Modular Socket

Abstract

Described herein is a modular socket (106, 306) for removably receiving a light emitting diode ("LED") driver (124, 324) and coupling the LED driver to the LEDs (104), which may include a housing (108, 308), a power input interface (110, 310) for receiving a supply voltage, a power output interface (120, 320) electrically coupled to the power input interface within the housing, an LED control input interface (128, 328) electrically coupled to one or more LEDs, and one or more mechanical engaging and locking structures (134, 334). Mechanical engagement of the mechanical engaging and locking structures with corresponding mechanical engaging and locking structures of the LED driver may simultaneously effect electrical coupling between the power output interface and the power input interface (122, 322) of the LED driver and between the LED control input interface and the LED output interface (126, 326) of the LED driver.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to lighting. More particularly, various inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to modular sockets. [Background technology]

[0002] Digital lighting technology, i.e., lighting based on semiconductor light sources such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offers a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lighting. LEDs' functional advantages and benefits include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, low operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have resulted in efficient and robust full-spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications. Some fixtures embodying these lighting sources feature lighting modules that include one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, e.g., red, green, and blue, and a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs to generate various colors and color-changing lighting effects, as discussed in detail, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,038 and 6,211,626, which are incorporated herein by reference. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Traditionally, LED drivers are designed to be located inside the lighting fixture, which increases the overall size and weight of the lighting fixture. This can also increase costs due to the structural and / or thermal needs of the lighting fixture. Furthermore, having separate components and / or modules, such as surge protection, dimming control, daylight sensor, LED driver, etc., all as individual components, presents significant wiring challenges and further increases costs. Furthermore, replacing failed electronic components within a lighting fixture can be very time-consuming and / or costly, often due to having a skilled technician manually rewire these components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present disclosure relates to an inventive apparatus for a modular socket. In particular, in various embodiments, a modular socket configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure can serve multiple functions while providing a simple mechanical interface for the secure and removable attachment of other modular components (e.g., LED drivers, sensors, surge protection, etc.) to a lighting fixture.

[0005] As an example of multiple functions that may be performed by a modular socket configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure, upon mechanical engagement of an LED driver with a modular socket, the modular socket may simultaneously electrically couple (i) the modular socket's power output interface with the LED driver's power input interface, and (ii) the LED driver's LED output interface with an LED control input interface electrically coupled to one or more LEDs. In this manner, the modular socket may receive input in the form of high-voltage A / C current (e.g., 120V-277V) and provide (as output) a supply voltage to a removably attachable LED driver (or ballast, if another type of light source is used). The modular socket may also route the LED driver's output (e.g., modulated direct current to one or more LEDs in a lighting fixture).

[0006] The modular socket may be mountable in various locations on the luminaire and remotely from the luminaire. For example, the socket may be located on the top of the luminaire portion of a lamppost so that the LED driver can be removably plugged into the socket in a location that is not easily reachable by vandals. As another example, the socket may be located on the vertical pole of a lamppost so that it is more easily reachable by technicians seeking to replace or install the modular LED driver or other modular components. In this case, various mechanisms may be employed to protect the mechanical engagement from tampering.

[0007] In some embodiments, a single modular socket may be mounted to accommodate multiple lighting fixtures. For example, multiple horizontal extensions may protrude from a single vertical pole of a multi-light fixture lamp pole, with each horizontal extension hosting a lighting fixture. A single modular socket configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure may be mounted anywhere on the multi-light fixture lamp pole. The modular socket may receive a single LED driver that controls the LEDs of the multiple lighting fixtures, provide voltage to the single LED driver, and distribute the modulated DC generated by the LED driver to the LEDs of each of the multiple lighting fixtures. In some embodiments, an electromechanical mechanism may be provided, for example, in each of the multiple lighting fixtures to capture digital information and transfer it to an intelligent / smart LED driver, for example, at the top of the lamp pole. In such embodiments, the modular socket itself may have flying leads or may have push-in type header nodes for easy lead installation.

