Networked LED lighting system

• US 9,726,332 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• 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 D
• Application Number:
  US15/244,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 lamp for use in a networked lighting system, the lamp comprising:

an elongate body with a length between spaced first and second ends;

an elongate heat sink formed of a heat dissipating material and comprising a mounting portion;

an LED emitter panel secured to the heat sink mounting portion, 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;

a first end connector at the first end of the body configured to engage a first support connector mounted on a support of a lighting fixture;

the first support connector comprising a leading end portion having a network communications plug associated with a tip thereof configured to engage the first end connector of the lamp;

the first end connector having a wall defining a first opening bounded by an edge and sized to receive the leading end portion of the first support connector;

the first end connector and leading end portion of the first support connector respectively having first and second surfaces,

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

a communications jack at the first end of the lamp, the jack including a housing defining an internal port for receiving the network communications plug through an access opening of the internal port and providing an interface operable to transmit power and data signals, the jack positioned so that the access opening of the port faces the first opening of the first end connector.

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

3. The lamp according to claim 2, further comprising a connector end board at the first end of the body, the jack electrically connected to the control module via connector end board.

4. The lamp according to claim 3, wherein the jack is an Ethernet jack.

5. The lamp according to claim 3, wherein the jack is a Universal Serial Bus jack.

6. The lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a second end connector at the second of the body, the second end connector configured to engage a second support connector mounted on the support to maintain the second end of body in an operative state on said support, wherein the second end connector and second support connector have surfaces that are respectively structurally substantially the same as the first and second surfaces of the first end connector and first support connector and interact with each other at the second end of the body in the same way that the first and second surfaces of the first end connector and first support connector interact with each other at the first end of the body.

7. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the first connector part is part of a first end cap assembly that is at the first end of the body, the first end cap assembly comprising a first cup-shaped component into which the first end of the body extends.

8. The lamp of claim 3, wherein the connector end board is at least partially positioned within the first end cap assembly.

9. The lamp of claim 6, wherein the second connector part is part of a second end cap assembly that is at the second end of the body, the second end cap assembly comprising a second cup-shaped component into which the second end of the body extends.

10. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the network communications plug associated with the tip of the leading end portion of the first support connector comprises an integral network communications plug, and the jack is mounted at a position such that the plug is received through the access opening and into the internal port of the jack to electrically connect the plug and the jack as an incident of the first end connector moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position.

11. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first support connector includes an internal raceway configured to allow a network cable terminated with the network communications plug to translate along the raceway, and the jack is mounted at a position such that the plug may be translated through an opening in the tip of the leading end portion of the first support connector and into the internal port of the jack to electrically connect the plug and the jack.

12. The lamp according to claim 2, wherein control module further comprises a driver circuit electrically connected to the power circuit for driving the LED emitters with a controlled level of electric current.

13. The lamp according to claim 12, wherein the control module is operative to receive control signals containing instructions executable by the processor in response to which the control module turns on or off the LED emitters of, or changes the brightness of light emitted by, the LED emitter panel.

14. The lamp according to claim 12, wherein the control node is operative to receive signals from a sensor that generates signals corresponding to a sensed environmental input, and wherein the control module is operable to change a characteristic of the light emitted by the LED emitter panel based on the sensor signal.

15. The lamp according to claim 14, wherein the signal received from the sensor corresponds to a sensed condition associated with motion, occupancy, light level, an air characteristic, or sound.

16. The lamp according to claim 12, wherein the LED emitter panel comprises first and second groups of LED emitters, the first group of LED emitters connected in parallel to the second group of LED emitters and the LED emitters of each group connected in series to the other LED emitters of the same group, the driver circuit comprises multiple parallel driver subcircuits for independently driving each group of LED emitters at a controlled current level.

17. The lamp according to claim 16, wherein the driver subcircuits control the current level provided to the first and the second group of LED emitters below a maximum current capacity thereof for providing more efficient conversion of electrical power to light output.

18. The lamp according to claim 16, 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.

19. The lamp according to claim 18, 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.

20. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of LED emitter subpanels connected end to end.

21. The lamp according to claim 1 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, the lamp comprising 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.

22. The lamp according to claim 21, further comprising a control module mounted internal to the sidewalls of the multiple sided heat sink and electrically connected to the communications jack, the control module including a power circuit generating power signals for powering the LED emitters from power delivered via the jack and a processor configured to execute instructions defined by control signals received via the jack and associated with or more operational functions of the lamp.

23. The lamp according to claim 22, wherein the control module further comprises a driver circuit having a plurality of driver subcircuits and the control module is operable to independently drive the first LED emitter panel at a first controlled current level and the second LED emitter panel at a second controlled current level.

24. The lamp according to claim 21, further comprising a battery power supply circuit mounted internal to the sidewalls of the multiple sided heat sink, and 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.

25. The lamp according to claim 23, wherein the multiple 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.

26. The lamp according to claim 25, wherein the control module is 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.

27. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lamp has a length of about 24 inches or about 48 inches.

28. The lamp according to claim 6, a second communications jack at the second end of the body, the second jack including a housing defining an internal port for receiving a second network communications plug through an access opening of the internal port and providing an interface operable to transmit power and data signals, an outer wall of the second end connector defining an opening, the jack positioned such that the access opening is generally aligned with the opening of the outer wall such that the second plug may be moved through the outer wall opening and received in the internal port of the second jack to electrically connect the second plug and the second jack.

29. The 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.

30. The lamp according to claim 2, wherein the control module is operable to receive data signals associated with one or more operational functions of the lamp and to communicate corresponding data signals to the communications jack, and the jack is operable to communicate corresponding data signals to a local area network associated with an automated lighting control system.