LINEAR LIGHT FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHT ENGINE UNIT

• US 20140268720A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dungan, William Laird, Lay, James Michael, Snell, Nathan, Trott, Gary David
• Granted Patent: US 10,584,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• 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: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• 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 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/08 producing an asymmetric light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular troffer-style fixture that is well-suited for use with solid state light sources, such as LEDs, to provide a surface ambient light (SAL). The fixture comprises two structural components: a housing subassembly and a lighting subassembly. These two subassemblies may be removably attached to operate as a singular fixture. Many different lighting subassemblies may be compatible with a single housing subassembly and vice versa. The housing subassembly comprises a body that is mountable to an external structure. The lighting subassembly comprises the light sources and optical elements that tailor the light to achieve a particular profile. Electronics necessary to power and control the light sources may be disposed in the housing subassembly, the lighting subassembly, or both. Various mount mechanisms may be used to attach the fixture to a surface such as a ceiling or a wall. Multiple fixtures can be connected serially to provide an extended continuous fixture.

Claims

1. A modular light fixture, comprising:

a housing subassembly;

a lighting subassembly comprising at least one light source; and

driver electronics connected to control said at least one light source;

wherein said housing subassembly and said lighting subassembly are removably attached.

2. The modular light fixture of claim 1,

wherein said housing subassembly further comprises:

an interior mount surface on which said driver electronics are mounted; and

a first end cap portion comprising a receiving structure; and

wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises;

a body comprising at least one internal surface, said at least one light source on said internal surface;

an exit lens attached to said body, said exit lens configured to transmit at least a portion of light from said at least one light source; and

a second end cap portion comprising an attachment structure configured to mate with said receiving structure of said first end cap to removably attach said lighting subassembly to said housing subassembly.

3. The modular light fixture of claim 2, wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises an elongated back reflector proximate to said at least one light source.

4. The modular light fixture of claim 3, wherein said back reflector is diffusive.

5. The modular light fixture of claim 2, wherein said exit lens is diffusive.

6. The modular light fixture of claim 2, wherein said exit lens is prismatic.

7. The modular light fixture of claim 1, said lighting subassembly body further comprises an elongated heat sink that extends from one end of said body to the other end.

8. The modular light fixture of claim 7, wherein said at least one internal surface is on a back side of said heat sink such that said at least one light source is mounted to said heat sink back side.

9. The modular light fixture of claim 1, wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises a motion sensor.

10. The modular light fixture of claim 1, wherein said driver electronics comprise:

an AC/DC converter;

a DC/DC converter; and

a battery backup unit.

11. The modular light fixture of claim 1, wherein said light fixture provides a symmetric light output.

12. The modular light fixture of claim 1, wherein said light fixture provides an asymmetric light output.

13. The modular light fixture of claim 1, wherein said driver electronics are housed in said lighting subassembly.

14. The modular light fixture of claim 1, further comprising first and second end caps on opposite ends of said fixture when said housing subassembly and said lighting subassembly are attached.

15. The modular light fixture of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate end cap at one end of said light fixture, said intermediate end cap comprising attachment structures on both sides such that additional fixtures can be serially connected to form an extended modular light fixture.

16. A modular light fixture, comprising:

a housing subassembly;

a lighting subassembly, comprising;

a body;

a back reflector at least partially surrounded by said body;

a heat sink comprising a back side mount surface;

a plurality of light sources on said mount surface, said light sources positioned such that at least of the portion of the light emitted initially impinges on said back reflector; and

a lens attached to said body, said lens configured to transmit at least a portion of light from said at least one light source; and

driver electronics connected to control said plurality of light sources;

wherein said housing subassembly and said lighting subassembly are removably attached.

17. The modular light fixture of claim 16, wherein said housing subassembly further comprises a first end cap portion comprising a receiving structure;

and

wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises a second end cap portion comprising an attachment structure configured to mate with said receiving structure of said first end cap to removably attach said lighting subassembly to said housing subassembly.

18. The modular light fixture of claim 16, wherein said lens is diffusive.

19. The modular light fixture of claim 16, wherein said lens is prismatic.

20. The modular light fixture of claim 16, wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises a motion sensor.

21. The modular light fixture of claim 16, wherein said driver electronics comprise:

a power converter; and

a battery backup unit.

22. The modular light fixture of claim 16, further comprising an intermediate end cap at one end of said light fixture, said intermediate end cap comprising attachment structures on both sides such that additional fixtures can be serially connected to form an extended modular light fixture.

23. A modular light fixture, comprising:

a housing subassembly comprising an external mount mechanism; and

a lighting subassembly comprising at least one light source and driver electronics;

wherein said housing subassembly and said lighting subassembly are removably attached.

24. The modular light fixture of claim 23,

wherein said housing subassembly comprises:

at least one feed hole sized to accept a conduit for electric wires; and

a first attachment structure; and

wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises;

a body comprising an internal surface, said at least one light source on said internal surface;

an electronics compartment, said driver electronics housed within said electronics compartment;

an exit lens attached to said body, said exit lens configured to transmit at least a portion of light from said at least one light source; and

end caps at the ends of said body, each of said end caps comprising a second attachment structure configured to mate with said first attachment structure of said housing assembly to removably attach said lighting subassembly to said housing subassembly.

25. The modular light fixture of claim 23, wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises an elongated back reflector proximate to said at least one light source.

26. The modular light fixture of claim 25, wherein said back reflector is diffusive.

27. The modular light fixture of claim 24, wherein said exit lens is diffusive.

28. The modular light fixture of claim 24, wherein said exit lens is prismatic.

29. The modular light fixture of claim 24, said lighting subassembly body further comprises an elongated heat sink that extends from one end of said body to the other end.

30. The modular light fixture of claim 29, wherein said at least one internal surface is on a back side of said heat sink such that said at least one light source is mounted to said heat sink back side.

31. The modular light fixture of claim 23, wherein said lighting subassembly further comprises a motion sensor.

32. The modular light fixture of claim 23, wherein said driver electronics comprise:

an AC/DC converter;

a DC/DC converter; and

a battery backup unit.

33. The modular light fixture of claim 23, further comprising an intermediate end cap at one end of said light fixture, said intermediate end cap comprising attachment structures on both sides such that additional fixtures can be serially connected to form an extended modular light fixture.

34. An extendable linear fixture, comprising:

a plurality of modular fixtures, each of said modular fixtures comprising;

a housing subassembly comprising an external mount mechanism; and

a lighting subassembly comprising at least one light source;

wherein said housing subassembly and said lighting subassembly are removably attached; and

at least one joiner structure, one of said joiner structures between adjacent of said modular fixtures and connecting said modular fixtures together.