US5640069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular lighting system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-02-07
•
Granted: 1997-06-17
•
Expires: 2016-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A fluorescent lighting system has: (A) a central power supply connected with regular power line voltage and including a number of power supply modules (e.g., eight), each such module having: (i) a parallel-resonant self-oscillating bridge inverter operative to provide a 35 kHz sinusoidal output voltage at a pair of primary output terminals; (ii) a tank-inductor and a tank-capacitor parallel-connected across the primary output terminals; and (iii) several (e.g., four) pairs of secondary output terminals, each connected with the primary output terminals via its own dedicated current-limiting sub-circuit; thereby to prevent a load connected with a pair of secondary output terminals from drawing more than a certain amount of power; thereby, in turn, to render each pair of secondary output terminals fire-hazard-safe; (B) a plurality of lighting fixtures (e.g., 32), each having a fluorescent lamp and a power input receptacle; each lighting fixture also including a power-factor-corrected 35 Khz ballast connected between its power input receptacle and its fluorescent lamp; and (C) a light-weight power cord plug-in-connected between the power input receptacle of each lighting fixture and one of the pairs of power output terminals. Thus, a single central multi-port power supply will serve to power a large number (e.g., 32) lighting fixtures, with each individual lighting fixture connected directly with one of the many (e.g., 32) individual pairs of secondary power output terminals of the central power supply.
Inventors
- 👤 Ole K. Nilssen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2825; H05B41/2827; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/53; H02M7/537; H02M7/5383; H02M7/53832; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/26; H03K3/30; H05B41/24; H05B41/245; H05B41/295; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3925; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An arrangement comprising: plural frequency-converting power supplies mounted at a first location; each such power supply (i) being powered from ordinary power line voltage provided from an electric utility power line, and (ii) having plural power output ports at each of which is supplied a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of said power line voltage; each power supply having a sub-circuit connected therewithin and operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level so low that any passive load connected therewith would not constitute a fire-initiation hazard; and plural lighting units; each lighting unit located some distance away from the first location and including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a gas discharge lamp; (iii) a sub-assembly connected in circuit between the gas discharge lamp and the power input port; and (iv) a power supply cord connected between the power input port and one of the plural power output ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An arrangement comprising: plural frequency-converting power supplies mounted at a first location; each such power supply (i) being powered from ordinary power line voltage provided from an electric utility power line, and (ii) having plural power output ports at each of which is supplied a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of said power line voltage; each power supply having a sub-circuit connected therewithin and operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level so low that any passive load connected therewith would not constitute a fire-initiation hazard; and plural lighting units; each lighting unit located some distance away from the first location and including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a gas discharge lamp; (iii) a sub-assembly connected in circuit between the gas discharge lamp and the power input port; and (iv) a power supply cord connected between the power input port and one of the plural power output ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said sub-circuit is additionally characterized by being operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level not higher than 100 Watt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the plural frequency-converting power supplies are each connected with and powered from said ordinary power line voltage by way of a common junction box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each power supply cord has a pair of conductors and is further characterized by having substantially the same capacitance as measured between its pair of conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the power supply cords may be of different lengths yet exhibit between its conductors substantially the same amount of capacitance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein: (i) said ordinary power line voltage is provided at a pair of power line conductors disposed within a junction box; and (ii) said first location is defined as being contained within a distance of six feet from the junction box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein at least several of the power supply cords are bundled together to form a single cable entity consisting of plural separate pairs of conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the plural frequency-converting power supplies are characterized in that the frequency of the AC voltage supplied at a power output port of one of those power supplies is non-synchronous with respect to the frequency of the AC voltage supplied at a power output port of another one of those power supplies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the plural frequency-converting power supplies is further characterized by including a self-oscillating inverter circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
171 words
An arrangement comprising: plural power supplies; each power supply (i) being powered from an ordinary power line voltage supplied at a pair of power line conductors disposed within a given junction box, (ii) being located not more than six feet from said junction box, and (iii) having plural power output ports at each of which is supplied an AC voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply also having a sub-circuit connected therewithin and operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level sufficiently low so as not to represent a fire-initiation hazard; and plural lighting units; each lighting unit located more than six feet away from the junction box and including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a gas discharge lamp; (iii) an assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the gas discharge lamp; and (iv) a power supply cord connected between the power input port and one of the power output ports.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
