Connecting expansion modules

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection expansion module (2) for a component (1) of a lighting system, the connection expansion module comprising: a fixing device (22..25, 29) for fixing the connection expansion module on the component; at least one contact element (7..10) for contacting an electrical connection part (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1); and several connection parts (12..19) connected to the contact element (7..10) for connecting electrical pipelines to the connection expansion module (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a module for expanding the connection possibilities of components in a lighting system. Background Art

[0002] Components of lighting systems, such as operating devices, sensors, actuators, switches or dimmers for lighting devices, should generally be designed to be as compact as possible or require little space at the installation site. In addition, these components should cover a wide range of application possibilities in order to reduce the number of components with different functional scopes.

[0003] The main function of the operating device is to provide energy supply for the lighting device, such as a light emitting diode (LED or OLED) or several light emitting diodes connected in series and / or in parallel. Additional functions, such as dimming the lighting device, changing / adjusting the light color, measuring and outputting the power consumption or presetting the light intensity and lighting time under emergency lighting operation (I-SELECT), can be provided in the operating device. An operating device with these additional functions usually has more connections than a simple operating device. However, if the connection parts are doubled at the component, the number of connections of the operating device will also increase, so that it is possible to conduct the signal pipeline and / or supply pipeline to another downstream component, and thus reduce the installation work related to cables or junction boxes.

[0004] However, the large number of connections hinders the miniaturization of the component, especially in the area of ​​the connections. On the other hand, providing the component with different connections is laborious and expensive. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method which reduce the described problems. In particular, the object is to provide a connection expansion module and a system which allow a simple and cost-effective adaptation of the connection to different applications.

[0006] According to the present invention, a connection expansion module for a component of a lighting system has: fixing devices, which are used to fix the connection expansion module to the component; at least one contact element, which is used to contact the electrical connection part of the component; and several connection parts connected to the contact element, which are used to connect electrical pipelines to the connection expansion module.

[0007] Two or more connections electrically connected to the contact element make it possible to conduct a signal line or supply line laid to a component to another component, or to distribute or connect several components located at different locations, each via one line. It is also possible with the invention to change the connection type (e.g. plug contact, spring terminal) and / or size of the connection of the component contacted by the contact element, or to replace it with another connection type (screw terminal) or another size. Enlarging the connection makes it possible to connect lines with larger cross sections, which is necessary, for example, due to long line lengths (reducing the voltage drop through the line) or low supply voltages.

[0008] The connection expansion module can be permanently fixed to the component, for example by gluing or utilizing other fixing means. Alternatively, the fixing means can be designed to be used for releasably fixing the connection expansion module to the component, in particular by a snap-fit ​​connection or a latch connection.

[0009] The connection expansion module can have at least one cover made of a non-conductive material, which is designed to cover the contact elements, the connections of the connection expansion module and / or the connections of the components fastened to the connection expansion module or at least protect them from being contacted. The cover can replace a cover already present on the component, which is removable and protects the connections of the component.

[0010] The fixing device can be formed at least partially by a cover of the connecting expansion module, so that when the cover is closed, the connecting expansion module is (additionally) fixed to the component.

[0011] The connection of the component can be a screw connection (screw terminal) or a spring terminal, wherein the contact element is designed to contact the electrical connection by means of a terminal connection or a screw connection. The contact element can be a cylindrical pin, a wire or a cable.

[0012] The connection expansion module may have at least two contact elements, which are designed to contact an electrical connection of the component to supply voltage, wherein at least two of the connection parts of the connection expansion module are electrically connected to one of the at least two contact elements. The at least two connection parts of the component may be power connection parts for the component or connection parts for the lighting device.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, the connection expansion module may have at least two contact elements, which are designed to respectively contact an electrical connection of a component to input and / or output a control signal or a data signal, wherein at least two of the connections of the connection expansion module are electrically connected together to one of the at least two contact elements.

[0014] The type and size of the connections of the components that are contacted by the connection expansion module can be different, wherein the contact elements are designed accordingly in order to contact the different connections.

[0015] In some applications, a strain relief is provided at the components for the cables (connection lines), which is intended to prevent the connected lines from being pulled out and to protect the connection from mechanical stresses caused by these lines. With the connection expansion module, this function can be retrofitted in a simple manner. For this purpose, the connection expansion module has a device for strain relief of the electrical lines that can be connected to the connection expansion module.

[0016] According to the invention, a system comprises components of a lighting system and a connection expansion module of the type described.

[0017] The component may be an operating device for operating one or several lighting devices, in particular LEDs, or may be a sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show:

[0019] Figure 1 is a top view of a component of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connection expansion module separated from the component, and

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The system shown in FIG. 1 is a side view in the engaged state.

[0021] Functionally identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] According to the invention, the number and / or type of connections of a component of a lighting system can be adapted by means of a dedicated module to applications for which these connections of the component are generally not suitable.

[0023] Figure 1 A component 1 of a lighting system and a connection expansion module 2 for the component 1 are shown in a top view, the component having four connections L, N, S1, S2 and can be an operating device for a lighting device, a presence sensor or a twilight sensor. The four connections L, N, S1, S2 are each designed as a screw terminal, wherein the connections L, N are input connections and are used to connect a power supply line for supplying voltage to the component 1, and the connections S1, S2 are output connections and are used to connect a signal line or a connection line to the lighting device. Alternatively, connections S1, S2 for connecting a two-wire DALI line can be provided, by means of which control signals and / or status signals are transmitted between the components of the lighting system.

[0024] The connection expansion module 2 is used to replicate four connection parts L, N, S1, S2, so that the power transmission line can be conducted to another component of the lighting system through the connection expansion module 2, and two signal pipelines or two connection pipelines can be connected.

[0025] The components of the unit 1 are located in a housing, wherein the four connections L, N, S1, S2 are protected from contact by a removable cover. Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the cover is removed so that the threaded holes 3 to 6 and the four connections L, N, S1 , S2 provided for mounting the cover can be seen.

[0026] The connection expansion module 2 has: four contact elements 7 to 10; a retaining element 11, on which the four contact elements 7 to 10 are mounted; eight connection parts 12 to 19 designed as screw terminals, which are used to connect two power transmission lines and two signal lines or two connection lines; a strain relief device 20 for the mentioned lines; a printed circuit board 21; fixing devices 22 to 25 for fixing the connection expansion module 2 to the component; and a detachable cover, which closes the upper part of the housing of the connection expansion module 2. Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG. 2 , the cover of the connection expansion module 2 is likewise removed, so that the threaded holes 26 to 29 provided for mounting the cover are visible.

[0027] There are eight connections 12 to 19 and conductive tracks on the printed circuit board 21, which establish an electrical connection from the contact element 7 to the connections 12 and 14, an electrical connection from the contact element 8 to the connections 13 and 15, an electrical connection from the contact element 9 to the connections 16 and 18, and an electrical connection from the contact element 10 to the connections 17 and 19.

[0028] The fixing devices 22 to 25 have two guide rails 22, 25 and two screws 23, 24 mounted on the guide rails 22, 25. The guide rails 22, 25 are arranged on the side of the connection expansion module 2 so that when the component 1 is joined to the connection expansion module 2, the four contact elements 7 to 10 are positioned relative to the four connection parts L, N, S1, S2 so that the four contact elements 7 to 10 can be introduced into the screw terminals of the four connection parts L, N, S1, S2 and tightened. The connection expansion module 2 is releasably fixed to the component 1 by means of the screws 23, 24. For this purpose, corresponding threaded holes can be provided on the component 1, and the screws 23, 24 are screwed into these corresponding threaded holes.

[0029] No strain relief device is provided at component 1 for pipelines that can be connected to the four connections L, N, S1, S2. The connection expansion module 2 supplements this function, so that component 1 can also be inserted or installed at a position where a strain relief device is provided. The tensile force acting on the pipeline connected to the connection expansion module 2 is absorbed by the strain relief device 20 designed as a clamp and transferred to the housing of component 1 via the fixing devices 22 to 25, so that within a certain tensile force range, the pipeline can be prevented from being pulled out of the connections 12 to 19, or the contact elements 7 to 10 can be prevented from being pulled out of the connections L, N, S1, S2.

[0030] Figure 2 A side view of the component 1 and the connection expansion module 2 in the joined state is shown, with a screwed-on cover 26 of the connection expansion module 2. In the example shown, the cover 26 is designed so that it extends over the four connections L, N, S1, S2, is fixed by means of screws (not shown) screwed into the threaded holes 3 to 6 and 26 to 29, and thus replaces the cover of the component 1. In addition to the contact protection function for the printed circuit board 21 and the connections L, N, S1, S2 and 12 to 19, the cover 26 can also be used as an additional or alternative fixing device, so that the fixing devices 22 to 25 do not have to be designed to be very stable or can be omitted.

[0031] The housing and / or cover 26 of the connection expansion module 2 can be made of a metal or plastic injection molded part. In the described embodiment, all the connections L, N, S1, S2 of the component 1 are replicated by the connection expansion module 2. However, it is also possible not to replicate all the connections L, N, S1, S2 of the component 1, and, for example, to provide only one connection for each of the connections S1, S2 at the connection expansion module 2, so as to reduce the space requirement for the connections 12 to 19 in the connection expansion module 2.

[0032] In particular, in components 1 (such as operating devices for light-emitting diodes, which have numerous functions and connections), lines are not connected to all connections L, N, S1, S2 of component 1 in some applications, so that contact elements 7 to 10 and connections 12 to 19 are not necessary for connecting unoccupied connections L, N, S1, S2 in the expansion module 2, which reduces the space requirement for connections 12 to 19. At least some of the connections L, N, S1, S2 and / or connections 12 to 19 can also alternatively be designed as spring terminals.

[0033] In the described embodiment, the connections L, N, S1, S2 and the connections 12 to 19 are each arranged in a row. However, it is also possible to arrange at least some of the connections 12 to 19 at different levels / heights, so that some of the pipelines connected to the connections 12 to 19 extend one above the other, which makes a compact design possible. The cover 29 and / or the connection expansion module 2 can be fixed to the component 1 by means of the fixing devices 22 to 25 using other connection types, in particular using a form-fit connection.

Claims

1. A connection expansion module (2) for a component (1) of a lighting system, the connection expansion module comprising: A fixing device (22..25, 29) for fixing the connection expansion module to the component; a plurality of contact elements (7..10) for contacting the electrical connections (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1); and several connecting parts (12..19) connected to the contact elements (7..10), the connecting parts being used to connect electrical lines to the connection expansion module (2), in, The connection expansion module (2) has at least two contact elements (7..10) which are designed to contact each electrical connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) for supplying voltage. The connection expansion module (2) further comprises at least two contact elements, which are designed to contact an electrical connection portion (L, N, S1, S2) of the component respectively to input and / or output a control signal, and Therein, at least two of the connections (12..19) of the connection expansion module (2) are in each case electrically connected to one of the contact elements (7..10).

2. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein The fastening device (22 . . 25 , 29) is designed to releasably fasten the connection expansion module (2) to the component (1).

3. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection expansion module comprises: At least one cover (29) made of non-conductive material, the cover being designed to cover the contact elements (7..10), the connection parts (12..19) of the connection expansion module (2) and / or the connection parts (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) fixed to the connection expansion module (2).

4. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 3, wherein The fixing device (22..25, 29) is at least partially formed by the cover (29).

5. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein The contact elements (7..10) are designed to contact the electrical connections (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) by means of terminal connections or screw connections.

6. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 5, wherein The contact elements (7..10) are cylindrical pins, wires or cables.

7. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, comprising: Device (20) for relieving stress on the electrical lines connectable to the connection expansion module (2).

8. A system having a connection expansion module (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and the component (1) of the lighting system.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein The component (1) is an operating device, which is used to operate one or several lighting devices, or the component (1) is a sensor.

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