GB2538709A - Improvements in or relating to luminaires and components for luminaires - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit board 10 comprises electrical control gear (40, Fig. 2) for controlling a light source within the luminaire. The circuit board provides electrical connections 12, 14 for LED light sources 16 for connecting the LED light sources to power terminals 20, 22 of the control gear. The circuit board also provides electrical connections for at least one RF and/or IR interface device 18 for connecting the interface device to a communication port of the control gear. The electrical connections are configured for the circuit board 10 to accommodate each interface device 18 on the same face of the circuit board as the LED light sources 16.

Description

Improvements in or Relatinq to Luminaires and Components for Luminaires The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to luminaires and components for luminaires.

Luminaires have become increasingly more sophisticated and complex devices as a result of rising requirements for their performance. For example LED (light emitting diode) light sources have been adopted to provide reduced power consumption and increased longevity. Control arrangements have been improved, including the ability to control luminaires from a remote location or to provide intelligence built into the luminaire. Luminaires must also be sufficiently robust to cope with atmospheric and environmental issues such as dust, dirt, moisture or precipitation, particularly when used outdoors. Some previous proposals have resulted in a compromise between these various requirements, making those designs less than optimal.

Examples of the present invention provide a circuit board for a luminaire which comprises electrical control gear for controlling a light source within the luminaire, the circuit board, in use, providing electrical connections from apparatus mounted on the circuit board to terminals for connection with the control gear; the circuit board providing electrical connections for at least one LED light source for connecting the LED light source to power terminals of the control gear; and the circuit board providing electrical connection for at least one RF and/or IR interface device for connecting the interface device to a communication port of the control gear, and the electrical connections being configured for the circuit board to 30 accommodate the or each interface device on the same face of the circuit board as the or at least one of the LED light sources.

The circuit board may provide electrical connections for a plurality of LED light sources. The circuit board may provide electrical connections for at least one RF interface device and also for at least one IR interface device.

Examples of the present invention also provide a luminaire component comprising a circuit board according to any of the definitions set out above, further comprising at least one LED light source mounted on the circuit board and/or at least one RF interface device mounted on the circuit board and/or at least one IR interface device mounted on the circuit board.

Examples of the present invention also provide a luminaire comprising a circuit board or luminaire component as defined above.

The luminaire may comprise a housing, a reflector within the housing and a window for light output from the housing, the reflector providing a partition within the housing to provide a space for receiving electrical control gear, wherein electrical control gear in the space is shielded from view through the window, during use, by the presence of the reflector, and wherein the reflector further comprises a circuit board as defined above and visible through the window, during use.

The window may have a region which is opaque to visible light and transparent to RF and/or IR radiation, the circuit board being positioned for the opaque regions to shield from view that part of the circuit board on which an RF and/or IR interface device is mounted, during use.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified, schematic side view of a circuit board according to one example of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a highly schematic and simplified section through a luminaire incorporating a circuit board which is an example of the present invention.

Overview Fig. 1 shows a circuit board 10 for a luminaire (to be described in more detail in relation to Fig. 2). At this point, it is sufficient to understand that the luminaire comprises electrical control gear for controlling a light source within the luminaire. The circuit board 10 provides electrical connections 12, 14 from apparatus 16, 18 which is mounted, in use, on the circuit board 10. The electrical connections 12, 14 connect from the apparatus 16, 18 to terminals 20, 22 for connection with the control gear of the luminaire.

Fig. 1 shows the edge of the circuit board which, in this example, is a planar circuit board. The circuit board 10 provides electrical connections 12 for at least one LED light source 16. LED light sources 16 are indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The use of broken lines indicates that the LED light sources 16 are not mounted on the circuit board 10 in the view of Fig. 1, but indicates the position at which LED light sources 16 would be mounted for use.

The circuit board 10 also provides electrical connections 14 for at least one RF and/or IR interface device 18. One RF and/or IR interface device 18 is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The use of broken lines indicates that the RF and/or IR interface device 18 is not mounted on the circuit board 10 in the view of Fig. 1, but indicates the position at which the RF and/or IR interface device 18 would be mounted for use.

When LED light sources 16 are mounted on the board 10, the electrical connections 16 connect the LED light sources 16 through the terminals 20 to power terminals of the control gear, as will be described below. When an RF and/or IR interface device 18 is mounted on the board 10, the electrical connections 14 connect the interface device 18 through the terminals 22 to a communication port of the control gear, as will be described below.

