Lighting system for emitting sound

Abstract

A lighting system for emitting sound comprises a rail for mechanically supporting lighting system components and for supplying electrical power to the lighting system components. The system comprises at least one electromechanical transducer configured to generate vibrations of the coupling element in accordance with a sound signal supplied to the transducer. The transducer is mounted on or in the rail with the coupling element in mechanical contact with the rail or a system component for stimulating the rail or system component with the vibration generated by the transducer.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns lighting systems comprising a rail for mechanically supporting lighting system components, wherein the lighting system is used in order to enable sound emission.

[0002] Lighting systems using rails that are attached to a ceiling and which carry components of the lighting system such as luminaires were communication modules are widely used. Such systems are specifically advantageous for establishing lighting systems in large areas such as for example supermarkets war production halls. The rails of the lighting system are attached to the ceiling and enable flexible positioning of luminaires or other components of the lighting system. The rails include a power distribution in form of cabling or attached wiring. This may be achieved by a busbar attached to the side walls of the rail and fixing wiring inside the rail for supplying electric power to the devices. The busbars are installed inside the rail and mechanically supported by the rail.

[0003] In many cases, it is desired to use a lighting system installed in a building for sound emission, because the rails are mounted in a distributed manner on the ceiling. Thus, sound emitters such as speaker units can be easily attached at desired positions. However, the rails are usually not directly and rigidly mounted on the ceiling but in the suspended manner. When speakers are now attached to the rail of the lighting system, a plurality of problems occur: first, due to the significant size of the speakers, which is necessary to ensure reasonable sound emission in such large areas, the lighting characteristics may be badly influenced. In particular, there may be shaded areas and the reduced brightness in the shaded areas must be compensated by adapting positioning of the luminaires or adjusting brightness values for the individual luminaires. Further, a speaker which is attached to the rail of the lighting system may exert a torque to the rail which leads to an undesired rotation of the rail usually connected to the ceiling by wires. Such rotation automatically results in a rotation of the other lighting components, which are attached to the rail. As a consequence, the lighting characteristics are badly affected again. Further, such rotational movements of rail components result in mechanical stress in case that the rails are arranged as a grid.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to enable usage of a lighting system for providing sound emission in order to output for example announcements which avoids the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] This object is achieved by the lighting system according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and aspects are defined in the dependent claims.

[0006] The lighting system according to the invention comprises a rail for mechanically supporting lighting system components and for supplying electrical power to the lighting system components. Lighting system components may be luminaires that can be mounted in the rail or attached to the rail, but other components can be attached to the rail or mounted inside the rail as well. Examples for such alternative or additional components are sensors or communication modules. The expression "lighting system component" is used throughout this disclosure as a synonym for any device that is attached to the rail or mounted in or on the rail for establishing or enhancing the lighting system functionality.

[0007] According to the invention, the system comprises an actuator with at least one electromechanical transducer configured to generate vibrations of a coupling element in accordance with the sound signal supplied to the transducer. The electromechanical transducer is supplied with an electrical signal, which carries information on the sound to be generated and which is used to drive its transducer, which, in response, generates vibrations of the coupling element. The transducer is mounted in or on the rail and the coupling elements is held in mechanical contact with the rail or one of the lighting system components. Mechanical contact in this disclosure includes a rigid connection. Thus, the vibration generated by the transducer stimulates the component in mechanical contact with the coupling element, which means the rail or the respective lighting system component. The resulting movement of the stimulated component results in emission of the sound in line with the sound signal.

[0008] With the present invention, it is possible to generate sound at a location of the lighting system wherever it is desired. The transducers can be mounted in or on the rail at arbitrary positions and since the rails are mounted in a distributed manner of an area in a building like a supermarket, it is possible to generate sound emission at any place covered by the lighting system.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the transducer is attached to a lighting system component and, when the system component is attached to the rail, the coupling element is in mechanical contact with an inner surface of the rail, preferably on a backside of the rail which is the side opposite to the open area of the rail. This embodiment enables that the transducer is pre-installed on the lighting system component and, together with the lighting system component, is mounted on or in the rail. Mounting the transducer on or in the rail therefore does not need a separate installation step. Since the transducer in this case is inserted in the rail by mounting the lighting system component inside the rail, it is also avoided that the transducer may generate a shadow in case that the lighting system component is luminaire.

[0010] Advantageously, the transducer is attached to the lighting system component using an elastic element biasing the transducer towards the inner surface of the rail preferably on the backside of the rail. In order to avoid rattling noise it is preferred to hold the coupling element of the transducer in firm contact with the surface of the rail in order to transfer the vibration to the component to be stimulated for outputting the desired sound. This may be difficult because of inevitable tolerances of the components involved for holding the transducer and, thus, the coupling component in position relative to the rail. Such tolerances can be compensated by providing, by the elastic element, a biasing force on the transducer towards the rail.

