Abstract
The invention provides a rotator element (1200) for e.g. a screw cap of a lighting device, wherein the rotator element (1200) is rotatable in first direction, wherein the rotator element (1200) comprises a movable element (310) which is at least movable in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the movable element (310) is configured to exert a torque in the same direction as the first rotation direction when a vibration in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction is applied to the rotator element (1200).
Claims
1. A lighting device comprising (i) a rotator element that is rotatable in a first direction and a rotation-based mount which is configured to be mounted in a matching socket via a rotation in the first rotation direction of the rotation-based mount in the matching socket, wherein the rotator element comprises movable element which is at least movable in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the movable element is configured to exert a torque on the rotator element with respect to an axis of rotation in the same direction as the first rotation direction when a vibration in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction is applied to the rotator element.
2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is attached to a rotator element part with a movable arm.
3. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the movable arm is flexible.
4. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a weight of the movable element is at least 5 times a weight of the movable arm.
5. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the rotator element further comprises a stop element rigidly associated with the rotator element part and configured at a position that when the movable element is subjected to a force in a direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element will exert a torque with respect to the axis of rotation on the stop element.
6. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein the moveable element and the movable arm are configured such that when the movable element is subjected to a force in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element will exert a force perpendicular to the axis of rotation, configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, or wherein the rotator element further comprises a flexible stop element rigidly associated with the rotator element part and configured at a position that when the movable element is subjected to a force in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element will exert a force on the flexible stop element.
7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the rotator element comprises a channel wherein the movable element can move in the first rotation direction and in a counter direction, wherein the channel has (i) a first end, wherein when the movable element moves in a direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element moves in the direction of the first end, and (ii) a second end, wherein when the movable element moves in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element moves in the direction of the second end, wherein the second end further comprises a flexible stop element.
8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable element comprises a ball.
9. The lighting device according to claim 1, comprising the axis of rotation configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the rotator element comprises at least n movable elements, wherein the rotator element comprises n regions each comprising at least one of the movable elements, wherein the n regions are rotationally symmetrically distributed around the axis of rotation, and wherein n is selected from the range of 3-4.
10. The lighting device according to claim 1, comprising the an axis of rotation configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the rotator element comprises a round channel configured rotationally symmetrically around the axis of rotation, wherein the round channel and the moveable element comprises a ratchet system configured to hinder movement of the movable element in a direction of the first rotation direction and configured to allow movement of the movable element in a counter direction to the first rotation direction, wherein the round channel comprises a plurality of moveable elements, wherein moveable elements are connected via one or more flexible linking elements which also keep the moveable elements at a distance of each other.
11. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the lighting device comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part and the second part are functionally coupled via the ratchet system, and wherein the first part is rotatable relative to the second part.
12. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation-based mount comprises the rotator element.
13. The lighting device according to claim 12, wherein the rotator element is configured within a screw cap of the lighting device.
14. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises the rotation-based mount, a light transmissive envelope, and a carrier part, wherein the carrier part is functionally coupled to the rotation-based mount and the light transmissive envelope, wherein the carrier part comprises the rotator element.
15. A lighting system comprising one or more of a lamp and a luminaire comprising the lighting device according to claim 1, and a socket matching a rotation-based mount of the lighting device, wherein the rotation-based mount is hosted by the socket.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:
[0039] FIGS. 1a-1b schematically depict some embodiments and applications; and
[0040] FIGS. 2a-2f schematically depict some cross-sectional views (perpendicular to a mounting axis or axis of rotation) of embodiments of a mount, such as for instance may be used in the lighting device of FIG. 1a (or FIG. 1b).
[0041] The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale. A single drawing may show a combination of different embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0042] FIG. 1a schematically depicts an embodiment of a lighting device 100 comprising e.g. the rotation-based mount 200 as defined herein (i.e. including the rotator element). The rotation-based mount 200 is configured to be mounted in a matching socket 12 via a rotation in a first rotation direction of the rotation-based mount 200 in the matching socket. FIG. 1a schematically shows an embodiment wherein the lighting device comprises a plurality of light sources 110, such as solid state light sources, like LEDs. Hence, the lighting device 100 as schematically depicted is a solid state based lighting device. Reference 205 indicates a mount axis. This is an axis of rotation, which may also coincide with a socket axis not depicted, when mounted in the socket 12. Reference 201 indicates a screw cap, in general essentially of metal, for electrical conduction.
[0043] Reference 200 indicates the rotation-based mount. As in principle also other configurations of the rotator element (of which embodiments are schematically shown in FIGS. 2a-2f), i.e. not (only entirely) comprised by the end cap, may be possible, the mount shown in FIG. 1a may in principle also be a conventional mount, which is indicated with reference 2200. For instance, the rotator element, of which embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2a-2f, may be attached to the rotation-based mount. However, the rotator element may also be attached to the lamp itself (which on its turn is attached to the rotation based mount). Hence, the rotator element can be within the rotation-based mount, it can at the outside of such mount, and it may also be comprised in a functional coupling of the (remainder of the lamp) to the mount, etc. FIG. 1a especially depicts an embodiment wherein the rotator element is included in the end cap 201, i.e. the rotation-based mount is the rotation-based mount which is configured to be mounted in a matching socket via a rotation in a first rotation direction of the rotation-based mount in the matching socket, wherein the rotation-based mount comprises a movable element which is at least movable in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein especially the movable element is configured to exert a torque in the same direction as the first rotation direction when a vibration in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction is applied to the rotation-based mount.
[0044] In FIG. 1a, the lighting device 100 comprises a rotation based mount 200 or rotation based mount 2200 and a light transmissive envelope 202, which may be from glass, ceramic material, or other light transmissive material, for transmission of light of the one or more light sources 110. The lighting device may also include an intermediate part, which may also be indicated as carrier part, which may be configured between the mount and (at least part of) the light transmissive envelope. Such carrier part may include electronics. Such carrier part might also include the rotator element.
[0045] FIG. 1a also schematically depicts an embodiment of a luminaire 10 comprising the lighting device 100, and a socket 12 matching the rotation-based mount 200 of lighting device 100, wherein the rotation-based mount 200 is hosted by the socket 12. Here, for illustration purposes, the mount is not yet in the socket. By introducing the mount in the socket and rotation, in general clock-wise as depicted, an interference fit of the mount 200 in the socket 12 can be obtained. R1 indicates the first rotation direction, by which the mount 200 is configured into the socket 12.
[0046] In FIG. 1a, the rotator element is not visible from external of the lighting device 100. For instance, the mount 200 may thus host the rotator element. However, other embodiments are also possible, such as in a carrier part, on the mount, or even on the envelope 202 (especially close to the mount 2200, to minimize light losses).
[0047] FIG. 1b very schematically depicts an embodiment of an outdoor lighting system 1 comprising the luminaire 10. Such lighting system 1 may also comprise a plurality of such luminaires 10. The luminaire 10 comprises e.g. the lighting device 100 as defined herein.
[0048] FIG. 1b indicates that FIGS. 2a-2f may show cross-sectional views, with cross-sections perpendicular to the mount axis 205. This mount axis 205 and an axis or ration 2205 may essentially coincide.
[0049] FIGS. 2a-2f all show embodiments in cross-sectional views of a rotation-based mount 200 for a lighting device, the rotation-based mount 200 configured to be mounted in a matching socket via a rotation in a first rotation direction of the rotation-based mount 200 in the matching socket. The rotation-based mount 200 comprises a movable element 310 which is at least movable in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the movable element 310 is configured to exert a torque in the same direction as the first rotation direction when a vibration in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction is applied to the rotation-based mount 200. The moveable element 310 comprises a mass, indicated with reference 311, which may be a ceramic ball or a metal ball, especially a mass of a relative rigid material. As shown, the rotation-based mount 200 comprises a mount axis 205 configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction. Further, the rotation-based mount 200 comprises at least n movable elements 310, wherein the rotation-based mount 200 comprises n regions 206 each comprising at least one of the movable elements 310, wherein the n regions 206 are rotationally symmetrically distributed around the mount axis 205, and wherein n is at least 3.
[0050] FIG. 2a especially depicts an embodiment wherein the movable element 310 is attached to a rotator element part (1211), such as a mount part 211 with a movable arm 212, wherein the rotation-based mount 200 further comprises a stop element 313 rigidly associated with the rotator element part (1211), such as the mount part 211 and configured at a position that when the movable element 310 is subjected to a force in a direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element 310 will exert a torque (with respect to an axis of rotation 2205) on the stop element 313. This is schematically shown with the tangential arrow which may indicate a force or torque. The stop element 313 may be of a rigid material.
[0051] Hence, more in general FIG. 2a (and also FIGS. 2b-2f) schematically depict an embodiment(s) of a rotator element 1200 that is rotatable in first direction, wherein the rotator element 1200 comprises a movable element 310 which is at least movable in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the movable element 310 is configured to exert a torque in the same direction as the first rotation direction when a vibration in a plane parallel to the first rotation direction is applied to the rotator element 1200.
[0052] As also shown in FIG. 2a, the moveable element 31 and the movable arm 212 may be configured such that when the movable element 310 is subjected to a force in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element 310 will exert a force perpendicular to an axis of rotation 2205, such as a mount axis 205 configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction. This is shown with the dotted/dashed configuration, and the radial arrow indicating a force.
[0053] Hence, when the movable element 310 would hit the stop element 313, a force or torque is applied, by which the rotator element 1200 rotates in a direction R1.
[0054] FIG. 2b schematically shows an embodiment of the rotation-based mount 200, wherein the rotation-based mount 200 further comprises a flexible stop element 314 rigidly associated with the rotator element part 1211, such as the mount part 211 and configured at a position that when the movable element 310 is subjected to a force in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element 310 will exert a force on the flexible stop element 314.
[0055] FIG. 2b also schematically indicates with the dashed circular line that the rotatable element 1200 may be configured with a screw cap 201 of the rotation based mount 200. Reference 201 schematically indicates an embodiment of the screw cap.
[0056] Hence, more in general FIG. 2b also schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotator element 1200.
