Conductive magnetic coupling system

• US 9,155,170 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Shah, Ashok Deepak, Roberts, David Diehl III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/933,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,391 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40, 362/294, 362/147, 362/551, 362/235, 362/362, 362/363
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 light emitting diode (LED)-based light fixture, comprising:

a track system including at least two electrically conductive tracks;

a track holder for securing the at least two electrically conductive tracks to a base;

a slidable LED assembly comprising at least two magnetic couplers, wherein the at least two magnetic couplers of the slidable LED assembly slide along a length of the at least two electrically conductive tracks while maintaining power to the slidable LED assembly through the at least two magnetic couplers while the slidable LED assembly is slid along the length of the at least two electrically conductive tracks, the at least two magnetic couplers located on or near an external surface of the LED assembly configured to detachably connect the LED assembly to the at least two conductive tracks; and

a spacer to elevate the LED assembly with respect to the at least two conductive magnetic couplers to create an air gap between the LED assembly and the at least two electrically conductive tracks to assist in the thermal management of the LED assembly.

2. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two magnetic couplers comprise magnets coated with a conductive material.

3. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two magnetic couplers comprise magnets secured to the LED light strip by a conductive fastener.

4. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the conductive tracks provides a signal to the slidable LED assembly.

5. The LED-based light fixture of claim 4, wherein the signal comprises one of a pulse-width modulation signal, a pulse-shape modulation signal, a pulsed code modulation signal, a parallel pulse code modulation signal, or a bit angle modulation signal.

6. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two magnetic couplers is part of a conductive magnet coupling component comprising a magnet cover and a retractable conductive contact configured to be in a retracted position within the magnet cover when not exposed to a magnetic field associated with the at least two conductive tracks, and configured to extend from the magnet cover and make contact with one of the conductive tracks when exposed to the magnetic field associated with the at least two conductive tracks and provide a conductive path between the one of conductive tracks and the LED assembly.

7. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the conductive tracks comprise a second set of magnetic couplers, and wherein the at least two magnetic couplers of the slidable LED assembly and the second set of magnetic couplers are configured such that a polarity alignment of each magnet aligns the at least two magnetic couplers of the LED assembly and the second set of magnetic couplers to allow for a connection of the slidable LED assembly to the conductive tracks in a first configuration that properly routes power to the slidable LED assembly and prevents the connection of the slidable LED assembly to the conductive tracks in a second configuration in which the slidable LED assembly is rotated with respect to the conductive tracks in the first configuration.

8. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein each of the conductive tracks is encompassed by a flexible insulator, and wherein the at least two slidable magnets are each part of a conductive magnet coupling component that is configured to penetrate the flexible insulators and contact the conductive tracks to provide a conductive path between the conductive tracks and the slidable LED assembly.

9. The LED-based track lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the track system is magnetic.

10. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the control module provides at least one control signal to the slidable LED assembly through at least one conductive track.

11. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two magnetic couplers are impregnated with a conductive material.

12. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrically conductive tracks are parallel to each other.

13. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two conductive magnetic couplers limit the attachment of the LED assembly to the at least two electrically conductive tracks in a single orientation to properly route direct current (DC) through the LED assembly.

14. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two conductive magnetic couplers comprises a magnet and a conductive coating.