[0008] Additionally, the embodiments described herein may facilitate the simple addition, removal, and / or replacement of various sensors. These sensors may take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, motion sensors, daylight sensors, traffic sensors, Internet of Things ("IoT") modules with wired and / or wireless communication capabilities, etc. In some embodiments, a modular socket configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure may include, for example, one or more sensor buses therein to which sensors and / or external sensor buses may be electrically and / or communicatively coupled. For example, in response to mechanical engagement of the modular socket with the LED driver, an internal sensor bus may be electrically coupled to another sensor bus included within the LED driver.

[0009] In some embodiments, sensors may be operably coupled to the modular socket and / or other components plugged into the modular socket. For example, one or more sensors may be attached to an LED driver plugged into the modular socket. As described above, a sensor bus internal to the LED driver may be electrically coupled to a sensor bus internal to the modular socket via a mechanical engagement between the LED driver and the modular socket. In this manner, the mechanical engagement effectively creates a single sensor bus to which sensors connected to the modular socket via the LED driver and other sensors connected directly to the modular socket are operably coupled.

[0010] In general, in one aspect, a modular socket for removably receiving a light emitting diode ("LED") driver and coupling the LED driver to one or more LEDs includes a housing, a power input interface for receiving a supply voltage, a power output interface electrically coupled to the power input interface within the housing, an LED control input interface electrically coupled to one or more LEDs, and one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures, wherein mechanical engagement of one or more of the mechanical engagement and locking structures with one or more corresponding mechanical engagement and locking structures of the LED driver may simultaneously effect electrical coupling between the power output interface and the power input interface of the LED driver and between the LED control input interface and the LED output interface of the LED driver.

[0011] In various embodiments, the electrical coupling provided by the mechanical engagement may include male pins being inserted into female contacts, and the power output interface of the modular socket may be the female contacts. In various embodiments, the mass of the LED driver is substantially supported by the mechanical engagement. In various embodiments, the one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures include a plurality of mechanical engagement and locking structures positioned and spaced around the periphery of the housing to provide a polarity-based locking mechanism.

[0012] In various embodiments, the modular socket may further include one or more sensor output interfaces, and the mechanical engagement may further provide an electrical coupling between the one or more sensors electrically coupled to the modular socket and the LED driver. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors may include a motion sensor. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors may include a wireless communication interface. In various embodiments, the modular socket may further include a removable health monitoring component that, when triggered, causes the modular socket to provide an audible or visual output of a fault.

[0013] As used herein for purposes of this disclosure, the term "LED" should be understood to include any electroluminescent diode or other type of carrier injection / junction-based system capable of generating radiation in response to an electrical signal. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures, light-emitting polymers, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent strips, and the like that emit light in response to an electric current. In particular, the term LED refers to all types of light-emitting diodes (including semiconductor diodes and organic light-emitting diodes) that may be configured to generate radiation in one or more of the infrared spectrum, the ultraviolet spectrum, and various portions of the visible spectrum (generally including emission wavelengths from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers). Some examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs, and white LEDs (discussed further below). It should also be understood that LEDs may be configured and / or controlled to produce radiation having different bandwidths (e.g., full width at half maximum, or FWHM) for a given spectrum (e.g., narrow bandwidth, wide bandwidth) and different dominant wavelengths within a given general color classification.

[0014] For example, one implementation of an LED configured to produce essentially white light (e.g., a white LED) may include several dies, each emitting a different electroluminescence spectrum, which combine to form the substantially white light. In another implementation, the white light LED may be associated with a phosphor material that converts electroluminescence having a first spectrum to a different second spectrum. In one example of this implementation, electroluminescence having a relatively short wavelength and narrowband spectrum "pumps" the phosphor material, causing it to emit radiation at a longer wavelength with a somewhat broader spectrum.

