Lighting fixture with EMI/RFI electrically conductive shielding grid

• US 7,648,252 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Hawkins, James, Gorsiski, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/276,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 362221-225, 362/330, 362147-150, 362/217.03, 362/248, 362/358, 362/279, 362290-292, 362/325, 362/342, 362/354, 362/263, 174/382, 313/324
• US Class Current: 362/225
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/00 Safety devices structurally associated with lighting devices gas- tight or water-tight arrangements F21V31/00; in general F16P; protective circuit arrangements per se H02H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources

Abstract

A lighting fixture for use in an environment which requires protection from EMI/RFI emissions. The fixture comprises a body forming a light-emitting opening, lighting components including at least one lamp in the body, a lens covering the opening, and a conductive grid across the opening, the grid being separate from the lens, electrically connected to the body, and positioned between the lighting components and the opening.

Claims

1. A luminaire securable with respect to a room surface, including:

a luminaire body forming a light-emitting opening, the body being mounted to a ceiling;

lighting components including at least one lamp in the body;

a lens having an inner surface covering the opening; and

a conductive grid between the lighting components and the opening, the grid being a separate structure from the lens, electrically connected to the body and positioned adjacent to the lens inner surface thereacross and extending over the opening,

whereby the grid prevents electromagnetic interference from radiating from the luminaire during emission of light therefrom.

2. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the conductive grid is a substantially planar screen.

3. The luminaire of claim 2 wherein the conductive grid is made of stainless steel.

4. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the lens is translucent.

5. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the grid is spaced from the lens to diffuse the image of the grid through the lens.

6. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the lens includes two layers, a refractive inner layer and a transparent outer layer.

7. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the grid is electrically connected to the body with a plurality of conductive hold-downs.

8. The luminaire of claim 1 further including a seal between the lens and the body.

9. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the body includes a lens frame having the light-emitting opening, a frame seal between the lens frame and the body, and a lens seal between the lens and the lens frame.

10. The luminaire of claim 9 wherein the lens frame is electrically connected to the body.

11. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the body and grid are electrically grounded.

12. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the grid is on a grid shelf secured to the body.

13. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the grid includes a conductive grid frame attached to the perimeter of the grid.

14. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the lighting components include at least one reflector and the at least one lamp is associated with the at least one reflector.

15. The luminaire of claim 14 including a plurality of reflectors and at least some of the reflectors have associated lamps.

16. The luminaire of claim 15 wherein the reflectors are positioned to direct a first portion of light centered around a first direction and a second portion of light centered around a second direction.

17. The luminaire of claim 16 wherein the first direction is in a downward-outward direction.

18. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein the fixture includes an electronic dimming ballast disposed within the body.