Networked LED lighting system

• US 9,671,072 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:
  US15/334,169
• 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 lighting apparatus, comprising:

a troffer comprising an generally rectangular housing having a first axis extending between spaced first and second ends and having a lamp mounting region comprising a support structure integral with or attached to the housing;

at least one linear LED lamp, each linear LED lamp comprising;

an elongate body extending between first and second lamp ends, the body comprising a heat sink formed of a heat dissipating material;

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 LED emitter panel in a light distribution pattern;

an interface connector operable to connect the linear LED lamp to a data network associated with a 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;

a support connector assembly for each linear LED lamp, each support connector assembly comprising at least one connector module, each connector module comprising a base portion mounted to the troffer support and an engagement portion configured to engage the corresponding linear LED lamp to secure the lamp to the troffer while permitting the linear LED lamp to be removed as a unit;

each linear LED lamp in engagement with a corresponding support connector assembly and secured to the troffer support thereby.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the troffer was originally designed to accept one or more conventional fluorescent tube lamps of a standardized nominal length.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus is configured to be mounted to a dropped ceiling grid with its lamp mounting region at a recessed elevation relative to the ceiling panels of the ceiling grid.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus is configured to be surface mounted to a ceiling with an upper facing outer surface of the troffer housing directly opposing a lower facing surface of the ceiling.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus is configured to suspend from the overhead structural ceiling by structural cables, wires or chains.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the troffer further comprises a reflector extending along the first axis and having a reflective surface for reflecting emitted light in a direction away from the troffer.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface connector comprises an Ethernet connector.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light transmissive lens positioned adjacent the at least one linear LED lamp for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from the at least one linear LED lamp.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion of each connector module comprises a pair of spaced resilient fingers adapted to engage the outer surface of the corresponding linear LED lamp to thereby retain the lamp between the fingers.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fingers deflect outwardly to an expanded assembly configuration as an incident of the linear LED lamp moving relative to the connector module from a position fully separated from the connector module in a path that is traverse to the length of the body into an engaged position between the fingers.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each linear LED lamp comprises first and second end connectors at opposite ends of the lamp body each having a first surface, and the engagement portion of each connector module comprises a second surface configured to engage the first surface of the corresponding end connector;

the engagement portion configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the end connector and the connector module with the lamp body in the operative state as an incident of the end connector moving relative to the connector module 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.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second end connectors each have an opening bounded by an edge and the engagement portion of each connector module has a first retractable part on which the second surface is defined, the engagement portion configured so that the first retractable part:

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

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

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one linear LED lamp further comprises 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.

14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one linear LED lamp further comprises 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.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, 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.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the power circuit comprises a driver circuit for driving the LED emitters with a controlled level of electric current.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the LED emitter panel of the at least one linear LED lamp 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.

18. The lighting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the LED emitters of the first group are operable to emit light characterized by a first color correlated temperature and the LED emitters of the second group are operable to emit light characterized by a second color correlated temperature different from the first color temperature, and 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 LED emitter panel.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the external device is a network switch operable to route power and control signals to multiple individually addressable components of the networked LED lighting system in accordance with the standardized network communications protocol, and the control module further comprises a communications interface module operable to enable communications directly between the linear LED lamp of the lighting apparatus and the network switch.

20. The lighting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the standardized network communications protocol is the Ethernet protocol.

21. The lighting apparatus according to claim 19, 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 linear LED lamp as an addressable node of the networked LED lighting system.

22. The lighting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control module is operable to store a network address used to uniquely identify the linear LED lamp as an addressable node of the networked LED lighting system.

23. The lighting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the control module is operable to determine whether a control data signal defines a control instruction to adjust one or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp or a query instruction requesting information regarding one or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp.

24. The lighting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when the control module determines that the received control data signal defines a control instruction, the control module extracts one or more lighting control parameters from the control instruction and performs one or more operations to adjust one or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp based on the lighting control parameters.

25. The lighting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when the control module determines that the received control data signal defines a query instruction, the control module extracts one or more request parameters from the query instruction and performs one or more operations to generate and transmit a response message containing information regarding one or more operational characteristics of the linear LED lamp based on the request parameters.

26. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the heat sink of at least one linear LED lamp 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.

27. The lighting apparatus according to claim 26, 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.