[0015] It should also be understood that the term LED does not limit the type of physical and / or electrical packaging of an LED. For example, as discussed above, an LED may refer to a single light-emitting device having multiple dies (e.g., which may or may not be individually controllable) configured to each emit a different radiation spectrum. An LED may also be associated with a phosphor that is considered an integral part of the LED (e.g., some type of white LED). In general, the term LED may refer to packaged LEDs, unpackaged LEDs, surface-mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, T-packaged LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, LEDs that include some type of housing and / or optical elements (e.g., diffusing lenses), etc. In general, the term LED may refer to packaged LEDs, unpackaged LEDs, surface-mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, T-packaged LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, LEDs that include some type of housing and / or optical elements (e.g., diffusing lenses), etc.

[0016] The term "light source" includes, but is not limited to, LED-based light sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent light sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor lamps, mercury vapor lamps, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyroluminescent sources (e.g., flames), candle luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantle sources, carbon arc radiation sources), photoluminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvanoluminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, thermoluminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, and light-emitting polymer luminescent sources. It should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including polymers.

[0017] A given light source may be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Accordingly, the terms “light” and “radiation” are used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, a light source may include, as an integral component, one or more filters (e.g., color filters), lenses, or other optical components. It should also be understood that light sources may be configured for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, indicating, displaying, and / or lighting. An “illumination source” is a light source configured, among other things, to generate radiation having sufficient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior space. In this context, “sufficient intensity” refers to sufficient radiant intensity (for radiant intensity or “luminous flux,” the unit “lumen” is often used to describe the total light output from a light source in all directions) in the visible spectrum generated in a space or environment to provide ambient illumination (i.e., light that may be perceived indirectly and, for example, may be reflected from one or more of various intervening surfaces before being perceived in whole or in part).

[0018] The terms “lighting fixture” and “luminaire” are used herein to refer to an implementation or configuration of one or more lighting units in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. The term “lighting unit” is used herein to refer to a device including one or more light sources of the same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting configurations for the light sources, a variety of enclosure / housing configurations and shapes, and / or a variety of electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Furthermore, a given lighting unit may optionally be associated with (e.g., include, couple to, and / or be co-packaged with) a variety of other components related to the operation of the light sources (e.g., control circuitry). An “LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as described above, alone or in combination with other non-LED-based light sources. A “multi-channel” lighting unit refers to an LED-based or non-LED-based lighting unit that includes at least two light sources, each configured to produce a different radiation spectrum, where each different light source spectrum may be referred to as a “channel” of the multi-channel lighting unit.

[0019] The term "controller" is used generally herein to describe various devices associated with the operation of one or more light sources. A controller can be implemented in numerous ways (e.g., using dedicated hardware, etc.) to perform the various functions discussed herein. A "processor" is an example of a controller that employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the various functions discussed herein. A controller may be implemented with or without a processor, or as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0020] In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, etc., collectively referred to herein as "memory"). In some implementations, these storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and / or controllers, perform at least a portion of the functions discussed herein. The various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller, or may be portable such that one or more programs stored on those storage media can be loaded into a processor or controller to implement various aspects of the invention discussed herein. The terms "program" or "computer program" are used herein generically to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors or controllers.

[0021] The term "addressable" is used herein to refer to a device (e.g., a general light source, lighting unit or lighting fixture, a controller or processor associated with one or more light sources or lighting units, other non-lighting related devices, etc.) that is configured to receive information (e.g., data) intended for multiple devices, including itself, and to selectively respond to specific information intended for that device. The term "addressable" is often used in connection with a networked environment (or "network," discussed further below) in which multiple devices are coupled together via some communications medium.

[0022] In one network implementation, one or more devices coupled to a network may function as a controller (e.g., in a master / slave relationship) to one or more other devices coupled to the network. In another implementation, a networked environment may include one or more dedicated controllers configured to control one or more of the devices coupled to the network. Generally, multiple devices coupled to a network may each have access to data residing on a communications medium; however, a given device may be "addressable" in that it is configured to selectively exchange data with (i.e., receive data from and / or transmit data to) the network based, for example, on one or more specific identifiers (e.g., "addresses") assigned to the device.

