LIGHT STRIP SYSTEM AND CONVERTER UNIT THEREFOR

• US 20140049954A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Inventors: Ladstaetter, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 9,845,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/221
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/038 intended to be mounted on a light track suspended from a light track F21S8/066; details of supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element F21V21/34
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/025 Elongated bases having a U-shaped cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A light strip system for securing luminaire units and supplying them with power having an elongate support structure, especially at least one support rail for securing the luminaire units and power supply extending along the support structure for supplying the luminaire units with power. The power supply includes first lines which extend along the support structure and define a first power supply circuit (I), and second lines which extend over part of the length of the first power supply circuit (I) along the support structure and define a second power supply circuit (II) which is designed to be in electrical contact with the luminaire units, the first power supply circuit (I) being coupled to the second power supply circuit (II) by a converter unit which converts a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit (I) to a second supply voltage suitable for operating the luminaire units.

Claims

1. A light strip system for securing and supplying power to luminaire units, wherein the system has:

an elongate mounting structure, in particular at least one mounting rail for securing the luminaire units, and

power supply means extending along the mounting structure for supplying power to the luminaire units,

wherein the power supply means have;

first lines, which extend along the mounting structure and which form a first power supply circuit,

second lines, which extend along the mounting structure over a partial length of the first power supply circuit and form a second power supply circuit, which is provided for making electrical contact by means of the luminaire units,

wherein the coupling between the first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit takes place by means of a converter unit, which converts a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit into a second supply voltage suitable for operating the luminaire units.

2. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply means have a plurality of second power supply circuits which are preferably each coupled via a dedicated converter unit to the first power supply circuit.

3. The light strip system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second power supply circuits each abut one another at their ends and extend, together, substantially over the entire length of the first power supply circuit, in particular over the entire length of the mounting structure.

4. The light strip system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second power supply circuits are connected to one another at their ends.

5. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the second power supply circuit(s) are arranged so as to be freely accessible from a fitting side of the mounting structure for the luminaire units.

6. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the first power supply circuit have, at predetermined intervals, contact-making means for connection of a converter unit.

7. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the first power supply circuit are arranged and mounted in such a way that they enable a substantially free arrangement of the converter unit along the mounting structure.

8. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is formed by one or more substantially U-shaped mounting rails.

9. The light strip system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lines of the first power supply circuit run within the mounting rails.

10. The light strip system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lines of the second power supply circuit(s) are arranged in the region of the opening of the mounting rails.

11. The light strip system as claimed in claim 8, wherein further second power supply circuits are arranged on the side remote from the opening of the mounting rails.

12. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter unit is arranged in the center of the associated second power supply circuit, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light strip system.

13. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter unit is arranged in the center of two adjacent second power supply circuits, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light strip system, and is connected to the two second power supply circuits.

14. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first supply voltage is a high voltage and the second supply voltage is a low voltage.

15. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the luminaire units contain LED light sources.

16. A converter unit for supplying power to luminaire units, wherein the converter unit has:

means for fastening to the mounting structure of a light strip system, in particular to a mounting rail,

means for making contact with lines running on or within the mounting structure of a first power supply circuit,

means for making contact with lines running on or within the mounting structure of a second power supply circuit, and

means for converting a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit into a second supply voltage suitable for operating the luminaire units.

17. The converter unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for making contact with the first power supply circuit have a rotary tap.

18. The converter unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for making contact with the second power supply circuit have a plug which is connected to the converter unit via a flexible line.