EP1319889B1 - Luminaire with inductive energy transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a supply part (1) and a light source part (2) as separate connectable components, whereby the light source part has one or more light sources (10) supplied with electrical energy by the supply part. The supply and light source parts both have an energy converter (4,14) for energy transfer that can be coupled together to transfer energy between the parts inductively. <??>AN Independent claim is also included for the following: a light system with several inventive devices, a supply part for an inventive device a light source part for an inventive device.

Description

The invention relates to luminaires according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular luminaires, which must be mechanically and / or electrically isolated from their environment.

In such lights, the connections of the light source to moisture and / or against electrical flashover or sparks must be isolated.

In order to ensure the necessary tightness of the lamp, for example, against moisture according to a required degree of protection, it is customary, the light source together with the associated electrical components in a closed housing to accommodate, which has a corresponding sealing system. To change the light source of this sealed housing must be opened and then closed again, which can lead to an impairment of the tightness. To ensure that an electrical connection and a change of the light source is possible without the corresponding degree of protection or protection category is impaired, a high design effort is needed. The same applies to luminaires, which must be protected, for example, against the penetration of combustible gases in order to prevent an explosion. All these lights according to the prior art have in common that the light source is arranged together with the associated electrical components in a sealed, closed housing, so that can not replace the light source in case of failure or only with relatively great effort.

US 5,264,997 discloses a lamp assembly for use in vehicles. The lamp assembly includes a socket in the form of a "shell". The socket removably houses a sealed lamp housing, inside which is the light source, a gas discharge tube or a set of LEDs. Mounted on the socket is a primary converter coil and a secondary converter coil inside the lamp housing. When the lamp housing is placed in the socket, the secondary coil and the primary coil are juxtaposed. By applying a voltage to the primary coil, a voltage is induced on the second coil. The first converter coil is disposed in a cylindrical projection integrally formed with the socket and extending outwardly therefrom. In the center of the primary coil, a ferrite rod is arranged, which extends according to an embodiment in the lamp housing. Furthermore, the socket in which the primary coil is located, closed with a plastic lid, d. H. sealed.

FR 2 695 285 also discloses a luminaire operated by inductive energy transfer.

US 3,146,954 discloses an inductively powered lamp for placement in a recess in a runway or road. The lighting device comprises a housing having a transformer therein, comprising a removable unit having a secondary coil while a primary coil is disposed in the housing, and further comprising a U-shaped core portion associated with the primary coil and an elongate core portion associated with the secondary coil the secondary coil is arranged in a waterproof sealing material.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lamp that can be used with a low design effort as a luminaire of a high degree of protection. In addition, the smallest possible, compact design should be possible.

The object is achieved by a luminaire with the features according to claim 1 and by a supply part and a luminous means for use in such a luminaire with the features according to claim 14 or 15.

The invention proposes to solve this problem by generating the energy transfer to the lamp by induction, which includes both electrical and magnetic induction. In this way it is possible to have the electrical components, on the one hand, and the lighting means, on the other hand, as separate, sealed units, e.g. each as encapsulated units to provide, which greatly simplifies the lamp replacement.

The use of inductive coupling eliminates all the difficulties associated with the mechanically connected electrical contacts. In particular, the modules can be encapsulated so that lights of higher protection can be easily realized. It is also possible to realize a spatially compact design for lights with low power consumption.

In one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic energy transfer between a base unit and the lighting unit is achieved by magnetic induction. For this purpose, there are at least one coil in the two modules, which are penetrated by a common magnetic flux. By applying an alternating electric current to one of the coils, an alternating voltage is induced in the other coil, through which one or more lamps or other light sources, e.g. LEDs, can be supplied.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic flux is transmitted through a core which is enclosed by the two coils. This core has a magnetflußbündelnde property, so that the efficiency of energy transfer between the coils is substantially increased. The core can be one or more parts. In the case of a one-piece design, this core is integrated into the lamp part or the supply part and forms a projection on which the respective other part, which has a corresponding, outwardly open cavity in the region of its coil, can be placed. In this way, a simple plug connection can be realized. The sheath of the core or the lining of the cavity can be provided with, for example, positive or non-positive connection elements, for example with a screw thread, so that a tight fit of the lamp part is guaranteed to the supply part. In this case, instead of a screw connection, other types of connection, for example a bayonet connection, a clamping connection or a latching connection, can be used.

