Flow-through LED lighting system

• US 8,506,121 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Albeo Technologies (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Van Laanen, Peter, Bisberg, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAMLING, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/959,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.03, 362/294, 362/311.02, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/249.03
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A flow-through LED lighting system includes a housing and two or more blades disposed with the housing. At least one blade has a plurality of LEDs mounted therewith, and each blade is separated from an adjacent blade by a venting space. A power supply is configured with the housing, connects with an external power source, and powers the LEDs.

Claims

1. A flow-through LED lighting system, comprising:

a housing;

two or more blades disposed between portions of the housing such that the housing substantially surrounds two longitudinal ends of each blade, at least one blade having a plurality of LEDs mounted longitudinally therewith, each blade being separated from an adjacent blade by a venting space, at least one blade comprising

a first compartment housing a power supply,

a second compartment, separated from the first compartment and housing low voltage circuitry, and

a third compartment forming an optical cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, the venting space being rectangular in cross section, such that two of the blades form two opposing sides of the venting space, and the portions of the housing form two other opposing sides of the venting space.

3. The system of claim 1, the LEDs disposed along an outer edge of the second compartment.

4. The system of claim 1, the LEDs disposed along an inner edge of the second compartment, the at least one blade forming an aperture for each of the plurality of LEDs, so that light from each LED transmits through its aperture.

5. The system of claim 1, each venting space facilitating convection of air between the portions of the housing, to dissipate heat produced by the LEDs.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a fan for increasing heat dissipation.

7. The system of claim 6, the LEDs and the fan being positioned such that when the LEDs face generally downward, the fan is disposed upwards from the LEDs.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry for controlling output of the LEDs.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a sensor for sensing a condition of (a) the LED lighting system or (b) an area proximate the system, the sensor communicating with the control circuitry to control output of at least one of the LEDs as a function of the sensed condition.

10. The system of claim 9, one or more of the sensor, the LEDs and the control circuitry comprising a printed circuit board disposed with the blade.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an actuator in communication with the control circuitry, the control circuitry controlling the actuator to adjust one or both of rotation and shift of at least one blade in response to input from the sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, the condition comprising one of (a) temperature of the LED lighting system, (b) motion within the area, (c) light level within the area, (d) smoke within the area, and (e) sound within the area.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a waveform analyzer that converts one or more of duty cycle, average and RMS of an input waveform from a dimmer into a control signal, the control circuitry regulating light output of the LEDs based upon the control signal.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical element for mounting with the at least one blade or the housing, to modify an optical property of light emitted by the LEDs.

15. The system of claim 1, the two or more blades being substantially parallel to one another between the portions of the housing.

16. The system of claim 1, the two or more blades being housed in substantially radial alignment.

17. The system of claim 1, the first, second and third compartments being separate sections among which an enclosed space of the at least one blade is divided, such that in a cross-sectional profile of each blade, when the blade is oriented so that the LEDs emit light downwardly:

the first compartment is adjacent to and atop the second compartment, and is separated from the second compartment by a first structure of the at least one blade; and

the second compartment is adjacent to and atop the third compartment, and is separated from the third compartment by a second structure of the at least one blade.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one blade comprises a metal extrusion, and the first structure comprises metal of the extrusion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second structure comprises one or more of an LED assembly including the LEDs, and metal of the extrusion.

20. The system of claim 1, the power supply comprising one of a battery and a transformer.

21. The system of claim 12, the condition comprising a direction of detected motion within the area, the control circuitry controlling the actuator to rotate the at least one blade in the direction of the detected motion.

22. A flow-through LED lighting system, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of blades disposed within the housing, each blade being proximate to at least one venting space;

a plurality of LEDs configured with the blades, each of the blades forming an aperture for one of the plurality of LEDs, so that light from each LED emits through its corresponding aperture;

at least one optical element for conditioning the light emitted by the LEDs;

at least one sensor for sensing one of movement, light level, smoke and sound;

a waveform analyzer for determining a power level based upon an input waveform from an external power source;

an actuator for rotating at least one of the blades;

control circuitry for controlling output of the plurality of LEDs based upon input from the at least one sensor and the power level and for controlling the actuator to rotate the at least one blade in response to detected movement;

a power supply for converting power received from the external power source to supply the at least one sensor, the control circuitry, the actuator and the plurality of LEDs;

wherein the at least one venting space allows air to flow past the blades to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs.

23. A flow-through LED lighting system, comprising:

at least two vertical housing portions;

two or more blades disposed between the vertical housing portions such that the housing portions substantially delimit each blade at two opposing ends thereof, each of the blades comprising;

a first blade portion that substantially forms a plane extending vertically between the vertical housing portions, and

a second blade portion that substantially forms a plane extending horizontally between the vertical housing portions;

a side edge of the second blade portion being coupled with a bottom edge of the first blade portion such that a cross-section of the blade forms an L shape;

and wherein a plurality of LEDs is mounted with the second blade portion such that light from the LEDs emits downward.

24. The flow-through LED lighting system of claim 23, wherein the LEDs mount on back surfaces of the second blade portions and emit the light through apertures formed in the second blade portions.

25. The flow-through LED lighting system of claim 23, wherein the LEDs mount on front surfaces of the second blade portions.

26. A flow-through LED lighting system, comprising:

a housing; and

two or more blades disposed with the housing, each of the blades comprising extruded metal, wherein;

a first cavity of each blade contains a power supply, and is separated by the extruded metal from a second cavity;

the second cavity contains an LED assembly,

and LEDs of the LED assembly emit light into a third cavity towards an optical element, the third cavity being bounded at least in part by each of the LED assembly, the extruded metal, and the optical element.