The present invention relates generally to the field of luminaires or lighting fixtures, and more particularly to a luminaire or lighting fixture with a replaceable LED (light-emitting diode) board, and to replacement LED boards for luminaires or lighting fixtures, and methods for replacement of LED boards in luminaires or lighting fixtures.
Luminaires, also referred to as lighting fixtures, utilizing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) commonly comprise a housing or base, a power driver, a lens or optics, and an LED board. The housing is typically the longest lasting and most expensive component and is very rarely replaced. The power driver is the shortest lasting component and is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of the fixture. Thus, the power driver is often designed to be replaceable. The lens or optics of a luminaire may also be designed to be replaced, as they often become damaged or yellowed from ultraviolet exposure. The lens or optics may also be replaced to change the beam pattern of a luminaire. Thus, luminaires are often designed to have a replaceable power driver and optics that extend the life of the luminaires beyond the original life span of the power driver and optics.
The LED boards have an intermediate lifespan compared to the other components of the luminaire and are somewhat costly, but they are typically not designed to be replaceable due in large part to thermal considerations. When power is supplied to an LED board, the LED board generates heat which must be dissipated, or the life of the LED board may be shortened. Various methods exist to facilitate heat transfer, but often a thermal paste or other heat-conductive material is applied to the back of an LED board to help dissipate the heat by conduction to the housing as a heat sink from the LED board to ambient surroundings. In such cases, the thermal paste typically must be precisely applied, and the LED board and housing precisely assembled in order to ensure adequate thermally conductive contact for heat dissipation for proper functionality of the board. Because of this, the LED boards of known luminaires are generally designed to be integral or permanently affixed to the fixture and housing, such that they cannot readily be replaced. Also, third-party testing centers, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), may consider such heat dissipation issues in their testing and approval process for safety and reliability, and may not approve field-replaceable LED boards due to the risk that a contractor or installer in the field may fail to address such issues properly. Therefore, with previously known luminaires, when an LED board goes bad or gets damaged, the whole fixture typically must be discarded, and a new fixture installed in its place.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improvements to luminaires or light fixtures. It is to the provision of such improvements, including the provision of a luminaire with a replaceable LED board meeting these and other needs, that the present invention is primarily directed.
In example embodiments, the present invention provides for a luminaire with one or more removable and replaceable LED boards. In further example embodiments, the luminaire comprises a housing, a power driver, an optic or lens, and a removable and replaceable LED board. The luminaire optionally further comprises one or more alignment and/or attachment elements, such as pins and receivers, screws, projections and recesses, fasteners, or other features or components. The removable LED board further comprises LEDs, releasable attachment elements, such as keyhole slots, alignment or positioning elements, and a detachable and reconnectable electrical coupling or connector that houses power terminals connected to the LEDs. The LED board is attached to the housing by guiding the alignment and/or attachment element(s) of the housing or other components into alignment and/or engagement with the corresponding alignment or attachment element(s) of the LED board. The electrical connector of the LED board is then connected to the receiver or cooperating coupling element on the housing, which enables power to flow from the power driver to the LED board.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a replaceable light-emitting diode (LED) board for a luminaire, the replaceable LED board including a panel configured for removable engagement within a housing of the luminaire; a plurality of light emitting-diode light sources on the panel; a releasable electrical coupling for connection with a cooperative coupling of the housing, to deliver electrical power to illuminate the light emitting-diode light sources; and at least one alignment feature for maintaining consistent positioning of the panel within the housing when the LED board is removed from and replaced in the housing.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a luminaire having a replaceable light emitting diode (LED) board. The luminaire preferably includes a housing having at least one passage for allowing light to pass therethrough, a first detachable electrical coupling portion, and at least one housing alignment feature. The luminaire preferably also includes a LED board having a panel configured for removable engagement within the housing, a plurality of light emitting-diode light sources positioned on the panel, a second detachable electrical coupling portion for detachable and re-attachable connection with the first detachable electrical coupling portion of the housing to deliver electrical power to illuminate the light emitting-diode light sources, and at least one LED board alignment feature for cooperative alignment with the at least one housing alignment feature to maintain a consistent positioning of the panel within the housing. The LED board is preferably removable from the housing and replaceable into the housing by alignment of the at least one LED board alignment feature with the at least one housing alignment feature and connection of the first and second detachable electrical coupling portions.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method of replacement of a first LED board with a second LED board within a luminaire. The method preferably includes the steps of disengaging a detachable electrical coupling between the first LED board and a housing of the luminaire; removing the first LED board from a specific position within the housing of the luminaire; installing the second LED board into the housing of the luminaire by aligning at least one LED board alignment feature of the LED board with at least one corresponding housing alignment feature of the housing to align the second LED board in the same specific position within the housing; and engaging the detachable electrical coupling between the second LED board and the housing of the luminaire.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a replaceable LED board for a luminaire, the LED board comprising one or more LEDs, one or more detachable and re-attachable attachment elements configured for cooperative engagement with a second detachable and re-attachable element, and an electrical connector. The connector further comprises power terminals connected to the LEDs.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a luminaire, the luminaire comprising a housing having one or more first detachable and re-attachable attachment elements, a power driver, an optic, and a removable LED board. The removable LED board further comprises one or more LEDs, one or more second detachable and re-attachable attachment elements configured for cooperative engagement with the one or more first detachable and re-attachable attachment elements, and one or more electrical connectors housing power terminals. The removable LED board is configured to be removably connected to the housing and power driver.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a process for replacing an LED board of a luminaire, the process comprising the steps of disconnecting an electrical connector of a first LED board from a power driver, removing a first LED board from the luminaire, inserting a second LED board into the luminaire, and connecting an electrical connector of the second LED board to the power driver.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
In example embodiments, the luminaire 10 generally comprises a housing 110, a lens cover or optics 120, and a removable and replaceable LED board 130, and optionally a power driver and/or electronic controls to power and allow user control of the luminaire. In example embodiments, the housing 110 comprises a substantially rigid outer shell defining an interior space or chamber therein for containment of electronic and lighting components of the luminaire 10. In some example embodiments, the housing 110 is constructed or treated to be substantially waterproof or water-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and/or UV-resistant. In some example embodiments, the housing 110 may be a casting. In other embodiments, the housing may be 3D printed, extruded, stamped, or formed by another process. In some embodiments, the housing 110 may be made from metal, such as aluminum or steel. In other embodiments, the housing may be made from plastic. In yet further embodiments, the housing may be made from another suitable material. Preferably, the housing 110 at least partially comprises material(s) having a sufficiently high thermal conductivity to function as a heat sink to receive heat generated by the LED board and other electronics, conduct the heat away from the electronics, and dissipate the heat to ambient surroundings to prevent overheating and potential resultant heat damage to the luminaire and associated equipment.
In example embodiments, and with particular reference to
In example embodiments, the lens cover or optics 120 and the LED board 130 are removable from and replaceable within the housing 110.
As shown in
With reference to
As shown in
The lens cover or optics 120, or a replacement lens cover or optics 120′, is then installed, as shown in
The housing 110 is then closed, as shown in
In example embodiments, the LED board 430 further comprises one or more LEDs 440, one or more electrical connectors 450, and one or more attachment elements configured for attachment to the attachment elements of the housing. In the embodiment shown, the attachment elements are the keyhole or keyway slots 460. In other embodiments, the complementary attachment means may be another suitable attachment means that is otherwise complementary to the attachment elements of the housing. As best seen in
The LED board 430 is electronically connected to the power driver by inserting the electrical connector 450 comprising the power terminals into the receiver of the housing's electrical coupling. The connection puts the power driver into electronic communication with the LEDs. Once the LED board is mounted to the housing, the optic or lens may optionally be removably attached to the housing using screws, or another suitable attachment means, such that the optic overlies (or underlies) the LED board.
To remove the LED board 430 from the housing 510, the optic is removed if connected to the housing, and the screws 520 are loosened. The LED board is then disconnected from the power driver by pushing the LED board back and away from the receiver of the housing, thereby removing the connector 450 of the LED board from the receiver. Pushing the LED board 430 back also positions the LED board such that the screws 520 of the housing are generally within the wide section of the keyhole slots 460. The LED board is then moved away from the housing in a direction normal to the face of the housing. In other embodiments, where different attachment elements are used, different steps to attach and detach the LED board from the housing may be needed.
In alternate embodiments, the housing, may comprise one, two or more receivers configured to connect with a corresponding number of replaceable LED board(s). In further alternate embodiments, the board may be connected to the housing using quarter turn screws. Such an embodiment may require less relative movement between the board 213C and the housing. In some further example embodiments, when the LED board is removed, the attachment means of the housing remain captive in place. This allows the user or technician to focus on replacing the board, rather than managing or chasing other components and small parts such as screws. This may be especially advantageous when the user or technician is replacing the board while on a lift or a ladder, or in tight spaces or difficult to reach locations.
In further example embodiments, the design of the LED board allows the replacement board to be mounted without significant disruption to the thermal paste between the LED board and the housing mounting surface. In some embodiments, the thermal paste is applied to the LED board by the manufacturer. In such embodiments, a protective cover or wrap may be placed over the thermal paste until the board is ready for connection with a luminaire. In other embodiments, the thermal paste is applied to the LED board by a user or technician during installation. In such embodiments, the user may follow a pattern or instructions supplied by a manufacturer.
While the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/579,700 filed Aug. 30, 2023, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63579700 | Aug 2023 | US |