Networked LED lighting system

• US 9,671,071 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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:
  US15/334,150
• Time in Patent Office: 224 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 associated 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 linear LED lamp for use in converting a conventional fluorescent tube lamp lighting fixture into an addressable lighting node of a networked LED lighting system, the linear LED lamp comprising:

an elongate body with a length between spaced first and second ends and comprising an elongate heat sink formed of a heat dissipating material, the body sized so that the linear LED lamp can be installed in the conventional fluorescent tube lamp lighting fixture;

wherein the conventional fluorescent tube lamp lighting fixture is designed to accept T5, T12 or T8 fluorescent lamps of a standardized nominal length, wherein the standardized nominal length is about 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 6 feet or 8 feet;

at least one LED emitter panel secured to the heat sink, the LED emitter panel comprising a circuit board containing LED emitters connected in a circuit for emitting and distributing light outwardly from the emitter panel in a light distribution pattern;

an interface connector operable to connect the linear LED lamp to a data network associated with the networked LED lighting system to receive power and data signals according to a standardized network communications protocol from an external device connected to the network for use in powering the LED emitters and controlling one or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp;

a first end cap assembly at the first end of the body, the first end cap assembly comprising a housing defining a receptacle, and the interface connector mounted within the receptacle; and

an outer wall portion of the first end cap assembly housing defining an opening, the opening allowing a connector associated with a network communications cable to engage and form an electrical connection with the interface connector within the receptacle.

2. The linear LED lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a battery power supply circuit, wherein the battery power supply circuit comprises at least one battery, a charging circuit for providing a charging current to the at least one battery in a first mode of operation, and a control sub-circuit for switching the load to the at least one battery in a second mode of operation.

3. The linear LED lamp according to claim 1, further comprising an elongate light diffuser cover providing a light transmissive lens positioned about and covering the LED emitters for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from the LED emitters.

4. The linear LED lamp according to claim 1, wherein the interface connector comprises an Ethernet connector.

5. The linear LED lamp according to claim 4, wherein the interfaced connector comprises an Ethernet jack.

6. The linear LED lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a control module mounted within the lamp and electrically connected to the interface connector, the control module including a power circuit generating power signals for powering the LED emitters from power signals delivered via the interface connector, and a processor configured to execute instructions defined by control data signals received via the interface connector and associated with or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp.

7. The linear LED lamp according to claim 6, further comprising a connector end board at the first end of the linear LED lamp, the interface connector and the control module each electrically connected to the connector end board and connected to each other via the connector end board.

8. The linear LED lamp according to claim 6, wherein the control module is operative to turn on or off the LED emitters of, or changes a characteristic of the light emitted by the LED emitter panel, in response control data signals defining instructions executable by the processor.

9. The linear LED lamp according to claim 6, wherein the power circuit comprises a driver circuit for driving the LED emitters with a controlled level of electric current.

10. The linear LED lamp according to claim 9, wherein the driver circuit controls the current level provided to the LED emitter board below a maximum current capacity thereof for providing more efficient conversion of electrical power to light output.

11. The linear LED lamp according to claim 9, wherein the LED emitter panel comprises first and second groups of LED emitters, the driver circuit comprises multiple parallel driver subcircuits for independently driving each group of LED emitters at a controlled current level.

12. The linear LED lamp according to claim 11, wherein the LED emitters of each first group are operable to emit light characterized by a first color correlated temperature and the LED emitters of each second group are operable to emit light characterized by a second color correlated temperature different from the first color temperature.

13. The linear LED lamp according to claim 12, wherein control module is operative to receive control signals containing instructions executable by the processor in response to which the driver subcircuits adjust the relative current level provided to the first and the second group of LED emitters to electrically tune the color correlated temperature of the composite light emitted by the first and second LED emitter panels.

14. The linear LED lamp according to claim 6, wherein the external device is a network switch operable to route power and data signals to multiple individually addressable components of the networked LED lighting system, and the control module comprises a communications interface module operable to enable communications directly between the lamp and the network switch in accordance with the standardized network communications protocol.

15. The linear LED lamp according to claim 14, wherein the communications interface module is operable to establish a communications link with the network switch, and wherein the establishing of the communications link comprises transmitting one or more messages to the network switch used to authenticate the lamp as an addressable node of the networked LED lighting system.

16. The linear LED lamp according to claim 14, wherein the standardized network communications protocol is the Ethernet protocol.

17. The linear LED lamp according to claim 16, wherein the lamp interface connector is configured to connect the lamp directly to the network switch via Ethernet network cabling.

18. The linear LED lamp according to claim 14, wherein the control module comprises volatile or non-volatile memory storage for storing code and data.

19. The linear LED lamp according to claim 18, wherein the control module is operable to store a network address used to uniquely identify the lamp as an addressable node of the networked LED lighting system.

20. The linear LED lamp according to claim 14, wherein the control module is operable to determine whether the received instructions comprise a control message to adjust one or more operational characteristics of the lamp or a query message requesting information regarding one or more operational characteristics of the lamp.

21. The linear LED lamp according to claim 20, wherein when the control module determines that the received instructions comprise a control message, the control module extracts one or more lighting control parameters from the control message and performs one or more operations to adjust one or more operational characteristics of the lamp based on the lighting control parameters.

22. The LED linear lamp according to claim 20, wherein when the control module determines that the received instructions comprise a query message, the control module extracts one or more request parameters from the query message and performs one or more operations to generate and transmit a response message containing information regarding one or more operational characteristics of the lamp based on the request parameters.

23. The linear LED lamp according to claim 6, wherein the heat sink is a multi-sided heat sink comprising first and second sidewalls comprising generally planar mounting portions lying in intersecting planes and a third sidewall having an outer surface forming outer surface of the lamp, and the at least one LED emitter panel comprises first and second LED emitter panels, the first LED emitter panel secured to the first sidewall and the second LED emitter panel secured to the second sidewall.

24. The linear LED lamp according to claim 23, wherein the heat sink defines a receptacle internal of the first, second and third sidewalls thereof, and the control module is mounted within the receptacle.

25. The linear LED lamp according to claim 23, wherein the multi-sided heat sink further comprising a fourth, generally planar sidewall extending between the first and second sidewalls, and a third LED emitter panel secured to the fourth sidewall, the control module being operable to drive the third LED emitter panel independent of the other LED emitter panels at a current level based on instructions received by the control module.

26. The linear LED lamp according to claim 23, wherein the lamp produces a light beam spread out over an angle of at least 210 degrees.