Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
  • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
  • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
  • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
  • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
  • H05B47/115—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
  • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Definitions

• the subject of the present invention is a modular device for emitting luminous signals, in particular of the electroluminescent source type (LED, OLED, AMOLED, FOLED, etc.).
• the present invention relates to the modules for said modular device for emitting light signals, in particular of the electroluminescent source type.
• light-emitting sources such as diodes in the field of lighting has opened a wide range of new applications from a practical point of view as well as from an aesthetic point of view.
• light modules being controllable by one or more controllers.
• the patent application WO2015040324 describes a programmable module that makes it possible to produce modular installations of variable size by adding modules, in particular by connecting new modules to the existing modules.
• the modularity of a lighting device brings many advantages among which we will mention: a reduced cost, a possibility of simplified customization of the lighting device, ease of transport and storage, and / or a possibility of multiple assemblies.
• These modular lighting devices thus make it possible to create unique lighting devices, customizable as desired according to the user's light needs, available space constraints, and / or budget.
• Patent application WO2011028773 claims a lighting device comprising: a housing; one or more light-emitting diode (LED) modules provided in the housing, the LED modules comprising a heat sink and a network a light source, wherein the light source array is configured to fit in a cavity formed by three or more sides of the heat sink, and the light source array that includes a plurality of LED packets.
• FIG. 3A describes an example of a linear assembly of LED packets (12, 14, 16) mounted mechanically inside linear heat sinks which together form the LED modules.
• the patent application WO2011089536 relates to a lighting device comprising a plurality of panels emitting light.
• Each light emitting panel has at least one interface, which is adapted for signal transmission.
• the bus system is adapted to transmit signals, the signals being indicative of the power and / or color of each panel emitting light.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome all the problems of the prior art by proposing a module for a modular device for light signal emitters, in particular of the electroluminescent source type (LED, OLED, AMOLED, FOLED, ...), the said module comprising several layers including
• PCB printed circuit board
• the PCB is of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising an identical hermaphroditic "Ea” electrical connection device and at least two edges each comprising a hermaphroditic "Db” data transfer connection device identical,
• the base is of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising an identical "Me" hermaphrodite mechanical connection device, the said connection devices Ea, Db and Me being positioned on the edges of the PCB and / or the base in order to realize the mechanical, electrical and data transfer links with a neighboring module,
• connection devices Ea that can form a rotary connection with the same connection devices Ea of a neighboring module
• connection devices Db that can form a rotary connection with the same connection devices Db of a neighboring module
• the connecting devices Me can form a rotatable connection and detachable clip with the same Me connecting devices of a neighboring module.
• the present invention therefore also relates to a modular device for emitting light signals, said device comprising a plurality of modules linked together mechanically, electrically and through data transfer links, each module comprising several layers of which
• PCB printed circuit board
• the PCB is of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising an identical hermaphroditic "Ea” electrical connection device and at least two edges each comprising a hermaphroditic "Db” data transfer connection device identical,
• the base is of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising an identical "Me" hermaphrodite mechanical connection device, the said connection devices Ea, Db and Me being positioned on the edges of the PCB and / or the base in order to realize the mechanical, electrical and data transfer connection with a neighboring module, the linking devices Ea forming a rotary connection with the same connection devices Ea of a neighboring module,
• connection devices Db forming a rotary connection with the same connection devices Db of a neighboring module
• connection devices Me forming a rotary connection and detachable clip with the same connection devices Me of a neighboring module.
• the modular device is characterized in that the data transfer between the PCBs is bi-directional (data transfer / reception).
• Modules for modular device of light signal emitters therefore comprise a carrier structure called "base".
• This base and its design represent an important element of the present invention because it makes it possible to ensure the role of self-supporting structure of the modular device while making it possible to add, remove and / or replace modules as illustrated in the description of the FIGS.
• the base is rigid.
• the base is of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising a hermaphroditic mechanical connection device "Me" identical, said devices Me being positioned on the edges of the base so as to achieve the mechanical connection with a neighboring module and, said devices Me forming a rotary link and detachable clip with the same Me connecting devices of a neighboring module.
• the rotary mechanical connection according to the present invention consists of the two hermaphroditic bonding devices Me between a module and its neighboring module which form during their connection a hinge without a central part, this type of hinge being able to be characterized as a hinge-type connection. without central part; the specificity of this connection is that it allows a rotation of the modules around their mechanical connection.
• each connecting device comprises a male element and a female element as illustrated in the figures.
