Flexible electrical connection of an LED-based illumination device to a light fixture

• US 9,360,168 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Xicato Corporation
• Original Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
• Inventors: Harbers, Gerard, Eng, Gregory W., Reed, Christopher R., Tseng, Peter K., Yriberri, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US13/956,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20130314004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 362800-812, 315149-159, 315/185.S, 315/291, 315307-326
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/26 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An electrical interface module (EIM) is provided between an LED illumination device and a light fixture. The EIM includes an arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to an LED illumination device and a second arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to the light fixture and may include a power converter. Additionally, an LED selection module may be included to selectively turn on or off LEDs. A communication port may be included to transmit information associated with the LED illumination device, such as identification, indication of lifetime, flux, etc. The lifetime of the LED illumination device may be measured and communicated, e.g., by an RF signal, IR signal, wired signal or by controlling the light output of the LED illumination device. An optic that is replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device may include, e.g., a flux sensor that is connected to the electrical interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an LED illumination device operable to emit a light, wherein the LED illumination device includes an electrical interface module (EIM);

an optic replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device; and

a sensor mounted on the optic, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the electrical interface module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optic includes a conductor, and wherein an output signal of the sensor is communicated over the conductor of the optic to an LED mounting board of the LED illumination device and through the LED mounting board to the electrical interface module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is any of a flux sensor, a color sensor, and an occupancy sensor.

4. An apparatus comprising:

an LED illumination device operable to emit a light, wherein the LED illumination device includes an electrical interface module (EIM);

an optic replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device; and

a sensor mounted on the optic, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the electrical interface module;

wherein the electrical interface module comprises;

a first plurality of electrical contact surfaces in a first arrangement disposed on an electrical interface board;

a second plurality of electrical contact surfaces in a second arrangement disposed on the electrical interface board;

a first conductor coupling a first electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces to a first electrical contact surface of the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces is configured to be electrically coupleable to an LED illumination device, and wherein the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces is configured to be electrically coupleable to a light fixture; and

a frame including a plurality of pins operable to couple the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board to the LED illumination device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrical interface module further comprises:

a second conductor coupling the first electrical contact surface of the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces with a second electrical contact surface of the second plurality of electrical contact surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board is adapted to be electrically coupleable to LED illumination devices with a different number of LEDs.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of electrical contact surfaces of the electrical interface board is adapted to be electrically coupleable to different configurations of electrical contact surfaces on different LED illumination devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frame is a lead frame and the plurality of pins are a plurality of spring pins.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frame is a retaining frame and the plurality of pins are contact pins molded into the retaining frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one LED mounted to a mounting board;

wherein the electrical interface module is spaced apart from a first side of the mounting board; and

wherein the optic is a heat sinking reflector couplable to the LED based illumination device on a second side of the mounting board opposite the first side, the heat sinking reflector configured to deflect light emitted from the LED based illumination device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat sinking reflector is made from a thermally conductive material.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat sinking reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator.