Modular light fixture with power pack

• US 8,858,018 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Ernst, Ronald E., Wetenkamp, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US13/722,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 362/148, 362/220, 362/221, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 362/221
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/061 with a non-rigid pendant, i.e. a cable, wire or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 : Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 : Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 : Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 : with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 : for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 : Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 : Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 : comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 : Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 : Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 : Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 : using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 : Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A light fixture including first and second raceways, and at least one support structure extending between and coupled to the raceways. A plurality of LEDs are coupled to the structure and spaced apart along at least a portion of a length of the structure between the first and second ends of the light fixture. A power pack extends between the raceways, and the power pack includes at least one driver configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs, power input wiring that is configured to receive power for the light fixture, and a detachable cover provided substantially over the at least one driver and the power input wiring. A modular power input connector is coupled to the power pack, and is configured to allow a power cord to supply power to the light fixture without removing the cover.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a first raceway at a first end of the light fixture;

a second raceway at a second opposing end of the light fixture;

at least one support structure extending between and coupled to the first and second raceways;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the at least one support structure and spaced apart along at least a portion of a length of the at least one support structure between the first and second ends of the light fixture;

a power pack extending between the first and second raceways, wherein the power pack includes at least one driver configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs, power input wiring that is configured to receive power for the light fixture, and a detachable cover provided substantially over the at least one driver and the power input wiring; and

a modular power input connector coupled to the power pack, wherein the modular power input connector is configured to allow a power cord to supply power to the light fixture without removing the cover.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the modular power input connector is coupled to the detachable cover.

3. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs project light from a first side of the light fixture and the detachable cover is provided on a second side of the light fixture opposite the first side.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one support structure is configured to act as a heat sink for the plurality of LEDs.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a member coupled to the at least one support structure that acts to couple a plurality of the plurality of LEDs to the at least one support structure.

6. The light fixture of claim 5, wherein the member includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein each of the plurality of LEDs is aligned with one of the plurality of apertures.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one support structure has at least one light absorptive surface adjacent the plurality of LEDs.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one support structure has at least one light reflective surface adjacent the plurality of LEDs.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the power pack is configured to be detachable from the first and second raceways.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the power pack includes at least one vent to facilitate cooling of the at least one driver.

11. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the modular power input connector comprises a socket portion and a plug portion, wherein one of the socket portion and the plug portion are coupled to power input wiring and the other of the socket portion and the plug portion are configured to be coupled to a power cord.

12. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the power pack comprises a driver channel configured to at least partially contain the at least one driver and the power input wiring.

13. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the cover is provided over the driver channel.

14. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of the LEDs coupled to the at least one support structure have an associated first lens type and a second plurality of the LEDs coupled to the at least one support structure have an associated second lens type that is different from the first lens type.

15. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the light fixture includes a plurality of support structures and a first of the plurality of support structures has a plurality of LEDs coupled thereto that have an associated first lens type and a second of the plurality of support structures has a plurality of LEDs coupled thereto that have an associated second lens type that is different from the first lens type.

16. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one drivers controls a subset of the plurality of LEDs.

17. A light fixture comprising:

a first raceway disposed at a first end of the light fixture;

a second raceway disposed at a second end of the light fixture;

a power pack comprising power input wiring, at least one power supply coupled to the power input wiring, and a detachable cover extending between the first raceway and to the second raceway;

a plurality of lighting elements arranged in a linear spaced-apart manner between the first and second raceways and coupled to the power supply; and

a power input connector having a socket portion and a plug portion, one of the socket portion and the plug portion coupled to the detachable cover and electrically connected to the power input wiring, and the other of the socket portion and the plug portion connectable to a power supply line to provide electrical power to the light fixture from a power source.

18. The light fixture of claim 17, further comprising at least one carrier coupled to each of the first raceway and the second raceway, wherein the at least one carrier is configured to have the one or more lighting elements for the light fixture coupled thereto.

19. The light fixture of claim 18, wherein the at least one carrier is made of a sheet metal and defines a channel extending generally between the first and second raceways.

20. The light fixture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of lighting elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

21. The light fixture of claim 20, wherein the LEDs are located within the channel.

22. The light fixture of claim 18, wherein the at least one carrier also acts as a reflector for the light fixture.

23. The light fixture of claim 18, wherein the at least one carrier also acts as a heat sink for the light fixture.

24. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein the power supply and power input wiring are configured to be detachable from the light fixture.

25. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein the power supply is a driver.

26. The light fixture of claim 25, further comprising a driver channel configured to at least partially contain the driver and the power input wiring.

27. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein the power supply controls a subset of the plurality of lighting elements.

28. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein a first plurality of the lighting elements have an associated first lens type and a second plurality of the lighting elements have an associated second lens type that is different from the first lens type.

29. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein the light fixture includes a plurality of carriers and a first of the plurality of carriers has a plurality of LEDs coupled thereto that have an associated first lens type and a second of the plurality of carriers has a plurality of LEDs coupled thereto that have an associated second lens type that is different from the first lens type.

30. The light fixture of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of lighting elements has a base portion and further comprising a member configured to couple a plurality of the plurality of lighting elements to the light fixture by sandwiching the base portions of the coupled lighting elements between the member and a portion of the light fixture.

31. The light fixture of claim 30, the member is an elongated piece of material having apertures through which the lighting elements extend and is configured to be coupled to a reflector or heat sink of the light fixture.

32. A method comprising:

providing a preassembled light fixture, wherein the light fixture comprises a first raceway and a second raceway configured to have a power pack extending at least partially between the first and second raceway, a detachable cover provided over the power pack and extending between the first and second raceways, and a power input connector coupled to the detachable cover and configured to receive power from a power source and to direct power to the power pack, the power input connector configured to be coupled to the power source without removing the detachable cover from the light fixture; and

connecting the power input connector to a power supply line electrically coupled to the power source without removing the detachable cover;

wherein the light fixture comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes that receive power from the power pack, and wherein the power pack includes at least one driver for controlling the plurality of light emitting diodes.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the power input connector comprises a socket portion and a plug portion, and the step of connecting the power input connector to a power supply line comprises connecting the power supply line to one of the socket portion or the plug portion.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising disconnecting the power input connector from the power supply line without removing the detachable cover.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising removing the detachable cover and power input connector from the light fixture and decoupling the power pack from the light fixture.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the cover is coupled to the first and second raceways.