Illumination system and illumination unit

An illumination system comprising:

• first and second illumination units, each having a light source and first and second connection cords commonly connected to the light source;
• and
• a control unit separate from the first and second illumination units, the control unit having a pair of power supply contacts and a control circuit,
• wherein the first illumination unit is connected to the control unit via its first connection cord so that the light source of the first illumination unit is connected between the pair of power supply contacts of the control unit via the control circuit of the control unit;
• wherein the second connection cord of the first illumination unit is connected to the first connection cord of the second illumination unit so that the light source of the first illumination unit and the light source of the second illumination unit are connected in parallel to each other;
• wherein each of the first and second illumination unit has a longitudinal support member for supporting the light source and each connection cord is provided in a vicinity of an associated end of the support member of each illumination unit;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second illumination units further comprises a light-transmissive tubular member for accommodating the support member and the light source, and a cap member having a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall and attached to an end of the tubular member, with the bottom wall being formed with a groove or slit for receiving an associated end of the support member.

An illumination system comprising:

• first and second illumination units, each having a light source and first and second connection cords commonly connected to the light source;
• and
• a control unit separate from the first and second illumination units, the control unit having a pair of power supply contacts and a control circuit,
• wherein the first illumination unit is connected to the control unit via its first connection cord so that the light source of the first illumination unit is connected between the pair of power supply contacts of the control unit via the control circuit of the control unit;
• wherein the second connection cord of the first illumination unit is connected to the first connection cord of the second illumination unit so that the light source of the first illumination unit and the light source of the second illumination unit are connected in parallel to each other;
• and
• wherein:
• the light source of each of the first and second illumination units comprises a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source;
• the control circuit comprises first, second and third control elements connected in series to the red light source, green light source and blue light source, respectively, of the first illumination unit;
• and
• the second connection cord of the first illumination unit and the first connection cord of the second illumination unit are connected to each other so that light sources of a same color in these illumination units are connected in parallel to each other so that an electric current flowing through each parallel connection of the light sources can be controlled variably and independently from the other parallel connections of the light sources by operating the associated control element.

An illumination system according comprising:

• first and second illumination units, each having a light source and first and second connection cords commonly connected to the light source;
• and
• a control unit separate from the first and second illumination units, the control unit having a pair of power supply contacts and a control circuit,
• wherein the first illumination unit is connected to the control unit via its first connection cord so that the light source of the first illumination unit is connected between the pair of power supply contacts of the control unit via the control circuit of the control unit;
• wherein the second connection cord of the first illumination unit is connected to the first connection cord of the second illumination unit so that the light source of the first illumination unit and the light source of the second illumination unit are connected in parallel to each other;
• and
• wherein:
• the light source of each of the first and second illumination units comprises a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source;
• the control circuit comprises first, second and third control elements connected in series to the red light source, green light source and blue light source, respectively, of the first illumination unit;
• and the second connection cord of the first illumination unit and the first connection cord of the second illumination unit are provided with respective connectors, the connectors being adapted so that light sources of different colors in the first and second illumination units can be connected in parallel to each other via the connectors so that an electric current flowing through each parallel connection of the light sources can be controlled variably and independently from the other parallel connections of the light sources by operating the associated control element.