[0011] Each lighting system component comprises a locking mechanism to fix the lighting system component in the rail. According to an advantageous embodiment, the transducer is attached to the locking mechanism. When the lock mechanism is inserted and locked in the rail, the transducer is held in position with its coupling element in contact with the rail. Since the lock mechanism has a well-defined position inside the rail, the coupling element will automatically be in the correct position in order to enable transfer of its vibration to the rail in order to produce the desired sound emission.

[0012] According to another advantageous embodiment, the coupling element is in mechanical contact with a system component. Specifically for generating sound emission at higher frequencies, the total weight of the transducer will be sufficient to ensure that higher frequency sound is output. Inertia of the transducer will ensure that the generated vibration of the coupling element stimulates the component in mechanical contact with the coupling element. According to this embodiment, it is even necessary to hold the transducer in a position which allows the coupling element to contact a part of the rail. Rather, the preassembled lighting system component including the transducer with its coupling element in apartment with a surface of the lighting system component can be simply mounted inside the rail so that the transducer is hidden inside the rail not visible from the outside but a precise positioning of the transducer inside the rail is not necessary.

[0013] Advantageously, the transducer is electrically connected to the busbar of the rail of the lighting system. In particular, when the transducer is attached to that lighting system component using the locking mechanism in order to establish an electrical connection of the lighting system component with the wiring in the busbar of the rail, the electrical supply of the transducer can also be preassembled and established before the lighting system component carrying the transducer is mounted to the rail.

[0014] For supplying the transducer with the sound signal causing the vibration in line with the sound to be emitted, there are a plurality of advantageous solutions. One possibility is a wireless communication module which is used in order to wirelessly transmit the sound signal to the transducer. Such wireless communication module may be included in the transducer itself or may be part of the lighting system component supporting the transducer. Alternatively, it is possible to use the wiring in the busbar of the rail, which does then not only supply electrical power to the lighting system component and the transducer but also the sound signal. In that case, the supply voltage may be modulated with the sound signal.

[0015] In case that the sound signal shall be provided to the transducer by using the electric power supply of the lighting system, it is preferred that the system comprises a sound signal coupler which is formed as one of the lighting system components and can be attached to the rail. Using such sound signal coupler is possible to overlay the sound signal for the sound to be emitted to the electrical power supply provided by the wiring in the busbars inside the rail.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the lighting system comprises a plurality of transducers with their respective coupling elements held in mechanical contact with different parts of the lighting system. Thus, a plurality of distinct sound channels can be established, for example for different frequency ranges. The frequency ranges can be chosen based on the mechanical properties of the stimulated parts. For example, the largest surface of the ground of the rail can be used in order to generate lower frequency while a cover of a lighting system component to be mounted on the rail could be used for higher frequencies. The transducers on the other hand can also be adapted to the frequency range output in response to the vibration of the respective transducer.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the transducers are individually addressable and supplied with dedicated sound signals. Such an individual provision of the respective sound signals for the transducers allows to generate the relative phase between the sound signals processed by the respective transducers. This relative phase between the sound signals may depend on the distance of the transducers when mounted in the lighting system. Thus, it is possible to emit sound having a preferred direction or to avoid echoes in a large area with a plurality of transducers arranged in a distributed manner over the area.

[0018] Preferably, the lighting system component is a lighting device like a luminaire, a rail cover or a sensor device.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with respect to the attached drawings in which Figure 1 shows an overall structure of a first embodiment of the inventive lighting system, Figure 2A to C illustrates details of the system as shown in figure 1, Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the lighting system, Figure 4A, B, shows details of the second embodiment shown in figure 3, Figure 5 shows a lighting system with a plurality of transducers for establishing multiway sound generation, and Figure 6A, B shows it detail for mounting a transducer in the rail.

[0020] The main components of the inventive lighting system with integrated sound emission are shown in figure 1. In the lighting system, rail 1 is used in order to attach lighting system components 2 and provide the lighting system components 2 with electrical power. An exemplary lighting system component 2 is shown comprising a base plate 3, which is provided with a locking mechanism 4. It is to be noted that such locking mechanisms 4 are commonly known and details thereof will not be explained herein.

[0021] The lighting system component 2 may be any lighting system component, which can be mounted on or in the rail 1. One example for such lighting system components 2 is a luminaire. Since the additional elements which are necessary in order to establish the respective function of the lighting system component 2 are not relevant for explanations of the present invention, illustration thereof is omitted for conciseness.

[0022] The lighting system component 2 will be inserted inside the rail 1, at least partially, as indicated by the dashed arrow. When the lighting system component 2 is inserted in the rail 1, the locking mechanism 4 is used in order to secure the lighting system component 2 inside the rail 1. At the same time, the locking mechanism 4 establishes an electrical connection between the lighting system component 2 and wiring which is arranged inside the rail 1 and which will be described below.

