Conductive Magnetic Coupling System

• US 20110028006A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Shah, Ashok Deepak, Roberts, David Diehl III
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• 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: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for a conductive magnetic coupling system. The system includes a signal supply component that provides electrical and/or data signals to a signal consumption component that utilizes the signal to provide an output. The two components are magnetically coupled together such that the magnetic coupling mechanisms not only provide the bonding mechanism for securing the components to one another, but also provide the electrical and communicative continuity that allows for the transfer of electrical and/or data signals between the two components. Aspects provide for the repositioning of the signal consumption component along any section of a signal supply component configured as a magnetic track system. Aspects further provide for a flexible, fluid impermeable signal supply component in which a signal consumption component is repositionable along its length.

Claims

1. A conductive magnetic coupling system (100, 900, 1200), comprising:

a power supply component (102) comprising

a power distribution coupling mechanism (208) configured to detachably connect to a power consumption component (104) and to provide an electrical signal to the power consumption component (104); and

the power consumption component (104) comprising

a power receiving coupling mechanism (204) configured to detachably connect to the power distribution coupling mechanism (208) and to receive the electrical signal from the power distribution coupling mechanism (208), and

a power consumption device (202) configured to receive the electrical signal from the power receiving coupling mechanism (204) and to convert the electrical signal to an output,

wherein at least one of the power distribution coupling mechanism (208) and the power receiving coupling mechanism (204) comprises an electrically conductive magnet (206) such that the electrically conductive magnet (206) is configured for detachably connecting the power distribution coupling mechanism (208) and the power receiving coupling mechanism (204), and configured to transfer the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism (208) and the power receiving coupling mechanism (204).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet coated with a conductive material.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a magnet coated with a conductive material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the magnet coated with the conductive material of the power distribution coupling mechanism and the magnet coated with the conductive material of the power receiving coupling mechanism are configured such that a polarity alignment of each magnet allows for the detachable connection of the power consumption component to the power supply component in a first configuration that provides a desired path for the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism and prevents a connection of the power consumption component to the power supply component in a second configuration in which the power consumption component is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the power supply component in the first configuration.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet secured to the power distribution coupling mechanism or the power receiving coupling mechanism with a conductive fastener such that the conductive fastener transfers the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet impregnated with conductive material such that a conductive path is provided through the magnet for transporting the electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a retractable conductive contact configured to recess within the electrically conductive magnet when not positioned within a magnetic field of a connecting magnet, and configured to extend from the electrically conductive magnet when the electrically conductive magnet is connected to the connecting magnet such that when extended, the retractable conductive contact contacts a conductive component of the connecting magnet to provide a conductive path between the power supply component and the power consumption component for the electrical signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism comprises a track system comprising a plurality of parallel tracks configured to allow the power receiving coupling mechanism to be detachably connected at any position along a length of the plurality of parallel tracks.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the track system comprises two tracks and wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises at least one electrically conductive magnet configured to engage each of the two tracks.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks comprise a flexible insulator encompassing a plurality of electrical conductors and wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of insulator penetration devices configured to penetrate the flexible insulator and contact the plurality of parallel electrical conductors to provide a conductive path between the power supply component and the power consumption component.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism are configured to transfer the electrical signal and a data signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism comprises an Edison screw fitting.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power consumption device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) strip or a LED array.

14. A conductive magnetic coupling system (100, 900, 1200), comprising:

a power supply component (102) comprising

a plurality of parallel tracks (210), each track (210) configured to provide an electrical signal to a power consumption component (104) magnetically connected to the power supply component (102) at any location along a length of the track (210); and

the power consumption component (104) comprising a power receiving coupling mechanism (204) comprising a coupling length smaller than the length of the plurality of parallel tracks (210) and configured to magnetically connect to the plurality of tracks (210) and to receive the electrical signal at any position along the length of the plurality of parallel tracks (210), and

a power consumption device (202) configured to receive the electrical signal from the power receiving coupling mechanism (204) and to convert the electrical signal to an output.

15. The system of claim 14,

wherein the plurality of parallel tracks comprises two parallel tracks, each track comprising an electrically conductive and magnetically connectable material,

wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of magnets coated with a conductive material such that each magnet is configured to detachably connect to any portion of a track, receive the electrical signal from the track, and transfer the electrical signal to the power consumption device, and

wherein the power consumption device comprises a luminary module.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks are further configured to provide a data signal to the power consumption component.

17. A conductive magnetic coupling system (100, 900, 1200), comprising:

a power supply component (102) comprising

a plurality of parallel electrical conductors (902), and

a flexible insulator (904) encompassing the plurality of parallel electrical conductors (902); and

a power consumption component (104) comprising

at least one insulator penetration device (1102) configured to penetrate the flexible insulator (904) and contact the plurality of parallel electrical conductors (902), and to provide a conductive path between the plurality of parallel electrical conductors (902) and a power consumption device (202) electrically connected to the at least one insulator penetration devices (1102), and

the power consumption device (202) configured to receive an electrical signal from the plurality of parallel electrical conductors (902) via the plurality of insulator penetration devices (1102) and to convert the electrical signal to an output; and

a magnetic coupling system (1102) configured to magnetically secure the power consumption component (104) to the power supply component (102).

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the flexible insulator is configured to provide an impermeable barrier to fluids such that the flexible insulator provides a weatherproof barrier to the plurality of electrical conductors.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of parallel electrical conductors comprises a magnetically connectable material, and wherein magnetic coupling system comprises a plurality of magnets attached to the power consumption component.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the flexible insulator comprises an exterior surface contoured to provide at least one channel between the plurality of electrical conductors, and wherein an exterior surface of the power consumption component is contoured to nest with the channel of the exterior surface of flexible insulator.