An arrangement comprising: plural power supplies; each power supply (i) being powered from an ordinary power line voltage supplied at a pair of power line conductors disposed within a given junction box, (ii) being located not more than six feet from said junction box, and (iii) having plural power output ports at each of which is supplied an AC voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply also having a sub-circuit connected therewithin and operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level sufficiently low so as not to represent a fire-initiation hazard; and plural lighting units; each lighting unit located more than six feet away from the junction box and including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a gas discharge lamp; (iii) an assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the gas discharge lamp; and (iv) a power supply cord connected between the power input port and one of the power output ports.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The arrangement of claim 10 wherein each power supply is further characterized in that its sub-circuit is operative to limit the amount of power extractable from each power output port to a level not higher than 100 Watt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
224 words
An arrangement comprising: a power line source providing a power line voltage at a pair of power line terminals; the power line source being further characterized in that it is functional to provide a current of substantially non-limited magnitude from the power line terminals, thereby causing the amount of power extractable from the power line terminals to be substantially non-limited and therefore to constitute a potential fire-initiation-hazard; a power conditioner having input terminals connected with the power line terminals; the power conditioner having plural output ports at each of which is provided a substantially sinusoidal AC output voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; the power conditioner being further characterized in that each output port is (i) connected with a current-limiting sub-circuit, (ii) functional to supply an output current of frequency equal to that of the AC output voltage, (iii) manifestly prevented from supplying such output current at a magnitude higher than a certain level, thereby not to constitute a fire-initiation-hazard; and a load assembly characterized by including (i) an input port connected with one of the output ports, (ii) a matching circuit, and (iii) a gas discharge lamp connected with the input port by way of the matching circuit; the load assembly being further characterized by drawing a substantially sinusoidal current from said one of the output ports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
224 words
An arrangement comprising: a power line source providing a power line voltage at a pair of power line terminals; the power line source being further characterized in that it is functional to provide a current of substantially non-limited magnitude from the power line terminals, thereby causing the amount of power extractable from the power line terminals to be substantially non-limited and therefore to constitute a potential fire-initiation-hazard; a power conditioner having input terminals connected with the power line terminals; the power conditioner having plural output ports at each of which is provided a substantially sinusoidal AC output voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; the power conditioner being further characterized in that each output port is (i) connected with a current-limiting sub-circuit, (ii) functional to supply an output current of frequency equal to that of the AC output voltage, (iii) manifestly prevented from supplying such output current at a magnitude higher than a certain level, thereby not to constitute a fire-initiation-hazard; and a load assembly characterized by including (i) an input port connected with one of the output ports, (ii) a matching circuit, and (iii) a gas discharge lamp connected with the input port by way of the matching circuit; the load assembly being further characterized by drawing a substantially sinusoidal current from said one of the output ports.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The arrangement of claim 12 additionally comprising a power supply cord disconnectably connected between said one output port and said input port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The arrangement of claim 12 additionally comprising: additional load assemblies, each characterized by including (i) an input port connected with one of the output ports, (ii) a matching circuit, and (iii) a gas discharge lamp connected with the input port by way of the matching circuit; and plural power supply cords; each individual power supply cord being connected between one of the output ports and one of the input ports.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The arrangement of claim 14 additionally comprising a permanent ceiling as well as a suspended ceiling disposed some distance below the permanent ceiling; the power line terminals being disposed in or near the permanent ceiling, some distance above the suspended ceiluing; each load assembly being disposed at different spaced-apart locations in the suspended ceiling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the power conditioner includes plural power modules; each power module having several output ports at each of which is provided a substantially sinusoidal AC output voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
176 words
An arrangement comprising: a suspended ceiling disposed some distance below a permanent ceiling; a power line source providing a power line voltage at a pair of power line terminals disposed at or near the permanent ceiling; a power conditioner having input terminals connected with the power line terminals; the power conditioner being an integral entity disposed at a central location above the suspended ceiling; the power conditioner having plural output ports at each of which is provided a substantially sinusoidal AC output voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; and a load assembly for each of the plural output ports; each load assembly characterized by: (i) being disposed at a different location in the suspended ceiling; (ii) having an input port connected with one of the output ports; (ii) including a matching circuit and a gas discharge lamp connected with the input port via this matching circuit; and (iv) drawing a load current from its associated output port, which load current being drawn with a power factor of at least 75%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
