# US 11,994,272 B2 · Lighting assembly and illumination system having a lighting assembly

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- Number: US 11,994,272 B2
- Document ID: US11994272B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/891,358
- Filed: 2022-08-19
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-20
- Assignees: Gentex Corporation
- Applicants: Gentex Corporation
- Inventors: Bradley T. Dubs; Jason D. Hallack; Justin D. Jansen; Ted D. Reeves
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994272B2

## CPC

- F21V 21/049: {Mounting arrangements for attaching lighting devices to the ceiling, the lighting devices being recessed in a false or stretched ceiling}
- F21S 8/026: {intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling}
- F21V 21/15: specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
- F21V 23/001: {the elements being electrical wires or cables}
- F21V 23/0478: {by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera}
- H05B 47/125: by using cameras
- F21V 23/045: {the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller}
- F21V 33/0088: {Ventilating systems (lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air treatment systems F24F13/078)}
- F21W 2131/205: for operating theatres
- H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A lighting assembly includes an upper mount having a pan gear and a plurality of indicator flanges. A lower mount is operably coupled to the lower mount and includes a pan motor and a tilt motor. A printed circuit board is operably coupled to the upper mount and includes a plurality of sensors. At least one sensor is selectively and operably coupled with the plurality of indicator flanges of the upper mount. A light module is operably coupled to the lower mount and includes a tilt gear operably coupled to the lower mount. A controller is operably coupled to the printed circuit board, the pan motor, and the tilt motor and is configured to rotate the lower mount and the light module via the pan motor and is configured to tilt the light module via the tilt motor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting assembly, comprising:
an upper mount having a pan gear and a plurality of indicator flanges;
a lower mount operably coupled to the upper mount and including a pan motor and a tilt motor;
a printed circuit board operably coupled to the lower mount and including a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor selectively and operably coupled with the plurality of indicator flanges of the upper mount;
a light module operably coupled to the lower mount, the light module including a tilt gear that is operably coupled to the lower mount; and
a controller operably coupled to the printed circuit board, the pan motor, and the tilt motor, the controller being configured to rotate the lower mount and the light module via the pan motor and configured to tilt the light module via the tilt motor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board defines an aperture aligned with the pan motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the pan motor is in communication with the pan gear through the aperture.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an imaging device operably coupled to the light module and communicatively coupled to the controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an actuator ring proximate the upper mount and the printed circuit board, the actuator ring including a proximity tab, wherein the actuator ring translates between a first point and a second point; and
a proximity sensor configured to detect the proximity tab of the actuator ring at the first point and the second point of the actuator ring.

### Claim 6

A lighting assembly, comprising:
an upper mount, a lower mount coupled with the upper mount, and a gearing assembly between the upper and lower mounts configured to rotate the lower mount relative to the upper mount;
a printed circuit board operably coupled with the lower mount and defining an aperture, the gearing assembly extending through the aperture;
a first actuation device disposed in the lower mount and coupled with the gearing arrangement to drive the gearing arrangement;
an actuator ring between the upper and lower mounts including an engagement feature having a first surface and a second surface; and
a first mechanical stop extending from the upper mount for engaging the first surface of the engagement feature to limit rotation of the actuator ring during a rotation of the lower mount.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The lighting assembly of claim 6, further comprising:
a second actuation device disposed in the lower mount opposite the first actuation device and configured to drive a tilt of the lighting assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lighting assembly of claim 7, further comprising:
a lighting module pivotably coupled with the lower mount, wherein the second actuation device is configured to rotate the lighting module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The lighting assembly of claim 7, further comprising:
a Hall sensor coupled with the printed circuit board and aligned with the second actuation device, the Hall sensor configured to monitor the tilt.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The lighting assembly of claim 6, further comprising:
a plurality of indicator flanges extending from the upper mount; and
a plurality of sensors disposed on the printed circuit board for detecting the plurality of indicator flanges during rotation of the lower mount.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of indicator flanges includes outer flanges and a home indicator flange spaced radially inwardly from the outer flanges, and wherein the plurality of sensors includes a home sensor configured to detect the home indicator flange.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The lighting assembly of claim 6, further comprising:
a second mechanical stop extending from the lower mount for engaging the second surface of the engagement feature to sandwich the actuator ring and limit the rotation of the lower mount.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The lighting assembly of claim 12, further comprising:
a proximity tab extending from the actuator ring; and
a proximity sensor configured to detect the proximity tab during at least a portion of a range of the rotation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein the gearing arrangement includes a pan gear fixedly secured with the upper mount and a drive gear coupled with the first actuation device, the drive gear interlocking with the pan gear.

### Claim 15

An illumination system, comprising:
at least one air handler unit;
a housing operably coupled with the at least one air handler unit, the housing defining a cavity and including a transparent panel selectively removable from the housing, the transparent panel configured to provide access to the cavity;
a lighting assembly comprising:
an upper mount, a lower mount coupled with the upper mount, and a gearing assembly between the upper and lower mounts configured to rotate the lower mount relative to the upper mount;
a printed circuit board operably coupled with the lower mount and defining an aperture, the gearing assembly extending through the aperture; and
a first actuation device disposed in the lower mount and coupled with the gearing arrangement to drive the gearing arrangement; and
a controller in communication with the lighting assembly and configured to communicate an instruction to control the first actuation device to adjust the lighting assembly.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The illumination system of claim 15, further comprising:
an imaging device disposed in the cavity and communicatively coupled to the controller.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The illumination system of claim 16, wherein the imaging device is operably coupled to the lighting assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to control the lighting assembly based on an image captured by the imaging device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The illumination system of claim 15, further comprising:
a wire harness coupling the lighting assembly with the controller; and
a connection interface configured to align the wire harness between the lighting assembly and the controller.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The illumination system of claim 15, further comprising:
a second actuation device disposed in the lower mount opposite the first actuation device and configured to drive a tilt of the lighting assembly; and
a lighting module pivotably coupled with the lower mount, wherein the second actuation device is configured to rotate the lighting module.