Patent Application
20230037127
Light fixtures are available in a wide variety of types, sizes, and lighting property configurations. A common aspect of lighting design involves selecting light fixtures having lighting properties for lighting a space with the desired illumination. Existing light fixtures are manufactured with a single lighting property configuration, and therefore multiple light fixtures of the same type and size may be manufactured with different lighting property configurations, which is disadvantageous from a production and inventory standpoint.
The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should not be understood to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the entire specification of this patent, all drawings, and each claim.
In some embodiments, the present technology relates to a controller assembly for a light fixture. The controller assembly may include a controller housing to be received within a knockout opening of a light fixture housing from which light is emitted, and a user input assembly positioned within the controller housing. The user input assembly may include a mechanical actuator accessible through a controller opening in the controller housing, and a connector interface to be electrically connected by wiring to a driver of the light fixture, and circuitry electrically coupled to the mechanical actuator and the connector interface. The circuitry may be used to detect actuation of the mechanical actuator by a user and, in response, change a control signal from the connector interface to the driver from a first control signal to a second control signal in order change a property of the emitted light.
In some embodiment, the controller housing may include a main body portion. The main body portion may define an internal cavity and the user input assembly may be positioned within the internal cavity. The main body portion may define a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and an end cap may be coupled to the first end of the main body portion. The end cap may define the controller opening proximate the first end of the main body portion. In some embodiments, the controller assembly may also include a nut, and the main body portion may defines a sidewall and a flange extending radially from the sidewall. The sidewall may also define threading proximate to the flange, and the nut may be threadedly coupled to the threading. The nut and flange may be used to clamp the light fixture housing around the knockout opening in order to couple the controller housing to the light fixture housing.
In some embodiments, the main body portion may define a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion and the bottom portion may snap together to define the main body portion. The top and bottom portions each may define a portion of the flange and a portion of the threading. The end cap may rotatably couple to the flange. The flange may define a T-shaped channel, and the end cap may define a tab. The end cap may rotatably couple to the flange by inserting the tab into the T-shaped channel and rotating that end cap relative to the flange. The controller opening in the end cap may be offset radially from an axis of rotation of the end cap. The mechanical actuator may extend through the controller opening during rotational coupling of the end cap to the flange. The controller opening may be arc shaped.
In some embodiments, the mechanical actuator includes a toggle push button. In some embodiments, the mechanical actuator includes a rotatable dial.
In some embodiments, an interior sidewall of the main body portion defines channels, the circuitry comprises a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board engages the channels and is inserted into the internal cavity by sliding along the channels. The channels may include end stops, and the end stops block the channels proximate the second end of the main body portion so that the printed circuit board is retained within the internal cavity by the end cap and the end stops.
In some embodiments, the main body portion defines a main body opening proximate the second end of the main body portion, and the main body opening provides access to the connector interface in order for the wiring to extend from the connector interface out of the internal cavity and be routed to the driver of the light fixture.
In some embodiments, a light fixture includes the controller assembly as disclosed herein, and a light fixture housing defining a knockout opening. The controller assembly may be positioned within the knockout opening. The light fixture may also include a light source and a driver positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the controller assembly and the light source. The driver is used to drive the light source. The driver may be configured to receive a control signal from the user input assembly of the controller assembly and, in response to detecting a change from receiving a first control signal to receiving a second control signal, change the drive signal to the light source from a first drive signal corresponding to a first light property setting to a second drive signal corresponding to a second light property setting. The first and second light property settings may include light intensity settings. The first and second light property settings may include color temperature settings.
A light fixture may be assembly by removing a knockout from the light fixture housing in order to define the knockout opening, inserting the controller housing into the knockout opening, and connecting the wiring between the connector interface and the driver. The controller housing may include a main body portion defining a sidewall and a flange extending radially from the sidewall. The sidewall may define threading proximate to the flange. The method of assembly may include threading a nut onto the threading in order to clamp a portion of the light fixture housing around the knockout opening between the nut and the flange. The controller housing may also include an end cap defining the controller opening, and the method of assembly may include coupling the end cap to the main body portion by rotating the end cap relative to the main body portion with a portion of the mechanical actuator extending through the controller opening.
The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present technology. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures can be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.
The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “left,” “right,” “front,” and “back,” among others are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing.
