Flexible Electrical Connection Of An LED-Based Illumination Device To A Light Fixture

• US 20110193484A1
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Xicato Corporation
• Original Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
• Inventors: Harbers, Gerard, Reed, Christopher R., Tseng, Peter K., Yriberri, John S., Eng, Gregory W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/129
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/26 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An electrical interface module (EIM) is provided between an LED illumination device and a light fixture. The EIM includes an arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to an LED illumination device and a second arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to the light fixture and may include a power converter. Additionally, an LED selection module may be included to selectively turn on or off LEDs. A communication port may be included to transmit information associated with the LED illumination device, such as identification, indication of lifetime, flux, etc. The lifetime of the LED illumination device may be measured and communicated, e.g., by an RF signal, IR signal, wired signal or by controlling the light output of the LED illumination device. An optic that is replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device may include, e.g., a flux sensor that is connected to the electrical interface.

Claims

1. An LED based illumination device comprising:

a processor;

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor and storing information associated with the LED based illumination device; and

a communications port controlled by the processor to transmit the information from the LED based illumination device.

2. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises any of an indication of a serial number of the LED based illumination device and an indication of a lifetime of the LED based illumination device.

3. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, further comprising an occupancy sensor, wherein the information comprises an indication of an occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor.

4. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a flux sensor, wherein the information comprises an indication of a flux sensed by the flux sensor.

5. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the information comprises an indication of a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

6. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, wherein the communications port comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, wherein the information is communicated by the RF transmitter.

7. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, wherein the communications port comprises an infrared (IR) transmitter, wherein the information is communicated by the IR transmitter.

8. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, wherein the communications port comprises a wired network, wherein the information is communicated over the wired network.

9. The LED based illumination device of claim 8, wherein the wired network is a power over Ethernet interface.

10. The LED based illumination device of claim 1, wherein the communications port comprises one or more LEDs in the LED based illumination device, wherein the information is communicated by modulating light output from the one or more LEDs.

11. The LED based illumination device of claim 10, wherein the light output from the one or more LEDs is modulated at a rate that is detectable by humans.

12. The LED based illumination device of claim 10, wherein the light output from the one or more LEDs is modulated at a rate that is not detectable by humans.

13. A method comprising:

measuring a lifetime of an LED based illumination device by accumulating a number of cycles generated by an electronic circuit over the lifetime, wherein the electronic circuit is on-board the LED based illumination device; and

communicating an indication of the lifetime.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the lifetime with a predetermined threshold value, wherein communicating the indication of the lifetime comprises communicating a signal indicating that the lifetime has exceeded the predetermined threshold value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating the indication comprises periodically interrupting light output of the LED based illumination device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating the indication comprises transmitting a signal, and wherein the signal is communicated over any one of an IR, RF, or wired communication link.

17. A method comprising:

measuring a property of an LED based illumination device using an electrical interface module of the LED based illumination device; and

communicating an indication of the property from the LED based illumination device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

comparing the property with a predetermined threshold value, wherein communicating the indication of the property comprises communicating a signal indicating that the property has exceeded the predetermined threshold value.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to transmit the indication of the property, wherein communicating the indication of the property is in response to the request.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the property is any of a temperature, a serial number, and a lifetime of the LED based illumination device.