Modular light-emitting diode lighting system

• US 7,327,930 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Nexxus Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Koren, Pinhas P., Kvist, Cristoffer, Faber, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Connelly-Cushwa; Michelle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peace; Rhonda S.
• Application Number:
  US11/066,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 385/147, 385/101, 362/576
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular light system for a spa where replacement of a light emitter, such as but not limited to a LED and/or a cable is accomplished without needing access an area around a tub in the spa. Furthermore, replacing the cable and light emitter can be accomplished individually. The system comprises a light emitter, a power source, a controller, and a plurality of cables. When the light emitter fails, it is disconnected from the cable and replaced with a working light emitter. When the cable fails it may be disconnected from the light emitter and replaced with a working cable.

Claims

1. A modular light system for a spa where replacement of at least one of a light emitter and a cable is accomplished without needing access to an area around a tub in said spa and replacing said cable and light emitter can be accomplished individually, said system comprising:

a light emitter having an attachment element;

a controller to regulate at least power and a signal that are provided to the light emitters, the controller having at least one attachment element;

a plurality of cables that electrically couple the light emitter and the controller; and

at least one coupler that is provided between the light emitter and the controller, wherein the at least one coupler is configured to detachably couple at least two cables, wherein said at least one coupler is configured to have a coupler size that is similar to a cable size of at least one of said cables detachably coupled thereto,

wherein one of the at least two said cables includes a first connector that detachably couples to the light emitter attachment element, and wherein another of the at least two cables includes a second connector that detachably couples to said at least one controller attachment element,

wherein the coupler and cable sizes allow the at least one coupler and the at least one of said detachably coupled cables to be positioned together through an inaccessible cable pathway of said spa.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a release mechanism that is coupled to at least one of the first connector and the second connector, wherein at least a connection between the first connector and the light emitter attachment element and a connection between the second connector and the at least one controller attachment element is severed by activating the release mechanism.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said release mechanism comprises a detent that engages at least of one of the light emitter attachment element and the at least one controller attachment element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a phone jack type coupler.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the phone jack type coupler includes a first end and a second end comprising a male connector and a female connector.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said light emitter comprises at least one of a light emitter diode, fiber optic lighting, nano-tube lighting, surface mount laser lighting, solid state laser lighting, semiconductor laser lighting, an electroluminescent diode, and electroluminescent tape.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to determine at least one of a timing sequence and an illumination intensity of said light emitter.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said controller uses at least one of a pulse width modulation technique, a pulse amplitude modulation technique, a bit angel modulation technique, a pulse position modulation technique, and an analog control technique to perform at least one of turn on, turn off, brighten, and dim said light emitter.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the light emitter attachment element and one of the at least one controller attachment element include a male connector configuration.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the light emitter attachment element and one of the at least one controller attachment elements include a female connector configuration.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coupler includes at least three cable connection portions.

12. A modular lighting system, said system comprising:

a light emitter having an attachment element;

a controller that is electrically coupled to said light emitter for at least one of providing power to said light emitter and regulating an illumination intensity and an illumination duration of said light emitter in response to a music source that is coupled to said controller, the controller having at least one attachment element; and

a plurality of cables interconnected by at least one coupler, said plurality of cables electrically coupling said light emitter to said controller,

wherein the at least one coupler is configured to detachably couple at least two cables, said at least one coupler having a coupler size that is similar to a cable size of at least one of said cables detachably coupled thereto,

wherein at least one of said plurality of cables includes a first connector that detachably couples to the light emitter attachment element and a second connector that detachably couples to said at least one coupler,

wherein at least another of said plurality of cables includes a third connector that detachably couples to said at least one controller attachment element and a fourth connector that couples to said at least one coupler, and

wherein at least the light emitter, the plurality of cables and the at least one coupler are located within a spa or swimming pool,

wherein the coupler and cable sizes allow the at least one coupler and the at least one of said cables to be positioned together through an inaccessible cable pathway of said spa or said swimming pool.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a release mechanism provided at the first connector and the third connector, wherein a connection between the first connector and the light emitter attachment element and a connection between the third connector and the at least one controller attachment element is severed by activating the release mechanism.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said release mechanism comprises a detent attached to at least of one of said first connector, and said third connector.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one coupler includes at least three cable connection portions.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said light emitter comprises at least one of a light emitter diode, fiber optic lighting, nano-tube lighting, surface mount laser lighting, solid state laser lighting, semiconductor laser lighting, an electroluminescent diode, and electroluminescent tape.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to determine at least one of timing sequence and an illumination intensity of said light emitter.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said controller uses at least one of a pulse width modulation technique, a pulse amplitude modulation technique, a bit angel modulation technique, a pulse position modulation technique, and an analog control technique to perform at least one of turn on, turn off, brighten, and dim said light emitter.

19. A modular light system for a spa, said system comprising:

a controller having a receptacle;

a light emitter having a connector that is electrically coupled to the controller;

an adapter that is positioned between the controller and the light emitter to electrically couple the controller and the light emitter, wherein the adapter includes at least a first adapter end and a second adapter end; and

at least two cables interconnected by at least one coupler, said at least two interconnected cables electrically coupling the controller and the light emitter,

wherein one of the at least two cables includes a first connector that detachably couples to the receptacle and a second connector that detachably couples to the coupler, said at least one coupler has a coupler size that is similar to a cable size of at least one of said cables detachably coupled thereto,

wherein another of the at least two cables includes a third connector that detachably couples to the coupler and a fourth connector that detachably couples to the first adapter end,

wherein the light emitter connector detachably couples to the second adapter end, and

wherein the controller is configured to provide and regulate power for the light emitter,

wherein the coupler and cable sizes allow the at least one coupler and the at least one of said cables to be positioned together through an inaccessible cable pathway of said spa.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a release mechanism that is coupled to at least one of the first connector, the second connector, the third connector, and the fourth connector.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the release mechanism comprises a detent.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising a second light emitter that is permanently connected to said first light emitter and that is coupled to said second adapter end.

23. A method for replacing a cable of a modular light system that is installed within an inaccessible cable pathway in a spa, said method comprising:

pressing a first release mechanism, located at a first end of a first cable positioned within the inaccessible cable pathway, to disengage the first end of the first cable from a first other component;

pressing a second release mechanism, located at a second end of the first cable, to disengage the second end of the first cable from a second other component;

engaging the first release mechanism with a fast end of a coupler and securing said fast end of said coupler to said first end of said fast cable, said coupler having a coupler size that is similar to a cable size of said first cable;

engaging a third release mechanism, located on a fast end of a second cable, with a second end of the coupler and securing said first end of said second cable to said second end of said coupler;

pulling the first cable and the coupler through the inaccessible cable pathway of the spa to position the second cable in said inaccessible cable pathway;

pressing the third release mechanism to release the second end of the coupler from said second cable; and

engaging the third release mechanism to said first other component previously engaged by the first release mechanism of the first cable; and

engaging a fourth release mechanism, located on a second end of a second cable, to said second other component previously engaged by the second release mechanism of the first cable.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein engaging or disengaging the first release mechanism, the second release mechanism, the third release mechanism, or the fourth release mechanism, includes engaging or disengaging at least one of a male connector that fits within a female connector and a female connector that fits around a male connector.