Illumination – Plural light sources – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-04
2003-12-09
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Plural light sources
With support
C359S350000, C250S50400H, C362S800000, C362S240000, C362S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06659623
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for providing a source of illumination and more particularly but not exclusively to a system for providing a source of covert illumination for use in security applications or in other monitoring situations.
The use of non-visible radiation, that is, radiation which is not apparent to the unaided eye, for surveillance purposes is well known. Commonly, a source of non-visible radiation is used to illuminate an area being monitored and one or more detectors sensitive to the radiation are provided adjacent the area illuminated which are adapted to convey an image of the area to a monitoring location which may be remote from the area. Typically, a detector may comprise a closed circuit television camera, which transmits a signal to a central monitoring location. Alternatively, the detector may comprise night vision goggles (NVGs) worn by personnel in the vicinity of the illuminated area.
For a number of reasons, including their reliability, economic power consumption and low heat emission characteristics, the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for generating covert illumination has become popular. However, to the best of the Applicant's knowledge, there are very few if any systems available that can provide such covert illumination in an adaptable format which can be varied to suit a particular location or target area, which is easy to install and maintain, yet which is economical to produce. Accordingly, and with these objects in mind, the Application has set out to provide a new system for providing covert illumination across a chosen area.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From a first aspect, the present invention resides in a modular illumination system comprising:
at least one mounting strip;
one or more emitter strips each having an outwardly directed face in use through which infra red light may be transmitted;
one or more printed circuit boards each carrying a plurality of infra red light emitting diodes;
and one or more contact elements;
wherein the or each emitter strip is adapted to carry at least one of said printed circuit boards and to interconnect with the mounting strip to form a conduit through which a power supply bus may be carried and wherein the or each contact element is adapted to complete an electrical connection between the power supply bus and a printed circuit board carried by an emitter strip.
By means of the invention, it is possible to create an illumination system that may be readily adapted to suit its intended position. For example, the various components may be combined in any manner of ways to provide illumination across an extended area by utilising a plurality of mounting strips connected end to end. Moreover, the modular nature of the system is such that it does not require particularly skilled personnel to install, it being relatively straightforward to assemble and similarly straightforward to disassemble, either completely or partially for repair or replacement of individual components.
In use, the mounting strip is generally secured to a structure, such as a wall or a ceiling, adjacent an area which is to be illuminated and provides a base on which other components of the system, such as the emitter strip(s) and contact element(s), may be mounted. Preferably the mounting strip comprises an elongate U-shaped channel element in which the other components of the system may be accommodated and/or fixed as appropriate. Conveniently, the mounting strip may be secured via the base of the channel, for example, the strip may be provided with one or more apertures through which screws or other fixing elements may be passed for engagement with the structure (these apertures may, for example, be created on site by an installer to suit local conditions). In this way, once the other components of the system are mounted on the strip, the fixing elements may effectively be hidden from view and rendered inaccessible without first dismantling the system. Also, depending on how the power supply is fed to the system, this may also be concealed and rendered inaccessible. This is particularly useful when the system is used for security purposes.
In order that the mounting strip and the or each emitter strip are able to interconnect, each is preferably provided with complementary interengaging means, most preferably complementary interlocking means. For ease of manufacture and assembly, the mounting strip and emitter strip(s) are advantageously provided with means by which they may be “snap-fitted” together. For example, when the mounting strip is in the form of an elongate U-shaped channel, each leg of the “U” is preferably provided at or near its free end with one or more internal projections, ideally in the form of a continuous rib. The emitter strip(s) may then be provided on either side with one or more complementary recesses, or a continuous depression or groove, in which the projections can be accommodated.
For ease of manufacture, the mounting strip may be made, preferably by extrusion, of a plastics material, UPVC being particularly suitable. Moreover, by virtue of such material having some inherent resiliency, it is relatively easy to force each leg of the channel member outwards as an emitter strip is snap-fitted onto the mounting strip. Thus when the emitter strip is pressed into position on the mounting strip, the legs of the U-shaped channel are initially pushed outwards through contact between its projections or ribs and the outer walls of the emitter strip. Once the emitter strip reaches its desired position, the legs are able to spring back to their natural position and into the recesses or grooves of the emitter strip, thereby positively engaging and retaining the emitter strip.
So far as the or each emitter strip is concerned, as described hereinabove, these are ideally provided with complementary engaging features to those on the mounting strip in order that they may be securely retained on and by the mounting strip. When the mounting strip and emitter strip(s) are formed to create a snap-fit with each other, the emitter strip will usually be fitted to the mounting strip after the latter has been fixed in position. Accordingly, an arrangement whereby the emitter strips are provided with one or more recesses or with substantially continuous depressions or grooves and the mounting strip is provided with corresponding projection(s) is the most preferred. It will be appreciated though that the reverse arrangement may also be used.
The emitter strip of the system serves several functions; namely to co-operate with the mounting strip in such a way as to create a conduit through which an electrical power supply bus can be carried; to carry one or more of the printed circuit boards (PCBs) on which the infra red light emitting diodes (IR LEDs) are mounted; and to permit light from the IR LEDs to pass therethrough to illuminate a chosen area. It will be appreciated therefore that the or each emitter strip must be configured in such a way as to enable it to fulfil the aforementioned functions.
The ability to interconnect with the mounting strip has already been discussed. When mounted on the mounting strip, the emitter strip and mounting strip co-operate in such a way as to provide a conduit through which power supply bus may be carried. As electrical power may be supplied by means of one or more conductive strips laid or bonded, for example, to the mounting strip, the conduit does not necessarily have to be of any significant cross-section, for example, opposing faces of the mounting strip and emitter strip may be just a small distance apart when they are assembled. On the other hand, the power will more usually be supplied via one or more electric cables, generally a pair of cables, and in this case the conduit must be of sufficient cross-section comfortably to accommodate these. For example, when assembled, the base portion of the emitter strip will be spaced at least a few millimeters away from the base of the U-shaped channel of the mounting strip.
In a preferred arrangement, at lea
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Thales Optronics ( Taunton) Ltd.
Tso Laura K.
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