176 words
An arrangement comprising: a suspended ceiling disposed some distance below a permanent ceiling; a power line source providing a power line voltage at a pair of power line terminals disposed at or near the permanent ceiling; a power conditioner having input terminals connected with the power line terminals; the power conditioner being an integral entity disposed at a central location above the suspended ceiling; the power conditioner having plural output ports at each of which is provided a substantially sinusoidal AC output voltage of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; and a load assembly for each of the plural output ports; each load assembly characterized by: (i) being disposed at a different location in the suspended ceiling; (ii) having an input port connected with one of the output ports; (ii) including a matching circuit and a gas discharge lamp connected with the input port via this matching circuit; and (iv) drawing a load current from its associated output port, which load current being drawn with a power factor of at least 75%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The arrangement of claim 17 wherein the central power conditioner is further characterized in that the frequency of the AC voltage provided at a first one of the plural output ports is distictly different from tne frequency of the AC voltage provided at a second one of the plural output ports.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The arrangement of claim 17 additionally characterized in that the frequency of the AC voltage provided at a given one of the output ports is affected by the particular nature of the load assembly connected with therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The arrangement of claim 17 additionally characterized in that the frequency of the AC voltage provided at a given one of the output ports is reduced when connecting a capacitive load in parallel with the load assembly connected therewith.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
An arrangement comprising: a source operative to provide an AC voltage at each of plural output ports; plural lighting loads, each having: (i) an input port; (ii) a gas disharge lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected between the input port and the gas discharge lamp; and a cable harness having plural pairs of conductors; one pair of these conductors being connected with each one of the plural output ports as well as with the input port of one of the plural lighting loads; the cable harness being further characterized in that the plural pairs of conductors are bundled together.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
An arrangement comprising: a source operative to provide an AC voltage at each of plural output ports; plural lighting loads, each having: (i) an input port; (ii) a gas disharge lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected between the input port and the gas discharge lamp; and a cable harness having plural pairs of conductors; one pair of these conductors being connected with each one of the plural output ports as well as with the input port of one of the plural lighting loads; the cable harness being further characterized in that the plural pairs of conductors are bundled together.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the AC voltage is characterized by being of frequency higher than 10 kHz.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the source is further characterized by including a current-limiting sub-assembly connected in circuit with each output port, thereby to limit the power extractable from each one output port to a level not exceeding 100 Watt.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement of claim 23 wherein the matching sub-assembly of each lighting load includes a reactive impedance functional to limit the current supplied to the gas discharge lamp such that the amount of power supplied to the lamp is distinctly lower than 100 Watt.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the cable harness is further characterized by extending from the location of the source to the location of each of the plural lighting loads.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The arrangement of claim 21 additionally comprising: a permanent ceiling; the source being mounted on this permanent ceiling; and a suspended ceiling disposed some distance below the permanent ceiling; the plural lighting loads being mounted at spaced-apart locations in the suspended ceiling.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the matching sub-assembly of each lighting load is further characterized by including a step-up voltage transformer, thereby to deliver to the lamp a voltage of magnitude higher than that of the AC voltage.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
131 words
An arrangement comprising: a permanent ceiling; a false ceiling suspended from the permanent ceiling some distance therebelow; the false ceiling including a frame structure with rectangular apertures; and a lighting panel placed into each of a number of the apertures; each lighting panel being characterized by: (a) including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp; and (b) being functional to draw high-frequency current from a high-frequency AC voltage supplied to its power input port; the high-frequency current being drawn in such manner as to result in power being absorbed by the lighting panel at a power factor of at least 75%; the frequency of the high-frequency voltage being higher than 10 kHz.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
131 words
An arrangement comprising: a permanent ceiling; a false ceiling suspended from the permanent ceiling some distance therebelow; the false ceiling including a frame structure with rectangular apertures; and a lighting panel placed into each of a number of the apertures; each lighting panel being characterized by: (a) including: (i) a power input port; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp; and (b) being functional to draw high-frequency current from a high-frequency AC voltage supplied to its power input port; the high-frequency current being drawn in such manner as to result in power being absorbed by the lighting panel at a power factor of at least 75%; the frequency of the high-frequency voltage being higher than 10 kHz.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement of claim 28 additionally comprising a central power supply mounted in or on the permanent ceiling; the central power supply being further characterized by having plural power output ports; each power output port being connected with one of the power input ports.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