The electrical connections 12, 14 are configured to perform their function as described above and to be described further below, when the LED light sources 16 and the RE and/or IR interface device 18 are accommodated on the same face 24 of the circuit board 10. That is, the circuit board 10 accommodates the or each interface device 18 on the same face 24 of the circuit board 10 as the or at least one of the LED light sources 16.

Populating the Board The circuit board 10 of Fig. 1 can be prepared for incorporation into a luminaire by populating the face 24 with components. LED light sources 16 are mounted on the face 24 and connected appropriately to the connections 12 and therefore to the terminals 20. Similarly, the interface 18 is mounted on the face 24 of the board 10 and appropriately connected to the connections 14 and thus to the terminal 22.

The techniques used for mounting the components 16, 18 on the board 10 may be conventional techniques for mounting components on circuit boards and for connecting them to terminals for onward connection to external apparatus. However, it is to be noted that because the LED light sources 16 and the RE and/or IR interface device 18 are mounted on the same face 24 of the board 10, all of the components 16, 18 will be visible at the same time, when all of that face 24 is visible.

Luminaire Fig. 2 illustrates a circuit board 10 incorporated within a luminaire 26. The circuit board 10 of Fig. 2 differs slightly from the circuit board illustrated in Fig. 1. In this second example, the connections 12, 14 lead to the same edge 28 of the board, so that the terminals 20, 22 are all provided at the same edge 28. In the example of Fig. 1, the terminals 20, 22 are at opposite edges of the board 10, with the connections 12, 14 reconfigured appropriately.

It is envisaged that leading the connections 12, 14 to a single edge 28 may simplify the onward connections, but alternative connection arrangements could be used.

The luminaire 26 of Fig. 2 includes a housing 30, a reflector 32 and a window 34. In this example, the housing 30 is a metal casting. Metal castings are commonly used for luminaire housings, particularly for outdoor luminaires. The reflector 32 is also of metal. The window 34 is of glass, plastic material or other suitable material to allow the light output of the luminaire to leave the housing 30.

The window 34 fits in and closes the mouth of the housing 30. Seals (not shown) may be provided around the edges of the window 34 to seal the interior of the housing 30 against ingress of dirt, moisture etc. The reflector 32 serves two functions. First, light from the LEDs 16 is reflected towards the window 34 to increase the output of the luminaire 26. Second, the reflector 32 acts as a partition between spaces described here as the rear space 36 and the front space 38. It is to be understood that the terms "rear" and "front" are not intended to specify any particular orientation of the luminaire 26.

Electrical control gear 40 for controlling the operation of the luminaire 26 is housed within the rear space 36. The presence of the reflector 32 hides or obscures the control gear 40 from view through the window 34, so that the control gear 40 will generally not be visible during normal use.

The circuit board 10 is located in the front space 38, supported in position by appropriate mounting arrangements 42. Fig. 2 illustrates the board 10 in position and populated with LED light sources 16 and an RF and/or IR interface 18.

The light sources 16 are visible through the window 34, so that their light output can leave the luminaire 26. The interface 18 is also exposed through the window 34. For cosmetic reasons, it may be desirable for the window 34 to have two regions of different properties. In this example, the region 34a is transparent to visible light, allowing the visible output of the light sources 16 to leave the luminaire 26. The second window region 34b is opaque to visible light in this example, but is transparent to RF and/or IR radiation. Thus, the interface device 18 is shielded from human view, during use, but the window 34 does not block RF and/or IR signals for the interface device 18.

Cables or other electrical connections 44 connect the terminals 20, 22 to the control gear 40 and connect the controller 40 to an external power supply (not shown).

Normal Use During normal use, the control gear 40 draws power from the external power supply and provides power to the circuit board 10 to cause the LED light sources 16 to be illuminated. This creates the light output of the luminaire 26.

The light leaves the luminaire 26 through the window 34. Some may be reflected off the reflector 32.

