Data delivery track
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
- an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped track housing;
at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the track housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and
at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the track housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, the at least one LED-based lighting fixture including a fixture housing and a plurality of LEDs disposed within the fixture housing, the plurality of LEDs configured to generate sufficient visible light so as to provide an effective amount of ambient illumination in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Track lighting methods and apparatus. In various examples, power and data are provided to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing. The plurality of lighting fixtures includes at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data.
431 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped track housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the track housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the track housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, the at least one LED-based lighting fixture including a fixture housing and a plurality of LEDs disposed within the fixture housing, the plurality of LEDs configured to generate sufficient visible light so as to provide an effective amount of ambient illumination in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12)
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5. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture is configured to process at least the data so as to control at least one of an intensity of radiation generated by the at least one fixture, a color of the generated radiation, a focus of the generated radiation, and a movement of the at least one LED-based lighting fixture; and at least one controller coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to control the at least one LED-based lighting fixture, based at least in part on the data, using a pulse width modulation technique.
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7. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture is configured to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength; and at least one controller coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation output by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on the data, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation output by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture using a pulse width modulation technique.
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8. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and a controlled waveshape driver coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to reduce radio frequency radiation from the apparatus.
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9. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks includes only one pair of electrically conductive tracks to provide both the power and the data in parallel to the plurality of lighting fixtures.
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13. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks is mechanically coupled to the housing via at least one electrical insulator, wherein the housing is metallic, and wherein the housing includes an extruded aluminum track. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; and at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks includes a controlled impedance medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and at least one termination coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to compensate at least in part for an inductive effect of the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and at least one termination coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to clamp a voltage of a signal providing the data to a maximum of approximately +5 volts and a minimum of approximately −
5 volts.
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21. A track lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing; at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to provide power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures when the fixtures are coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks; at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and at least one termination coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks and configured to absorb electrical energy that would otherwise be reflected on the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A track lighting method, comprising acts of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped track housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the track housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, the at least one LED-based lighting fixture including a fixture housing and a plurality of LEDs disposed within the fixture housing; and B) generating sufficient visible light from the plurality of LEDs, in response to at least the data, so as to provide an effective amount of ambient illumination in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 27, 31, 32)
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26. A track lighting method, comprising an act of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the act A) includes an act of; processing at least the data so as to control the at least one LED-based lighting fixture using a pulse width modulation technique.
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28. A track lighting method, comprising an act of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture is configured to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength, and wherein the act A) includes an act of; B) providing at least the data so as to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation output by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture, the method further comprising an act of; C) processing the data so as to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation output by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture using a pulse width modulation technique.
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29. A track lighting method, comprising acts of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and conditioning at least one signal on the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks so as to reduce radio frequency radiation from the apparatus.
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30. A track lighting method, comprising an act of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks includes only one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and wherein the act A) includes an act of; providing both the power and the data in parallel to the plurality of lighting fixtures only via the one pair of electrically conductive tracks.
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33. A track lighting method, comprising an act of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks is mechanically coupled to the housing via at least one electrical insulator, and wherein the housing includes an extruded aluminum track. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A track lighting method, comprising an act of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data, wherein the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks includes a controlled impedance medium. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A track lighting method, comprising acts of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and B) compensating a signal providing the data at least in part for an inductive effect of the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A track lighting method, comprising acts of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and B) clamping a voltage of a signal providing the data to a maximum of approximately +5 volts and a minimum of approximately −
5 volts.
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41. A track lighting method, comprising acts of:
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A) providing power and data to a plurality of lighting fixtures via at least one pair of essentially rigid electrically conductive tracks that are mechanically coupled to an essentially rigid linear or curvilinear-shaped housing, the plurality of lighting fixtures including at least one LED-based lighting fixture mechanically coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks, and configured to be responsive to the data; and B) conditioning at least one signal providing the data so as to reduce distortion of the at least one signal by absorbing electrical energy that would otherwise be reflected on the at least one pair of electrically conductive tracks. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification