Patent Application
20160366738
The present disclosure relates to structures operable to emit light.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,777 discloses a QUICK MOUNTING DEVICE WITH MODULES. The quick mounting device for appliances is alleged to be quickly and easily engaged and disengaged mechanically without the use of tools.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A lighting arrangement can include a light emitter portion and a battery backup portion. The light emitter portion can have a plurality of light emitting diodes and circuitry for driving the plurality of light emitting diodes including a rectifier and an IC chip configured to drive said plurality of light emitting diodes with the rectified voltage provided by rectifier. The battery backup portion can be in electronic communication with the light emitter portion and can have a battery portion with one or more batteries and a converter portion with a DC-AC inverter downstream of the one or more batteries that directs the electrical power to the rectifier and is driven by the one or batteries.
The detailed description set forth below references the following drawings:
The present disclosure, as demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments described below, can provide at least a pair of benefits over prior art devices, such as by way of example and not limitation a smaller driver and battery size along with the number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) being variable based on the battery voltage. In the prior art of LED lighting, the approach is a DC-DC converter since LEDs are typically DC devices and not that described herein.
A plurality of different embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in the Figures of the application. Similar features are shown in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar features across different embodiments have been numbered with a common reference numeral and have been differentiated by an alphabetic suffix. Also, to enhance consistency, the structures in any particular drawing share the same alphabetic suffix even if a particular feature is shown in less than all embodiments. Similar features are structured similarly, operate similarly, and/or have the same function unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification. Furthermore, particular features of one embodiment can replace corresponding features in another embodiment or can supplement other embodiments unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification.
In
The battery backup portion 14 can allow the light emitter portion 12 to function as it would function under the standard or regular or non-emergency source. The light emitter portion 12 can be fully functional, including dimmable. The battery backup portion 14 can be mounted directly to a junction box. When the leads have been connected, the leads can be arranged inside the battery backup portion 14. The battery backup portion 14 can be connected to the light emitter portion 12 through a safety wire 40. The safety wire 40 can ease installation and prevent completion separation of the light emitter portion 12 from the battery backup portion 14. The battery backup portion 14 can also include a test circuit with a push test button, referenced at 60 in
The battery backup portion 14 can include converter portion 42 and a battery portion 44. The converter portion 42 can be operably disposed between the battery portion 44 and the light emitter portion 12. The converter portion 42 can itself be powered by the battery portion 44. The battery portion 44 can have any desired physical size. The battery portion 44 can be defined by a single battery or an array of batteries connected in series or in parallel. By way of example and not limitation, the battery portion 44 can include one or more Samsung® Model ICR18650-26F batteries, each having a length of sixty-five millimeters and a diameter of eighteen and four-tenths millimeters. This yields a volume of seventeen-thousand two-hundred and eighty-four square millimeters. The battery portion 44 can be rated at 3.8 volts, 2600 mAh and have a capacity is 9.88 Wh after being charged. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, three batteries can be connected in series having a volume of fifty-one-thousand eight-hundred and fifty-one square millimeters.
The converter portion 42 can include a DC-AC converter 46. The DC-AC converter 46 can be a functional group that includes a plurality of components such as a transistor, diode, capacitor, and transformer. The DC-AC converter 46 can convert relatively low DC voltage from the battery portion 44 into AC voltage. The box 48 simply refers to the output of the converter portion 42.
The converter portion 42 can also include a microcontroller unit 50. The microcontroller unit 50 can include voltage dividers, amplifiers, RAM, a timer, A/D, PWM, and other integrated functions. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the microcontroller unit 50 can include an enhanced 8051 series MCU, such as a SH79F081A provided by Sino Wealth, alongside voltage dividers and amplifiers that enable the high voltages and currents to be measured by the A/D.
The converter portion 42 can also include a sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (SPWM) module 52. The SPWM module 52 can be integral with the microcontroller unit 50. The SPWM module 52 can generate a sinusoidal modulated pulse in response to a control signal emitted by the microcontroller unit 50 to SPWM module 52. The pulse can be utilized to control the ON/OFF status of a transistor of the converter 46, such as a MOSFET. When the transistor is open, the converter portion 42 can be engaged to communicate AC power to a rectifier 54. The microcontroller unit 90 can be arranged to monitor the delivery of AC power to the light emitter portion 12 from a primary source of power, such as the grid. When the primary or main electrical power is off due to an emergency, or power outage, or some other condition, the microcontroller unit 50 can emit the pulse to engage the other portions of the converter portion 42 and supply power to the light emitter portion 12.
The battery portion 44 and converter portion 42 can define an emergency back-up to the light emitter portion 12. The battery portion 44 and converter portion 42 can be formed as an integral battery backup portion 14 that can be attached to the junction box delivering electrical power to the light emitter portion 12. Wire nuts can connect the three (3) wires available for connection into junction box.
In one or more exemplary embodiments, the battery portion 44 can provide thirty watt-hours of power. When supporting a twenty watt light emitter portion 12 (or fixture), the battery portion 44 can thus provide power for one and a half hours. The power can be provided almost instantaneously; when power is lost from the standard or regular or non-emergency source, the micro-controller 50 can engage the inverter circuit 46 to supply 120V, AC power to the light emitter portion 12.
The output signal of the converter portion 42 is directed through the bridge rectifier 54. The signal can be received by an IC chip 56. The light emitter portion 12 can control individual LEDs of an LED array string 58 based on the input voltage. The quantity of LEDs can be variable. Unlike a traditional arrangement, the light emitter portion 12 can be configured to drive the IC chip 56 directly in relatively high voltage rectified AC mode and not to transform relatively high voltage rectified AC to low voltage DC. IC chip 56 is configured to provide device appropriate current flow into the LED array string 58. Many different step-IC chips can be utilized in various embodiments of the present disclosure, depending on different functions that may be desired, such as dimming or particular color dimming for differently colored LEDs. One example of a step-IC that can be utilized in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure for the IC chip 56 is a MAP9001 supplied by MagnaChip Semiconductor. The MAP9001 has the ability to accept voltages between 90V and 270V rectified voltage.
A connection to the grid is referenced at 170. AC from the rectifier 54 can pass to the rectifier 54 from the box 48 along line 174. AC from the rectifier 54 can return to the box 48 along line 176 (neutral). The power flow is illustrated with solid and dashed arrows. Because the AC is rectified there are two half cycles. In the positive half cycle (solid arrows), the power flows from line 174, through the rectifier 54, and out of the terminal marked (+), around to the LED string 58, through the chip 56, back through the rectifier 54, and then to neutral 176. During the negative half cycle (dashed arrows), the power flows from neutral 174, through the rectifier 54, out of the terminal marked (+), through the LED string 58, through the chip 56, back through the rectifier 54, and then through the line 174.
The arrangement described above results in the unexpected benefit of a smaller backup battery along with the number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) being variable based on the battery voltage.
In the first exemplary embodiment, the battery backup portion 14 and the light emitter portion 12 are fixed directly together. Also, the exemplary light emitter portion 12 and the exemplary battery backup portion 14 have substantially the same outer profile, as shown in
The first exemplary battery backup portion 14 is circular.
The exemplary battery portion 44a includes batteries 68a, 70a, 72a. The second exemplary battery backup portion 14a can also include a plug 74a for interconnecting electronically with a light emitter portion (not shown), a plug 76a for interconnecting electronically with a test LED such as LED 62 (not shown), and a plug 78a for interconnecting electronically with a test button such as test button 60 (not shown). Apertures are defined in the exemplary case 64a for receiving mating plugs. It is noted that wiring among the various components is not shown to enhance the clarity of the other structures, but the batteries 68a, 70a, 72a, the converter portion 42a, and the plugs 74a, 76a, 78a are electronically connected with one another through wiring.
The second exemplary battery backup portion 14a can also include a cover 80a to enclose the converter portion 42a and the plugs 74a, 76a, 78a in the case 64a. The second exemplary battery backup portion 14a can also include a door 82a. The door 82a can be selectively opened and closed with a clip 84a. When the door 82a is closed, the batteries 68a, 70a, 72a are enclosed in the case 64a. The cover 80a and door 82a can include one or more apertures such as apertures 86a, 88a, 90a for receiving mounting hardware projecting from a wall. The case 64a can include apertures such as apertures 92a, 94a for receiving tabs associated with a light emitter to hang the light emitter on the case 64a.
The third exemplary battery backup portion 14b is generally cubic and can be mounted directly to the light emitter 12b, similar to the first and second exemplary battery backup portions 14, 14a. The third exemplary battery backup portion 14b can include a case 64b. The exemplary case 64b extends from a bottom edge 96b to a top edge 98b. A converter portion 42b and a battery portion 44b can be positioned in the case 64b. The exemplary converter portion 42b is shown as a subcase 66b, as best shown in
The exemplary battery portion 44b includes batteries 68b, 70b. The third exemplary battery backup portion 14b can also include a plug 74b for interconnecting electronically with the light emitter portion 12b, a plug 76b for interconnecting electronically with a test LED 62b, and a plug 78b for interconnecting electronically with a test button 60b. The light emitting diode 62b and the test button 60b are mounted in a flange portion 100b of the light emitter portion 12b. Apertures are defined in the exemplary case 64b for receiving mating plugs. It is noted that wiring among the various components is not shown to enhance the clarity of the other structures, but the batteries 68b, 70b, the converter portion 42b, and the plugs 74b, 76b, 78b are electronically connected with one another through wiring.
The third exemplary battery backup portion 14b can also include a door 82b to enclose the converter portion 42b, the plugs 74b, 76b, 78b, and the battery portion 44b in the case 64b. The door 82b can be selectively opened and closed with a clip 84b. When the door 82b is closed, the batteries 68b, 70b are enclosed in the case 64b. The lighting arrangement 10b can also include fins/springs 102b, 104b, 106b for mounting the lighting arrangement 10b in a hole in a ceiling.
The light emitter portion 12c and the battery backup portion 14c are centered on a longitudinal axis 112c. The third exemplary battery backup portion 14c is generally ring or donut-shaped. The third exemplary battery backup portion 14c can include a case 64c. The exemplary case 64c extends from a bottom edge 96c to a top edge 98c and can include a top wall 114c. A converter portion 42c and a battery portion 44c can be positioned in the case 64c. The exemplary converter portion 42c is shown as a subcase 66c, as best shown in
The exemplary battery portion 44c includes batteries. In
The fourth exemplary battery backup portion 14c can also include doors 82c, 124c, 126c to enclose the pockets 116c, 118c, 120c that receive the batteries. Each door 82c, 124c, 126c can be selectively opened and closed with a respective clip, such as clip 84c of door 82c. When the doors 82c, 124c, 126c are closed, the batteries are enclosed in the case 64c.
The lighting arrangement 10c further comprises a pan or shade 128c at least partially positioned between the light emitter portion 12c and the battery backup portion 14c along the longitudinal axis 112c. The electronic communication between the light emitter portion 12c and the battery backup portion 14c occurs through wires extending through an aperture 162c in the shade 128c, such as wires referenced at 164c, 166c. The shade 128c extends radially beyond the light emitter portion 12c relative to the longitudinal axis 112c and is configured to shield the battery backup portion 14c from light emitted by the light emitter portion 12c. The shade 128c can be mounted to a junction box or to the ceiling or wall, directly or with a bracket. The battery backup portion 14c can be mounted to the light emitter 12c through the shade 128c, as will be described in greater detail below. The light emitting diode 62c and the test button 60c can be mounted in a flange portion 130c of the shade 128c. The shade 128c includes apertures, such as apertures 158c, 160c, aligned with the doors 124c, 126c such that the doors 124c, 126c are exposed through the apertures 158c, 160c, allowing the batteries to be replaced without removing the shade 128c from the ceiling or wall. It is noted that the shade 128c can include an aperture aligned with door 82c as well.
The lighting arrangement 10 also includes a plurality of locking arms such as locking arms 132c, 134c and a plurality of circumferential notches such as circumferential notches 136c, 138c. The plurality of locking arms 132c, 134c can each be fixedly associated with the battery backup portion 14c. Each of the plurality of locking arms 132c, 134c can include an axial portion extending along the longitudinal axis 112c and a radial portion extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 112c. In
Each of the plurality of exemplary circumferential notches 136c, 138c is defined in the light emitter portion 12c. Each of the plurality of circumferential notches 136c, 138c extends about the longitudinal axis 112c and defines a gap portion and a ledge portion. In
The battery backup portion 14c and the shade 128c can be interconnected by passing the locking arms 132c, 134c through apertures in the shade 128c, such as apertures 152c, 154c. The apertures 152c, 154c can be sized to prevent movement of the plurality of locking arms 132c, 134c about the longitudinal axis 112c. 11. The plurality of locking arms 132c, 134c can engage at least some of the apertures 152c, 154c of the shade 128c through a snap-lock connection wherein the plurality of locking arms 132c, 134c elastically deform during passage through the apertures 152c, 154c of the shade 128c and recover after passage through the apertures 152c, 154c of the shade 128c. As best shown in
After the battery backup portion 14c has been engaged with the shade 128c, the light emitter portion 12c and the battery backup portion 14c can be interconnected by moving each of the plurality of radial portions through one of the plurality of gap portions along the longitudinal axis 112c and then rotating the light emitter portion 12c and the battery backup portion 14c relative to one another in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis 112c and sliding each of the plurality of radial portions under the ledge portions. The ledge portions can rest on the radial portions.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other present disclosures in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/956,416 for a LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT, filed on 2 Dec. 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/210,464 for a LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT, filed on 27 Aug. 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is also a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/986,760 for a LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT, filed on 4 Jan. 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62210464 | Aug 2015 | US | |
| 62086820 | Dec 2014 | US | |
| 62099492 | Jan 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14956416 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Child | 15248665 | US | |
| Parent | 14986760 | Jan 2016 | US |
| Child | 14956416 | US |
