Luminaire Locking Element for Modular LED Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

LED light sources in luminaires are difficult to replace due to protection requirements against electrostatic discharge and high voltages, necessitating specialized personnel for safe handling and installation.

Innovation Solution

A lamp design featuring a centrally positioned locking element that can be moved between locking and release positions, allowing for easy detachment and secure attachment of multiple LED modules, ensuring safety and ease of replacement without the need for individual locking mechanisms for each LED.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If LED light sources are protected within luminaires against electrostatic discharge and high voltages, then safety and reliability are improved, but ease of replacement deteriorates as specialized personnel are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidease of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire is divided into modular components: a carrier element that remains fixed in the luminaire and lamp modules that can be easily exchanged. The locking element on the carrier element secures multiple lamp modules simultaneously, allowing safe protection of high-voltage components while enabling simple replacement of individual LED modules without requiring specialized personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A locking element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the carrier element and lamp modules. This locking element can be moved between a locking position (securing modules safely) and a release position (enabling easy removal), thus mediating between the need for safe protection and ease of replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LED modules are arranged one behind the other on a carrier element, then lighting performance and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases making replacement more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting performanceVSAvoidcomplexity of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element on the carrier element is designed with multi-functionality to interact with all lamp modules arranged one behind the other. A single locking element can secure multiple modules simultaneously, and a single release action can detach all modules at once. This universal locking mechanism simplifies the replacement process despite having multiple modules, maintaining versatility while reducing replacement complexity.

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

3Reliability

If individual locking mechanisms are provided for each LED element, then security against accidental detachment is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against detachmentVSAvoidnumber of locking mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual locking mechanisms are merged into a single locking element on the carrier element. This single locking element interacts with all lamp modules simultaneously, providing security against accidental detachment for all modules at once. The locking element can be moved to a locking position that secures all modules or a release position that allows easy removal of all modules, thereby combining multiple functions into one simple mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2833048B1Light with carrier element and replaceable light module
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP2833048B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2833048B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b
  • EP2833048B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

In a luminaire (100) with a carrier element (110) and at least one light source module (50) that can be detachably attached to the carrier element (110), the luminaire (100) has at least one locking element (10) which is movable between a locking position in which the light source module (50) cannot be detached from the carrier element (110) and a release position in which the light source module (50) can be detached.