Cylindrical Luminaire Coupling for Adjustable Light Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric lamps designed for coupling with electrical/electronic installation devices often have limited adjustability and compatibility, requiring identical spherical housing arrangements and complex attachment mechanisms, which complicates user installation, removal, and replacement.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical electric lamp with a pot-shaped coupling part that fits into a corresponding cylindrical recess in the attachment, allowing for rotational and pivoting adjustments, and utilizing sliding contacts for secure electrical and data connections, enabling easy coupling and decoupling with an electrical/electronic installation device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a spherical housing assembly with identical design is used for coupling, then compatibility is ensured, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling system is divided into two distinct parts: a spherical coupling element on the luminaire and a corresponding spherical recess in the attachment. This segmentation allows for standardized compatibility while keeping each component relatively simple in design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical coupling element is designed to be universal, allowing any luminaire with this coupling type to be compatible with any attachment featuring the corresponding spherical recess. This universal design ensures compatibility across different models while maintaining a consistent, simple coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a spherical housing assembly with identical design is used for coupling, then compatibility is ensured, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidease of installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the coupling into a spherical element and a spherical recess, the design enables a simple insert-and-rotate operation that is easier than complex mechanical attachment mechanisms while ensuring compatible connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical shape of both the coupling element and recess provides smooth surfaces that facilitate easy insertion and rotation. The curved geometry naturally guides the luminaire into proper alignment during installation, improving ease of operation compared to angular or multi-component coupling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If complex attachment mechanisms are used, then secure connection is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure connectionVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism incorporates rotational movement capability, allowing the luminaire to be securely locked in multiple angular positions. This dynamic feature provides secure connection through friction and geometric interlocking while maintaining ease of operation by requiring only simple rotational motion for attachment and detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3527887B1Arrangement comprising an electrical / electronic installation device and an electric lighting device.
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 INSTA ELEKTRO GMBH
  • EP3527887B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3527887B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3527887B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric luminaire is proposed with a housing arrangement containing at least one electrical circuit board equipped with at least one light source, and containing several optical and electrical/electronic components necessary for its function. The electric luminaire is designed for connection to an electrical/electronic installation device consisting of an insert connected to a building's electrical installation system and a wall-mounted attachment. To this end, an electric luminaire is to be created whose mechanical, electrical, and data connection is achieved via a coupling element that is dimensionally and functionally matched to a coupling device designed as a cup-shaped recess.The housing assembly, located in the attachment of an electrical/electronic installation device connected to the electrical installation system of a building, and which can be easily adjusted by the user with regard to its light output to suit its intended purpose, comprises a housing tube which is closed on one side by a housing base, and the housing tube has a diaphragm on the other side, and a light source circuit board and a heat sink, which rests against the circuit board surface facing the housing base, are fixed to the first end area of ​​the diaphragm located in the housing tube, and the light source circuit board is electrically connected via a ribbon cable leading out through a first opening in the housing base to an electrical circuit board which is held in the interior of a coupling part.via which coupling part a functional connection is established with the associated attachment of the electrical/electronic installation device, the electrical circuit board is, for this purpose, equipped with several sliding contacts leading outwards from the coupling part, and a cover is attached to the coupling part, which allows the flat ribbon cable to pass into the interior of the coupling part via a second opening, and the cover is connected to the housing base by means of a hinge arrangement.