• connection devices Me are fixed and therefore form an integral part of the base.
• the base and its connecting devices Me are made in one piece.
• the base may advantageously be made of plastic, by any suitable method of processing plastics, for example by injection or molding or by printing in three dimensions.
• this is not a preferred variant according to the present invention, it obviously covers bases whose Me bonding devices would have been fixed by means of any suitable attachment; for illustrative purposes, we will mention connecting devices screwed to the structure of the base.
• the module or modular device is characterized in that the Me bonding devices are fixed and form an integral part of the base; and, preferably, that the base and its connecting devices Me are made in one piece.
• An additional feature of the base according to the present invention is that it is adapted to serve as a support for the printed circuit board (“PCB") comprising the light sources which can therefore be attached preferably removably.
• PCB printed circuit board
• the removable character of this base-PCB attachment can be important because it will allow to install, remove and / or replace the PCB according to the needs of the end user.
• the choice of the type of removable connection between the base and the PCB is not critical as long as it is easily removable. As an illustration, we will mention magnetic devices to ensure the removable assembly between the base and the PCB. Such a technique makes it possible to assemble bases and PCBs quickly.
• the assembly between the PCB and the base is performed by male / female snap-on connection devices with, preferably, at least one male clip and a positioning pin on the base and at least 2 matching holes on the PCB.
• the base and its clip-board PCB base-link devices are made in one piece; preferably of plastic material, by any suitable method of processing plastics, for example by injection molding or by three-dimensional printing.
• plastic material preferably of plastic material
• the use of a clip-on assembly between the PCB and the base has been particularly facilitated and improved over other types of assembly, allowing much greater flexibility for the end user when installation, removal and / or replacement of the PCB according to its needs.
• the module or modular device is characterized in that the printed circuit board (“PCB”) is removably attached to the base and, preferably, that this removable attachment is a device clip-on connection.
• PCB printed circuit board
• FIG. 1 illustrates a base according to the present invention, said base comprising four edges each comprising an identical "Me” hermaphroditic mechanical connection device, said devices Me being able to form a rotating mechanical connection and detachable clipping with the same devices. a neighboring module.
• Figure 1 illustrates the feature that the base and its Me connecting devices are made in one piece.
• FIG. 1 also illustrates the presence of two male clips (“CM”) and two positioning pins (“PP”) which will correspond to four holes of the PCB, which will make it possible to make the detachable connection between the base and the PCB.
• CM male clips
• PP positioning pins
• Modules for a light signal emitter modular device therefore comprise a printed circuit board called "PCB" comprising the light sources which is preferably fixed removably to the base.
• PCB printed circuit board
• This PCB and its design are an important part of this invention because it provides lighting and / or dynamic display and control, while making possible its addition, removal and / or replacement in the modules as shown in the description of the figures.
• the PCB is therefore of polygonal shape and comprises at least two edges each comprising an identical hermaphroditic "Ea" electrical connection device and at least two edges each comprising a hermaphroditic "Db" data transfer link device identical, said devices Ea and Db are positioned on the edges of the PCB so as to make the electrical connection and the data transfer link (for example digital data) with a neighboring module, and the binding devices Ea can form a connection rotating with the same connection devices Ea of a neighboring module, and the connecting devices Db can form a rotary link with the same connection devices Db of a neighboring module.
• the rotary electrical connection according to the present invention is constituted by the two hermaphroditic connection devices Ea between a module and its neighboring module which form during their connection / connection a hinge without a central part, this type of hinge being able to be characterized as a connection of hinge type without central part; the specificity of this connection which allows the rotation of the PCBs around their electrical connection is that it guarantees the passage of current between PCBs without interfering with the desired degree of rotation of the modules around their mechanical connection; an additional optional specificity of this link is that it is removable.
• the rotary data transfer link consists of the two hermaphroditic connection devices Db between a module and its neighboring module which form, on their connection, a hinge without a central part, this type of hinge being able to be characterized as a connection hinge type without central part; the specificity of this connection which allows the rotation of the PCBs around their data transfer link is that it guarantees the transfer of data between PCBs without interfering with the desired degree of rotation of the modules around their mechanical connection; an additional optional specificity of this link is that it is removable.
• the PCB comprises:
• At least one transmitter driver when the transmitter is a light emitting diode-type emitter at least one programmable microcontroller fixed on said base which, via the transmitter driver when the transmitter is a transmitter of the electroluminescent diode type, drives the emission of the light signals;
• At least one sensor for measuring a local parameter optionally, at least one sensor for measuring a local parameter.