The arrangement of claim 29 wherein the central power supply is further characterized by: (i) being connected with the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line, which is capable of supplying more than 1000 Watt of power; and (ii) including a current-limiting sub-circuit connected with each power output port, thereby to manifestly prevent more than 100 Watt of power from being drawn therefrom.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
64 words
The arrangement of claim 29 wherein the central power supply is further characterized by: (i) being connected with the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line, which is capable of supplying more than 1000 Watt of power; and (ii) including plural power modules, each connected with the power line voltage and characterized by having several of the plural power output ports.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The arrangement of claim 28 wherein: (a) the rectangular apertures are of substantially equal size and shape; and (b) each given lighting panel is located at least one aperture away from its nearest other lighting panel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
207 words
An arrangement comprising: a permanent ceiling; a central power supply characterized by including several power supply modules; each power supply module being connected with the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line and functional to provide a high-frequency AC voltage at each of plural power output ports; each high-frequency AC voltage so supplied being of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply module being otherwise characterized by: (i) being capable of operating independently of the other power supply modules; (ii) including a self-oscillating frequency-converting sub-assembly; and (iii) causing the frequency of the AC voltage provided at its output ports to be non-identical to that of the AC voltage provided at the output port of another one of the plural power supply modules; a false ceiling suspended from the permanent ceiling some distance therebelow; the false ceiling including a frame structure with rectangular apertures; and a lighting panel placed into each of a number of the rectangular apertures; each lighting panel being characterized by including: (i) a power input port connected with one of the power output ports; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
207 words
An arrangement comprising: a permanent ceiling; a central power supply characterized by including several power supply modules; each power supply module being connected with the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line and functional to provide a high-frequency AC voltage at each of plural power output ports; each high-frequency AC voltage so supplied being of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply module being otherwise characterized by: (i) being capable of operating independently of the other power supply modules; (ii) including a self-oscillating frequency-converting sub-assembly; and (iii) causing the frequency of the AC voltage provided at its output ports to be non-identical to that of the AC voltage provided at the output port of another one of the plural power supply modules; a false ceiling suspended from the permanent ceiling some distance therebelow; the false ceiling including a frame structure with rectangular apertures; and a lighting panel placed into each of a number of the rectangular apertures; each lighting panel being characterized by including: (i) a power input port connected with one of the power output ports; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching sub-assembly connected in circuit between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
169 words
An arrangement comprising: a central power supply characterized by including several power supply modules within an integral structure; each power supply module being powered from the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line and functional to provide a high-frequency AC voltage at each of plural power output ports; each high-frequency AC voltage so supplied being of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply module being otherwise characterized by: (i) being capable of operating independently of each other power supply module; (ii) including a self-oscillating frequency-converting sub-assembly; and (iii) causing the frequency of the AC voltage provided at its output ports to be non-identical to that of the AC voltage provided at the output ports of another one of the plural power supply modules; and plural lighting fixtures, each including: (i) a power input port connected with one of the power output ports; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching-circuit connected between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
169 words
An arrangement comprising: a central power supply characterized by including several power supply modules within an integral structure; each power supply module being powered from the power line voltage of an ordinary electric utility power line and functional to provide a high-frequency AC voltage at each of plural power output ports; each high-frequency AC voltage so supplied being of frequency distinctly higher than that of the power line voltage; each power supply module being otherwise characterized by: (i) being capable of operating independently of each other power supply module; (ii) including a self-oscillating frequency-converting sub-assembly; and (iii) causing the frequency of the AC voltage provided at its output ports to be non-identical to that of the AC voltage provided at the output ports of another one of the plural power supply modules; and plural lighting fixtures, each including: (i) a power input port connected with one of the power output ports; (ii) a fluorescent lamp; and (iii) a matching-circuit connected between the power input port and the fluorescent lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5291299A
Cited
US5194858A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-16 | 2000-12-16 | 2001-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-16 | 2004-12-16 | 2005-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-16 | 2008-12-16 | 2009-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |