Lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9989224-B2
Application number	US-201615146516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2016
Priority date	May 4, 2015
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A lighting system and related methods are disclosed herein. The lighting system may have a mounting fixture and a light fixture. The mounting fixture is configured to engage a mounting surface. The light fixture is configured to engage the mounting fixture and has a driver configured to drive a light source. A first fastener having a movable elongated member is configured to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in an extended configuration. A second fastener having a quick connect feature is configured to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in a retracted configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting system comprising:
a mounting fixture configured to engage a mounting surface;
a light fixture configured to engage the mounting fixture and comprising a driver configured to drive a light source;
a first fastener comprising a movable elongated member and configured to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in an extended configuration;
a second fastener configured to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in a retracted configuration; and
a first heatsink for dissipating heat generated by a light source coupled to the light fixture; and
a second heatsink distinct from the first heat sink and for dissipating heat generated by the driver.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the movable elongated member is a flexible elongated member coupled to the mounting fixture and the light fixture in the extended configuration and the retracted configuration;
the second fastener comprises a quick connect feature, the quick connect feature having a movable member in one of the light fixture or the mounting fixture, and a recess in the other one of the light fixture or the mounting fixture; and wherein
the movable member is movable between an engaged position to couple the light fixture and the mounting fixture, and a disengaged position.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first heatsink comprises a thermally conductive material, at least a portion of the first heatsink exposed to an interior space of the light fixture;
the second heatsink comprises a thermally conductive material, at least a portion of the second heatsink exposed to the interior space; and
at least one of the first or second heatsinks has a surface exposed to a space exterior of the light fixture.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least a portion of the first heatsink is positioned between a light source receptacle and a first side of the driver, the first portion shaped to define a thermal barrier between the light source receptacle and the driver; and
at least a portion of the second heatsink is positioned adjacent a second side of the driver, the second side opposing the first side.

5. The lighting system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first heatsink comprises a longitudinal length, a first plate portion exposed to an interior portion of the light fixture, and a first flange portion coupled to the plate portion;
the second heatsink comprises a longitudinal length, a second plate portion exposed to the interior portion of the light fixture, and a second flange portion coupled to the second plate portion; and
the first flange portion is engaged with the second flange portion.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first flange portion extends more than halfway down the longitudinal length of the first heatsink;
the second flange portion extends more than halfway down the longitudinal length of the second heatsink; and
the second flange portion slidingly engages the first flange portion.

7. The lighting system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first plate portion comprises a first thickness;
the second plate portion comprises a second thickness; and
the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

8. The lighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motion sensor and a processing device; wherein
responsive to the motion sensor, the processing device is configured to adjust a level of light emitted by a light source coupled to the light fixture between a first non-zero level of light and a second non-zero level of light.

9. The lighting system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a thermal control circuit configured to increase a lifetime of a light source coupled to the light fixture, the thermal control circuit comprising circuitry for determining a current thermal operating point of a light source coupled to the light fixture, circuitry for obtaining a thermal operating range of the light source coupled to the light fixture, and a generator for generating a control signal that adjusts power delivered to the light source based at least in part on the current thermal operating point and the thermal operating range.

10. The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the light fixture comprises a first heatsink, a second heatsink, and a light diffuser;
the second heatsink is slidingly engaged with the first heatsink;
the diffuser is slidingly engaged with the first heatsink; and
at least one of the first heatsink or the second heatsink comprises a surface exposed to a space exterior of the light fixture.

11. A method of installing a lighting system, the method comprising:
providing a mounting fixture configured to engage a mounting surface;
providing a light fixture configured to engage the mounting fixture and comprising a driver configured to drive a light source;
providing a first fastener comprising a movable elongated member;
using the first fastener to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in an extended configuration;
providing a second fastener comprising a quick connect feature;
using the second fastener to removably couple the light fixture to the mounting fixture in a retracted configuration;
providing a first heatsink for dissipating heat generated by a light source coupled to the light fixture; and
providing a second heatsink distinct from the first heat sink and for dissipating heat generated by the driver.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
positioning at least a portion of the first heatsink between a light source receptacle and a first side of the driver; and
positioning at least a portion of the second heatsink adjacent a second side of the driver, the second side opposing the first side.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
positioning at least a portion of the first heatsink comprises sliding the first heatsink or the second heatsink onto the other one of the first heatsink or the second heatsink.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sliding a light diffuser or the first heatsink onto the other one of the light diffuser or the first heatsink; wherein
sliding the light diffuser or the first heatsink comprises defining a first interior space of the light fixture;
sliding the first heatsink or the second heatsink onto the other one of the first heatsink or the second heatsink comprises defining a second interior space of the light fixture; and wherein
at least one of the first heatsink or the second heatsink is exposed to a space exterior of the light fixture and the first interior space.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transferring heat generated by the driver and a light source coupled to the light fixture to an exterior space; wherein
transferring heat comprises
(a) providing a thermally conductive path from a first heatsink adjacent the light source to the exterior space, and
(b) providing a thermally conductive path from a second heatsink adjacent the driver to the exterior space.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
providing the light fixture comprises providing the light fixture having a first heatsink, a second heatsink, and a light diffuser; and the method further comprises:
slidingly engaging the second heatsink and the light diffuser with the first heatsink; and
exposing at least a portion of at least one of the first heatsink or the second heatsink to a space exterior of the light fixture.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
affixing the mounting fixture to the mounting surface; and
electrically connecting the

Assignees

• Terralux Inc
• Ledvance Llc

Inventors

• Ray Steven Howard
• Pardikes Brett James
• White Christopher M

Classifications

• F21V29/507

  of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings · CPC title

• F21V15/015

  Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings · CPC title

• F21S8/03 Primary

  of surface-mounted type (F21S8/02, F21S8/04 take precedence; details of wall or floor bases F21V21/02) · CPC title

• F21S9/022

  Emergency lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V23/007

  enclosed in a casing · CPC title