• connection devices Db can be connected with the same connection device of a neighboring module in the modular installation of the device to allow a bidirectional communication of transfer. receiving data between the microcontroller of said module and the microcontroller of said neighboring module.
• At least one of the linking devices Ea can be connected with the same connection device of a neighboring module in the modular installation of the device to allow a distribution of the power supply. between the modules.
• its basic architecture comprises a programmable microcontroller which manages the data with the neighboring modules and which also manages the "drivers" of the light signal transmitters (for example the LED drivers) which control themselves the emitter of light signals (eg LED light sources).
• the word "Driver” is the appropriate term and used by those skilled in the art; for illustrative and not limiting, this word is sometimes replaced by the terms “drive circuit” or “control circuit” or "driver”.
• Figure 2 illustrates a PCB in accordance with the present invention. It can be seen a card comprising one hundred LEDs, four edges each comprising an electrical connection device and a data transfer link device [detailed below in FIG. 3] as well as the four positioning holes ("TP") which will correspond to the male clips and positioning pins of the base, which will make the removable connection between the base and the PCB.
• TP positioning holes
• FIG. 3 - illustrates an enlarged view of some elements of the PCB.
• the hermaphroditic electrical connection device "Ea” (which comprises in this representation two connectors respectively located on the left and right of the figure), said device being able to form a rotary electrical connection with the same device Ea of a neighbor module; as well as the data transfer link device hermaphrodite "Db" (in the center of the figure), said device being able to form a rotary connection with the same device Db of a neighboring module.
• hermaphroditic mechanical connection devices "Me” form a rotatable mechanical connection and detachable clip between neighboring modules which ensures the individual rigidity of each module while allowing a rotation of a module relative to its neighboring module and all module addition, removal and / or replacement;
• hermaphroditic "Ea” electrical connection devices make it possible to supply electricity to each PCB (more particularly the set of components providing the functions necessary for the distribution and regulation of the power supply) without interfering with the desired degree of rotation modules around their mechanical connection;
• the data transfer link devices Db allow communication (preferably bidirectional) of data transfer (/ reception) between the PCBs (more particularly between the microcontrollers of the PCBs) without interfering with the desired degree of rotation of the modules around their mechanical connection,
• At least one light signal emitter / light source is a light emitting diode type emitter.
• the present invention thus finds a particularly advantageous application in installations of light modules, such as indoor or outdoor lighting, dynamic display, etc.
• the module further comprises at least one sensor for measuring a local parameter (preferably fixed on the PCB), said at least one sensor generating local measurement data and the microcontroller being connected to said at least one a sensor for receiving said local measurement data.
• a local parameter preferably fixed on the PCB
• the microcontroller being connected to said at least one a sensor for receiving said local measurement data.
• the measuring sensor may be of the proximity sensor type, but other types of sensors may of course be envisaged, such as pressure sensor, temperature sensor, brightness sensor, etc.
• the proximity sensor detects the approach of an object or a person, and the microcontroller integrates this measurement data to possibly (depending on the control algorithm) change the control of the signal emitter (s). In other words, the microcontroller reacts to this approach by varying the emissions of the signals.
• the module comprises the three types of connection devices Ea, Db and Me on each edge, so that each edge of the module can be connected to the edge of a similar module neighbor, for it may be possible to obtain a complete tiling of a surface by means of the interconnected modules.
• the modular device comprises modules whose shape, the three types of connection devices Ea, Db and Me and their positioning on the edges are identical.
• the present invention therefore also relates to a modular device characterized in that its modules have a shape, the three types of connection devices Ea, Db and Me and their positioning on the same edges; for example that all its modules are identical.
• the selection of the shapes of the modules may be carried out among a multitude of shapes depending on the type of paving desired; by way of illustration and not limitation, we will mention modules of triangular shape (for example equilateral triangles), square, rectangular and / or hexagonal.
• the shape of the PCBs and / or diffusers / light guides will generally be identical to that of the modules.
• the base of the module can also be of identical shape to that of the modules, it is advantageous to use different shapes as illustrated in the figures, for example a hollowed-out octagonal shape.
• the modules are regular polygons.
• the edges of the modules are of the same length.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the realization of a pavement formed by four modules.
• the bases of the said modules are represented as well as the devices Me (which are an integral part of the base) which form a removable rotary mechanical connection and removable clip with the same devices Me of a neighboring module.
