Modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus and system

• US 9,746,138 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John-Michael Dimitro Thomas
• Original Assignee: John-Michael Dimitro Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, John-Michael Dimitro
• Primary Examiner(s): Auve, Glenn A
• Application Number:
  US15/361,031
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/237 Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/002 with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function F21V17/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0015 Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 47/18 via data-bus 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: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus and system utilizes standard USB protocol and connections between modules so that different modules can be selected, installed, and changed by a user. The USB-C protocol is preferably used, which may permit bidirectional functionality between connected modules in an apparatus and potentially between separate apparatuses. The USB-PD protocol may also be employed so that a greater range of items can be powered. The apparatus includes a base module, and may include one or more ancillary modules and/or a light-emitting module.

Claims

1. A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus, comprising:

a) a base module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base module including a power connector, and the second end of the base module having a USB connector;

b) at least one ancillary module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ancillary module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the base, and the second end of the ancillary module including a USB connector;

c) a light-emitting module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the second end of the ancillary module, and the light-emitting module including a light-emitting component;

wherein an ancillary module comprises a hub module having USB circuitry and one or more external USB connectors on an external surface of the ancillary module.

2. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 1, wherein the USB circuitry and the USB connectors of the base module, ancillary module, and light-emitting module meet a USB-C specification.

3. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 1, wherein the USB circuitry of one or more modules in the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus supports a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification.

4. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base module includes a DC power supply and the power connector is configured to mate with a conventional AC electric lighting receptacle.

5. A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus comprising:

a) a base module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base module including a power connector, and the second end of the base module having a USB connector;

b) at least one ancillary module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ancillary module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the base, and the second end of the ancillary module including a USB connector;

c) a light-emitting module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the second end of the ancillary module, and the light-emitting module including a light-emitting component;

wherein an ancillary module includes a wireless local area network transceiver.

6. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 5, wherein the USB circuitry and the USB connectors of the base module, ancillary module, and light-emitting module meet a USB-C specification.

7. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 5, wherein the USB circuitry of one or more modules in the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus supports a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification.

8. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base module includes a DC power supply and the power connector is configured to mate with a conventional AC electric lighting receptacle.

9. A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus comprising:

a) a base module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base module including a power connector, and the second end of the base module having a USB connector;

b) at least one ancillary module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ancillary module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the base, and the second end of the ancillary module including a USB connector;

c) a light-emitting module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the second end of the ancillary module, and the light-emitting module including a light-emitting component;

wherein the light-emitting module includes one or more light-emitting diodes (‘

LEDs’

), and wherein the light-emitting module includes a light-emitting module body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module body being coterminous with the first end of the light-emitting module, and the second end of the light-emitting module body including a LED connector, and wherein the light-emitting module further includes a LED circuit board having a first side and a second side, the first side of the LED circuit board including a USB connector and the second side of the LED circuit board including the one or more LEDs.

10. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a light treatment component connectable to the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus, wherein the light treatment component comprises one or more of:

a light guide, a light diffuser, a bulb, and a heat dissipation component.

11. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting module body includes USB circuitry and the LED connector is a USB connector.

12. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 9, wherein the USB circuitry and the USB connectors of the base module, ancillary module, and light-emitting module meet a USB-C specification.

13. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 9, wherein the USB circuitry of one or more modules in the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus supports a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification.

14. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base module includes a DC power supply and the power connector is configured to mate with a conventional AC electric lighting receptacle.

15. A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus comprising:

a) a base module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base module including a power connector, and the second end of the base module having a USB connector;

b) at least one ancillary module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ancillary module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the base, and the second end of the ancillary module including a USB connector;

c) a light-emitting module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the second end of the ancillary module, and the light-emitting module including a light-emitting component;

wherein the light-emitting module includes an exterior surface between the first and second ends of the light-emitting module and the light-emitting component is on the exterior surface of the light-emitting module.

16. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a light treatment component connectable to the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus, wherein the light treatment component comprises one or more of:

a light guide, a light diffuser, a bulb, and a heat dissipation component.

17. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 15, wherein the USB circuitry and the USB connectors of the base module, ancillary module, and light-emitting module meet a USB-C specification.

18. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 15, wherein the USB circuitry of one or more modules in the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus supports a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification.

19. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 15, wherein the base module includes a DC power supply and the power connector is configured to mate with a conventional AC electric lighting receptacle.

20. A modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus comprising:

a) a base module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base module including a power connector, and the second end of the base module having a USB connector;

b) at least one ancillary module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ancillary module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the base, and the second end of the ancillary module including a USB connector;

c) a light-emitting module including USB circuitry and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the light-emitting module having a USB connector connectable to the USB connector of the second end of the ancillary module, and the light-emitting module including a light-emitting component;

wherein the apparatus includes two or more ancillary modules one or more of which includes USB circuitry and has a first end and a second end each having a USB connector, the USB connector of the second end being connectable to the USB connector of the first end of the light-emitting module.

21. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 20, wherein the USB circuitry and the USB connectors of the base module, ancillary module, and light-emitting module meet a USB-C specification.

22. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 20, wherein the USB circuitry of one or more modules in the modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus supports a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification.

23. The modular lighting and ancillary component apparatus of claim 20, wherein the base module includes a DC power supply and the power connector is configured to mate with a conventional AC electric lighting receptacle.