LOW VOLTAGE BUSS SYSTEM

• US 20140167501A1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Zantout, Alan E., Swedberg, Benjamin D., Marosi, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,847,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/005 with a lamp housing maintained at a distance from the floor or ground via a support, e.g. standing lamp for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

An example low voltage buss system is provided. The low voltage bus system distributes low voltage DC power into the office workspace in a manner that reduces clutter and promotes customizable and efficient workspace usage. The low voltage bus system distributes low voltage DC power into the office workspace via an electrical buss having a connector at the end of the buss to distribute low voltage DC power to and throughout office workspace and, in particular, office furniture.

Claims

1. A power delivery buss system comprising:

a power source that provides a low voltage DC output;

at least one electrically conductive buss;

at least one fixture connected electrically to the at least one electrical buss;

at least one wire that connects to the output of the power source; and

a switch located between the power source and the at least one electrically conductive buss that receives a signal from a sensor to energize the at least one electrically conductive buss when activated.

2. The power delivery buss system of claim 1, wherein the switch is located in a wire splitter providing power to two or more busses.

3. The power delivery buss system of claim 1, wherein the sensor communicates wirelessly with the switch.

4. The power delivery buss system of claim 1, wherein the power source attaches directly to a metallic frame of an office furniture component to dissipate heat from the power source.

5. The power delivery buss system of claim 1, wherein the power source is housed within a cavity of an office furniture component in which the furniture component has ducting that permits the convection of air through the power source.

6. The power delivery buss system of claim 1, wherein the switch is located in a connector providing power directly to the at least one electrically conductive buss from the wire.

7. The power delivery buss system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is also located in the connector.

8. A power delivery buss system comprising:

a power source that provides a low voltage DC output;

at least one electrically conductive buss;

at least one fixture connected electrically to the at least one electrical buss;

at least one wire that connects to the output of the power source; and

a device between the power source and buss that contains power limiting componentry to prevent at least one of overvoltage or overcurrent.

9. The power delivery buss system of claim 8, wherein the device is a connector providing power directly to the at least one electrically conductive buss.

10. The power delivery buss system of claim 9, wherein the at least one connector provides mechanical support for the at least one electrically conductive buss.

11. A power delivery buss system comprising:

a power source that provides a low voltage DC output;

at least one electrically conductive buss; and

at least one fixture connected electrically to the at least one electrically conductive buss;

wherein the at least one fixture can be attached electrically to the at least one electrically conductive buss and mechanically to the power delivery buss system or support structure of the power buss system in a single action.

12. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the at least one fixture is secured by gravity.

13. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the at least one fixture is secured by an elastically-deflected latch.

14. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the at least one fixture is secured by magnetic force.

15. The power delivery buss system of claim 14, wherein the at least one electrically conductive buss is ferrous.

16. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrically conductive buss is incorporated into a banding that is attached to an edge of a stock office furniture component.

17. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein at least two electrically conductive busses of the same polarity are located in two separate horizontal slots of a slat system to permit multiple vertical positioning options for a fixture.

18. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, in which the at least one electrically conductive buss is integrated into a desk surface.

19. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, in which the at least one electrically conductive buss is integrated into a mechanical rail system located at a desk surface.

20. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the fixture is attachable to the at least one electrically conductive buss in a plurality of positions along a length of the at least one electrically conductive buss.

21. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein at least one fixture is a inductive charging station.

22. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein at least one fixture is a light source.

23. The power delivery buss system of claim 11, wherein the conductive buss system is comprised of a series of parallel busses.

24. The power delivery buss system of claim 23, wherein the series of parallel busses are arranged horizontally in a vertically mounted slat system.

25. The power delivery buss system of claim 24, wherein the at least one electrically conductive buss and an additional electrically conductive buss of opposite polarity are affixed to adjacent slots of the vertically mounted slat system.

26. The power delivery buss system of claim 25, wherein the adjacent slots of the vertically mounted slat system have different slot widths to ensure proper polarity.

27. The power delivery buss system of claim 24, wherein the at least one electrically conductive buss and the additional electrical buss are located within the same horizontal slot of the vertically mounted slat system to ensure proper polarity.

28. The power delivery buss system of claim 23, wherein a buss of the electrically conductive buss system is disposed horizontally along a desktop surface.

29. The power delivery buss system of claim 28, wherein the desktop surface can be set at different heights and the buss moves with it.

30. A power delivery buss system comprising:

a power source that provides a low voltage DC output;

at least one electrically conductive buss;

at least one fixture connected electrically to the at least one electrically conductive buss; and

a switch located within the power source that receives a signal from a sensor also located in the power source to energize the DC output of the power source.

31. The power delivery buss system of claim 30, wherein the power source switches between a first power usage mode and a second power usage mode based on a signal from the sensor.

32. A power delivery buss system comprising:

a power source that provides a low voltage DC output;

at least one electrically conductive buss; and

at least one fixture connected electrically to the at least one electrically conductive buss;

wherein the power source also charges a low voltage battery to permit continued use of attached fixtures during a short-term power outage.

33. A luminaire comprising:

a base located on a surface;

a light source near the base generally directing the light away from the surface;

a generally transparent light guide with an edge adjacent to the light source that transmits the light generally away from the light source; and

an optical means to direct the light toward the surface.

34. The luminaire of claim 33, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

35. The luminaire of claim 33 wherein the light guide has a rectangular cross section.

36. The luminaire of claim 33 wherein the optical means is a shaped reflector that receives the light exiting the light guide to direct it toward the surface.

37. The luminaire of claim 33 wherein an end of the light guide opposite from the light source is bent generally 90 degrees from an other end of the light guide and contains integrally formed prismatic reflective elements to direct the light out a side of the light guide toward the surface.

38. The luminaire of claim 35 wherein the light guide having the rectangular cross section is a privacy screen.

39. The luminaire of claim 35 wherein side panels of light guide having the rectangular cross section emit a minority of light from the light source light for use as at least one of accent lighting or white board illumination.