[0023] The baseplate 3 supports an actuator 5 which comprises a transducer 6 and the coupling element 7. The actuator 5 is connected to a signal source and is provided with electrical power. The signal source may be the same source as the source for electrical power. Based on the signal, which is provided by the signal source, the transducer 6 generates a vibration of the coupling element 7. The transducer 6 and the coupling element 7 according to the embodiment shown in figure 1, are attached to the base plate 3 by means of an elastic element 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic element 8 is shown as a simplified version and any structure that allows the relative movement between the base plate 3 and the transducer 6 may be used. The elastic element 8 generates the biasing force trying to increase the distance between the transducer 6 and the base plate 3.

[0024] When the lighting system component 2 is mounted in the rail 1, this biasing force will cause the coupling element 7 to be in the mechanical contact with the closed side of the rail 1, which is the inner surface of a wall opposing the open end of the rail 1. The situation is shown in figure 2C.

[0025] Figure 1 shows the rail 1 in a side view with the lighting system component 2 before the lighting system component 2 is inserted into the rail 1.

[0026] Coming now to figure 2, cross-sectional views A to C through the locking mechanism 4 and the actuator 5 and elastic element 8 in a situation before the lighting system component 2 is mounted and in a situation after the lighting system component 2 is mounted are shown.

[0027] Figure 2B shows a situation when the lighting system component 2 is inserted into the railed 1 before the coupling element 7 comes into contact with the closed end of the rail 1. Figure 2 also shows the busbar 9 which is attached to the sidewalls of the rail 1 for positioning and mechanically supporting the wiring of the rail 1. When the locking mechanism 4 is locked inside the rail 1, respective contact elements of the locking mechanism 4 are brought in contact with the wiring in the busbar 9 for establishing an electrical connection of the lighting system component 2 with the power supply inside the rail 1.

[0028] In the situation shown in figure 2B, the elastic element 8 is still uncompressed until the coupling element 7 comes into contact with the rail 1. The situation is shown in figure 2C. It can be seen in figure 2C that the elastic element 8 is compressed thereby exerting a force biasing the transducer 6 and the coupling element 7 towards the rear 1. It is to be noted that the position of the base plate 3 is fixed by locking the locking mechanism 4 in the rail 1.

[0029] After attaching the lighting system component 2 to the rail 1, the system is ready for use. The transducer 6 may be supplied with electrical energy including a sound signal. In response to receiving the sound signal, the transducer 6 will generate a vibrating movement of the coupling element 7. Since the coupling element 7 is in mechanical contact with the rail 1, it will cause the respective portion of the rail 1 to vibrate in line with the vibration generated by the transducer 6. As a consequence, the vibrating part of the rail 1 (stimulated area of the reel 1) will result in sound emission in this area stimulated by the coupling element 7.

[0030] Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the transducer 6 and the coupling element 7 are mounted on the lighting system component 2 such that the coupling element 7 is in mechanical contact with the baseplate 3. It is to be noted that mounting the actuator 5 on the base plate 3 is possible by only firmly attaching the coupling element 7 to the base plate 3. The solution is specifically advantageous for generating sound in a higher frequency range. The inertia of the transducer 6 itself is sufficient such that generating high frequency vibration of the coupling element 7 stimulates the base plate 3. The relatively high weight of the transducer 6 is sufficient to establish the necessary counterforce. In such a case it is specifically advantageous when the baseplate 3 is lightweight. Thus, the specific solution in which the coupling element 7 is in mechanical contact and firmly attached to the baseplate 3 is preferred in case that the baseplate 3 is for example a cover plate used for closing the open side of the rail 1.

[0031] Figure 4 again shows two cross-sectional views of the lighting system component 2 shown in figure 3. As it can be gathered from figure 4A and B, the required space in the insertion direction of the lighting system component 2 in the rail 1 is reduced compared with the embodiment shown with respect to figures 1 and 2. The second embodiment thereby enables an open cross-section for other components, which might require an open cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the rail 1. Contrary to the solution explained with reference to figures 1 and 2, the solution according to the second embodiment does not require the entire height of the rail between the base plate 3 and the closed end of the rail 1.

[0032] Figure 5 shows a lighting system having a plurality of actuators 5 mounted in a distributed manner which commonly produce the desired output sound. The different actuators 5 may be attached to different parts of the lighting system. For example, a first actuator 5 can be attached to the base plate 30 of the lighting system component 2 by firmly attaching its coupling element 7 to the base plate 3. Supported by the same lighting system component 2, the second actuator may be biased by an elastic element 8 and stimulate an inner wall portion of the rail 1 of the lighting system.