However, the core can also be designed in several parts, wherein the supply part and the lamp part is assigned in each case a part of the core, so that the two parts in the assembled state of the lamp approximately form a continuous core, which is interrupted in a preferred embodiment, only by the insulation which surrounds the two parts of the core. In this way, an approximately closed core can be realized, which improves the energy transfer. The core may have rod-like or other shape, for example, a closed yoke or torus, have. The specific electrical conductivity of the core must be small in order to avoid eddy current losses. For the transmission of small powers, it is preferable to use ferrite cores. For higher powers, iron cores may also be used, preferably in the form of sheets insulated from one another.

The invention may provide for the use of bulbs having a power consumption of less than 5 watts, preferably about 1 watt. In particular LEDs can be provided as lighting means, which have a relatively low power consumption.

In order to provide the voltage required for the operation of the lamps, there are various possibilities. One possibility is to match the ratio of the turns of the coils in the supply part and the luminous means part so that the supply voltage of the supply part is re-clamped to the corresponding operating voltage for the luminous means. It can also be provided that suitable electronics are provided in the luminaire part in order to adapt the voltage delivered by the coil of the luminous element part to the operating voltage of the luminous means. Of course, it is also possible to regulate the supply voltage of the supply part according to the required operating voltage of the lamp. Of course, the aforementioned possibilities could also be combined. Overall, it is thus possible to determine the supply voltage of the luminous means via the supply part, in the luminaire part or by the properties of the energy conversion device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the supply part is operated with an alternating voltage whose frequency is significantly, typically two to three orders of magnitude or more, above the normal mains frequency. According to one embodiment of the invention, frequencies in the range of 1 kHz to 100 kHz are used. In this way transmission losses are minimized.

The luminaire according to the invention can also be advantageously coupled to a system of several luminaires. In this case, it is technically particularly simple if the supply parts are supplied via a common power line, for example connected in parallel.

The assemblies of the lamp according to the invention can be completely isolated independently, since the lead out of exposed electrical contacts by the inventive type of energy transfer is no longer necessary. In this way it is easy to produce moisture-proof or gas-protected luminaires whose sealing system also satisfies a high degree of protection. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply part and the base part are insulated to the outside and each form an encapsulated unit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the luminous means part is used in a lamp according to the invention as a conventional lamp. This means that optical elements, such as reflectors, refractive elements and the like, are provided at least partially outside the luminous means part. For example, it can be provided that the luminous means part is surrounded by a reflector or other optical device or otherwise cooperates with this / these, which directs the light to a light exit surface of the lamp. According to another embodiment of the invention can be provided that the lamp part, except for the power supply, which takes place via the supply part, is designed as a complete light with the corresponding optical elements and the required electrical or electronic. Of course, mixed forms are possible in which a part of the electronics and / or the optical elements is provided in the luminous means part and a part of these elements is arranged outside the luminous means part. It should be noted that a lamp in the sense of this application also includes one or more electrical components, such as the power supply line, and in particular the supply part. A luminaire according to the invention can therefore consist of a supply part and a light-emitting part inserted therein, in which all the remaining components, such as reflectors, control electronics, etc., are integrated, similar to what is sometimes practiced in low-voltage halogen lamps, which are supplied as complete lighting unit, including reflector become.

The invention may provide that a luminous means part according to the invention comprises one or more optical elements which are assigned to one or more light sources. The invention can provide, in particular, that a luminaire part according to the invention has one or more reflectors and / or one or more refractive elements associated with one or more light sources. For example, in the case of a luminous means part according to the invention, a cover for the light exit surface with a prismatic structure, for example for the design of the luminous intensity distribution curve, can be provided. Further examples of such refractive elements are lenses or prisms, which are provided on the light exit surface or in the direction of the beam path in front of the light exit surface within the lamp unit.

