Inline driver module for SSL lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10240727-B2
Application number	US-201715496845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2017
Priority date	Apr 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

An inline driver module includes an input connector, the input connector comprising a live contact and a neutral contact, the live contact configured to connect to a live line of an AC power socket, the neutral contact configured to connect to a neutral line of the AC power socket; an output connector, the output connector comprising a positive contact and a negative contact; and a driver module, the driver module disposed between the input connector and the output connector, the driver module comprising a driver housing and a driver PCB, a driver housing cavity defined within the driver housing, the driver PCB disposed within the driver housing cavity, the driver PCB connected in electrical communication with the live contact, the neutral contact, the positive contact, and the negative contact, the driver PCB configured to convert an AC power input from the AC power socket to a DC power output.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An inline driver module comprising:
an input connector, the input connector comprising a live contact and a neutral contact, the live contact configured to connect to a live line of an AC power socket, the neutral contact configured to connect to a neutral line of the AC power socket;
an output connector, the output connector comprising a positive contact and a negative contact; and
a driver module, the driver module disposed between the input connector and the output connector, the driver module comprising a driver housing and a driver PCB, a driver housing cavity defined within the driver housing, the driver PCB disposed within the driver housing cavity, the driver PCB connected in electrical communication with the live contact, the neutral contact, the positive contact, and the negative contact, the driver PCB configured to convert an AC power input from the AC power socket to a DC power output supplied to the output connector, wherein the AC power input defines an input voltage and the DC power output defines an output voltage, wherein the driver PCB is configured to control the output voltage to be greater in value than the input voltage.

2. The inline driver module of claim 1 , wherein:
the input connector is separated from the driver housing; and
the input connector is connected to the driver housing by a first electrical conductor.

3. The inline driver module of claim 1 , wherein the input connector is an Edison screw plug, and wherein the AC power socket is an Edison screw socket.

4. The inline driver module of claim 1 , wherein:
the driver housing comprises a first shell and a second shell; and
the first shell is attached to the second shell to enclose the driver housing cavity.

5. The inline driver module of claim 1 , wherein:
the output connector is connected to a light connector of an SSL fixture; and
the driver PCB is configured to control light emission from the SSL fixture.

6. The inline driver module of claim 5 , wherein the driver PCB comprises an antenna configured to receive a wireless signal.

7. A convertible inline driver module comprising:
a driver module, the driver module comprising:
a driver housing, the driver housing define a first driver housing end and a second driver housing end, a driver housing cavity defined within the driver housing, a driver housing opening defined at the second driver housing end; and
a driver PCB disposed within the driver housing cavity; the driver PCB configured to convert an AC power input to a DC power output;

an input adaptor connected to the first driver housing end, the input adaptor comprising a live contact and a neutral contact both connected in electrical communication with the driver PCB, the live contact configured to connect to a live line of an AC power source, the neutral contact configured to connect to a neutral line of the AC power source; and
an output connector cap connected to the second driver housing end, the output connector cap covering the driver housing opening, the output connector cap comprising a positive contact and a negative contact both connected in electrical communication with the driver PCB.

8. The convertible inline driver module of claim 7 , wherein:
a first portion of the driver PCB is disposed within the driver housing cavity;
a second portion of the driver PCB extends through the first driver housing end; the input adaptor defines an input adaptor cavity; and
the input adaptor cavity receives the second portion of the driver PCB.

9. The convertible inline driver module of claim 8 , wherein:
the first driver housing end defines a PCB slot shaped and sized complimentary to the driver PCB; and
the driver PCB extends through the PCB slot.

10. The convertible inline driver module of claim 8 , wherein:
the neutral contact comprises a neutral spring arm;
the driver PCB comprises a neutral contact pad disposed on the second portion; and
the neutral spring arm engages the neutral contact pad.

11. The convertible inline driver module of claim 7 , wherein the input adaptor is an Edison screw cap.

12. The convertible inline driver module of claim 11 , wherein:
the Edison screw cap defines a threaded portion and an end portion;
the live contact extends through the end portion of the Edison screw cap; and
the neutral contact extends through the threaded portion of the Edison screw cap.

13. The convertible inline driver module of claim 7 , wherein:
the output connector cap comprises a positive wire connector configured to receive a stripped end of a positive wire;
the output connector cap comprises a negative wire connector configured to receive a stripped end of a negative wire;
the positive contact is connected in electrical communication with the positive wire connector; and
the negative contact is connected in electrical communication with the negative wire connector.

14. The convertible inline driver module of claim 7 , wherein the input adaptor is integrally formed with the driver housing.

15. A retrofit downlight conversion assembly comprising:
a SSL fixture, the SSL fixture comprising a SSL source and light connector, the SSL source a configured to emit light, the light connector connected in electrical communication with the SSL source; and
an inline driver module comprising:
an input connector configured to connect in electrical communication to an AC power socket;
an output connector, the output connector connected in electrical communication with the light connector; and
a driver module, the driver module disposed between the input connector and the output connector, the driver module comprising a driver housing and a driver PCB, the driver PCB connected in electrical communication with the input connector and the output connector, the driver PCB configured to convert an AC power input from the AC power socket to a DC power output supplied to the SSL source, wherein the AC power input defines an input voltage and the DC power output defines an output voltage, wherein the driver PCB is configured to control the output voltage to be greater in value than the input voltage.

16. The retrofit downlight conversion assembly of claim 15 , wherein: the AC power socket is an Edison screw socket; and the input connector is an Edison screw plug.

17. The retrofit downlight conversion assembly of claim 15 , wherein: the driver housing defines a driver housing cavity; and at least a portion of the driver PCB is disposed within the driver housing cavity.

18. The retrofit downlight conversion assembly of claim 15 , wherein: the input connector is separated from the driver module; and at least one electrical conductor structurally and electrically connects the driver module to the input connector.

19. The retrofit downlight conversion assembly of claim 15 , wherein the output connector is structurally and electrically connected to the light connector by an output wire.

Assignees

• Ecoled Ventures Ltd
• Epistar Corp

Inventors

• Athalye Praneet Jayant
• Phillips Frederic Perry
• Whitworth Christopher Lee
• Shah Ashok Deepak

Classifications

• F21K9/68 Primary

  Details of reflectors forming part of the light source · CPC title

• F21K9/20

  Light sources comprising attachment means · CPC title

• H02G3/16

  structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box · CPC title

• H02G3/123

  in thin walls · CPC title

• F21V23/045

  the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller · CPC title