Modular LED Fixture Interconnect for Tool-Free Linear Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting systems require multiple linear tubes to achieve increased illumination, leading to higher costs and complexity in installation and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A modular LED lighting fixture design featuring a pluggable connector system with male and female connectors that allow multiple fixtures to be connected end-to-end without tools, forming a linear arrangement for enhanced illumination while maintaining a sleek appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple linear LED tubes are used to provide increased illumination, then the illumination intensity increases, but the device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple modular linear tube segments that can be independently manufactured and then connected together. Each tube contains its own LED array and can function independently, but when connected via pluggable connectors, they form an extended lighting system that provides increased illumination without requiring a completely different design approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The pluggable connector design enables the same linear tube module to serve multiple functions: it can be used as a standalone lighting unit or connected to other identical modules to create extended lighting arrangements. The universal connector interface allows any tube to connect to any other tube, providing flexibility in configuration and eliminating the need for different connector types for different installation scenarios.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple linear LED tubes are connected together, then the illumination coverage increases, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pluggable connectors are pre-configured on each linear tube module during manufacturing, with male and female connector interfaces already attached to the tube ends. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for field installation of connectors and wiring, as users simply need to plug the pre-configured modules together during installation, significantly simplifying the installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical wiring and fastening system for connecting multiple lighting fixtures is replaced with a simple pluggable electrical connector system. The connectors include integrated electrical contacts that automatically establish electrical connections when the tubes are mechanically joined, eliminating the need for separate wiring operations and reducing installation complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple LED fixtures are connected with traditional wiring methods, then increased illumination is achieved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible cables
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection function and the mechanical connection function are merged into a single integrated pluggable connector assembly. When two linear tubes are connected, the male and female connectors join mechanically while simultaneously establishing electrical contacts internally, eliminating the need for external visible cables or wiring harnesses. The connection is both structural and electrical, achieved through one unified interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductors and contacts are nested within the connector housings, which are themselves attached to the linear tube enclosures. The male connector contains male electrical contacts that mate with female contacts in the female connector, with all these electrical components nested inside the mechanical connector structures. This nesting arrangement hides all electrical wiring inside the connector assemblies, resulting in a clean external appearance with no visible cables.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes first and second light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixtures. Each LED lighting fixture includes an enclosure, a heat sink disposed in the enclosure, a LED array mounted on the heat sink, and a connector attached to a first end of the enclosure. The connector of the first LED lighting fixture is a male connector, and the connector of the second LED lighting fixture is a female connector. The male connector is configured to directly mate with the female connector without the use of tools.