Illumination systems

• US 20070236159A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Beland
• Original Assignee: Robert Beland
• Inventors: Beland, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,928,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/355 Power factor correction [PFC]; Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An illumination system includes a master power supply providing power to several illumination modules. The master power supply is constructed and arranged to generate high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power provided to a primary wire forming a current loop. Each illumination module includes an electromagnetic coupling element and several light sources. The electromagnetic coupling element includes a magnetic core arranged to receive the current loop in a removable arrangement, and a secondary wire wound around the magnetic core to enable inductive coupling. The secondary wire is connected to provide current to the light sources that may be arranged in the illumination module as a DC load or an AC load.

Claims

1. An illumination system, comprising:

a master power supply constructed and arranged to generate high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power provided to a primary wire forming a current loop; and

an illumination module including an electromagnetic coupling element and several light emitting diodes (LEDs), said electromagnetic coupling element including a magnetic core arranged to receive said current loop, and a secondary wire wound around at least a portion of said magnetic core to enable inductive coupling from said primary wire, said secondary wire being connected to provide current to said LEDs.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic core and a part of said secondary wire wound around said core are encapsulated, thereby sealing said core and wire portion while enabling displacement of said primary wire with respect to said encapsulated magnetic core.

3. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic core is ring-shaped, and wherein said secondary wire is wound around at least a portion of said ring-shaped core.

4. The illumination system of claim 3 wherein said primary wire is threaded through an opening in said ring-shaped core.

5. The illumination system of claim 4 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic core has a rectangular shape, and wherein said secondary wire is wound around at least a portion of said rectangularly-shaped core.

7. The illumination system of claim 6 wherein said primary wire is threaded through an opening in said rectangularly-shaped core.

8. The illumination system of claim 7 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes.

9. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic core is shaped to include a closed magnetic path, and wherein said secondary wire is wound around at least a portion of said core to provide electromagnetic coupling.

10. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein said primary wire is located inside said core and arranged to provide electromagnetic coupling.

11. The illumination system of claim 10 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes.

12. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said master power supply includes a resonant inverter.

13. The illumination system of claim 12 wherein said resonant inverter providing an output in the range of about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz

14. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said master power supply includes a resonant inverter, and an AC current source.

15. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said master power supply includes a self-oscillating inverter providing substantially a sine wave output.

16. For use in an illumination system, an electromagnetic coupling element constructed to couple inductively power from a power supply to one or multiple light sources, said coupling element comprising:

a magnetic core;

a source wire wound around at least a portion of said magnetic core and being connected to at least one light source;

a casing surrounding said magnetic core and said source wire at said portion being wound around said magnetic core to electrically insulate said source wire and said magnetic core; and

an inductive region defined by said magnetic core and arranged to receive a conductor in a removable arrangement with respect to said magnetic core, said conductor being located to couple inductively power from a power supply to said source wire.

17. The electromagnetic coupling element of claim 16 wherein said magnetic core is made of a ferromagnetic material that forms a closed magnetic loop.

18. The electromagnetic coupling element of claim 16 wherein said magnetic core forms a closed magnetic loop formed by two or more ferromagnetic elements.

19. The electromagnetic coupling element of claim 18 wherein said electromagnetic coupling elements are movable to enable positioning of a primary wire inside said closed magnetic loop.

20. An master power supply for an illumination system, comprising:

a resonant inverter constructed and arranged to generate a high-frequency and low-voltage electrical output;

an AC current source including an inductor connected to receive said electrical output; and

a transformer including a primary side and a secondary side, said primary side being connected to said current source and said secondary side being arranged to provide current to an illumination module including several light emitting diodes (LEDs).

21. The master power supply of claim 20 further including a power factor corrector.

22. The master power supply of claim 20 further including a pulse width modulation line regulator.

23. The master power supply of claim 20 further including a loop current sensor and an open circuit voltage sensor.

24. The master power supply of claim 20 further including a microcontroller for controlling a loop current and max power.

25. An illumination method, comprising:

generating high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power;

providing said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power to a primary wire forming a current loop;

coupling energy from said current loop in a contactless manner to a secondary wire; and

delivering current from said secondary wire to several light emitting diodes (LEDs).

26. The illumination method of claim 25 comprising controlling said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power.

27. The illumination method of claim 26 comprising sensing a loop current by monitoring output of said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical signal.

28. The illumination method of claim 26, comprising sensing an open voltage current.

29. An installation method for coupling one or several illumination modules to a power supply, comprising:

providing illumination system comprising a master power supply constructed and arranged to provide electrical power to a primary wire forming a current loop; and

an illumination module including an electromagnetic coupling element and several light sources, said electromagnetic coupling element including a ferromagnetic core;

positioning one or multiple said illumination modules constructed to provide light; and

positioning said primary wire in a close proximity to said illumination module without establishing an electrical connection, said positioning enabling inductive power transfer from said primary wire to a secondary wire wound around at least a portion of said ferromagnetic core, wherein said secondary wire is connected to provide current to one or multiple light sources.

30. The installation method of claim 29, wherein said positioning of said one or multiple illumination modules includes positioning said modules inside a letter channel.