having a different spectrum; and

the controller module is configured to independently control each channel of the multiple channels so as to generate the essentially white light as variable color temperature white light.

47. The fixture of claim 46, wherein at least a first channel of the multiple channels includes at least one first white LED.

48. The fixture of claim 47, wherein at least a second channel of the multiple channels includes at least one second white LED.

49. The fixture of claim 46, wherein at least one channel of the multiple channels includes at least one colored LED.

50. The fixture of claim 41, wherein the LED-based light-generating module is configured to generate colored light.

51. The fixture of claim 50, wherein:

the LED-based light-generating module includes multiple channels, each channel configured to generate radiation having a different spectrum; and

the controller module is configured to independently control each channel of the multiple channels so as to generate the colored light as variable color light.

52. A modular lighting fixture, comprising:

a fixture housing;

a socket mounted to the fixture housing;

a light-generating module installed in and removable from the socket; and

a controller module to control the light-generating module, the controller module disposed in or proximate to the fixture housing,

wherein;

the light-generating module is configured to provide information to the controller module relating to at least one characteristic of the light generating module; and

the controller module is configured to control the light-generating module based at least in part on the information provided by the light-generating module.

53. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the light-generating module includes a memory to store the information.

54. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information includes a unique identifier for the light-generating module.

55. The fixture of claim 54, wherein the unique identifier includes a serial number for the light-generating module.

56. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information relates to at least one characteristic of light generated by the light-generating module.

57. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information relates to at least one operating power requirement associated with the light-generating module.

58. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information includes at least one calibration parameter associated with the light-generating module.

59. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information relates to an operating temperature associated with the light-generating module.

60. The fixture of claim 59, wherein the controller module is configured to adjust an operating power of the light-generating module based at least in part on the operating temperature associated with the light-generating module.

61. The fixture of claim 52, wherein the information relates to an operating history associated with the light-generating module.

62. The fixture of claim 61, wherein the information relates to an operating temperature history associated with the light-generating module.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the information relates to an operating time history associated with the light-generating module.