Power and data track lighting system

• US 8,344,655 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altman Stage Lighting Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Altman Stage Lighting Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Luk, John F., Reiter, Dean J., Ryan, John T., Tucker, Michael J., Leonard, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US12/692,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 315/294, 315/295, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/309, 315/298
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A combined power and data track lighting system includes an elongated track, having a number of longitudinal guide ways for carrying electrically isolated power and data conductors arranged within at least some or the guide ways. An adapter applies power to the power conductors, and another adapter applies control data to the data conductors. An LED luminaire contains LEDs, each of which can generate a discrete color. A data converter converts data on the data lines to control the currents in the individual LEDs to create a desired composite color. Quartz luminaire, Metal-Halide luminaire, Digital Light Processor (DLP) automated computer luminaire, and DMX controlled devices can be supported and controlled through the track, that can be supported on trusses. The main control data is Remote Device Management (RDM) supplied applied to the data conductors.

Claims

1. A track lighting system comprising:

an elongate track suitable for attachment to a support surface, said track including a plurality of longitudinal guideways and means for supporting a plurality of DMX and RDM compatible components selected from a group consisting of LED, incandescent, quartz halogen, compact fluorescent (CFL), high intensity discharge (HID) and ultra-violet (UV) luminaires;

a plurality of current conductors arranged in at least some of said longitudinal guideways, at least a first number of conductors being power conductors and a second number of conductors being data conductors, said conductors being electrically isolated from each other;

adapter means connected to a source of power for applying electrical power to said power conductors and connected to a source of control data for applying data signals to said data conductors;

at least one RDM component being an LED color changing luminaire including a plurality of LEDs, each generating one of a discrete plurality of colors when energized; and

data converter means for converting data on said data lines to control signals for each individual group of color LEDs to create a desired composite color; and

a housing between said adaptor means and a compatible component for housing at least said data converter means.

2. The track lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said data converter means includes means for accepting both DMX and RDM control signals.

3. The track lighting system as defined in claim 2, wherein said data converter means includes means for providing a DMX output signals suitable for connection to an LED light engine.

4. The track lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said data converter means includes programming means for selectively programming one of four control modes for controlling the mode of operation of a compatible component to one mode of operation selected from the group including manual control, full output control, DMX and RDM control.

5. The track lighting system as defined in claim 4, wherein said programming means includes a combination of binary two positions DIP switches and decimal rotary switches.

6. The track lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said data converter means includes means for accepting serial data in accordance with a communication protocol selected from a group including DMX-512, Ethernet, Strand AMX, RS 232, RS 485, DALI, RDM and Zigbee wireless protocols.

7. An LED luminaire track lighting system comprising:

a support truss including means for supporting the truss from a support surface;

an elongate track mounted with said support truss, said track including a plurality of longitudinal guideways;

support means for supporting a plurality of DMX and RDM compatible components on said support truss;

a plurality of current conductors arranged in at least some of said longitudinal guideways, at least a first number of conductors being power conductors and a second number of conductors being data conductors, said conductors being electrically isolated from each other;

adapter means connected to a source of power for applying electrical power to said power conductors and connected to a source of control data for applying data signals to said data conductors;

at least one component being an LED color changing luminaire including a plurality of LEDs, each generating one of a discrete plurality of colors when energized; and

data converter means for converting data on said data lines to control signals for each individual group of color LEDs to create a desired composite color.

8. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said support means attaches said components directly to the support truss, electrical power and data control signals being supplied to said components by said connecting means from said conductors on said track.

9. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said support truss includes at least one structural hollow tube dimensioned and configured to at least partially receive an elongate track to integrate power and data into said at least one hollow tube, whereby said at least one hollow tube supports both said track and at least one component supplied data signals and power by said track.

10. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said support truss is in the form of a single ladder truss formed by two spaced hollow tubes for at least partially receiving a 3-circuit mains track 3×

16-amperes in each hollow tube for a total of 3×

16 A×

2.

11. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said support truss is in the form of a triple “

Triangle”

truss formed of three spaced hollow tubes for at least partially receiving a 3-circuit means track 3×

16-amperes in each hollow tube for a total of 3×

16 A×

3.

12. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said support truss is in the form of a quad “

box truss”

formed of four spaced hollow tubes for at least partially receiving a 3-circuit means track 3×

16-amperes in each hollow tube for a total of 3×

16 A×

4.

13. The track lighting system as defined in claim 7, wherein said data converter means comprises a smart dimmer.

14. A track lighting system comprising:

an elongate track including means for attachment to a support surface, said track including a plurality of longitudinal guideways and means for supporting a plurality of DMX and RDM compatible components;

a plurality of current conductors arranged in at least some of said longitudinal guideways, at least a first number of conductors being power conductors and a second number of conductors being data conductors, said conductors being electrically isolated from each other;

adapter means connected to a source of power for applying electrical power to said power conductors and connected to a source of control data for applying data signals to said data conductors;

at least one component being an LED color changing luminaire including a plurality of LEDs, each generating one of a discrete plurality of colors when energized;

data converter means for converting data on said data lines to control signals for each individual component,

said data converter means including programming means for selectively programming one of four control modes for controlling the mode of operation of a compatible component to one mode of operation selected from the group including manual control, full output control, DMX and RDM control.

15. The track lighting system as defined in claim 14, wherein said programming means includes a combination of binary two positions DIP switches and decimal rotary switches.