Light strip system and converter unit therefor

• US 9,845,942 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Inventors: Ladstaetter, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENDO, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US14/114,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 362648, 439121, 439532, 439111, 439110, 439122, 439116, 439112, 439115, 439119
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/038 intended to be mounted on a light track suspended from a light track F21S8/066; details of supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element F21V21/34
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/025 Elongated bases having a U-shaped cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• 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 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• 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

Abstract

A light strip system for securing luminaire units and supplying them with power having an elongate support structure, especially at least one support rail for securing the luminaire units and power supply extending along the support structure for supplying the luminaire units with power. The power supply includes first lines which extend along the support structure and define a first power supply circuit (I), and second lines which extend over part of the length of the first power supply circuit (I) along the support structure and define a second power supply circuit (II) which is designed to be in electrical contact with the luminaire units, the first power supply circuit (I) being coupled to the second power supply circuit (II) by a converter unit which converts a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit (I) to a second supply voltage suitable for operating the luminaire units.

Claims

1. An elongate light strip system extending in a longitudinal direction for securing and supplying power to luminaire units, wherein the system comprises:

at least one elongate mounting rail defining at least one elongate U-shaped channel sized to receive and secure luminaire units therein,

a first power supply extending along the elongate mounting rail for supplying power to the luminaire units, wherein the first power supply includes first lines, which extend along the elongate mounting rail within the elongate channel and which form a first power supply circuit,

second lines, which extend along the elongate mounting rail within the elongate channel over a partial length of the first power supply circuit and form a pair of second power supply circuits, which are provided for making electrical contact with the luminaire units, and

a converter unit oriented within the elongate channel forming an electrical coupling between the first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit, to convert a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit into a second supply voltage available in the pair of second power supply circuits suitable for operating the luminaire units;

wherein the elongate channel formed within the elongate mounting rail is sized to receive the converter unit substantially within the U-shaped channel;

wherein the converter unit is connected to the second power supply circuit with a plug which is connected to the converter unit via a flexible line;

wherein the pair of second power supply circuits comprise a plurality of pairs of second power supply circuits, wherein the converter unit is arranged in the center of two adjacent pairs of second power supply circuits, when viewed in a direction normal to the elongate mounting rail, and is connected to the two pairs of second power supply circuits.

2. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pairs of second power supply circuits each abut another adjacent pair of second power supply units at their ends and extend, together, substantially over an entire length of the first power supply circuit.

3. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pairs of second power supply circuits are connected to one another at their ends.

4. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the pair of second power supply circuits are arranged so as to be freely accessible from a fitting side of the elongate mounting rail for the luminaire units.

5. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the first power supply circuit have, at predetermined intervals, contacts for connection with the converter unit.

6. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines of the first power supply circuit are arranged and mounted in such a way that they enable a substantially free arrangement of the converter unit along the elongate mounting rail.

7. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one of the pair of second power supply circuit are arranged on the side remote from the opening of the elongate mounting rails.

8. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first supply voltage is a high voltage and the second supply voltage is a low voltage.

9. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luminaire units contain LED light sources.

10. The converter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a means for making contact with the first power supply circuit have a rotary tap.

11. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate channel of the elongate mounting rail is substantially U-shaped and downwardly facing.

12. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a high voltage luminaire unit connected to the first power supply circuit and a low voltage luminaire unit connected to the second power supply circuit.

13. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate mounting rail defines two U-shaped mounting channels, one providing a downwardly facing elongate channel and one providing an upwardly facing elongate channel.

14. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of luminaire units sized to fit substantially entirely within the elongate U-shaped channel.

15. The light strip system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one the elongate U-shaped channel comprises two opposed U-shaped channels, one downwardly facing channel and an upwardly facing channel, with one of the pair of second power supply circuits located in each of the downwardly and upwardly facing channels.

16. The light strip system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a plurality of luminaire units sized to fit within the elongate U-shaped downwardly and upwardly facing channels.

17. The light strip system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a plurality of luminaire units sized to fit substantially entirely within the elongate U-shaped downwardly and upwardly facing channels.

18. An elongate light strip system extending in a longitudinal direction for securing and supplying power to luminaire units, wherein the system comprises:

a plurality of luminaire units

a plurality elongate mounting rails defining opposed upwardly facing and a downwardly facing U-shaped channels sized to receive and secure the luminaire units therein,

a first power supply extending along the elongate mounting rails for supplying power to the luminaire units, wherein the first power supply includes first lines, which extend along the elongate mounting rails within the elongate channel and which form a first power supply circuit,

second lines, which extend along the elongate mounting rails within the elongate channel over a length of the first power supply circuit and form a pair of second power supply circuits, one in each of the upwardly facing and the downwardly facing U-shaped channels to make electrical contact with the luminaire units, and

a converter unit oriented within the elongate channel forming an electrical coupling between the first power supply circuit and the pair of second power supply circuits, to convert a first supply voltage available in the first power supply circuit;

wherein the pair of second power supply circuits comprise a plurality of pairs of second power supply circuits, wherein the converter unit is arranged in the center of two adjacent pairs of second power supply circuits, when viewed in a direction normal to the elongate mounting rail, and is connected to the two pairs of second power supply circuits.