LIGHTING DEVICES WITH REMOVABLE LIGHT ENGINE COMPONENTS, LIGHTING DEVICE ELEMENTS AND METHODS

• US 20120033429A1
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: VAN DE VEN, Antony Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,960,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0045 by tongue and groove connections, e.g. dovetail interlocking means fixed by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A lighting device, comprising a lighting device element and a light engine component (comprising a solid state light emitter) that is removably supported by the lighting device element. Also, lighting device elements that comprise a lens, a housing member, a mechanical engagement region, an electrical contact region and/or means for removably supporting a light engine component. Also, lighting device elements in which a retaining structure holds a light engine component, a portion of a light engine component is exposed to a lens. Also, lighting devices that comprise means for removably supporting a light engine component. Also, methods that comprise removing a light engine component from a lighting device element and removably supporting a second light engine component on the lighting device element.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

a lighting device element, the lighting device element having at least a first electrical contact region; and

at least a first light engine component, the first light engine component comprising at least a first solid state light emitter having at least a second electrical contact region,

the first light engine component being removably supported by the lighting device element,

the first electrical contact region being in electrical contact with the second electrical contact region.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first light engine component is a solid state light emitter.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 2, wherein the solid state light emitter is a chip.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first light engine component comprises a solid state light emitter and an encapsulant.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first light engine component comprises a light engine module that comprises at least a first solid state light emitter support member, and

the first solid state light emitter is mounted on the first solid state light emitter support member.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first mechanical engagement region,

the first light engine component comprises at least a second mechanical engagement region, and

the first mechanical engagement region is in contact with the second mechanical engagement region.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first light engine component comprises a light engine module that comprises at least a first solid state light emitter support member,

the first solid state light emitter is mounted on the first solid state light emitter support member,

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first mechanical engagement region,

the first solid state light emitter support member comprises a second mechanical engagement region, and

the first mechanical engagement region is in contact with the second mechanical engagement region.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member,

the first mechanical engagement region is on a surface of the first housing member,

the first mechanical engagement region is substantially tapered, and

the second mechanical engagement region is substantially tapered.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the first mechanical engagement region is substantially frustoconical, and

the second mechanical engagement region is substantially frustoconical.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member that comprises at least a first heat dissipation structure.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one pin or fin.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member and at least one element selected from among an electrical connector, a lens and a reflective element.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member, and

the first housing member has at least a first cavity in which at least a portion of the first light engine component is located.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first locking member that has at least a first unlocked position and at least a first locked position,

the first locking member holds the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member is in the first locked position, and

the first locking member does not hold the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member is in the first unlocked position.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first substantially transparent element, and

if the first solid state light emitter is illuminated, at least some of the light emitted by the first solid state light emitter would pass through at least a portion of the first substantially transparent element.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 16, wherein the first substantially transparent element defines at least a first hollow region.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first retaining structure which removably holds the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least one notch in which at least a portion of the first light engine component is positioned.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, wherein the first solid state light emitter support member comprises at least one element selected from among circuit boards, circuitry components, electrical contacts and electrical traces.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device further comprises at least one additional light source.

22. A lighting device element, comprising:

at least a first lens; and

at least a first housing member, the first housing member comprising at least a first mechanical engagement region, the first mechanical engagement region comprising at least a first recess, at least a portion of the first recess being exposed to the first lens.

23. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the first housing member comprises at least a first electrical contact region, and

at least a portion of the first electrical contact region is on a surface of the housing member that at least partially defines the first recess.

24. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the first mechanical engagement region is on a surface of the first housing member, and

the first mechanical engagement region is substantially tapered.

25. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the first mechanical engagement region is on a surface of the first housing member, and

the first mechanical engagement region is substantially frustoconical.

26. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein the first housing member comprises at least a first heat dissipation structure.

27. A lighting device element as recited in claim 26, wherein the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one pin or fin.

28. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein the lighting device element further comprises at least one element selected from among an electrical connector and a reflective element.

29. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first locking member that has at least a first unlocked position and at least a first locked position, and

if a light engine component were positioned with at least a portion of the light engine component in the first recess;

the first locking member would hold the light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member were in the first locked position, and

the first locking member would not hold the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member were in the first unlocked position.

30. A lighting device element as recited in claim 22, wherein the first recess is in the form of a notch.

31. A lighting device element, comprising:

at least a first lens; and

a housing member that comprises at least a first retaining structure, the first retaining structure configured to hold a light engine component relative to the lighting device element at a location where at least a portion of the light engine component would be exposed to the first lens.

32. A lighting device element as recited in claim 31, wherein the housing member further comprises at least a first electrical contact region.

33. A lighting device, comprising:

a lighting device element;

at least a first light engine component; and

means for removably supporting the first light engine component relative to the lighting device element,

the first light engine component comprising at least a first solid state light emitter.

34. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first electrical contact region,

the first light engine component further comprises at least a second electrical contact region, and

the first electrical contact region is in electrical contact with the second electrical contact region.

35. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member that comprises at least a first heat dissipation structure.

36. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first locking member that has at least a first unlocked position and at least a first locked position,

the first locking member holds the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member is in the first locked position, and

the first locking member does not hold the first light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element if the first locking member is in the first unlocked position.

37. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first substantially transparent element, and

if the first solid state light emitter is illuminated, at least some of the light emitted by the first solid state light emitter would pass through at least a portion of the first substantially transparent element.

38. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein the first substantially transparent element defines at least a first hollow region.

39. A lighting device element, comprising:

at least a first lens;

at least a first housing member; and

means for removably supporting a light engine component relative to the first housing member with at least a portion of the light engine component being exposed to the first lens.

40. A method, comprising:

removing at least a first light engine component from a lighting device element, and

removably supporting at least a second light engine component on the lighting device element,

the second light engine component comprising at least a first solid state light emitter.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member,

a first mechanical engagement region is on a surface of the first housing member,

the first mechanical engagement region is substantially tapered, a second mechanical engagement region is provided on the firt light engine component, and

the second mechanical engagement region is substantially tapered.

42. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein:

the lighting device element comprises at least a first housing member,

the first housing member has at least a first cavity.

43. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein:

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first locking member that has at least a first unlocked position and at least a first locked position, and

the method further comprises;

moving the first locking member from the first locked position to the first unlocked position before removing the first light engine component from the lighting device element.

44. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein:

the lighting device element further comprises at least a first locking member that has at least a first unlocked position and at least a first locked position, and

the method further comprises;

moving the first locking member from the first unlocked position to the first locked position after removably supporting the second light engine component on the lighting device element.

45. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least a first retaining structure which holds the second light engine component in place relative to the lighting device element after removably supporting the second light engine component on the lighting device element.

46. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the lighting device element comprises at least one notch in which at least a portion of the second light engine component is positioned after removably supporting the second light engine component on the lighting device element.

47. A lighting device element, comprising:

at least a first electrical contact region, the lighting device element configured to removably support at least one light engine component with a second electrical contact region of the light engine component in electrical contact with the first electrical contact region.

48. A lighting device element, comprising:

at least a first mechanical engagement region;

at least a first electrical contact region; and

means for removably supporting at least one light engine component in contact with the first mechanical engagement region, and with a second electrical contact region of the light engine component in electrical contact with the first electrical contact region.