Flat panel lighting device and driving circuitry

Abstract

The light fixture includes a frame, wherein at least a portion of the frame defines a first channel and a second channel, and the frame has a thickness of no more than about 1.0 inches. The light fixture includes a substantially flat light emitting diode (LED) panel disposed within the frame, and power circuitry disposed within the frame. The power circuitry includes a first LED driver sized to be positioned within the first channel, and a second LED driver sized to be positioned within the second channel. The power circuitry is configured to electrically couple the substantially flat LED panel to an external power supply. The first LED driver and the second LED driver are configured to convert an AC input into a DC output suitable for powering the substantially flat LED panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light fixture comprising:
 a frame, wherein at least a portion of the frame defines a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the frame has a thickness of no more than about 1.0 inches;   a substantially flat light emitting diode (LED) panel disposed within the frame; and   power circuitry disposed within the frame, wherein the power circuitry includes a first LED driver sized to be positioned within the first channel, and a second LED driver sized to be positioned within the second channel; the power circuitry being configured to electrically couple the substantially flat LED panel to an external power supply, and each of the first LED driver and the second LED driver being configured to convert an AC input into a DC output suitable for powering the substantially flat LED panel.   
     
     
         2 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the first LED driver is housed at a first edge of the frame, and the second LED driver is housed at a second edge of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is rectangular, and the first LED driver and the second LED driver are housed at opposite edges of the rectangular frame. 
     
     
         4 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat LED panel includes a first array of LEDs operatively coupled to the power circuitry, and wherein at least a portion of the frame is configured to support the first array of LEDs disposed adjacent a first edge of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The light fixture of  claim 4 , wherein the frame defines a third channel adjacent the first edge of the frame, the third channel being configured to support the first array of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . The light fixture of  claim 4 , wherein the first array of LEDs is supported by a wall of a channel located at the first edge of the frame, wherein the wall of the channel is offset from the edge of the frame by the width of the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The light fixture of  claim 4 , wherein the substantially flat LED panel includes the first array of LEDs disposed adjacent the first edge of the frame and a second array of LEDs disposed adjacent a second edge of the frame, and wherein the first array of LEDs is operatively coupled to the first LED driver and the second array of LEDs is operatively coupled to the second LED driver. 
     
     
         8 . The light fixture of  claim 6 , wherein the frame defines a fourth channel adjacent the second edge of the frame, the fourth channel being configured to support the second array of LEDs. 
     
     
         9 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is rectangular and the substantially flat LED panel includes an array of LEDs incorporated into at least two sides of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat LED panel includes: an optically-transmissive panel; and an array of LEDs disposed adjacent at least one edge of the frame and disposed adjacent the optically transmissive panel. 
     
     
         11 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat LED panel includes: an optically-transmissive panel; and an array of LEDs disposed across a first surface of the optically-transmissive panel. 
     
     
         12 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the frame of the light fixture has a thickness of no more than about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the frame of the light fixture is configured to define another channel for housing electrical connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat LED panel includes a first configuration of LEDs and a second configuration of LEDs; and wherein the first LED driver is operatively coupled to the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs, and the second LED driver is operatively coupled to the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs. 
     
     
         15 . A light fixture comprising:
 a frame, wherein at least a portion of the frame defines a channel, and wherein the frame has a thickness of no more than about 1.0 inches;   a light emitting diode (LED) panel disposed within the frame; and   power circuitry disposed within the frame, wherein the power circuitry includes a first circuit module and a second circuit module arrayed within the channel; the power circuitry being configured to electrically couple the LED panel to an external power supply.   
     
     
         16 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the power circuitry includes driving circuitry configured to convert an AC input into a DC output suitable for powering the LED panel. 
     
     
         17 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the first circuit module comprises a first power supply module and the second circuit module comprises a second power supply module. 
     
     
         18 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the first circuit module comprises a power supply module and the second circuit module comprises a control module. 
     
     
         19 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the first circuit module comprises a first circuit board and the second circuit module comprises a second circuit board. 
     
     
         20 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the first circuit module and second circuit module are integrated on a single circuit board. 
     
     
         21 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the first circuit module and the second circuit module are housed at an edge of the frame. 
     
     
         22 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the LED panel includes a first configuration of LEDs and a second configuration of LEDs, and wherein the first configuration of LEDs is operatively coupled to the first circuit module and the second configuration of LEDs is operatively coupled to the second circuit module. 
     
     
         23 . The light fixture of  claim 22 , wherein the first configuration of LEDs is disposed adjacent a first edge of the frame and the second configuration of LEDs is disposed adjacent a second edge of the frame. 
     
     
         24 . A light fixture comprising:
 a frame having a thickness of no more than about 1.0 inches;   a light emitting diode (LED) panel disposed within the frame, comprising:
 an optically transmissive panel, 
 a first configuration of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and 
 a second configuration of light emitting diodes (LEDs), 
 each of the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs being disposed adjacent the optically transmissive panel; and 
   driving circuitry disposed within the frame, wherein the driving circuitry comprises a first LED driver operatively coupled to the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs, and a second LED driver operatively coupled to the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs.   
     
     
         25 . The light fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the driving circuitry is operatively coupled to an external power supply, and is configured to convert an AC input into a DC output suitable for powering the LED panel. 
     
     
         26 . The light fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs are arranged in a single row in an alternating arrangement. 
     
     
         27 . The light fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the driving circuitry is configured to selectively power the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs in an alternating manner. 
     
     
         28 . The light fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the driving circuitry is configured to activate the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs at the same time. 
     
     
         29 . The light fixture of  claim 24 , wherein the driving circuitry includes a stepping function applied to selectively energize the first configuration of LEDs and the second configuration of LEDs. 
     
     
         30 . The light fixture of  claim 29 , wherein the LED panel includes a third configuration of LEDs disposed adjacent the optically transmissive panel, and wherein the stepping function is applied to selectively energize the first configuration of LEDs, the second configuration of LEDs, and the third configuration of LEDs.