Fig. 1

zeigt einen Querschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Leuchte im montierten Zustand,

Fig. 2

zeigt einen Querschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Leuchte, wobei das Leuchtmittelteil von dem Versorgungsteil getrennt ist, und

Fig. 3

zeigt ein erfindungsgemäßes Leuchtmittelsystem.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a cross section of a lamp according to the invention in the mounted state,

Fig. 2

shows a cross section of a lamp according to the invention, wherein the lamp part is separated from the supply part, and

Fig. 3

shows a lighting system according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a lamp according to the invention in each case in the assembled and disassembled state. The lamp consists of a supply part 1 and a luminous means part 2. In the operable state, as shown in Fig. 1, the illuminant part 2 is inserted into the supply part 1.

The supply part shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed in this embodiment as an encapsulated unit and has as essential components a coil 4 and a network connection 3 for supplying the coil. Figures 1 and 2 show a section through the coil, wherein the longitudinal axis of the coil is in the image plane. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the supply part 1 has in this embodiment a bore 5, which is open at least on one side and coincides with the bore of the coil or extends at least within this. The illuminant part 2 has a plurality of light-emitting diode modules 10, which are connected via lines 12 to the terminals of a coil 14 of the illuminant part 2. The bore of this coil 14 is penetrated by a ferrite core 16 which projects from the luminous means part 2 and is surrounded by a protective casing 18. The projection 20 thus formed has a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the bore 5 and a length which corresponds to the length of the bore 5. The protective sheath 18 surrounds all components of the lamp part 2, so that a total of an encapsulated unit is formed. In the area of the light-emitting diodes 10, a window 22 is provided in the protective sheath 18, through which the light of the diodes can emerge.

In the assembled state of the lamp comes in the bore 5 of the coil 4 of the ferrite core 16 to lie. Since this coil core 16 fixedly connected to the lighting unit 2 extends into the coil 14, it transmits the magnetic flux from the current-carrying coil 4 into the luminous element 2. There, the magnetic flux is again converted into a voltage by the magnetic flux in the coil 6, a voltage is induced, which is the light-emitting diodes 10 is supplied. In the embodiment shown, the lighting means consists of several LED modules 10. Optionally, a single light source may be provided. The ratio of the number of turns of the coils 4 and 14 are coordinated so that the voltage applied via the power line 3 to the base unit, is transformed to a value that is suitable for operation of the LED modules 10. The coils 4 and 14 act like the primary and secondary sides of a transformer. The luminous means part 2 is completely provided with a protective casing 18 which electrically insulates the illuminant unit 2 completely to the outside. Since the supply part 1 is encapsulated accordingly, form the lamp part and the base together a lamp whose components are all isolated to the outside and are protected, depending on the requirements of the protection class, against moisture and / or against the ingress of gases. In this way, it is also very easy to construct lights with one high protection category concerning protection against electric shock, for example, Category II or III luminaires in accordance with DIN EN 60598-1.

In the embodiment shown, the lighting unit and the base unit are simply connected by nesting. At this point, but also, for example, a screw or other type of connection, which is used for lamp holders, be provided so that the lamp unit can be handled similar to a conventional lamp.

Fig. 3 shows a lighting system consisting of several lights according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The coils of the base units are connected in parallel to a common supply line 30. In this way, luminaires with a higher light output can be constructed from a plurality of light bulbs which are in themselves weak in light. Another application would be, for example, the use as a chain of orientation lights. The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 has the advantage over a circuit of conventional lampholders that in the event that a lamp fails or is removed, the remaining lamps remain functional.

