Controllable Retroffited LED Panel Lighting

• US 20100289428A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Control Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Control Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Frazier, Joseph E., Colip, Gary D., Shelow, Kevin J.
• Application Number:
  US12/777,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289428A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 Electroluminescent [EL] light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/355 Power factor correction [PFC]; Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/36 Circuits for reducing or suppressing harmonics, ripples or electromagnetic interferences [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

The present invention involves a lighting kit adapted for installation into a conventional fluorescent lighting unit having a fluorescent socket and a ballast disposed in the lighting unit. At least one elongated body has fixture ends configured to engage a fluorescent socket. The elongated body supports a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). A control unit, capable of receiving exterior control signals, electrically connects the LEDs to a power source for selectively dimming the LEDs, and is adapted to be mounted in place of the ballast. Dimming may be accomplished by control circuitry that recognizes repeated switching of a power source, and/or by a dipswitch on the LED device that sets the dim level. A method of retrofitting a fluorescent housing unit involves installing a LED device in the fluorescent housing unit and mounting an LED driver in the location configured to receive a conventional fluorescent ballast.

Claims

1. A lighting kit adapted for installation into a conventional fluorescent lighting unit having a fluorescent socket, a ballast disposed in the lighting unit, and a power supply coupled to the lighting unit, the lighting kit comprising:

at least one elongated body having fixture ends, each of said fixture ends configured to engage a fluorescent socket, said elongated body supporting a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a control unit adapted to electrically connect the fluorescent sockets to a power source, said control unit adapted to be mounted in place of the ballast; and

means for dimming said plurality of LEDs based on repeated switching of a power switch, said means for dimming operating according to a 0-10V control signal.

2. The lighting kit of claim 1, wherein said fixture ends include a bi-pin configuration having a switch activated by sensing voltage.

3. The lighting kit of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED panel, wherein said elongated body includes a mounting bracket adapted to attach to said at least one LED panel.

4. The lighting kit of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED panel, wherein said body is generally cylindrical having an elongated flat section for mating with said at least one LED panel.

5. The lighting kit of claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to receive exterior control signals and to operate said LEDs based on said received control signals.

6. The lighting kit of claim 5, wherein said control unit includes a signal conditioner for receiving said control signals and a driver for providing power to said LEDs, said signal conditioner adapted to modulate the power provided by said driver.

7. The lighting kit of claim 5, wherein said control unit is adapted to receive control signals remotely over at least one of a wire line and a wireless communication.

8. The lighting kit of claim 5, wherein the repeated switching of the power switch generates a pulsed control signal receivable by said control unit, said control unit selectively dimming said LEDs based on the cadence of said pulsed control signal.

9. A lighting kit adapted for installation into a conventional fluorescent lighting unit having a fluorescent socket, a ballast disposed in the lighting unit, and a power supply coupled to the lighting unit, the lighting kit comprising:

at least one elongated body having fixture ends, each of said fixture ends configured to engage a fluorescent socket, said elongated body supporting a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a dipswitch;

a control unit adapted to electrically connect the fluorescent sockets to a power source, said control unit adapted to be mounted in place of the ballast; and

means for dimming said plurality of LEDs based on the setting of said dipswitch, said means for dimming operating according to a 0-10V control signal.

10. The lighting kit of claim 9, wherein said fixture ends include a bi-pin configuration having a switch activated by sensing voltage.

11. The lighting kit of claim 9, further comprising at least one LED panel, wherein said elongated body includes a mounting bracket adapted to attach to said at least one LED panel.

12. The lighting kit of claim 9, further comprising at least one LED panel, wherein said body is generally cylindrical having an elongated flat section for mating with said at least one LED panel.

13. The lighting kit of claim 9, wherein said control unit is configured to receive exterior control signals and to operate said LEDs based on said received control signals.

14. The lighting kit of claim 13, wherein said control unit includes a signal conditioner for receiving said control signals and a driver for providing power to said LEDs, said signal conditioner adapted to modulate the power provided by said driver.

15. The lighting kit of claim 13, wherein said control unit is adapted to receive control signals remotely over a wire line and/or a wireless communication.

16. The lighting kit of claim 9, wherein said dipswitch is wired between said control unit and said LEDs.

17. A method of retrofitting a fluorescent housing unit comprising the steps of:

installing a mounting bracket in the fluorescent housing unit;

attaching a plurality of LEDs to the mounting bracket; and

mounting a LED controller in the location configured for receiving a conventional fluorescent ballast, wherein the LED controller operates according to a 0-10V control signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of configuring the LED controller to dim the plurality of LEDs based on repeated switching of a power switch.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of installing a dipswitch in the fluorescent housing unit and configuring the dipswitch to set a dimming level for the plurality of LEDs.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the attaching step includes fastening at least one LED panel to an elongated flat section of the mounting bracket.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of providing an electrical connector between the at least one LED panel and the LED controller.