[0023] The term “network,” as used herein, refers to any interconnection of two or more devices (including controllers or processors) that facilitates the transfer of information (e.g., related to device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between any two or more devices and / or between multiple devices coupled to the network. As will be readily understood, various implementations of networks suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and employ any of a variety of communication protocols. Furthermore, in various networks according to the present disclosure, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between the two systems or, alternatively, a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information intended for the two devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information not necessarily intended for either of the two devices (e.g., an open network connection). Furthermore, it will be readily understood that the various networks of devices discussed herein may employ one or more wireless links, wired / cable links, and / or fiber optic links to facilitate information transfer throughout the network.

[0024] It should be understood that all combinations of the above concepts and additional concepts discussed in more detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter listed at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be understood that terms explicitly employed herein, which may also appear in any disclosures incorporated by reference, should be given the meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary modular socket in use with other components, according to various embodiments. [Figure 2] 2A, 2B, and 2C show examples of how modular sockets configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure may be deployed, according to various embodiments. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary modular socket and modular LED arrangement, according to various embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a different perspective view of the modular socket of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Traditionally, LED drivers are designed to be located inside a lighting fixture, which increases the overall size and weight of the lighting fixture. This can also increase costs due to the structural and / or thermal needs of the lighting fixture. Furthermore, having separate components and / or modules, such as surge protection, dimming control, daylight sensor, and LED driver, all as discrete components, presents significant wiring challenges and further increases costs. Furthermore, replacing failed electronic components within a lighting fixture can be very time-consuming and / or costly, often due to having skilled technicians manually rewire these components. In light of the above, various embodiments and implementations of the present invention relate to modular sockets and components that can be removably plugged into these modular sockets.

[0027] 1, in one embodiment, a lighting assembly 100 includes a lighting fixture 102 that includes one or more light sources 104. In FIG. 1, the one or more light sources 104 include a plurality of LEDs. However, this is not meant to be limiting. As previously mentioned, any type of light source, such as a fluorescent lamp, halogen lamp, incandescent lamp, etc., may be employed as part of the lighting fixture 102, alone or in combination with other types of light sources.

[0028] A modular socket 106 constructed in selected aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated as part of a lighting fixture 102 in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic view, and the fact that the modular socket 106 is depicted entirely within the dashed lines forming the lighting fixture 102 should not be taken as limiting. The modular socket 106 may have an exterior surface that protrudes from the lighting fixture housing (not shown), an exterior surface that is recessed into the lighting fixture housing, an exterior surface that is flush with the lighting fixture housing, etc.

[0029] In various embodiments, the modular socket 106 may include a housing 108, which may be constructed of various materials or combinations of materials, including, but not limited to, polymer, metal, rubber, etc. The modular socket 106 may also include a power input interface 110 for receiving a supply voltage 112 (e.g., which may support up to 480V in some embodiments). In FIG. 1 , the supply voltage 112 includes a hot wire 114, a neutral wire 116, and a ground wire 118. One or more of the wires 114-118 may be omitted in other embodiments. The supply voltage 112 may be, for example, alternating current (A / C) received from an A / C mains power source, or may provide voltages of various magnitudes, such as any voltage between 120V and 480V, or any other high voltage value.

[0030] Modular socket 106 may also include a power output interface 120 electrically coupled to power input interface 110 within housing 108. In various embodiments, coupling between power output interface 120 and power input interface 110 may be implemented using wires, via solid conductive paths (e.g., using copper or other conductive materials), etc.

[0031] The power output interface 120 may be electrically coupled to a power input interface 122 of the LED driver 124. The supply voltage 112 may be routed by the modular socket 106 from its source (e.g., AC mains power) to the LED driver 124. The LED driver 124 may receive this supply power, convert it to direct current ("DC"), if applicable, modulate the DC based on various factors, and provide the modulated DC to an LED control input interface 128 of the modular socket 106 via an LED output interface 126. The LED control input interface 128 may be electrically coupled to one or more LEDs 104 via one or more control lines 130, 132 (e.g., positive and negative control lines). Through this electrical path, the modular socket 106 may route the modulated DC (or possibly AC) to one or more light sources 104.