Numerous modifications of the luminaires described above are possible. For example, the geometry of the induction coils and their core may have a different shape. In particular, for the transmission of higher powers, it would be useful to form the coil core in at least two parts, so that they form a closed yoke or a torus in the assembled state of the lamp.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, claims, and drawings may be essential to the practice of the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

supply part

2

Lamp part

3

power line

4

Kitchen sink

5

Drilling the coil

10

LEDs module

12

management

14

Kitchen sink

16

ferrite

18

protective sheathing

20

head Start

22

Light emission window

30

supply line

Claims (18)

1. Luminaire, which comprises a supply part (1) and a luminous means part (2), which are formed as separate components which can be connected, the luminous means part (2) comprising one or more light sources (10), which are supplied with electrical power from the supply part (1), the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) each having a coil (4, 14) for power transmission purposes, and the two coils being coupled to one another in the connected state of the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) and being designed such that power transmission between the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) takes place by means of induction, characterized in that a coil core (16) is provided on the supply part (1) or on the luminous means part (2), is fixedly connected thereto and forms a projection of the corresponding part (1, 2), which projection can be inserted in an opening (5) in the other part (2, 1), which opening is at least partially surrounded by the windings of the coil (4) of the other part, in order to realize a mechanical connection.
2. Luminaire according to Claim 1, characterized in that the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) are connected to one another in a detachable manner.
3. Luminaire according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supply part (1) and/or the luminous means part (2) are each in the form of an encapsulated unit.
4. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a common magnetic flux passes through the two coils during operation of the luminaire.
5. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the connected state of the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2), the coil core (16), in particular a ferrite core, passes through the two coils (4, 14) as a common core (16).
6. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detachable connection between the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) comprises a plug-in connection.
7. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the detachable connection between the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) comprises a screw connection.
8. Luminaire according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connection between the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) comprises a latching connection and/or a clamping connection.
9. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one light source (10) has a power consumption of less than 5 watts.
10. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one light source is an LED.
11. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminous means part (2) and/or the supply part (1) have/has a protective casing (9).
12. Luminaire system, which comprises a plurality of luminaires according to one of Claims 1 to 11, the luminaires being supplied via a common supply line (30).
13. Luminaire system according to Claim 12, characterized in that the luminaires are connected in parallel.
14. Supply part for use in a luminaire according to one of Claims 1 to 11, which has a power conversion device (4) in the form of a coil and a coupling device (5) for the mechanical connection to a complementary luminous means part (2), the power conversion device (4) being designed so as to bring about power transmission by means of induction, together with a complementary power conversion device (14), in the form of a coil, of a luminous means part, characterized in that a coil core (16) is provided on the supply part (1), is fixedly connected thereto and forms a projection of the supply part (1), which projection can be inserted in an opening (5) in a luminous means part (2), which opening is at least partially surrounded by the windings of the coil (4) of the luminous means part (2), in order to realize a mechanical connection, or an opening is provided which is at least partially surrounded by the windings of the coil (4) of the supply part (1) and in which a coil core (16), which is fixedly connected to the luminous means part (2), can be inserted in order to realize a mechanical connection.
15. Luminous means part for use in a luminaire according to one of Claims 1 to 11, which has a power conversion device (14) in the form of a coil and a coupling device (20) to be coupled to a complementary supply part (1), the power conversion device (14) being designed to bring about power transmission between the supply part (1) and the luminous means part (2) by means of induction with a complementary power conversion device (4), in the form of a coil, of a supply part (1), characterized in that an opening (5) is provided in the luminous means part (2), which opening is at least partially surrounded by the windings of the coil (14) of the luminous means part (2), and in which opening a coil core (16), which is fixedly connected to the supply part (1), can be inserted in order to realize a mechanical connection, or a coil core (16) is provided, is fixedly connected to the luminous means part (2) and forms a projection of the luminous means part (2), which projection can be inserted in an opening in the supply part (1), which opening is at least partially surrounded by the windings of the coil (4) of the supply part (1), in order to realize a mechanical connection.
16. Luminous means part according to Claim 15, characterized by one or more light sources and one or more optical elements, which are associated with one or more light sources.
17. Luminous means part according to Claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a reflector which is associated with one or more light sources.
18. Luminous means part according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that it comprises a light-refractive element which is associated with one or more light sources.

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