CONNECTION EXPANSION MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection expansion module (2) for a component (1) of a lighting system, having a securing means (22 . . . 25, 29) for securing the connection expansion module to the component, at least one contact element (7 . . . 10) for contacting an electric connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1), and multiple connections (12 . . . 19) connected to the contact element (7 . . . 10) in order to connect electric lines to the connection expansion module (2).

Claims

1. A connection expansion module (2) for a component (1) of a lighting system, having securing means (22 . . . 25, 29) for securing the connection expansion module to the component, at least one contact element (7 . . . 10) for contacting an electrical connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1), and a plurality of connections (12 . . . 19) connected to the contact element (7 . . . 10) for connecting electrical lines to the connection expansion module (2).

2. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the securing means (22 . . . 25, 29) is designed to secure the connection expansion module (2) to the component (1) so as to be releasable.

3. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, having at least one cover (29) made of an electrically non-conductive material, which is designed to cover the contact element (7 . . . 10), the connections (12 . . . 19) of the connection expansion module (2), and/or the connections (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) secured to the connection expansion module (2).

4. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 3, wherein the fastening means (22 . . . 25, 29) is formed at least partially by the cover (29).

5. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the contact element (7 . . . 10) is designed to contact the electrical connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) by means of a clamping or screw connection.

6. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 5, wherein the contact element (7 . . . 10) is a cylindrical pin, wire, or cable.

7. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the connection expansion module (2) has at least two contact elements (7 . . . 10) which are designed to respectively contact one electrical connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component (1) in order to supply voltage, and at least two of the connections (12 . . . 19) of the connection expansion module (2) are respectively electrically connected to one of the at least two contact elements (7 . . . 10).

8. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the connection expansion module (2) has at least two contact elements which are designed to respectively contact one electrical connection (L, N, S1, S2) of the component for inputting and/or outputting a control signal, and at least two of the connections (12 . . . 19) of the connection expansion module (2) are respectively electrically connected to one of the at least two contact elements (7 . . . 10).

9. The connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1, having means (20) for strain relief for the electrical lines that can be connected to the connection expansion module (2).

10. A system with a connection expansion module (2) according to claim 1 and the component (1) of the lighting system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the component (1) is an operating device for operating one or more illuminant, in particular LEDs, or a sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail in the following using the accompanying drawings. The following are shown:

[0021] FIG. 1 a plan view of a component of a lighting system and a connection expansion module, which is separate from the component, according to an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, and

[0022] FIG. 2 a side view of the system shown in FIG. 1, in the assembled state.

[0023] Components with the same functions are identified by the same reference signs in Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] According to the present invention, the number and/or the type of connections of a component of a lighting system can be adapted to an application by means of a special module for which the connections of the component are otherwise not suitable.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a component 1 of a lighting system which has four connections L, N, S1, S2, and can be an operating device for illuminants, a presence sensor, or a dimming sensor, and a connection expansion module 2 for this component 1 in a view from above. The four connections L, N, S1, S2 are respectively designed as a screw terminal, wherein the connections L, N are input connections and serve for connecting a supply line for the voltage supply of the component 1, and the connections S1, S2 are output connections and serve for connecting a signal line or a connecting line to an illuminant. Alternatively, the connections S1, S2 can be provided for connecting a two-wire DALI line, by means of which control and/or status signals are transmitted between the components of the lighting system.

[0026] The connection expansion module 2 serves for the duplication of the four connections L, N, S1, S2 so that the supply line can be looped through the connection expansion module 2 to another component of the lighting system and two signal lines or two connection lines can be connected.

[0027] The parts of the component 1 are located in a housing, wherein the four connections L, N, S1, S2 are protected from contact with a removable cover. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cover is removed so that the threaded bores 3 . . . 6 provided for mounting the cover and the four connections L, N, S1, S2 are visible.