[0032] In some embodiments, the modular socket 106 and / or LED driver 124 may include a detachable health monitoring component 131 that, when triggered, causes the modular socket 106 (or, in some cases, the LED driver 124) to provide an audible or visual output of a fault. For example, the detachable health monitoring component 131 may include a fuse or other electrical component that is blown or damaged under certain circumstances, such as a lightning strike, a short circuit, malfunction of one or more components, improper polarity between internal components (i.e., improper installation), or the absence of the LED driver 124. In some embodiments, the modular socket 106 and / or LED driver 124 may include an indicator, such as a circumferential light source 133 that emits light of a certain color, intensity, or modulation pattern to indicate to a passerby that a certain portion of the assembly 100 is malfunctioning and / or needs to be replaced. While the circumferential light source 133 is illustrated as part of the socket 106, this is not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments, the light source may additionally or alternatively be located on other components, such as the LED driver 124.

[0033] In various embodiments, the modular socket 106 and / or the LED driver 124 may include one or more mechanical engagement structures, two of which are shown at 134A and 134B. These structures may take various forms and may be located in various locations on the modular socket 106 and / or the LED driver 124. For example, one or more of these structures 134 may be located on the housing 108 of the modular socket 106. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of these mechanical engagement structures 134 may be located on the housing 136 of the LED driver 124, for example, near the portion of the LED driver designed for engagement with the modular socket 106 (e.g., the bottom in FIG. 1 ).

[0034] In various embodiments, mechanical engagement of one or more of the mechanical engagement structures 134 with one or more corresponding mechanical engagement structures 134 of the LED driver 124 may simultaneously provide electrical coupling between (a) the power output interface 120 of the modular socket 106 and the power input interface 122 of the LED driver and (b) the LED control input interface 128 and the LED output interface 126 of the LED driver 124. For example, in some embodiments, when the LED driver housing 136 is brought sufficiently close to, or even physically contacts, the housing 108 of the modular socket 106, one or both of the housing 108 of the modular socket 106 and the LED housing 136 may be rotated, pressed, or otherwise mechanically influenced to mechanically engage (e.g., lock, secure) the structures 134 of the LED driver housing 136 with the housing 108 of the modular socket 106. This mechanical influence may ensure that the electrical contacts (e.g., 122, 126) of the LED driver 124 are properly and securely electrically coupled with the corresponding electrical contacts (e.g., 120, 128) of the modular socket 106.

[0035] The LED driver 124 may modulate the direct current provided to one or more light sources 104 in various ways based on a variety of different signals. Many of these signals may be generated by a variety of different types of sensors. In FIG. 1 , for example, a first sensor 140 is operably coupled to the top of the LED driver 124 by a socket 142. The socket 142 may take various forms, such as a socket conforming to one or more books of the Zhaga standard (https: / / www.zhagastandard.org / ), a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) socket, or any other type of socket connection usable for transferring data and possibly power. In various implementations, the sensor can be removably replaced in the socket 142 as desired. While FIG. 1 illustrates one socket 142 on the LED driver 124, this is not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments, any number of sockets, which may be the same or different from one another, may be provided on the housing 136 of the LED driver 124.

[0036] The socket 142 may operatively couple the first sensor 140 (or other sensors that may be installed in the socket 142) to a sensor bus 144 that may include, for example, one or more wires 146, 148 that may correspond to positive and negative sensor terminals or contacts. The sensor bus 144 may be effectively extended into the housing 108 of the modular socket 106 by electrical coupling between a sensor output interface 150 of the LED driver 124 and a sensor input interface 152 of the modular socket 106. The sensor bus 144 may extend from the modular socket 106 to, for example, a second sensor 154.

[0037] The first sensor 140 may take a variety of forms. In some embodiments, the first sensor 140 may be a daylight sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of the light it senses. This signal may be used, for example, by the LED driver 124 to determine whether to illuminate one or more light sources 104 of the street lamp, to select an intensity level to emit from one or more light sources 104, to select one or more colors of light emitted by one or more light sources 104, to select one or more light modulation patterns (e.g., coded light) to emit by one or more light sources 104, etc. Other types of sensors may also be attached to the housing 136 of the LED driver 124, including, but not limited to, traffic sensors, presence sensors, IoT communication components (e.g., for wirelessly communicating with passing vehicles or pedestrians), thermometers, barometers, or other components such as malfunction lamps, indicators, etc.

