LED lighting fixture

• US 8,207,678 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barco Incorporated (Barco NV)
• Original Assignee: Barco Incorporated (Barco NV)
• Inventors: Varrin, Christopher, Hochman, Jeremy R., Ward, Matthew E., Mika, Jason R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US12/074,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 315178-184, 315/185.R, 315/185.S, 315/250, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/312, 362/227, 362564-566, 362/640, 362/644, 362652-654, 362/806
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

An LED lighting system includes a power supply module, a data input line routed through the power supply module, an AC power input, and an LED fixture. The power supply module includes a power supply unit and an AC power cable. The AC power input is electrically connected to the power supply unit and the AC power cable. The LED fixture is electrically connected to an output of the power supply unit and the data input cable, and includes one or more LED assemblies disposed on a circuit board, a data signal output, and a power output. The AC power cable may be routed through the LED fixture.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data and power within an LED lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving an AC power input and a data input signal at a power supply module;

within the power supply module, splitting the AC power input into an AC power cable and an AC power signal;

connecting the AC power signal to a power supply unit disposed within the power supply module;

generating a low voltage power signal from the AC power signal with the power supply unit;

connecting the AC power cable, the low voltage power signal, and the data input signal to an LED fixture;

receiving the low voltage power signal and the data input signal at a circuit board disposed within the LED fixture, wherein the circuit board comprises an LED assembly disposed thereon;

powering and controlling the LED assembly with the low voltage power signal and the data signal; and

connecting the power supply module with the LED light assembly, wherein after being connected, there is no visible cabling between the power supply module and the LED light assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

amplifying the data signal with the power supply unit; and

transmitting the data signal to another power supply module.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

amplifying the data signal with the power supply unit; and

transmitting the data signal to another LED fixture.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the AC power cable through the LED fixture; and

connecting the AC power cable to another power supply module.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the AC power cable through the LED fixture; and

connecting the AC power cable to another LED fixture.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the AC power cable is electrically isolated from the circuit board.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the low voltage power supply line routes through the power supply module and the LED fixture.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the power supply module and the LED fixture are electrically coupled.

9. A method of transmitting data and power within an LED lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving an AC power input, a low voltage power signal, and a data signal at a power supply module;

connecting the AC power input and the low voltage power signal to a power supply unit disposed within the power supply module;

splitting the AC power input into an AC power cable and an AC power signal;

powering the power supply unit with the AC power signal;

amplifying the low voltage power signal with the power supply unit;

connecting the AC power cable, the low voltage power signal, and the data signal to an LED fixture;

receiving the low voltage power signal and the data signal at a circuit board disposed within the LED fixture, wherein the circuit board comprises an LED assembly disposed thereon;

powering and controlling the LED assembly with the low voltage power signal and the data signal;

enclosing the power supply module in a first enclosure, physically separate from a second enclosure of the LED fixture; and

coupling the first enclosure to the second enclosure without using cabling between the enclosures.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising:

passing the data signal through LED fixture unaltered.

11. The method of claim 9:

wherein the coupling the first enclosure to the second enclosure without using cabling between the enclosures comprises;

when the first and second enclosures are coupled together, there are no exposed cables between the enclosures.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the AC power cable is electrically isolated from the circuit board, the low voltage power signal, and the data signal.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the data signal is electrically isolated from the power supply unit and the AC power cable.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first enclosure comprises output connections for the AC power cable, low voltage power signal, and data signal that couple to corresponding input connections of the second enclosure.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the LED fixture is an extrusion LED tube fixture.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the LED fixture operates on DC power.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein there are at least two LED fixtures.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the low voltage power signal is DC power.

19. The method of claim 9 comprising:

connecting the AC power cable, the low voltage power signal, and the data signal to a second LED fixture;

receiving the low voltage power signal and the data signal at a second circuit board disposed within the second LED fixture, wherein the second circuit board comprises a second LED assembly disposed thereon; and

powering and controlling the second LED assembly with the low voltage power signal and the data signal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the low voltage power signal is connected to the first and second LED fixtures without passing through any LEDs.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the low voltage power output is DC power.

22. An LED lighting system, comprising:

a first power supply module, comprising a first power supply unit and an AC power cable;

a data signal line routed through the first power supply module;

an AC power input that is electrically connected to the first power supply unit and the AC power cable; and

an LED fixture electrically connected to an output of the first power supply unit and electrically connected to the data input cable, comprising;

one or more LEDs disposed upon a circuit board;

a data signal output

a power output, wherein the AC power cable is routed through the LED fixture;

a second power supply module, comprising a second power supply unit and the AC power cable;

the data signal line routed through the second power supply module; and

the AC power input that is electrically connected to the second power supply unit and the AC power cable,

wherein the first power supply module is electrically coupled to a first end of the LED fixture while the second power supply module is electrically coupled to a second end of the LED fixture.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first and second ends of the LED fixture are opposite ends of the LED fixture.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the second power supply module is configured to amplify a data signal transmitted on the data signal line.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the LEDs operate on a DC power supply.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the first power supply is in a first enclosure, physically separate from a second enclosure of the LED fixture.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the first enclosure to the second enclosure are adapted to be coupled together without using cabling between the enclosures.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein there is no intervening circuitry between the first and second enclosures.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the LEDs are an extrusion type LED.

30. A method of transmitting data and power within an LED lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving an AC power input and a data input signal at a power supply module;

within the power supply module, splitting the AC power input into an AC power cable and an AC power signal;

connecting the AC power signal to a power supply unit disposed within the power supply module;

generating a low voltage power signal from the AC power signal with the power supply unit;

connecting the AC power cable, the low voltage power signal, and the data input signal to an LED fixture;

receiving the low voltage power signal and the data input signal at a circuit board disposed within the LED fixture, wherein the circuit board comprises an LED assembly disposed thereon; and

powering and controlling the LED assembly with the low voltage power signal and the data signal,

wherein the LED fixture is rectangular, longer in a length direction than in a width direction, and a connector for the LED fixture has prongs extending transverse to the length direction.