[0033] Specifically in case that the transducers 6 are used for stimulating different components or portions of the lighting system, the transducers 6 may be adapted to the weight and mechanical properties of the component to be stimulated. Thus, as indicated by the different sizes of the actuators 5 in the figure, the forces generating the vibration of the coupling element 7 can be different and adjusted with respect to the to be stimulated component.

[0034] Figure 5 also shows an actuator which is attached on the back side of the rail 1. "Backside" in the present description is used to denote the side that is opposite to the open side of the rail 1 through which the lighting system component 2 is inserted.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 5 which is arranged on the backside of the rail 1 is in contact with the rail 1 by attaching the coupling element 7 to the backside of the rail 1. Thus, similar to the first actuator 5 stimulating the base plate 3 in the present embodiment, the third actuator 5 will also be specifically advantageous for producing higher frequency sound. In case that lower frequencies shall be produced or in case that the weight of the third transducer 6 is not considered to be sufficient in order to create a counterforce for generating the vibration of the backside of the rail 1, is also possible to provide a support structure fixing the transducer 6 of the third actuator in position.

[0036] The sound signal supplied to the different actuators may be the same or maybe adapted in order to achieve a preferred sound emission. For example, it may be preferred that sound emission has a certain direction. In that case, the phase difference between the sound signals are supplied to the actuators may be chosen in line with the distance of the actuators. Further, the sound signals may be adjusted with respect to the frequency range in which sound emission shall be produced by the respective actuators 5.

[0037] Not illustrated in the embodiments is a sound signal coupler, which may also be inserted inside the rail 1. Such sound signal generator may be provided with a communication module, for example for wireless communication in order to receive sound information, which is then overlaid on the wiring inside the rail 1. Alternatively, the sound signal may be generated outside the rail and, together with the electrical power, supplied to the wiring inside the rail 1. According to another solution, each of the actuators 5 may be equipped or connected with a wireless communication unit. In that case, electrical energy would be supplied using the wiring inside the rail 1 but the signal which carries the information regarding the sound to be omitted is received using the wireless communication module. The solution is particularly preferred in case that the actuators 5 are individually addressable.

[0038] Figure 6 shows an example in which the transducer together with its coupling element 7 is directly attached to the locking mechanism 4. Locking mechanisms 4 are known in a plurality of different embodiments, for example, comprising a thread such that a rotational movement of the locking mechanism 4 establishes fixation of the lighting system component 2 in the rail 1. In such a case, the longitudinal movement of the locking mechanism 4 caused by the threat will lead to positioning the coupling element 7 in contact with the inner surface of the backside wall of rail 1. This is shown on the right side of figure 6. There are also locking mechanism 4 for using the linear movement. In such a case a spring can be used in order to hold the coupling element 7 in mechanical contact with the inner surface of the backside wall of the rail 1. The locking mechanism 4 using the rotation for securing the lighting system component 2 to the rail 1 may also comprise a shim for establishing the contact instead of the thread.

Claims

1. Lighting system for emitting sound comprising a rail (1) for mechanically supporting lighting system components (2) and for supplying electrical power to the lighting system components (2), wherein the system comprises at least one electromechanical transducer (6) configured to generate vibrations of a coupling element (7) in accordance with a sound signal supplied to the electromechanical transducer (6), wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is mounted in or on the rail (1) with the coupling element (7) in mechanical contact with the rail (1) or a lighting system component (2) for stimulating the rail (1) or system component (2) with the vibration.

2. Lighting system for emitting sound according to claim 1, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is attached to a lighting system component (2) and, when the lighting system component (2) is attached to the rail (1), the coupling element (7) is in mechanical contact with an inner surface of the rail (1).

3. Lighting system for emitting sound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is attached to the lighting system component (2) by means of an elastic element (8) biasing the electromechanical transducer (6) towards the inner surface of the rail (1).

4. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is attached to the lighting system component (2) using a locking mechanism (4) fixing the lighting system component (2) in the rail (1).

5. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is attached to a lighting system component (2) with the coupling element (7) in mechanical contact with the lighting system component (2).

6. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) is electrically connected to a busbar (9) of the rails (2) supplying the lighting system components (2) with electrical energy.

7. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a sound signal coupler configured to overlay the sound signal with the electrical power supply in the rail (1).

8. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical transducer (6) comprises or is connected to a wireless receiver for receiving the sound signal.

9. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a plurality of electromechanical transducers (6) with their respective coupling element (7) held in mechanical contact with different parts of the lighting system.

10. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electromechanical transducers (6) are individually addressable and supplied with dedicated sound signals, wherein the dedicated sound signals for different electromechanical transducers (6) differ in a relative phase between the sound signals depending on a distance between the electromechanical transducer is (6).

11. Lighting system for emitting sound according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting system component (2) is a lighting device, a rail cover or a sensor device.

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