[0028] The connection expansion module 2 has four contact elements 7 . . . 10; a holding element 11 on which the four contact elements 7 . . . 10 are attached; eight connections 12 . . . 19 designed as screw terminals for connecting the two supply lines and the two signal lines or the two connection lines; a strain relief 20 for the mentioned lines; a printed circuit board 21; securing means 22 . . . 25 for securing the connection expansion module 2 to the component; and a removable cover which closes the upper part of the housing of the connection expansion module 2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cover of the connection expansion module 2 is also removed so that the threaded bores 26 . . . 29 provided for mounting the cover are visible.

[0029] Located on the printed circuit board 21 are the eight connections 12 . . . 19 and conductor traces, which establish an electrical connection from the contact element 7 to the connections 12 and 14, an electrical connection from the contact element 8 to the connections 13 and 15, an electrical connection from the contact element 9 to the connections 16 and 18, and an electrical connection from the contact element 10 to the connections 17 and 19.

[0030] The securing means 22 . . . 25 has two guide rails 22, 25 and two screws 23, 24 attached to the guide rails 22, 25. The guide rails 22, 25 are provided laterally on the connection expansion module 2 in order to position the four contact elements 7 . . . 10 with respect to the four connections L, N, S1, S2 in such a way that the four contact elements 7 . . . 10 can be inserted and screwed into the screw terminals of the four connections L, N, S1, S2 when the component 1 is joined to the connection expansion module 2. The connection expansion module 2 is secured to the component 1 by means of the screws 23, 24 so as to be releasable. For this purpose, corresponding threaded bores, into which the screws 23, 24 are screwed, can be provided on the component 1.

[0031] A strain relief for lines connectable to the four connections L, N, S1, S2 is not provided at the component 1. The connection expansion module 2 adds this function so that the component 1 can also be used or mounted at locations at which a strain relief is prescribed. The tensile force acting on the lines connected to the connection expansion module 2 is absorbed by the strain relief 20, designed as a clamp, and is diverted via the securing means 22 . . . 25 to the housing of the component 1, so that the lines can be prevented from tearing out of the connections 12 . . . 19, or the contact elements 7 . . . 10 can be prevented from tearing out of the connections L, N, S1, S2, up to a certain tensile force.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the component 1 and of the connection expansion module 2 in the assembled state, with the cover 26 of the connection expansion module 2 screwed on. In the shown example, the cover 26 is designed such that it extends over the four connections L, N, S1, S2, is secured by means of screws (not shown) screwed into the threaded bores 3 . . . 6 and 26 . . . 29, and thus replaces the cover of the component 1. In addition to the function as contact protection for the circuit board 21 and the connections L, N, S1, S2 and 12 . . . 19, the cover 26 can also serve as an additional or alternative securing means, so that the securing means 22 . . . 25 may be designed to be less stable or may be omitted.

[0033] The housing and/or the cover 26 of the connection expansion module 2 can be made of metal or be an injection-molded part made of plastic. In the described exemplary embodiment, all connections L, N, S1, S2 of the component 1 are duplicated by the connection expansion module 2. However, it is also possible to not duplicate all connections L, N, S1, S2 of the component 1, and to provide only one respective connection at the connection expansion module 2 for the connections S1, S2, for example, in order to reduce the space required for the connections 12 . . . 19 in the connection expansion module 2.

[0034] In particular given components 1, such as operating devices for light-emitting diodes, which have a plurality of functions and connections, in some applications lines are not connected to all connections L, N, S1, S2 of the component 1, so that no contact elements 7 . . . 10 and no connections 12 . . . 19 need to be present for the unpopulated connections L, N, S1, S2 in the connection expansion module 2, which reduces the space required for the connections 12 . . . 19. At least some of the connections L, N, S1, S2 and/or the connections 12 . . . 19 can alternatively also be designed as spring terminals.

[0035] In the described exemplary embodiment, the connections L, N, S1, S2 and the connections 12 . . . 19 are respectively arranged in a row. However, it is also possible to arrange at least some of the connections 12 . . . 19 in different planes/heights so that some of the lines connected to the connections 12 . . . 19 run one above the other, which enables a compact design. Securing the cover 29 and/or securing the connection expansion module 2 to the component 1 by means of the securing means 22 . . . 25 can take place with a different type of connection, in particular a positive-fit connection.