Magnetic power and data coupling for LED lighting

• US 7,726,974 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Illumitron International
• Inventors: Shah, Ashok Deepak, Roberts, David Diehl III
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US12/408,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 439 37- 40, 439/505, 439/519, 439/913, 361/733
• US Class Current: 439/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for a conductive magnetic coupling system. The system includes a signal supply component that provides electrical and/or data signals to a signal consumption component that utilizes the signal to provide an output. The two components are magnetically coupled together such that the magnetic coupling mechanisms not only provide the bonding mechanism for securing the components to one another, but also provide the electrical and communicative continuity that allows for the transfer of electrical and/or data signals between the two components. Aspects provide for the repositioning of the signal consumption component along any section of a signal supply component configured as a magnetic track system. Aspects further provide for a flexible, fluid impermeable signal supply component in which a signal consumption component is repositionable along its length.

Claims

1. A conductive magnetic coupling system, comprising:

a power supply component comprising

a power distribution coupling mechanism configured to detachably connect to a power consumption component and to provide an electrical signal to the power consumption component; and

the power consumption component comprising

a power receiving coupling mechanism configured to detachably connect to the power distribution coupling mechanism and to receive the electrical signal from the power distribution coupling mechanism, and

a power consumption device comprising a solid state luminary module configured to receive the electrical signal from the power receiving coupling mechanism and to convert the electrical signal to light output,

wherein at least one of the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises an electrically conductive magnet such that the electrically conductive magnet is configured for detachably connecting the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism and configured to transfer the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet coated with a conductive material.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a magnet coated with a conductive material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the magnet coated with the conductive material of the power distribution coupling mechanism and the magnet coated with the conductive material of the power receiving coupling mechanism are configured such that a polarity alignment of each magnet allows for the detachable connection of the power consumption component to the power supply component in a first configuration that provides a desired path for the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism and prevents a connection of the power consumption component to the power supply component in a second configuration in which the power consumption component is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the power supply component in the first configuration.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet secured to the power distribution coupling mechanism or the power receiving coupling mechanism with a conductive fastener such that the conductive fastener transfers the electrical signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive magnet comprises a magnet impregnated with conductive material such that a conductive path is provided through the magnet for transporting the electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism comprises a track system comprising a plurality of parallel tracks configured to allow the power receiving coupling mechanism to be detachably connected at any position along a length of the plurality of parallel tracks.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the track system comprises two tracks and wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises at least one electrically conductive magnet configured to engage each of the two tracks.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks comprise a flexible insulator encompassing a plurality of electrical conductors and wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of magnetic insulator penetration devices configured to penetrate the flexible insulator and contact the plurality of parallel electrical conductors to provide a conductive path between the power supply component and the power consumption component.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism are configured to transfer the electrical signal and a data signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution coupling mechanism comprises an Edison screw fitting.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power consumption device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) strip or a LED array.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the power receiving coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of electrically conductive magnets disposed from the power consumption device such that an air gap exists between the power consumption device and the plurality of parallel tracks when each of the electrically conductive magnets engages each of the parallel tracks.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive magnets are further configured to route heat from the power consumption device to the plurality of parallel tracks.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal comprises one of a pulse-width modulated signal, a pulse-shape modulated signal, a pulse-code modulated signal, a parallel pulse-code modulated signal, and a bit-angle modulated signal.

16. A conductive magnetic coupling system, comprising:

a power supply component comprising

a plurality of parallel tracks, each track comprising an electrically conductive and magnetically connectable material configured to provide an electrical signal to a power consumption component magnetically connected to the power supply component at any location along a length of the tracks; and

the power consumption component comprising

a power receiving coupling mechanism comprising a plurality of magnets coated with a conductive material such that each magnet is configured to detachably connect to one of the parallel tracks, receive the electrical signal from the track, and transfer the electrical signal to a power consumption device, wherein a coupling length of the power receiving coupling mechanism is smaller than the length of the plurality of parallel tracks and the power receiving coupling mechanism is configured to magnetically connect to the plurality of parallel tracks at any position along the length of the plurality of parallel tracks, and

a power consumption device comprising a solid state luminary module configured to receive the electrical signal from the power receiving coupling mechanism and convert the electrical signal to light output, wherein the electrical signal comprises one of a pulse-width modulated signal, a pulse-shape modulated signal, a pulse-code modulated signal, a parallel pulse-code modulated signal, and a bit-angle modulated signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks are further configured to provide a data signal to the power consumption component.

18. A conductive magnetic coupling system, comprising:

a power supply component comprising

a plurality of parallel electrical conductors, and

a flexible insulator encompassing the plurality of parallel electrical conductors; and

a power consumption component comprising

at least one insulator penetration device configured to penetrate the flexible insulator and contact the plurality of parallel electrical conductors, and to provide a conductive path between the plurality of parallel electrical conductors and a power consumption device electrically connected to the at least one insulator penetration devices, and

the power consumption device comprising a solid state luminary module configured to receive an electrical signal from the plurality of parallel electrical conductors via the plurality of insulator penetration devices and to convert the electrical signal to light output; and

a magnetic coupling system configured to magnetically secure the power consumption component to the power supply component.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the flexible insulator is configured to provide an impermeable barrier to fluids such that the flexible insulator provides a weatherproof barrier to the plurality of electrical conductors.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of parallel electrical conductors comprises a magnetically connectable material, and wherein magnetic coupling system comprises a plurality magnetic insulator penetration devices.