[0038] Like the first sensor 140, the second sensor 154 may take a variety of forms. In some embodiments where the luminaire 102 is part of a street light, the first sensor 140 may not face the road surface below if mounted on top of the LED driver 124 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the second sensor 154 (which in this example may be an occupancy or traffic sensor) may be positioned on a lamp post, for example, at the bottom of the horizontal post on which the luminaire 102 is mounted or on a vertical post, so that the second sensor 154 has a view of the road below.

[0039] 2A-2C schematically illustrate exemplary use cases illustrating how modular sockets configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure can be deployed in various scenarios. In FIG. 2A, a lamp post 260, such as a streetlight, includes a vertical post 262 and a horizontal bar 264 extending therefrom. Inside the vertical post 262 is a high-voltage power supply 212, which may share various characteristics with element 112 in FIG. 1. The power supply 212 extends from a power source (not shown) to a first modular socket 206A located at the top of the vertical post 262. A first LED driver 224A is secured to the first socket 206A. The first modular socket 206A is operably coupled to one or more control lines 230 for routing direct current generated by the first LED driver 224A to other components, such as one or more light sources 204 of a lighting fixture 202 positioned on the horizontal bar 264.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, a second modular socket 206B may be located on the top of the lighting fixture 202. In some embodiments, both the first and second modular sockets 206A, 206B may be present. In other embodiments, only one or the other is present. A second LED driver 224B is installed on the second modular socket 206B. A first sensor 240A, such as a daylight sensor or a wireless communication component, is attached to the second LED driver 224B. The second sensor 240B is attached to the underside of the lighting fixture 202 and may take the form of, for example, a traffic sensor or an occupancy sensor. As shown, the second sensor 240B is operably coupled to the second LED driver 224B by a control line 230. In some embodiments, in addition to or instead of sensors 240A-B, a third sensor 240C may be mounted remotely from any of the LED drivers, such as on a vertical post 262.

[0041] In some implementations, rather than (or in addition to) the third sensor 240C, another modular socket may be located near the bottom of the vertical post 262 so that the modular socket is easily reachable. In this way, an LED driver or other component may be replaced relatively easily, for example, without requiring a technician to use equipment to elevate the socket. Mounting the modular socket in such a low position and directing power to multiple luminaires / LED drivers from a single modular socket may be particularly advantageous in relatively tall luminaires, such as lamps used to illuminate highways, stadium lights, or other similar lighting assemblies where luminaires are difficult to reach and / or numerous. If a low-positioned LED driver or modular socket is destroyed, this may be detected, for example, by the health monitoring component 131, which may issue an alert via one or more networks or via a flashing light (e.g., from the ambient light source 133).

[0042] FIG. 2B illustrates an example in which a modular socket 206 configured in selected aspects of the present disclosure is mounted to a wall 268. While not shown in FIG. 2B, the modular socket may include various interfaces shown in FIG. 1, which may allow the modular socket to be operatively and / or electrically coupled to various remote components, such as one or more ceiling light fixtures, wall-mounted light fixtures, etc. An LED driver 224 is shown mounted on the modular socket 206. The LED driver 224 can be easily installed and / or replaced by mechanically engaging (or disengaging) it with the modular socket 206. Furthermore, if mounted low enough on the wall 268, a person can easily reach the LED driver 224 to install one or more sensors (e.g., a presence sensor for turning on a ceiling light when a person passes by). FIG. 2C illustrates an alternative example in which the LED driver 224 is mounted in a modular socket (not visible from the perspective of FIG. 2C) that is disposed on a junction box 272.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of both an example modular socket 306 and an example LED driver 324 configured in accordance with selected aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates another perspective of the modular socket 306. Turning first to the LED driver 324, the LED driver 324 includes a housing 336 and an interface portion 380 at one end of the housing 336. The interface portion 380 includes components configured to electrically couple with corresponding components of the modular socket 306 and components configured to mechanically engage with corresponding components of the modular socket 306.

