LINEAR LIGHT FIXTURES

• US 20120001554A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leadford, Kevin Franklin, Gould, Carl, Nelson, Peter K.
• Application Number:
  US13/173,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide for a linear lighting system with a plurality of discrete light sources. Other embodiments of the invention include heat dissipation techniques and apparatus for a linear light system. Other embodiments of the invention include a two component lighting system that includes rails and nodes. In some embodiments, the lighting and control aspects can be divided between the rail and node. In yet other embodiments a linear lens providing a unique photometric distribution is provided.

Claims

1. A luminaire rail comprising:

an elongated rail body having a first end and a second end;

a communication channel disposed within the rail body extending through the rail body from the first end to the second end;

at least one electric power channel disposed within the rail body; and

a plurality of light sources disposed along the length of the rail body, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of light sources are electrically coupled with the at least one electric power channel.

2. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric power channel comprises a first electric power channel and a second electric power channel, wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources are electrically coupled with the first electric power channel and wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources are electrically coupled with the second electric power channel.

3. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric power channel comprises an AC channel and a DC channel.

4. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise light emitting diodes.

5. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical connector coupled to the first end of the rail body, wherein the at least one electrical connector is coupled with the communication channel and the power channel.

6. The luminaire rail according to claim 5, further comprising an end cap comprising the at least one electrical connector.

7. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, further comprising an elongated optical element coupled with the rail body, wherein the elongated optical element is configured to direct light emitted from the plurality of light sources.

8. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical connector coupled with the first end of the rail body, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to couple the luminaire rail with a luminaire node.

9. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, further comprising an end cap, wherein the end cap comprises the mechanical connector.

10. The luminaire rail according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink.

11. A luminaire node comprising:

at least one rail receiving port for receiving a luminaire rail comprising an electric power channel;

a connector comprising a power connector configured to electrically couple with the electric power channel of the luminaire rail;

a power supply electrically coupled with the power connector; and

a controller communicatively coupled with the power supply.

12. The modular luminaire node according to claim 11, further comprising a communication module communicatively coupled with the controller;

wherein the connector, further comprises a communication connector coupled with the communication module and configured to communicatively couple with a communication connector of the luminaire rail.

13. The modular luminaire node according to claim 11, wherein the power connector is configured to electrically couple with a DC power channel and an AC power channel.

14. The modular luminaire node according to claim 11, further comprising a light sensor communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the light sensor is configured to detect one or more of illuminance, irradiance, and luminance in the vicinity of the luminaire node.

15. The modular luminaire node according to claim 11, further comprising a motion detector communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the motion detector is configured to detect motion near the luminaire node.

16. The modular luminaire node according to claim 11, further comprising an external power input connector coupled with the power supply.

17. The modular luminaire node according to claim 16, wherein the power input connector is configured to couple with an AC power source, and the power supply comprises an AC-DC converter.

18. A light fixture comprising:

a luminaire body;

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed within the luminaire body; and

a first connector coupled with the luminaire body and comprising a mechanical connector and an electrical connector, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to mechanically couple the luminaire with a first node and the electrical connector is configured to electrically couple with the first node and electrically couple with at least some of the light emitting diodes.

19. The light fixture according to claim 18, wherein the first connector comprises a connector body that includes both the electrical connector and the mechanical connector.

20. The light fixture according to claim 18, wherein the first connector comprises an end cap positioned on an end of the luminaire body.

21. The light fixture according to claim 18, further comprising a power channel coupled with the electrical connector and the light emitting diodes.

22. The light fixture according to claim 18, further comprising a second connector coupled with the luminaire body and comprising a mechanical connector and an electrical connector, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to mechanically couple the luminaire with a second node, and the electrical connector is electrically coupled with other of the light emitting diodes, is electrically coupled with the first connector, and is configured to electrically couple with the second node.