# US 12,181,139 B2 · Modular connection module for a luminaire that reduces the required number of wire harnesses and conserves space

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- Number: US 12,181,139 B2
- Document ID: US12181139B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/424,256
- Filed: 2020-01-22
- Published: 2022-04-14
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-22
- Assignees: Schreder S.A.
- Applicants: Schreder S.A.
- Inventors: Laurent Secretin; Laurent Etorre
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181139B2

## CPC

- F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors}
- F21V 25/10: coming into action when lighting device is overloaded, e.g. thermal switch
- H02H 9/041: {using a short-circuiting device}
- H02H 9/06: using spark-gap arresters
- H05B 45/50: responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
- H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H02H 9/044: {Physical layout, materials not provided for elsewhere (varistors H01C7/12; spark-gaps H01T; Ovshinsky devices H10N70/00)}
- Y02B 20/30: Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Example embodiments relate to connection modules for luminaires. One example connection module for a luminaire with a light module includes a support. The connection module also includes a surge protection circuitry arranged on the support. Additionally, the connection module includes a first and second supply terminal for connection to a power supply. The first and second supply terminal are connected to the surge protection circuitry. Further, the connection module includes a first and second load terminal for connection to a drive means of the light module. The first and second load terminal are connected to the surge protection circuitry. In addition, the connection module includes at least a first and second control terminal. A connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connection module for a luminaire with a light module, comprising:
a support;
a surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
a first and second supply terminal for connection to a power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
a first and second load terminal for connection to a drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry; and
at least a first and second control terminal,
wherein the support comprises a printed circuit board, PCB,
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the PCB, and
wherein the first and second supply terminals, the first and second load terminals, and the first and second control terminals are arranged on the PCB.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, wherein the surge protection circuitry comprises at least one metal oxide varistor, MOV, and at least one thermal protection device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, further comprising a supply connector comprising the first and second supply terminal, said supply connector being configured for receiving at least two wire ends.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The connection module according to claim 3, further comprising:
a load connector provided with at least two load connection pins for cooperating with a socket plug, said at least two load connection pins comprising the first and second load terminal; and
at least one low voltage connector provided with at least two low voltage connection pins,
wherein the supply connector further comprises the first control terminal,
wherein said at least two load connection pins further comprise the second terminal,
wherein said at least two low voltage connection pins comprise a third control terminal, and
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting at least one of the first control terminal and the second control terminal with the third control terminal is arranged on the support.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The connection module according to claim 3, further comprising:
a load connector provided with at least two load connection pins for cooperating with a socket plug, said at least two load connection pins comprising the first and second load terminal; and
a socket connector provided with at least two socket connection pins,
wherein the supply connector further comprises the first control terminal,
wherein said at least two load connection pins further comprise the second terminal,
wherein said at least two socket connection pins comprise a third control terminal, and
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting at least one of the first control terminal and the second control terminal with the third control terminal is arranged on the support.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, further comprising a load connector provided with at least two load connection pins for cooperating with a socket plug, said at least two load connection pins comprising the first and second load terminal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, further comprising at least one low voltage connector provided with at least two low voltage connection pins.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, further comprising a socket connector provided with at least two socket connection pins.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The connection module according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator device and monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a malfunctioning of the surge protection circuitry and to provide an output signal to the indicator device based on said monitoring.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The luminaire comprising:
the connection module according to claim 1;
the power supply electrically connected to the first and second supply terminal of the connection module;
the drive means electrically connected to the first and second load terminal of the connection module; and
the light module electrically connected to the drive means.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The luminaire according to claim 10, comprising the connection module comprising:
the support;
the surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
the first and second supply terminal for connection to the power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the first and second load terminal for connection to the drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the at least first and second control terminal; and
at least one low voltage connector provided with at least two low voltage connection pins,
wherein the connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support, and
wherein the luminaire further comprises a low voltage control means electrically connected to at least one low voltage connector of the connection module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The luminaire according to claim 10, comprising the connection module comprising:
the support;
the surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
the first and second supply terminal for connection to the power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the first and second load terminal for connection to the drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the at least first and second control terminal; and
a socket connector provided with at least two socket connection pins,
wherein the connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support, and
wherein the luminaire further comprises a socket electrically connected to the socket connector of the connection module.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The luminaire according to claim 10, comprising the connection module comprising:
the support;
the surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
the first and second supply terminal for connection to the power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the first and second load terminal for connection to the drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the at least first and second control terminal; and
an equipotential terminal,
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support, and
wherein the luminaire further comprises an equipotential part connected to the equipotential terminal of the connection module.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The luminaire according to claim 10, comprising the connection module comprising:
the support;
the surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
the first and second supply terminal for connection to the power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the first and second load terminal for connection to the drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
the at least first and second control terminal; and
an indicator device and monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a malfunctioning of the surge protection circuitry and to provide an output signal to the indicator device based on said monitoring,
wherein the connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support, and
wherein the indicator device is arranged at a location which is such that the state of the indicator device is visible from outside of the luminaire.

### Claim 15

A connection module for a luminaire with a light module, comprising:
a support;
a surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
a first and second supply terminal for connection to a power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
a first and second load terminal for connection to a drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry; and
at least a first and second control terminal,
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the support,
further comprising at least one of an equipotential terminal for connection to an equipotential part of the luminaire, an electrostatic discharge, ESD, protection circuitry arranged on the support and connected between the equipotential terminal and the second supply terminal, and a fuse arranged on the support and connected between the first supply terminal and the surge protection circuitry.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The connection module according to claim 15, wherein the ESD protection circuitry comprises resistive circuitry.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The connection module according to claim 16, wherein the resistive circuitry comprises at least one resistor.

### Claim 18

A connection module for a luminaire with a light module, comprising:
a support;
a surge protection circuitry arranged on the support;
a first and second supply terminal for connection to a power supply, said first and second supply terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
a first and second load terminal for connection to a drive means of the light module, said first and second load terminal being connected to the surge protection circuitry;
at least a first and second control terminal; and
an indicator device and monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a malfunctioning of the surge protection circuitry and to provide an output signal to the indicator device based on said monitoring,
wherein the indicator device is arranged at a location which is such that the state of the indicator device is visible from outside of the luminaire,
wherein the support comprises a printed circuit board, PCB, and
wherein a connection line for electrically connecting the first and second control terminals is arranged on the PCB.