[0044] The LED driver 324 includes a power input interface 322 in the form of three metallic prongs that serve as the "male" portion of the socket connection between the LED driver 324 and the modular socket 306. More or fewer prongs may be provided. In some embodiments, the LED driver's power input interface 322 may, but need not, take the form of a National Electric Manufacturers Association ("NEMA") compliant plug. The LED driver 324 also includes one or more sensor output interfaces 350, which may share one or more characteristics with the sensor output interface 150 of FIG. 1 .

[0045] The bottom surface of modular socket 306 is visible in Figure 3, revealing various components of modular socket 306. These include, for example, power input interface 310, which shares one or more characteristics with power input interface 110 in Figure 1. Among other things, three electrical paths are visible in Figure 3, corresponding to the three male prongs of LED driver 324. Also visible in Figure 3 are one or more wires 346, 348 (which may more generally be conductive paths), which may correspond, for example, to positive and negative sensor terminals or contacts (e.g., 146, 148 in Figure 1).

[0046] Also visible in Figure 3 are various mechanical engagement elements 334. In some embodiments, the mass of the LED driver 324 may be substantially or completely supported by the mechanical engagement of mechanical engagement elements 334A-B of the modular socket 306 with corresponding mechanical engagement elements 334C-E of the LED driver 324. In some embodiments, the one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures 334 may include multiple mechanical engagement and locking structures 334A-D positioned and spaced around the periphery of the housing 308, 336. More or fewer mechanical engagement and locking structures 334 may be provided and may alternatively be referred to herein as "mechanical engagement structures."

[0047] For example, the LED driver 324 may be brought into physical proximity, or even into physical contact, with the modular socket 306. This may result in, for example, a mechanical engagement element 334A of the modular socket 306, which protrudes from the housing 308 of the modular socket 306, being seated within a mechanical engagement element 334C of the LED driver 324, which takes the form of a recess. Similarly, this may also result in a mechanical engagement element 334B of the modular socket 306, which protrudes from the housing 308 of the modular socket 306, being seated within a mechanical engagement element 334D of the LED driver 324, which takes the form of another recess. In some such embodiments, the housing 336 of the LED driver 324 may then be rotated somewhat to further engage and lock these mechanical engagement elements together.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the top view of the modular socket 306. The LED driver 324 is not shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the power output interface 320 includes three female contacts or recesses for receiving the three male prongs 322 of the LED driver 324 that were visible in FIG. 3. Similarly, the LED input interface 328 (similar to interface 128 of FIG. 1) and the sensor input interface 352 of the modular socket 306 are visible and are configured to electrically couple with the elements 326, 350 that were visible in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the female contacts / recesses of the power output interface 320 may be larger than the male prongs shown in FIG. 3 to allow room for the prongs to move or to provide a polarity-locking mechanism when the housing 336 of the LED driver 324 is rotated relative to the housing 308 of the modular socket 306.

[0049] While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily envision various other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining one or more of the results and / or advantages described herein, and such variations and / or modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are intended to be exemplary, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will vary depending on the particular application in which the teachings of the present invention are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the above-described embodiments are presented by way of example only, and it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, inventive embodiments may be practiced other than as specifically described and claimed. The inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. Furthermore, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods is within the inventive scope of the present disclosure, provided that such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent.

[0050] As defined and used herein, all definitions should be understood to govern dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0051] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used in the specification and claims, unless expressly indicated otherwise, should be understood to mean "at least one."

[0052] The term "and / or," as used in the specification and claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are present conjunctively in some cases and disjunctively in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be construed in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause, may optionally be present. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B," when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising," can refer in one embodiment to A only (optionally including elements other than B), in another embodiment to B only (optionally including elements other than A), in yet another embodiment to both A and B (optionally including other elements), etc.

