Low-clearance light emitting diode lighting

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to lighting, and more particularly, to low-clearance lighting. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for providing low-clearance lighting for either drop-ceilings, drywall/plaster ceilings or walls.

#2. Discussion of the Related Art

#The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a drop-ceiling having ceiling-grid with a lighting unit according to the related art;

#FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a ceiling having ceiling-grid with a lighting unit along the line I-I′ of FIG. 1A;

#Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

#FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a ceiling-grid with a lighting unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, horizontal rails 10a and vertical rails 10b create a ceiling-grid 10 having openings in which ceiling tiles 20 are positioned. The ceiling-grid 10 shown in FIG. 2A is, for example, a two foot by two foot ceiling-grid 10. As also shown in FIG. 2A, a low-clearance light emitting diode lighting unit 30 is positioned in an opening of the ceiling-grid 10. The low-clearance light emitting diode lighting unit 30 has a similar size or outside dimensions as the ceiling tiles 20. Although a two foot by two foot ceiling-grid 10 is shown in FIG. 2A, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in two foot by four foot grid as well as other sizes of grids.

#FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a ceiling-grid with a lighting unit along the line II-II′ of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, the low-clearance light emitting diode lighting unit 30, which resides in an opening of the ceiling-grid 10, does not extend above the ceiling-grid 10. However, the low-clearance light emitting diode lighting unit 30 may have profile such that a portion of the low-clearance light emitting diode lighting unit 30 protrudes slightly with a protrusion distance DPCG from the ceiling-grid 10.