Lighting system with removable light modules

• US 20090086478A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Sanroma, John P., Mitchell, John D. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,806,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• 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 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/038 intended to be mounted on a light track suspended from a light track F21S8/066; details of supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element F21V21/34
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/066 from a light track details of supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element F21V21/34
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• 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 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors

Abstract

A lighting system with removable light modules mounted on a frame by an attractive force between magnetic material of the light module and magnetic material of the frame such that a light module may be installed on, removed from, or relocated on the frame manually without tools or permanent electrical connection. The frame may be one-, two-, or three-dimensional, and it may provide an aesthetic appearance even when the lighting system is not illuminated. The light modules may employ incandescent, quartz-halogen, LED, or fluorescent light sources. Particularly, in LED embodiments, the magnetic materials serve the dual functions of mounting and heat sinking. The lighting system may be utilized as a sign, signaling device, or a building block in larger lighting systems. The lighting system has a wide variety of applications and provides a user with improved ability to control the quantity, direction, and characteristics of the emitted light.

Claims

1. A lighting system with removable light modules comprising:

(a) a frame having a substantially flat surface, said frame including a magnetic material and first and second electrically conductive channels mounted on said surface;

(b) a light module comprising a light source mounted on a base, said base having a substantially flat surface, said base including a magnetic material and first and second electrically conductive paths, said light source having first and second lead-in wires electrically connected to said first and second electrically conductive paths of said base; and

(c) said light module being mounted on said frame with said substantially flat surface of said light module facing said substantially flat surface of said frame and said first path of said light module being in electrical contact with said first channel of said frame and electrically isolated from said second channel and said second path of said light module being in electrical contact with said second channel of said frame and electrically isolated from said first channel such that said light module is securely mounted on said frame by means of a magnetic attractive force acting between said magnetic material of said light module and said magnetic material of said frame and such that said magnetic attractive force permits said light module to be manually removed from said frame.

2. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light source is removably mounted on said base of said light module.

3. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a groove intersecting said substantially flat surface of said frame and said first electrically conductive channel of said frame is mounted in said groove.

4. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a dielectric material such that said first and second electrically conductive channels are electrically isolated from each other and said frame.

5. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said base of said light source module includes a dielectric material such that said first and second electrically conductive channels are electrically isolated from each other and said base.

6. A lighting system as described in claim 3 wherein said groove includes a dielectric material such that said first and second electrically conductive channels are electrically isolated from each other and said frame.

7. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame includes means for insuring reliable electrical contact between said first and second electrically conductive channels of said frame and said first and second electrically conductive paths of said base.

8. A lighting system as described in claim 6 wherein said frame further includes means for insuring proper electrical polarity between said first and second electrically conductive channels of said frame and said first and second electrically conductive paths of said base of said light module.

9. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light source is an LED and said magnetic material of said frame and said magnetic material of said base provide heat-sinking substantially sufficient for the thermal operating requirements of said LED.

10. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system includes a plurality of light modules mounted on said frame.

11. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system includes a plurality of electrically conductive channel pairs.

12. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light module includes first and second LEDs, said first LED having a different polarity from said second LED.

13. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system includes first and second groups of light modules, said first group of light modules having a different polarity from said second group of light modules.

14. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light module includes a reflector about said light source and a lens mounted on said reflector through which light emitted by said light source passes.

15. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light module includes a movably mounted reflector such that the direction of the beam emitted by said light module may be adjusted without relocating said light module on said frame.

16. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light module emits colored light.

17. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said system is employed as a sign.

18. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said system is employed as a signaling device.

19. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system further comprises a housing enclosing said frame and said light module, said housing including an openable light-transmissive cover that when closed prevents access to said first and second electrically conductive channels and a kill switch responsive to the position of said cover such that the electrical power flowing through said channels is shut off when said cover is open.

20. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system is adapted to be installed in a grid of a suspended ceiling.

21. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light source is a tungsten-halogen lamp.

22. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light source is an incandescent lamp.

23. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said light source is a fluorescent lamp.

24. A lighting system as describe in claim 1 wherein said frame further includes plastic.

25. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame is substantially a parallelepiped.

26. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame is substantially a sphere.

27. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame is substantially a polyhedron.

28. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system include an electrical control device servicing said light module, said electrical control device being located within the body of said frame.

29. A lighting system as described in claim 28 wherein said electrical control device services a plurality of light modules.

30. A lighting system as described in claim 9 wherein said light module includes a resistor mounted on said module, said resistor being electrically connected in parallel with said LED.

31. A lighting system as described in claim 1 wherein said lighting system is mounted on the underside of a shelf in a display case.

32. A lighting system with removable light modules comprising:

(a) a frame having a substantially flat surface, said frame including an electrically conductive magnetic material and an electrically conductive channel mounted on said surface, said electrically conductive channel being electrically isolated from said frame;

(b) a light module comprising a light source mounted on a base, said base having a substantially flat surface, said base including a magnetic material and first and second electrically conductive paths, said light source having first and second lead-in wires electrically connected to said first and second electrically conductive paths of said base; and

(c) said light module being mounted on said frame with said substantially flat surface of said light module facing said substantially flat surface of said frame and said first path of said light module being in electrical contact with said frame and electrically isolated from said channel of said frame and said second path of said light module being in electrical contact with said channel of said frame and electrically isolated from said frame such that said light module is securely mounted on said frame by means of a magnetic attractive force acting between said magnetic material of said light module and said magnetic material of said frame and such that said magnetic attractive force permits said light module to be manually removed from said frame.