[0053] As used in the specification and claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" shall be construed as inclusive, i.e., including at least one, but also two or more of several elements or lists of elements, and optionally including additional unlisted items. Only terms such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or when used in the claims, "consisting of," where the contrary is clearly indicated, refer to the inclusion of exactly one of several elements or lists of elements. In general, the term "or," as used herein, shall be construed as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., "one or the other, but not both") only when preceding terms of exclusivity, such as "any of," "one of," "only one of," or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

[0054] As used in this specification and claims, the phrase "at least one," referring to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each element specifically listed in the list of elements, and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for elements other than those specifically identified in the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, may optionally be present, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B" or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") can refer to, in one embodiment, at least one A, optionally including more than one, and no B (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, at least one B, optionally including more than one, and no A (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, at least one A, optionally including more than one, and at least one B (and optionally including other elements), optionally including more than one;

[0055] It should also be understood that, unless expressly indicated otherwise, in any method claimed herein that includes more than one step or action, the order of the method steps or actions is not necessarily limited to the order in which the method steps or actions are recited.

[0056] Whether in the claims or the above specification, all transitional phrases, such as "comprise," "include," "carry," "have," "contain," "involve," "hold," "consist of," and the like, are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of," respectively, shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, as set forth in Section 2111.03 of the U.S. Patent Office Guidelines for Patent Examination. Pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT"), the use of certain phrases and reference signs in the claims shall not be understood to limit their scope.

Claims

1. 1. A modular socket for removably receiving a light emitting diode (LED) driver and coupling the LED driver to one or more LEDs, the LED driver providing modulated direct current to the one or more LEDs, the modular socket comprising: Housing and a modular socket power input interface for receiving AC mains power; a modular socket power output interface electrically coupled to the modular socket power input interface within the housing; a modular socket LED control input interface electrically coupled to one or more LEDs; one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures; Including, The mechanical engagement of one or more of the mechanical engagement and locking structures with one or more corresponding mechanical engagement and locking structures of the LED driver simultaneously: electrically coupling the modular socket power output interface with an LED driver power input interface of the LED driver, wherein the LED driver power input interface receives the AC mains power, and the LED driver provides the modulated DC to the LED output interface of the LED driver; and a modular socket electrically coupling the modular socket LED control input interface with the LED output interface of the LED driver to provide the modulated direct current to the one or more LEDs;

2. 2. The modular socket of claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling provided by the mechanical engagement includes male pins inserted into female contacts, and the modular socket power output interface of the modular socket includes the female contacts.

3. The modular socket of claim 2 , wherein the LED driver is substantially supported by the mechanical engagement.

4. 3. The modular socket of claim 2, wherein the one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures include a plurality of mechanical engagement and locking structures positioned and spaced around the periphery of the housing to provide a polarization-based locking mechanism.

5. The modular socket is One or more sensor output interfaces Including, The modular socket of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical engagement provides an electrical coupling between the LED driver and one or more sensors electrically coupled to the modular socket.

6. The modular socket of claim 5 , wherein the one or more sensors include a motion sensor.

7. The modular socket of claim 5 , wherein the one or more sensors include a wireless communication interface.

8. 10. The modular socket of claim 1, wherein the modular socket includes a removable health monitoring component that, when triggered, causes the modular socket to provide an audible or visual output of a fault.

9. 10. A lighting fixture including a lighting fixture housing, wherein the modular socket of claim 1 is mounted to the lighting fixture housing such that the modular socket power output interface and the modular socket LED control input interface are exposed to an exterior of the lighting fixture housing.

10. Lighting equipment and A modular socket according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a lighting assembly.

11. 11. The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the electrical coupling provided by the mechanical engagement comprises male pins inserted into female contacts, and the modular socket power output interface of the modular socket comprises the female contacts.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the LED driver is substantially supported by the mechanical engagement.

13. A lighting assembly as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more mechanical engagement and locking structures include a plurality of mechanical engagement and locking structures positioned and spaced around or within the housing.

14. The lighting assembly comprises: One or more sensor output interfaces Including, The lighting assembly of claim 10 , wherein the mechanical engagement provides an electrical coupling between the LED driver and one or more sensors electrically coupled with the modular socket.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors include a motion sensor.

Images