Additional Facilities The presence of one or more interface devices 18 on the board 10 allows additional facilities to be provided. The interface device 18 allows remote communication to be provided with the control gear 40. This communication may be uni-directional (in or out) or bi-directional. For this reason, the connections 14, the terminals 22 and the wiring 42 provide communication between the interface device 18 and a communication port (not shown separately) of the control gear 40. The interface 18 is exposed for RF and/or IR communication through the window 34 and in particular, the interface 18 is not shielded by the housing 30 and the reflector 32, as would be the case if the interface 18 was housed in the rear space 36. If the housing 30 and the reflector 32 are both metal, this shielding would render difficult or uncertain any RF and/or IR communication with the interface 18.

Communication with the control gear 40, through the interface device 18, may be used for various purposes. For example, control systems within the control gear 40 may be programmed or re-programmed through the interface device 18. Data logs held within the control gear 40, such as data logs relating to test results, usage, component deterioration etc. may be interrogated or downloaded. In one example, we envisage interrogating data logs by using a hand-held device 46 communicating with the control gear 40 by making an IR link with the interface device 18.

In another example, the control gear 40 may use the interface 18 to send signals for receiving at a remote location, for example by a similar luminaire, or may receive signals from a remote location, such as from another similar luminaire. This allows the operation of a group of luminaires to coordinate for a variety of reasons, without requiring a wired connection between the luminaires.

All of these types of communication are made more reliable by exposing the interface 18 through the window 34, which is transparent to RF and/or IR, at least in part.

Concluding Comments The interface device 18 has been described as an RF and/or IR interface device. The choice of providing an RF interface or an IR interface or both can be made according to the nature of the communication which will be required in the luminaire 26, during use. Examples have been given above. A suitable interface device 18 (or devices) can be installed when the board 10 is populated.

It is envisaged that the circuit board 10 is built as a base product without being populated with an interface device 18, initially. This will allow the base product to be used in a luminaire which is not required to provide for external communication by RF and/or IR means. In that case, LED light sources 16 would be provided, but no interface device 18 is required. However, if external communication is required, an appropriate interface device 18 can be included when the board 10 is populated. It is important to note that because the interface device or devices 18 is or are installed on the same face of the board 10 as the light sources 16, it or they will be exposed to the window of any of a wide range of luminaire housing designs, because LED light sources are conventionally used to provide light output directly through the luminaire window. Consequently, the interface device 18 can reliably provide an RF and/or IR interface, as described, because of its position, but without requiring any separate components or separate mounting arrangements beyond those provided for mounting the circuit board 10.

Many variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Many different shapes, sizes, relative shapes and relative sizes of various components described can be used. The number of LED light sources 16 may vary and the pattern or layout of light sources 16 on the board 10 can be varied.

No additional circuit boards are required to provide the interface, only to install an interface device 18 on the board 10.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS1. A circuit board for a luminaire which comprises electrical control gear for controlling a light source within the luminaire, the circuit board, in use, providing electrical connections from apparatus mounted on the circuit board to terminals for connection with the control gear; the circuit board providing electrical connections for at least one LED light source for connecting the LED light source to power terminals of the control gear; and the circuit board providing electrical connection for at least one RF and/or IR interface device for connecting the interface device to a communication port of the control gear, and the electrical connections being configured for the circuit board to accommodate the or each interface device on the same face of the circuit board as the or at least one of the LED light sources.
2. 2. The circuit board of claim 1, wherein the circuit board provides electrical connections for a plurality of LED light sources.
3. 3. The circuit board of claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit board provides electrical connections for at least one RF interface device and also for at least one IR interface device.
4. 4. A luminaire component comprising a circuit board according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one LED light source mounted on the circuit board and/or at least one RF interface device mounted on the circuit board and/or at least one IR interface device mounted on the circuit board.
5. 5. A luminaire comprising a circuit board according to any of claims 1 to 3 or a luminaire component according to claim 4.
6. 6. A luminaire according to claim 5, further comprising a housing and a window for light output from the housing, and wherein the circuit board is visible through the window, during use.
7. 7. A luminaire according to claim 6, further comprising a reflector within the housing, the reflector providing a partition within the housing to provide a space for receiving electrical control gear, wherein electrical control gear in the space is shielded from view through the window, during use, by the presence of the reflector.
8. 8. A luminaire according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the window has a region which is opaque to visible light and transparent to RE and/or IR radiation, the circuit board being positioned for the opaque regions to shield from view that part of the circuit board on which an RF and/or IR interface device is mounted, during use.
9. 9. A circuit board for a luminaire, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. 10. A luminaire component, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings
11. 11. A luminaire, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings. ('Si12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.