Overhead Light Fixture Driver Assembly Servicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Canopy-mounted light fixtures positioned primarily above the canopy sheet pose difficulties in servicing and replacement, especially when beam structures interfere with mounting positions, necessitating a solution for easy and cost-effective maintenance of LED drivers without removing the fixture from its overhead location.

Innovation Solution

The design features a driver assembly with a housing having a base portion and a sleeve portion extending upwardly at an angle less than vertical, allowing the driver to be detachably secured and removed downwardly for servicing, while the light-emitting assembly is detachably secured below the canopy sheet, enabling easy access and replacement without disturbing the fixture's overhead position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the light fixture is positioned primarily above the canopy sheet, then the aesthetic appearance is improved (simple rectangular or circular light emission area), but the difficulty of servicing increases (parts to be serviced are located above the canopy sheet)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoiddifficulty of servicing
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The light fixture is divided into two separate assemblies: a driver assembly positioned above the canopy sheet and a light-emitting assembly positioned below the canopy sheet. This segmentation allows the light-emitting assembly to be serviced from below while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of having the fixture primarily above the canopy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driver is extracted from the light-emitting assembly and placed in a separate driver assembly above the canopy sheet. This extraction enables the light-emitting assembly to be removed and serviced from below the canopy sheet without disturbing the driver assembly above.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Shape

If the driver assembly is positioned above the canopy sheet, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the time and cost of maintenance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidtime and cost of maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fixture is segmented into a driver assembly above the canopy and a light-emitting assembly below. This allows maintenance personnel to service the light-emitting assembly from below without needing to access the driver assembly above, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost while preserving the aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-emitting assembly is extracted as a separate serviceable unit that can be removed and serviced from below the canopy sheet. This extraction eliminates the need to disturb the driver assembly above the canopy during routine maintenance, reducing both time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the light fixture is mounted in a constrained installation environment with beams in close proximity, then the adaptability to installation constraints is improved, but the ease of servicing worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to installation constraintsVSAvoidease of servicing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the fixture into driver and light-emitting assemblies positioned on opposite sides of the canopy sheet, the design adapts to constrained installation environments where beams may interfere with overhead positioning. The light-emitting assembly can be accessed from below regardless of overhead constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions the servicing dimension from vertical (above the canopy) to horizontal (below the canopy). This dimensional change allows servicing to proceed from the below-canopy side, bypassing overhead beam constraints and improving accessibility in constrained environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3980682B1Overhead light fixtures and methods
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 CREE LIGHTING USA LLC
  • EP3980682B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3980682B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3980682B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An overhead light fixture (10) includes a driver assembly (20) and a light-emitting assembly (70). The driver assembly includes a driver (50) and a housing (22). The light-emitting assembly is operably connected to the driver and configured for downward emission of light from a light source (72) of the light-emitting assembly. The light emitting assembly is detachably secured to the driver assembly. The light fixture is configured to be mounted to a canopy sheet (5) of an overhead canopy (3), with the driver assembly disposed above the canopy sheet and the light-emitting assembly disposed below the canopy sheet. The driver assembly is optionally configured so that, when the light-emitting assembly is detached from the driver assembly, the driver is removable downwardly through the base portion. A bezel (80) is optionally disposed around a lens (76) of the light-emitting assembly, for aesthetic reasons and/or for controlling a degree of lateral emission of light from the light fixture.