Power distribution for lighting systems
First Claim
1. A lighting system comprising:
- a suspended ceiling having a grid structure;
an ordinary electric utility power line;
central power supply connected with said power line and operative to provide an AC voltage at each one of a plurality of separate outputs, the frequency of said AC voltage being substantially higher than that of the voltage on said power line;
a plurality of lighting units supported by said grid structure and located in an area proximate to said central power supply, each one of these lighting units being adapted to be properly powered from one of said separate outputs; and
for each one of these lighting units, flexible connect cable operative to provide connection between this one lighting unit and one of said outputs;
whereby each of these lighting units is provided with power directly from said central power supply by way of an individual connect cable, thereby distributing power from this central power supply to these lighting units in a hub-and-spoke manner;
which, in turn, minimizes distribution losses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A number of power-line-operated high-frequency multi-output central power supplies are mounted at spaced-apart points on the permanent ceiling above a suspended ceiling. From each individual output of each such power supply, high frequency power is provided by way of flexible conductor means to a lighting fixture mounted nearby in the grid structure of the suspended ceiling below. Thus, high frequency power distribution is accomplished in a hub-and-spoke fashion by way of relatively short lengths of conductors--with each conductor carrying a relatively light current. Compared with the conventional bus-wire system of distributing high frequency power to a plurality of lighting fixtures, subject hub-and-spoke distribution system provides for substantially lower distribution losses and minimized radio frequency interference. Also, this hub-and-spoke system provides for more flexibility in terms of installing and positioning the fixtures in the suspended ceiling.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A lighting system comprising:
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a suspended ceiling having a grid structure; an ordinary electric utility power line; central power supply connected with said power line and operative to provide an AC voltage at each one of a plurality of separate outputs, the frequency of said AC voltage being substantially higher than that of the voltage on said power line; a plurality of lighting units supported by said grid structure and located in an area proximate to said central power supply, each one of these lighting units being adapted to be properly powered from one of said separate outputs; and for each one of these lighting units, flexible connect cable operative to provide connection between this one lighting unit and one of said outputs; whereby each of these lighting units is provided with power directly from said central power supply by way of an individual connect cable, thereby distributing power from this central power supply to these lighting units in a hub-and-spoke manner;
which, in turn, minimizes distribution losses.
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2. A lighting system comprising:
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multiple central power supplies located at spaced-apart points in or on a ceiling structure, each one of these power supplies having a plurality of separate individual outputs, each one of these individual outputs providing an AC voltage, the frequency of this AC voltage being substantially higher than that of the voltage on an ordinary electric utility power line; for each one central power supply, a plurality of lighting units located proximately thereto, each one of these lighting units being operable to be properly powered by the AC voltage provided from one of said outputs; and for each particular one of said lighting units, a flexible cable to provide connection between this particular one lighting unit and one of the outputs of a central power supply located proximately thereto whereby each lighting unit is individually and separately provided with power directly from one of the outputs of one of said central power supplies by way of an individual connect cable, thereby distributing power from this central power supply to these lighting units in a hub-and-spoke manner;
which, in turn, minimizes distribution losses.
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3. A lighting system comprising:
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a suspended ceiling having a grid structure; an ordinary electric utility power line;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power line being so large as to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of fault condition, such as a short circuit;a number of power supplies connected with said power line;
each power supply being operative to provide an AC voltage at a power output;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power output being so low as not to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural lighting units supported by said grid structure;
at least one of the lighting units being located in an area proximate to one of the power supplies;
said one of the lighting units being adapted to be properly powered from the power output of said one of the power supplies; andfor each one of the plural lighting units, a flexible connect cable operative to provide disconnectable connection between said at least one of the lighting units and said one of the power supplies located proximate thereto; whereby each one of the plural lighting units is disconnectably connected with and powered from a power supply located proximate thereto, thereby to minimize distribution losses. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A lighting system comprising:
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a suspended ceiling having a grid structure; an ordinary electric utility power line;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power line being so large as to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural power supplies connected with said power line;
each of the plural power supplies being operative to provide an AC voltage at a power output;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power output being so low as not to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural lighting units supported by said grid structure;
at least one of the lighting units being located in an area proximate to one of the power supplies;
said one of the lighting units being adapted to be properly powered from the power output of said one of the power supplies; andfor each one of the plural lighting units, a flexible connect cable operative to provide disconnectable connection between said at least one of the lighting units and said one of the power supplies located proximate thereto; whereby each one of the plural lighting units is disconnectably connected with and powered from a power supply located proximate thereto, thereby to minimize distribution losses.
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16. A lighting system comprising;
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an ordinary electric utility power line;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power line being so large as to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;a number of power supplies connected with said power line;
each power supply being operative to provide an AC voltage at a power output;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power output being so low as not to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural lighting units mounted in proximity of the ceiling in a room;
each given one of the lighting units being located proximate to a given one of the power supplies;
said given one of the lighting units being adapted to be properly powered from the power output of said given one of the power supplies; andfor each given one of the lighting units, a flexible connect cable operative to provide disconnectable connection between said given one of the lighting units and said given one of the power supplies located proximate thereto; whereby each one of the lighting units is disconnectably connected with and powered from a power supply located proximate thereto, thereby to minimize distribution losses.
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17. A lighting system comprising:
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an ordinary electric utility power line;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power line being so large as to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural power supplies connected with said power line;
each power supply being mounted on or in a ceiling structure of a room and operative to provide an AC voltage at a power output;
the maximum electric power extractable from this power output being so low as not to constitute a fire initiation hazard in case of a fault condition, such as a short circuit;plural lighting units also mounted on or in the ceiling structure such that each one of the lighting units being located proximate to one of the power supplies;
the lighting units each being adapted to be properly powered from the power output of one of the power supplies; andfor each of the lighting units, a flexible connect cable operative to provide disconnectable connection between said given one of the lighting units and one of the power supplies located proximate thereto, thereby to minimize distribution losses.
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Specification