In some embodiments, the user input assembly 104 is positioned entirely within the housing 102, which is beneficial in protecting circuitry of the user input assembly 104 from damage as well as protecting the mechanical actuator 105 from unintentional manipulation. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of
The first end 202 of the main body portion 200 may include a flange 206 at the first end 202. The flange 206 may extend radially away from the longitudinal axis 106 and be larger than the outer sidewall 212 of the main body portion 200. For example as shown in
As noted above, the coupling mechanism for coupling the controller assembly 100 to the housing of a light fixture may include threading 208 and a nut 107. The main body portion 200 may define the threading 208 on the outer surface of the sidewall 212 proximate to the flange 206 to engage the nut 107 to clamp to the light fixture housing around the knockout opening between the flange 206 and the nut 107, as shown in
The second end 203 of the main body portion 200 may define a second opening 211 into the internal cavity 204 of the main body portion 200. The second opening 211 may provide access to the connector interface 302 of the user input assembly 104 in order to electrically couple the user input assembly 104 to a driver or controller of a light fixture. The second opening 211 may include a circular opening portion 213. The second opening 211 may include a sidewall opening portion 214 defined as an opening in the sidewall 212 of the main body portion 200. For example as shown in
The flange 206 may include features for coupling the end cap 400 to the main body portion 200. In some embodiments, the features may include one or more T-shaped channels 216 defined in the radial sidewall of the flange 206. For example as shown in
The internal cavity 204 may define channels 220 for receiving the user input assembly 104. For example as shown in
In some embodiments, the user input assembly 104 includes circuitry connected to the mechanical actuator 105. The circuitry may be included in a printed circuit board 304. The mechanical actuator 105 may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuitry, for example the circuit board 304. Actuation of the mechanical actuator 105 may cause the circuitry to output a control signal receivable by a driver, or controller, of a light fixture, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
The circuit board 304 may be populated with circuitry components, including resistors, capacitors, transistors, and integrated circuit chips (for example programmable logic chips). The circuitry components may translate inputs from the mechanical actuator 105 into electrical control signals to wires connected to the connector interface 302. The control signals may correspond to different light property configurations of the light fixture. The light property configurations may include, but are not limited to, intensity/brightness, color temperature, and color. In some embodiments, the user input assembly 104 may include a plurality of mechanical actuators 105 coupled to the circuitry, for example the circuit board 304. Each mechanical actuator 105 may correspond to control of a different property of light emitted from the light fixture, and/or control a different portion of the light fixture.
In some embodiments, the mechanical actuator 105 may be a toggle push button, a switch, a slider, and/or a dial. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, actuating the mechanical actuator 105, for example pressing the button once, may cause the control signal to toggle from a first control signal to a second control signal, corresponding to different driver settings for outputting different light properties. For example, each press of the button may cause a change between a first control signal corresponding to a first setting (e.g. 14K lumens), and a second control signal corresponding to a second setting (e.g. 20K lumens). In some embodiments, each press of the button may cause the output control signal to cycle through a series of three or more different control signals. For example, with the circuitry outputting a first control signal, a press of the button may cause a change to outputting a second control signal. With the circuitry outputting the second control signal, a press of the button may result in a change to outputting a third control signal. With the circuitry outputting the third control signal a press of the button may result in a change to outputting back to the first control signal to complete the series. The series of different control signals may include any number of control signals, for example 5 different signals corresponding to 5 different levels of brightness.
In some embodiments, the mechanical actuator 105 is a dial, rotatable around an axis. Rotation may be detected by the circuitry and cause the circuitry to change the control signal in order for the light properties of the light fixture to be changed. In some embodiments, the dial includes predetermined discrete radial positions, e.g. click positions, each corresponding to a discrete control signal corresponding to a discrete light fixture setting. In some embodiments, rotation of the dial corresponds to a continuous change of a control signal corresponding to continuous change of light fixture settings. For example, rotating the dial may correspond to a continuous change of color around the spectrum from red to violet, including all hues in between.
The user input assembly 104 may be positioned within the main body portion 200 of the housing so the connector interface 302 is positioned proximate to the second opening 211, as shown in
In some embodiments, the opening 402 may be shaped, sized, and positioned so that the end cap 400 may rotate around the longitudinal axis 106 while the mechanical actuator 105 is positioned within the opening 402, for example when coupling the end cap 400 to the flange 206. For example, the opening 402 may be arced with a bean shape as shown in
The controller assembly 100 may be coupled to a housing of a light fixture so that the end cap 400 is positioned outside of the housing of the light fixture and the circuitry of the user input assembly 104 is positioned inside of the housing of the light fixture, with the mechanical actuator 105 accessible from outside of the housing of the light fixture so that a configuration of the light properties of the light output by the light fixture may be changed via the mechanical actuator 105 without opening the housing of the light fixture.
As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, wiring connected between the connector interface 302 and a driver of the light fixture may be pulled through the main body portion 200 from the second opening 211 and through the first opening 210 prior to inserting the user input assembly 104 into the internal cavity 204 of the main body portion 200. In some embodiments, the user input assembly 104 may be inserted into the main body portion 200 prior to connecting the wires to the connector interface 302.
As shown in
In some embodiments, a light fixture housing 700800, including a controller assembly 100, may be suspended from a ceiling, for example by hangers which may be cables, chains, rods, or other suitable hangers. The light fixture may direct downlight downward into a room, and the controller assembly may be accessible from the external portion of the light fixture housing allowing the light properties of the downlight to be adjusted after installation without accessing the internals of the light fixture housing. This is beneficial in allowing a change of the output light properties without programming the driver or stocking multiple different specific drivers.
The circuitry of the user input assembly 104 may be coupled to circuitry of the light fixture. For example, the circuitry of the user input assembly 104 may be coupled to one or more drivers, for driving light sources of the light fixture.
The light fixture may further include one or more light sources 1003. The light sources may be electrically coupled to the drivers 1002. The light sources 1003 may include LEDS, and the drivers 1002 may be LED drivers. The drivers 1002 may receive DC power from the power source 1004. The drivers 1002 may produce controlled current, based on a control signal received from the controller assembly 100, that is routed to the light sources.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the method and system of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that any workable combination of the features and capabilities disclosed herein is also considered to be disclosed.
