Networked LED lighting system

• US 9,644,828 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DVA Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael W. May
• Inventors: May, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US15/244,726
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• 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: F21K 9/66 Details of globes or covers forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/061 with a non-rigid pendant, i.e. a cable, wire or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/008 of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 : characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 : Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 : comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 : on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 : Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 : comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 : Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 : Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 : for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 : Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/74 : Devices having four or more poles , e.g. holders for compact fluorescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 : Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 : in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 : in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 : via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless 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

An improved LED lighting system is provided for overhead ceiling lighting, as well as for other uses. The LED lighting system comprises elongated linear lamps having an LED luminary as a source of illumination and configured to operate as a node of an automated networked lighting system. The linear LED lamps have internal modular network connectors and control components so that they can receive control data and power signals over a single network cable according to a standardized power and data network communications architecture such as Ethernet. The system includes connector assemblies designed to securely mount the networkable linear LED lamps to conventional tube lamp lighting fixtures or to another support housing and to provide integrated power and data connectivity to internal components of the lamps. In one form, the disclosed system includes a network enabled snap-fit connector assembly mounted to a lighting fixture and configured to provide Ethernet power and data connectivity to the lamp. The LED lamps have first and second mechanical connectors at opposite ends of the lamp body, and the snap-fit connectors are configured to secure the lamps to an overhead lighting fixture or other support structure as an incident of the lamp ends moving relative to the mounting connectors in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position. The snap-fit connectors are also configured to form a network connection with an internal modular network connector associated with the lamp with the lamp mounted in its operative state on a support. In another form, a clipping mechanism is provided for mounting linear networkable LED lamps to an overhead grid ceiling system.

Claims

1. A support connector for coupling an end of an elongate tubular LED lamp in an operative state to a lighting fixture, the elongate tubular LED lamp having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, a source of illumination comprising at least one LED emitter board on or within the lamp body, and a first end connector at the first end of the body having a first surface, the support connector comprising:

a base portion comprising a housing and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion configured to be coupled to a support of the lighting fixture,

a leading end portion extending from the distal end portion of the base portion and configured to engage the first end connector of the tubular LED lamp;

a first electrical connector module at least partly disposed in the base portion, the first electrical connector module comprising a first plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting electrical signals for power and data communications;

the leading end portion comprising an integral second electrical connector module comprising a second plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting electrical signals for power and data communications;

conductive leads extending between and electrically coupling the first electrical connector module and the second electrical connector module;

the leading end portion further comprising a second surface configured to engage the first surface of the first end connector;

the leading end portion configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first end connector and the support connector with the lamp body in the operative state as an incident of the first end connector moving relative to the support connector from a position fully separated from the support connector in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position;

wherein the second electrical connector module of the leading end portion is adapted to be operatively coupled to a third electrical connector module associated with the first end connector of the lamp body as an incident of the first end connector moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position for communicating electrical signals from the second electrical connector module to the third electrical connector module;

wherein the third electrical connector module comprises a jack having a housing defining an internal port for receiving a communications plug, and the second electrical connector module comprises a plug adapted to be inserted linearly into the internal port and operable to transmit signals between the support connector and the third electrical connector module according to a standardized power and data network protocol.

2. The support connector according to claim 1, in combination with an elongate tubular LED lamp having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, a source of illumination comprising at least one LED emitter board on or within the lamp body, and a first end connector at the first end of the body for coupling an end of the elongate tubular LED lamp to the support connector in an operative state to a lighting fixture.

3. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector module of the base portion is adapted to be operatively coupled to a computer network cable.

4. The support connector according to claim 3, wherein the conductive leads electrically coupling the first electrical connector module and the second electrical connector module are operable to transmit power and data signals from the first electrical connector module to the second electrical connector module and over the reverse pathway from the second electrical connector module to the first electrical connector module.

5. The support connector according to claim 3, wherein the leading end portion is configured so that the first end connector moves against the leading end portion as the first end connector moves toward the engaged position thereby causing a part of at least one of the leading end portion and the first end connector to reconfigure to allow the first and second surfaces to be placed in confronting relationship, further comprising an actuator, the support connector configured so that with the first end connector part in the engaged position and the second electrical connector module of the leading end portion operatively coupled to a third electrical connector module the actuator can be repositioned to thereby move the first deployable part towards its assembly position to allow the first end connector to be separated from the support connector and the second electrical connector module to be operatively decoupled from the third electrical connector module.

6. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the leading end portion is configured so that the first end connector moves against the leading end portion as the first end connector moves toward the engaged position thereby causing a part of at least one of the leading end portion and the first end connector to reconfigure to allow the first and second surfaces to be placed in confronting relationship.

