Modular ambient lighting system

• US 6,979,097 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Elam, Timothy P. Scherf
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Elam, Timothy P. Scherf
• Inventors: Elam, Thomas E., Scherf, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/391,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/148, 362/150, 362/226, 362/404, 362/368, 362/217, 362/225, 362/646, 362/648, 362/407
• US Class Current: 362/148
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources

Abstract

The invention is a modular ambient lighting system for providing lighting to the interior of the building. The system features three separate modules: (1) a support module, (2) a power module, and (3) a light fixture body module. The support module provides an electrical connection to the building and structural connection to the ceiling of the building. An interchangeable power module fits into a recess or “foot print” in the support module. The power module includes the electrical components of the lighting system (e.g. ballast, transformer, emergency batteries, etc). An interchangeable light fixture body module houses the lamp that can be configured to deliver direct, indirect, or direct/indirect illumination. The interchangeable features of the modules offers superior flexibility because of the ease to reconfigure the electrical operation of the light system, the type illumination delivered, or the aesthetics of the light system.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building comprising connecting components consisting of:

a support module attached to a building structure mechanically to support itself, the power module, extended structural connector/support, and light fixture body module and coupled to a building electrical power source by internal wiring separate from an interchangeable self-contained power module, said interchangeable self-contained power module coupled to the support module and having all electrical components integrated into the module for operational control of the lighting system, said electrical components coupled to the electrical power source in the support module by a first plug-in electrical connection;

a first extended structural connector/support having a first end coupled to the support module and a second end coupled to the light fixture body module so as to extend down below the support module and a ceiling;

an interchangeable light fixture body module suspended from the support module by the first structural connector/support to hang down below the support module and containing at least one lamp, said lamp powered by a second plug-in electrical connection to the power module; and

a recess in the support module that a plurality of power modules plug into, wherein the plurality of power modules may be individually exchanged to effect the operating mode of the hanging light fixture without disassembly or removal of the light fixture body or support module.

2. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a sensor control.

3. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include an emergency back-up circuit.

4. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a circuit interrupting device.

5. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a ballast.

6. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a transformer.

7. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a dimming control system.

8. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include a battery.

9. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include an illumination intensity sensor.

10. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the support module attaches to a ceiling grid.

11. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the support module attaches to a gypsum board ceiling.

12. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the support module attaches to a concealed spline ceiling.

13. The reconfigurable modular light system for a hanging light fixture used in the interior of a building of claim 1 wherein the electrical components of the power module include an indicator.

14. A method for illuminating a building interior using a reconfigurable modular light system for a suspended light fixture comprising the steps of:

providing a support module attached to a building structure that connects building electrical power to the light system and includes an extended structural connector/support to suspend a light fixture module that hangs down below the support module;

securing at least one of a plurality of separate self-contained interchangeable power modules, the power module containing all electrical components of the light system integrated into the power module and including a first plug-in electrical connection coupling said building electrical power to the power module, wherein the plurality of power modules may be individually exchanged to effect the operating mode of the hanging light fixture without disassembly or removal of the light fixture body module or support module;

providing an interchangeable light fixture body module hanging down from the support module containing at least one illumination source suspended from said support module by said extended structural connector/support, wherein the plurality of light fixture body modules may be individually exchanged to effect the illumination distribution or alter the appearance without disassembly or removal of the power module or the support module; and

connecting said interchangeable light fixture body module to said power module using a second electrical connection to provide control of the illumination source.

15. The method for illuminating a building interior of claim 14 wherein the light fixture body module provides direct illumination.

16. The method for illuminating a building interior of claim 15 wherein the light fixture body module also provides indirect illumination.

17. The method for illuminating a building interior of claim 14 wherein the light fixture body module provides indirect illumination.

18. The method for illuminating a building interior of claim 14 wherein the structural support includes a metal cable.

19. The method for illuminating a building interior of claim 14 wherein the structural support is hollow for routing of electrical wiring.

20. A system for providing illumination to a building interior using a reconfigurable modular light system illuminating an area comprising:

a support module coupled to a building by a first structural connector, said support module providing a plug-in electrical interface to the building'"'"'s electrical power and including at least one extended structural connector/support suspended from the support module to extend downward and hang from the support module;

one or more of a plurality of self-contained interchangeable power modules accessible without disassembly of the support module coupled to the support module by a second structural connector/support, said one or more power modules having an electrical component integrated into the power module to couple to the electrical power interface using a first plug-in electrical connector;

one or more interchangeable light fixture body modules suspended by said extended structural connector/support to hang below said support module, each interchangeable light fixture body module having one or more illumination sources coupled to said power module by a second plug-in electrical connector; and

said power module and said light fixture body module able to be independently changed without disassembly or removal of any other module.

21. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the one or more illumination sources comprises a fluorescent light source.

22. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the one or more illumination sources comprises a high intensity device light source.

23. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the one or more illumination sources comprises a light emitting diode light source.

24. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the one or more illumination sources comprises an incandescent light source.

25. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the illumination provided includes direct lighting.

26. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 25 wherein the illumination provided includes indirect lighting.

27. The system for providing illumination to a building interior using the reconfigurable modular light system of claim 20 wherein the illumination provided includes indirect lighting.