[0057] FIG. 2c schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotation-based mount 200, wherein rotation-based mount 200 comprises a channel 216 wherein the movable element 310 can move in the first rotation direction and in a counter direction, wherein the channel 216 has (i) a first end 217, wherein when the movable element 310 moves in a direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element 310 moves in the direction of the first end 217, and (ii) a second end 218, wherein when the movable element 310 moves in a counter direction of the first rotation direction, the movable element 310 moves in the direction of the second end 218, wherein the second end 218 further comprises a flexible stop element 314. More in general FIG. 2c also schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotator element 1200.
[0058] FIG. 2d schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotation-based mount 200, which comprises a mount axis 205 configured perpendicular to a plane parallel to the first rotation direction, wherein the rotation-based mount 200 comprises a round channel 226 configured rotationally symmetrically around the mount axis 205, wherein the round channel 226 and the moveable element 310 comprises a ratchet system 227 configured to hinder movement of the movable element 310 in a direction of the first rotation direction and configured to allow movement of the movable element 310 in a counter direction to the first rotation direction. Also, more in general FIG. 2d also schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotator element 1200.
[0059] FIG. 2e schematically depicts a similar embodiment. However, the round channel 226 comprises a plurality of moveable elements 310, wherein moveable elements 310 are connected via one or more linking elements 315 which also keep the moveable elements 310 at a distance of each other. The linking element may be relatively inflexible. Yet, more in general FIG. 2e also schematically depicts an embodiment of the rotator element 1200.
[0060] FIG. 2f schematically depicts a further embodiment. A lighting device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 may also consist of two parts which may be rotatable relative to each other. For instance, a first part 221 may rotate relative to a second part 222. Especially, the latter part may include at least part of the mount 1200, such as at least a screw cap 201. The former part may in embodiments include e.g. a bulb. Especially, the weight of the first part is equal to or larger than of the second part. The first part 221 and the second part 222 are functionally coupled via the ratchet system 227. The ratchet system 227 may be chosen such that a movement of the movable element 310 in a direction of the first rotation direction will apply a torque on the second part 222 relative to the axis of rotation, when hitting the first end 217. This may lead to a force in the direction of the rotation direction at the first end 217, and thus a rotation in that direction. Due to the ratchet system 227, a force in the rotation direction at the second part is applied, leading to rotation into the socket. In the opposite direction, the first part may relatively freely rotate. Hence, the ratchet system may be configured such, that a torque on the first part relative to the axis or rotation may not lead to a substantial torque on the second part 222, and there is (essentially) no rotation out of the socket. In the ratchet system 227, barbs b and cartels c may be available, which elements facilitate the blocking in one rotation direction and allow rotation in the opposite direction.
[0061] When referring to FIG. 2f, a torus containing the bullets may be attached to the lighting device or may be part of the lighting device (the lighting device is not shown, only part of the first part and part of the second part. A hard collision can occur in both directions because the cap is essentially only rotating in one direction. The cap is attached to the inner ring with cartels. In case of a hard collision in the direction of rotation, both the remainder of the lighting device and the cap will be able to rotate a bit in that direction and the cap will thus further lock into the holder (turn into the socket), i.e. the direction of the inner arrow. The ratchet is such that one may turn the lighting device by turning the lighting device in the direction of the inner arrow (ratchet fixed). Undoing may not be done on the lighting device per se (see also below). Hence, if the lighting device gets a torque in the direction of the turn due to a hard collision, it is not transferred to the cap because the ratchet then passes/is not fixed (rotating cap). This means that the lighting device itself (not the cap) will then rotate (slightly) in the direction of the outer arrow. To turn the lighting device out of the socket, a further measure may have to be taken, such as fastening the ratchet with a knob or unscrewing the cap, etc.
[0062] The embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. 2f may also be seen as a combination of some features of FIGS. 2d and 2e, i.e. the combination of the ratchet system and multiple regions.
[0063] Note that in the ratchet systems as schematically depicted, the cartels and barbs may be exchanged, i.e. the barbs b (or other elements), and the cartels c (or other elements) may also be exchanged.
[0064] FIGS. 2a-2b schematically show embodiments wherein the movement is a rotation of the movable element, and FIGS. 2c-2f schematically show embodiments wherein the movement is a translation.
[0065] The term plurality refers to two or more.
[0066] The term substantially herein, such as in substantially all light or in substantially consists, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term substantially may also include embodiments with entirely, completely, all, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term substantially may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term comprise includes also embodiments wherein the term comprises means consists of. The term and/or especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after and/or. For instance, a phrase item 1 and/or item 2 and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term comprising may in embodiments refer to consisting of but may in another embodiment also refer to containing at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species.
[0067] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
[0068] The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.
[0069] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb to comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
[0070] The invention also provides a control system that may control the apparatus or device or system, or that may execute the herein described method or process. Yet further, the invention also provides a computer program product, when running on a computer which is functionally coupled to or comprised by the apparatus or device or system, controls one or more controllable elements of such apparatus or device or system.
[0071] The invention further applies to a device comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.
[0072] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be combined, and that also more than two embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.