• the edges of the base coincide exactly with the edges of the PCB; indeed, it suffices for example that part of the edge of the base is close to the corresponding stop of the PCB; thus, the hermaphrodite connectors Me are positioned on the edge of the base and the hermaphrodite connectors Ea and Db are positioned on the edge of the PCB while making it possible to assemble the PCB on the base, for example without create clutter between all the connectors.
• the visible upper part of the modules consists of a diffuser / light guide layer which is itself clipped onto the base / PCB assembly of the module.
• the shapes / surface dimensions of this layer are similar to that of the PCB which illustrates the fact that it suffices that a portion of the edge of the base is close to the corresponding shutdown of the PCB.
• the present invention therefore also relates to a modular device of the clip-on type comprising several modules according to the invention, in which each module has at least the three types of connection devices Ea, Db and Me which each form a connection with the same devices Ea. , Db and Me of a neighboring module.
• This device is totally scalable (ability to be scaled) allowing to have arbitrary size installations, depending on the number of modules used; it being specified that the more modules there are in the installation, and the more microcontrollers there are to execute the algorithm for controlling the installation in parallel.
• Such an installation has the advantage that it does not necessarily require a centralized communication bus, since the communication is local between neighboring modules in the modular device by virtue of their data transfer link devices Db (preferably allowing bidirectional communication ) and, thus, the larger the installation, the more it has local communication channels.
• the assembly and the structure of the modules guarantee a local communication between the modules which facilitates the wiring: it suffices to supply the network modular device with a sufficient number of power supplies to distribute the electrical power to the modules. all the modules via their electric connection devices Ea.
• the modular device comprises at least one power supply relay comprising the same hermaphroditic electrical connection device Ea that the module to which it is connected.
• a single power supply relay can be sufficient to distribute the current to several modules of said device.
• a relay power supply can power at least two, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or even hundred modules of said device; for example for modules having a PCB surface area of between 25 cm 2 and 40,000 cm 2, between 100 cm 2 and 10,000 cm 2, for example between 225 and 1089 cm 2.
• the electrical connector also comprises a hermaphroditic mechanical connection device Me identical to that of the module to which it is connected.
• the modular device comprises at least one data transfer relay (for example a control program executed by the microcontrollers) comprising the same data transfer link device Db that the module to which it is connected.
• a single data transfer relay may be sufficient to transfer the data (preferably bidirectionally) to several modules of said device.
• a data transfer relay may transfer the data to at least two, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, one hundred, one thousand, or even several million modules of said device; for example for modules having a PCB surface area of between 25 cm 2 and 40,000 cm 2, between 100 cm 2 and 10,000 cm 2, for example between 225 and 1089 cm 2.
• the data transfer relay also comprises a hermaphroditic mechanical link device Me identical to that of the module to which it is connected.
• the data transfer relay comprises a storage unit and / or a memory in which is stored the program (s) for controlling the modules and therefore the modular device; this allows, thanks to the use of very compact relays embedded in the modular devices to make said modular devices autonomous.
• the data transfer relay includes any type of connection port (USB, Ethernet, memory card slots (SD, SDHC, MMC, etc.)) and / or element wireless communication device allowing a source external to the modular device to transmit data to it; at illustrative and non-limiting title of external source, we will mention a computer, a tablet, a USB memory, a smartphone, a memory card, etc.
• the modular device is characterized in that the data transfer between the PCBs and the data transfer relay is bidirectional (data transfer / reception).
• FIG. 5 illustrates a single power supply relay which makes it possible to supply energy to all the module tiling, said element comprising the same hermaphroditic electrical connection device Ea as that of the module to which it is connected and the same device Me mechanical link that the module to which it is connected.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a single data transfer relay that makes it possible to transfer (bidirectionally) the data throughout the module tiling, said element preferably comprising the same hermaphroditic data transfer link device Db as that of the module to which it is connected and the same mechanical connection device Me as that of the module to which it is connected.
• the modules also comprise a diffuser / lightguide layer which is preferably clipped onto the base / PCB assembly of the module.
• a diffuser / lightguide layer which is preferably clipped onto the base / PCB assembly of the module.
• Any type of diffuser / light guide may advantageously be used in the context of the present invention; for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, this set may consist of 2 distinct layers, one acting as a light diffuser and the other the role of light guide.

Landscapes

• Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Electroluminescent Light Sources (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

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Family Cites Families (4)

• 2016
  • 2016-06-03 FR FR1655069A patent/FR3052325B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-05-26 WO PCT/EP2017/062736 patent/WO2017207423A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-05-26 EP EP17725277.2A patent/EP3466203A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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