Workspace lighting system

• US 20070279895A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Siminovitch, Michael, Gauna, Kevin, Page, Erik, Bourne, Douglas, Clark, Walter
• Application Number:
  US11/432,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/127
• 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 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/28 adjustable in more than one plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular lighting system for lighting a work area is disclosed. The system includes a power supply with power outlets for powering LED fixtures. The power supply preferably operates at or below a fixed power output level, such as to illuminate the work area using less than 0.2 Watts per square foot of energy. The lighting system also includes an occupancy sensor and/or a light level sensor for controlling lighting levels in the work area in response to detection of a person, ambient light levels and/or a combination thereof. The lighting system can also include computer unit with a micro-processor and a memory unit for running software or firmware the executes lighting programs, stores light usage histories and/or provides system reports to a remote computer by a wireless means and/or over a computer network.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a) a power supply with a plurality of outlets, the power supply being configured to provide a fixed load to the plurality of outlets; and

b) a plurality of light fixtures configured to interchangeably electrically couple to each of the plurality of outlets.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to automatically power the plurality of outlets in response to a condition.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor and the condition is detection of a person in a vicinity of the lighting system.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing an operating history of the system.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing an operating history of the system comprises a micro-processor and memory.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light fixtures includes an array of light emitting diodes.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outlets provides DC current to plurality light fixtures.

8. A device for lighting a workspace, the device comprising:

a) a plurality of luminaries;

b) a dedicated power supply for providing electrical power to the plurality luminaries, wherein the power supply has an output power limit; and

c) means for electrically coupling the luminaries to the power supply.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the output power limit is 120 Watts or less.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of luminaries has a task-specific photometric outputs.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for controlling the power supplied to the plurality of luminaries.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the means for controlling the power supplied includes an occupancy sensor.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein one or more of the plurality of luminaries have photometric outputs configured for providing task lighting, accent lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and wall wash lighting.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the output power limit is selected from one or more of 6-Watt, 9-Watt, 15-Watt, 25-Watt, 30-Watt, 60-Watt, and 120-Watt.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the means for electrically connecting the plurality of luminaries to the power supply includes universal interconnects.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein the means for connecting comprises:

a) a means for transmitting energy and/or data; and

b) a plurality of means for connecting the means for transmitting energy and/or data to the power supply and the luminaries, wherein the means for connecting indicates the photometric type of the luminaries.

17. The device of claim 8, wherein the power supply is integrated into one of the luminaries.

18. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for communicating with a system to control ambient lighting.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is controlled by the system to control ambient lighting.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the device controls the system to control ambient lighting.

21. A method of making a lighting system comprising:

a) providing LED light fixtures, each with a plug and each having substantially different task-specific photometric output types; and

b) providing a power limited power supply with a plurality of direct current outlets configured to electrically couple each of the LED light fixtures through the plug.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the power limited power supply has a total power output of 120 Watts or less.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising coupling a sensor to the power limited power supply, wherein the senor controls the power to the direct current outlets in response to sensor signals

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the direct current outlets are coded for the task-specific photometric output types.