Patent · US9593811B2 · B2 · US

Retrofit LED lamp assembly in a vending machine

(11) Publication number

US9593811B2

(21) Application number

14/858,356

(22) Filing date

2015-09-18

(30) Priority date

2006-10-24

(43) Publication date

2017-03-14

(45) Date of grant

2017-03-14

(52) CPC

F21K Non-electric light sources using luminescence; light sources using electrochemiluminescence; light sources using charges of combustible material; light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements; light sources not otherwise provided for: 9/278, 9/00, 9/17, 9/27
F21V Functional features or details of lighting devices or systems thereof; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for: 23/009, 23/02, 23/06, 33/008
F21W Indexing scheme associated with subclasses F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, relating to uses or applications of lighting devices or systems: 2131/403
F21Y Indexing scheme associated with subclasses F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, relating to the form or the kind of the light sources or of the colour of the light emitted: 2101/00, 2103/10, 2113/13, 2115/10
G07F Coin-freed or like apparatus: 9/023, 9/10
H05B Electric heating; electric light sources not otherwise provided for; circuit arrangements for electric light sources, in general: 33/083, 33/0845, 37/0272, 45/10, 45/20, 45/325, 45/3578, 45/3725, 45/48, 47/19
Y02B Climate change mitigation technologies related to buildings, e.g. housing, house appliances or related end-user applications: 20/30, 20/383, 20/386
Y10T Technical subjects covered by former us classification: 29/49002

(73) Assignee

ELLENBY TECH INC

(54) Title

Retrofit LED lamp assembly in a vending machine

(57) Abstract

A retrofit LED lamp assembly and retrofitting method for use in a vending machine. The retrofit LED assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a power connector adapted to connect to a source of power within a vending machine. A power regulating circuit adjustably controls the amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to control signals received by a communication circuit in the lamp assembly.

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Claims (17)

A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the lamp assembly is employed as a retrofit replacement for a fluorescent lamp of a preexisting vending machine without having to re-wire an existing lighting system.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the lamp assembly is employed as a retrofit replacement for a fluorescent lamp of a preexisting vending machine without having to replace an existing fluorescent ballast.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wireless interface utilized in conjunction with a wireless remote control.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the vending machine socket is a standard fluorescent socket, and the lamp assembly further comprises pin terminals at each end compatible with mounting into the standard fluorescent socket.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further comprises a current regulator circuit which eliminates variations between different fluorescent ballasts.
A method of retrofitting a fluorescent lamp mounted in a fluorescent lamp socket in a vending machine, the method comprising: removing the fluorescent lamp; and replacing the fluorescent lamp with a lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and to a source of power, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having terminations adapted to be mounted in the fluorescent lamp socket, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and providing the control signals by a vending machine controller.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a serial communication interface.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a vending industry standard interface.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises an interface including both transmit and receive circuitry.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises at least one of a serial interface, an optical interface or a wireless interface.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a connector and interface protocol implementing a vending industry standard.
The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit implements an MDB interface.
A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and power management circuitry to utilize an unregulated input voltage of 34 VDC supplied by the source of power in the vending machine, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.
The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein the power management circuitry is also compatible with a low voltage alternating current supply without any adjustments to the power management circuitry.
A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and power management circuitry compatible with a 24 VAC supply, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.
A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller, wherein the adjustment of the illumination comprises varying color temperature of white light produced by the lamp assembly to highlight colors of products illuminated in the vending machine.

Citations (5)

US2007070615A1
US5193901A
US5197793A
US6259211B1
US7067992B2

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US9593811B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Retrofit LED lamp assembly in a vending machine",
  "abstract": "A retrofit LED lamp assembly and retrofitting method for use in a vending machine. The retrofit LED assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a power connector adapted to connect to a source of power within a vending machine. A power regulating circuit adjustably controls the amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to control signals received by a communication circuit in the lamp assembly.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.",
    "2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the lamp assembly is employed as a retrofit replacement for a fluorescent lamp of a preexisting vending machine without having to re-wire an existing lighting system.",
    "3. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the lamp assembly is employed as a retrofit replacement for a fluorescent lamp of a preexisting vending machine without having to replace an existing fluorescent ballast.",
    "4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wireless interface utilized in conjunction with a wireless remote control.",
    "5. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the vending machine socket is a standard fluorescent socket, and the lamp assembly further comprises pin terminals at each end compatible with mounting into the standard fluorescent socket.",
    "6. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further comprises a current regulator circuit which eliminates variations between different fluorescent ballasts.",
    "7. A method of retrofitting a fluorescent lamp mounted in a fluorescent lamp socket in a vending machine, the method comprising: removing the fluorescent lamp; and replacing the fluorescent lamp with a lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and to a source of power, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having terminations adapted to be mounted in the fluorescent lamp socket, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and providing the control signals by a vending machine controller.",
    "8. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a serial communication interface.",
    "9. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a vending industry standard interface.",
    "10. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises an interface including both transmit and receive circuitry.",
    "11. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises at least one of a serial interface, an optical interface or a wireless interface.",
    "12. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit further comprises a connector and interface protocol implementing a vending industry standard.",
    "13. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit implements an MDB interface.",
    "14. A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and power management circuitry to utilize an unregulated input voltage of 34 VDC supplied by the source of power in the vending machine, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.",
    "15. The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein the power management circuitry is also compatible with a low voltage alternating current supply without any adjustments to the power management circuitry.",
    "16. A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals; and power management circuitry compatible with a 24 VAC supply, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller.",
    "17. A lamp assembly designed to illuminate products in a vending machine, the lamp assembly comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and a control circuit connected to the one or more light emitting diodes and connectable to a source of power in the vending machine, the one or more light emitting diodes and the control circuit housed in a lamp housing having power connectors adapted to be mounted into a vending machine socket for a fluorescent lamp, the control circuit comprising a communications circuit for receiving control signals, the control circuit selectively controlling adjustment of the illumination provided by the one or more light emitting diodes based upon said control signals, wherein the control circuit communicates with a vending machine controller and receives the control signals from the vending machine controller, wherein the adjustment of the illumination comprises varying color temperature of white light produced by the lamp assembly to highlight colors of products illuminated in the vending machine."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "F21K 9/278",
    "F21K 9/00",
    "F21K 9/17",
    "F21K 9/27",
    "F21V 23/009",
    "F21V 23/02",
    "F21V 23/06",
    "F21V 33/008",
    "F21W 2131/403",
    "F21Y 2101/00",
    "F21Y 2103/10",
    "F21Y 2113/13",
    "F21Y 2115/10",
    "G07F 9/023",
    "G07F 9/10",
    "H05B 33/083",
    "H05B 33/0845",
    "H05B 37/0272",
    "H05B 45/10",
    "H05B 45/20",
    "H05B 45/325",
    "H05B 45/3578",
    "H05B 45/3725",
    "H05B 45/48",
    "H05B 47/19",
    "Y02B 20/30",
    "Y02B 20/383",
    "Y02B 20/386",
    "Y10T 29/49002"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ELLENBY TECH INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-09-18",
  "publication_date": "2017-03-14",
  "grant_date": "2017-03-14",
  "priority_date": "2006-10-24",
  "application_number": "US-201514858356-A",
  "family_id": "39317705",
  "citations": [
    "US2007070615A1",
    "US5193901A",
    "US5197793A",
    "US6259211B1",
    "US7067992B2"
  ]
}

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