7. The support connector according to claim 6, wherein the first end connector has an opening bounded by an edge and the leading end portion of the support connector has a first deployable part on which the second surface is defined, the leading end portion configured so that the first deployable part:

a) is engaged by the edge of the opening and progressively cammed from a holding position, in which the first deployable part resides with the first end connector in the fully separated position, towards an assembly position as the first end connector is moved towards the engaged position; and

b) moves from the assembly position back towards the holding position with the first end connector in the engaged position.

8. The support connector according to claim 7, wherein the first end connector has a wall through which the opening is formed, the first surface defined by the wall inner surface, the wall having a third surface of its opposite side, and a fourth surface on the leading end portion of the support connector, the wall residing captively between the second and fourth surfaces with the first end connector in the engaged position.

9. The support connector according to claim 7, further comprising an actuator, the support connector configured so that with the first end connector part in the engaged position the actuator can be repositioned to thereby move the first deployable part towards its assembly position to allow the first end connector to be separated from the support connector.

10. The support connector according to claim 7, wherein the leading end portion is configured to cooperate with the edge of the opening to consistently align the leading portion with the opening as the leading end portion is directed into the opening as the first end connector is moved between the fully separated position and the engaged position.

11. The support connector according to claim 7, wherein the leading end portion has a second deployable part that is configured substantially the same as the first deployable part and cooperates with the edge in the same way that the first deployable part cooperates with the edge in moving between corresponding holding and assembly positions and the first and second deployable parts are movable towards each other in changing from the holding positions into the assembly positions.

12. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the lighting fixture is a linear lamp lighting fixture and the base portion is adapted for press fit engagement with the lighting fixture support.

13. The support connector according to claim 12, wherein the base portion includes a flange at its proximal end, a lower facing surface of the flange engaging an upper facing surface of the lighting fixture support with the support connector coupled to the lighting fixture.

14. The support connector according to claim 12, wherein the base portion comprises first and second oppositely facing sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls each defining an externally facing slot adapted to engage an edge portion of an opening in the lighting fixture support.

15. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector module comprises a jack which includes a housing defining an internal port for receiving a communications plug, the jack providing an interface operable to transmit signals between the support connector and the plug according to a standardized power and data network protocol.

16. The support connector according to claim 15, wherein the base portion comprises a proximal end wall that extends generally horizontally with the support connector coupled to the support of the lighting fixture, and the jack is oriented so that the port opens through the proximal end wall.

17. The support connector according to claim 15, wherein the base portion comprises a third sidewall that extends generally vertically and has an outward facing surface with the support connector coupled to the lighting fixture support, and the jack is oriented so that the port opens through the third sidewall.

18. The support connector according to claim 15, wherein the jack is an Ethernet jack.

19. The support connector according to claim 15, wherein the jack is a Universal Serial Bus jack.

20. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector module comprises an insulation displacement connector for terminating a plurality of insulated wires of a network cable, the insulation displacement connector comprising a circuit board and a plurality of terminating contacts mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to respective ones of the conductive leads, each of the terminating contacts including an engagement area for receiving a respective one of the wires and with an edge of the engagement area configured to slice the insulation jacket on a wire, whereby the wires can be terminated to respective ones of the terminating contacts.

21. The support connector according to claim 20, wherein the base portion further comprises a housing and a cover member connected to the housing, the cover member having a plurality of spaced guide channels, whereby the wires can be placed into respective ones of the guide channels, such that the wires are forced into the engagement areas and terminated to respective ones of the terminating contacts when the cover member is moved to a closed position.

22. The support connector according to claim 20, wherein the base portion further comprises a housing and a cover member connected to the housing, the base portion providing access to allow the wires to be inserted into respective ones of the terminating contact engagement areas when cover member is in an open position, and the base portion enclosing the terminating contacts when the cover member is in a closed position.

23. The support connector according to claim 22, wherein the terminating contacts are configured so that the wires can be terminated to respective ones of the terminating contacts using a punch down tool.

24. The support connector according to claim 20, wherein the terminating contacts of the insulation displacement connector are arranged in pairs corresponding to the wires of respective ones of twisted pairs of wires of the network cable.

25. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the standardized power and data network protocol is Ethernet.

26. The support connector according to claim 25, wherein the plug conforms dimensionally to a standard RJ45 plug.

27. The support connector according to claim 1, wherein the standardized power and data network protocol is Universal Serial Bus.

28. The support connector according to claim 27, wherein the plug conforms dimensionally to a standard Universal Serial Bus plug.