Workspace lighting system

• US 20070290621A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Siminovitch, Michael, Gauna, Kevin, Page, Erik, Bourne, Douglas Joseph, Clark, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/113
• 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: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• 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: F21W 2131/402 for working places
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current

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 light fixture configured to electrically couple to each of the plurality of outlets, wherein the light fixture includes a light emitting diode array and a finned lamp head with a heat sink and fins for cooling the light emitting diode array.

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 the plurality of outlets provides DC current to plurality light fixtures.

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

a) a plurality of luminaires;

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

c) means for electrically coupling the luminaires to the power supply wherein at least one of the plurality of luminaires includes a light emitting diode array and a finned lamp head with a heat sink and fins for cooling the light emitting diode array.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the output power limit is 120 Watts or less.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of luminaires has a task-specific photometric outputs.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising means for controlling the power supplied to the plurality of luminaires.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the power supplied includes an occupancy sensor.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein one or more of the plurality of luminaires have photometric outputs configured for providing task lighting, accent lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and wall wash lighting.

13. The device of claim 7, 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.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the means for electrically connecting the plurality of luminaires to the power supply includes universal interconnects.

15. The device of claim 7, 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 luminaires, wherein the means for connecting indicates the photometric type of the luminaires.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the power supply is integrated into one of the luminaires.

17. The device of claim 7, further comprising means for communicating with a system to control ambient lighting.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is controlled by the system to control ambient lighting.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the device controls the system to control ambient lighting.

20. A system comprising:

a) a task lamp comprising

i) a head sink;

ii) a light emitting diode array embedded within the head sink; and

iii) a plurality of fins protruding outward form the heat sink;

b) a power supply for providing electrical power to the task lamp; and

c) an occupancy sensor for controlling the task lamp through the power supply in response to detection of a person by the occupancy sensor.