Lighting module
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a lighting module wherein a DC-DC converter and an LED module are provided as an integral part of the lighting module, and an AC-DC module is provided separately from the lighting module. The AC-DC module is effectively a remote power supply that can be easily replaced without having to replace, reconfigure, or otherwise modify the lighting module. With this configuration, the DC-DC module may be tuned for the particular LED module of the lighting module, and in the case of a failure of the AC-DC module, the AC-DC module can be replaced without having to replace or retune the DC-DC module.
1. A lighting module for mounting within a mounting housing and receiving DC power from a remote AC-DC module that is mounted outside of the mounting housing comprising:
an LED module comprising a plurality of LEDs; and
a DC-DC module configured to receive a DC power signal from the remote AC-DC module and provide at least one drive signal to drive the plurality of LEDs of the LED module.
2. The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to receive from the remote AC-DC module an output dimming signal based on a desired level of dimming for the plurality of LEDs and the DC-DC module is configured to control the at least one drive signal based on the output dimming signal.
3. The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the LED module is configured to provide a feedback signal to the DC-DC module, which is further configured to control the at least one drive signal based at least in part on the feedback signal.
4. The lighting module of claim 3 wherein LED module is configured to detect a temperature associated with LED module and the feedback signal relates to the temperature associated with the LED module.
5. The lighting module of claim 3 wherein LED module is configured to detect a fault in the LED module and the feedback signal relates to the fault associated with the LED module.
6. The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to provide a feedback signal to the remote AC-DC module, which is further configured to control the DC power signal based at least in part on the feedback signal.
7. The lighting module of claim 6 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to detect a temperature associated with the DC-DC module and the feedback signal relates to the temperature associated with the DC-DC module.
8. The lighting module of claim 6 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to detect a fault in the DC-DC module and the feedback signal relates to the fault associated with the DC-DC module.
9. The lighting module of claim 6 wherein the remote AC-DC module is configured to generate and provide to the DC-DC module an output dimming signal based at least in part on the feedback signal, and the DC-DC module is configured to control the at least one drive signal based on the output dimming signal.
10. The lighting module of claim 9 wherein the remote AC-DC module is configured to convert an AC power signal to the DC power signal and generate the output dimming signal based on an input dimming signal that is separate from the AC power signal.
11. The lighting module of claim 9 wherein the remote AC-DC module is configured to convert an AC power signal to the DC power signal and generate the output dimming signal based on a characteristic of the AC power signal.
12. The lighting module of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink having a compartment, wherein the DC-DC module is mounted within the compartment.
13. The lighting module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises a first group of LEDs that emit reddish light and a second group of LEDs that emit bluish-green or bluish-yellow light such that the reddish light and the bluish-green or bluish-yellow light mix to form white light at a desired color temperature.
14. A lighting assembly comprising:
a lighting module comprising:
an LED module comprising a plurality of LEDs; and
a DC-DC module configured to receive a DC power signal and provide at least one drive signal to drive the plurality of LEDs of the LED module, and
an AC-DC module configured to convert an AC power signal to the DC power signal for the DC-DC module, wherein the lighting module is configured to mount inside of a mounting housing and the AC-DC module is configured to mount outside of the mounting housing.
15. The lighting assembly of claim 14 wherein the AC-DC module is configured to mount inside of a junction box, which is mounted outside of the mounting housing.
16. The lighting assembly of claim 15 further comprising the mounting housing, the junction box, and a mounting frame on which the mounting housing and the junction box are mounted.
17. The lighting assembly of claim 15 further comprising a cable that extends through an opening in the mounting housing, connects the AC-DC module and the DC-DC module, and carries the DC power signal from the AC-DC module to the DC-DC module.
18. The lighting assembly of claim 14 wherein the AC-DC module is configured to generate and provide to the DC-DC module an output dimming signal based on a desired level of dimming for the plurality of LEDs and the DC-DC module is configured to control the at least one drive signal based on the output dimming signal.
19. The lighting assembly of claim 18 wherein the AC-DC module is configured to determine the desired level of dimming for the plurality of LEDs based on an input dimming signal that is separate from the AC power signal.
20. The lighting assembly of claim 18 wherein the AC-DC module is configured to determine the desired level of dimming for the plurality of LEDs based on a characteristic of the AC power signal.
21. The lighting assembly of claim 14 wherein the LED module is configured to provide a feedback signal to the DC-DC module, which is further configured to control the at least one drive signal based at least in part on the feedback signal.
22. The lighting assembly of claim 21 wherein the LED module is configured to detect a temperature associated with LED module and the feedback signal relates to the temperature associated with the LED module.
23. The lighting assembly of claim 21 wherein LED module is configured to detect a fault in the LED module and the feedback signal relates to the fault associated with the LED module.
24. The lighting assembly of claim 14 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to provide a feedback signal to the AC-DC module, which is further configured to control the DC power signal based at least in part on the feedback signal.
25. The lighting assembly of claim 24 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to detect a temperature associated with DC-DC module and the feedback signal relates to the temperature associated with the DC-DC module.
26. The lighting assembly of claim 24 wherein the DC-DC module is configured to detect a fault in the DC-DC module and the feedback signal relates to the fault associated with the DC-DC module.
27. The lighting assembly of claim 24 wherein the AC-DC module is configured to generate and provide to the DC-DC module an output dimming signal based at least in part on the feedback signal, and the DC-DC module is configured to control the at least one drive signal based on the output dimming signal.
28. The lighting assembly of claim 27 wherein the AC-DC module is further configured to generate the output dimming signal based on an input dimming signal that is separate from the AC power signal.
29. The lighting assembly of claim 27 wherein the AC-DC module is further configured to generate the output dimming signal based on a characteristic of the AC power signal.
30. The lighting assembly of claim 14 further comprising a mounting frame and the mounting housing mounted to the mounting frame and wherein the lighting assembly forms a recessed lighting fixture for ceilings.
31. The lighting assembly of claim 30 further comprising a junction box mounted on the mounting frame and outside of the mounting housing, wherein the AC-DC module is mounted inside the junction box and the lighting module is mounted inside the mounting housing.