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

• US 20110193499A1
• 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: Reed, Christopher R., Yriberri, John S., Eng, Gregory W., Harbers, Gerard, Tseng, Peter K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• 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 electrical interface module (EIM) comprising:

a first plurality of electrical contact surfaces in a first arrangement disposed on an electrical interface board;

a second plurality of electrical contact surfaces in a second arrangement disposed on the electrical interface board; and

a first conductor coupling a first electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces to a first electrical contact surface of the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces is configured to be electrically coupleable to an LED illumination device, and wherein the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces is configured to electrically coupleable to a light fixture.

2. The EIM of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductor coupling the first electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces with a second electrical contact surface of the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces.

3. The EIM of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board is adapted to be electrically coupleable to LED illumination devices with a different number of LEDs.

4. The EIM of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board is adapted to be electrically coupleable to different configurations of electrical contact surfaces on different LED illumination devices.

5. The EIM of claim 1, further comprising:

a lead frame including a plurality of spring pins operable to couple the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board to the LED illumination device.

6. The EIM of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of contact pins molded into a retaining frame operable to couple the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board to the LED illumination device.

7. The EIM of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces in the second arrangement disposed on the electrical interface board is a registered jack (RJ) network interface connector.

8. The EIM of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces in the second arrangement disposed on the electrical interface board includes a plurality of concentric, ring shaped contact surfaces.

9. The EIM of claim 2, further comprising:

a power converter coupled to the first electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces by the first conductor and coupled to the second electrical contact surface of the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces by the second conductor, wherein the first electrical contact surface is configured to electrically couple to a first LED circuit of the LED illumination device, and wherein the second electrical contact surface is configured to electrically couple to the light fixture.

10. The EIM of claim 9, wherein the power converter is a current mode controlled DC-DC power converter.

11. The EIM of claim 9, wherein the power converter is a current mode controlled AC-DC power converter.

12. The EIM of claim 9, wherein the power converter is coupled to a third electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces by a third conductor, and wherein the third electrical contact surface is configured to electrically couple to a second LED circuit of the LED illumination device.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a first voltage node adapted to be coupled to a first terminal of an LED;

a second voltage node adapted to be coupled to a second terminal of the LED;

a switching element coupled between the first voltage node and the second voltage node, wherein the switching element is substantially conductive in a closed state, and wherein the switching element in the closed state is operable to conduct a current supplied by a current source; and

a conductor coupled to the switching element, wherein a control signal communicated over the conductor determines whether the switching element is in the closed state.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller that provides the control signal to the switching element.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller and the switching element are included in an electrical interface module of a LED based illumination device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller provides the control signal that determines whether the switching element is in the closed state based on a command received by the controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller provides the control signal that determines whether the switching element is in the closed state based on a flux sensed on the LED based illumination device.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an LED illumination device operable to emit a light, wherein the LED illumination device includes an electrical interface module;

an optic replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device; and

a sensor mounted on the optic, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the electrical interface module.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optic includes a conductor, and wherein an output signal of the sensor is communicated over the conductor of the optic to an LED mounting board of the LED illumination device and through the LED mounting board to the electrical interface module.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor is any of a flux sensor, a color sensor, and an occupancy sensor.