Power delivery system for HID, LED, or fluorescent track lighting

Abstract

A system according to an embodiment of the invention may include a track and a power supply substantially contained within the track. One or more lamps may be electrically connected to the power supply. The lamp may be an HID lamp, an LED lamp, or a fluorescent lamp. The power supply may be a ballast or a transformer, and may comprise a printed circuit board with electrical power handling components on one side. The system may also include a housing which may surround the power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power delivery system comprising:
 a track having a base, a top track opening and a bottom track opening; wherein the track is generally rectangular and extends longitudinally; 
 the track having a first vertical track side and a second vertical track side that extend from a bottom of the track to a top of the track; 
 the top of the first vertical track side having a first flange and the top of the second vertical track side having a second flange; wherein the first flange and the second flange extend horizontally inward and the top track opening extends between the first flange and the second flange to form the base for interfacing with a support; 
 the bottom track opening extends between a lower terminus of the first vertical track side and a lower terminus of the second vertical track side; 
 a channel is formed by the bottom track opening, an inner surface of the first vertical track side, an inner surface of the second vertical track side and a top channel surface; wherein the top channel surface is part of a divider separating a support interface from the channel; the divider includes electrical connections for supplying power; 
 the inner surface of the first vertical track side has at least one groove or rail and the inner surface of the second vertical track at least one groove or rail for interfacing with a first light fixture and a power supply; 
 the power supply has a housing which includes a top outer housing surface, a first outer side housing surface, a second outer side housing surface, and a bottom outer housing surface; 
 the first outer side housing surface and the second outer side housing surface each have at least one groove or rail for removably attaching the housing to the channel; 
 the housing matches a shape of the channel to maximize contact with the channel track and promote heat exchange; 
 the bottom outer housing surface is substantially in a horizontal plane with the bottom track opening; 
 wherein the bottom outer housing surface is configured to match an appearance of surrounding surfaces; 
 wherein the housing does not vertically overlap the first light fixture along the track; 
 wherein the housing is configured to encompass a majority of a space in total volume of the track and substantially all space in of the total volume of the track not otherwise occupied by other components of the power delivery system in order to maintain a continuity of appearance between a plurality of light fixtures, walls of the track and surrounding surfaces; 
 wherein the first light fixture is compatible for attachment with the at least one groove or rails of the inner surface of the first vertical track side and the inner surface of the second vertical track side; and, 
 wherein the housing and the first light fixture are configured to slidably and independently attach at an identical location on the track such that the housing and the first light fixture are adjacent one another on the track. 
 
     
     
       2. The power delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing encloses an input with EMI filtering, an AC-to-DC conversion, and a modified DC signal to maintain stability of an output. 
     
     
       3. The power delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply conditions power. 
     
     
       4. The power delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides a higher voltage required to strike an electrical arc in an HID lamp. 
     
     
       5. The power delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides a regulated constant current for LED lamps. 
     
     
       6. The power delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertical track side and the second vertical track side are of approximately equal size. 
     
     
       7. A power delivery system comprising:
 a track having a base for interfacing with a support and a bottom track opening; wherein the track is generally rectangular and extends longitudinally; 
 the track having a first vertical track side and a second vertical track side that extend from substantially a bottom of the track to substantially a top of the track; 
 the bottom track opening extends between a lower terminus of the first vertical track side and a lower terminus of the second vertical track side; 
 a channel is formed by the bottom track opening, an inner surface of the first vertical track side, an inner surface of the second vertical track side and a top channel surface; wherein the top channel surface is part of a divider separating a support interface from the channel; the divider includes electrical connections for transferring electricity to a power supply for conditioning the power; 
 the power supply has a housing which includes a top outer housing surface, a first outer side housing surface, a second outer side housing surface, and a bottom outer housing surface; 
 wherein the power supply is contained within the track; 
 the housing matches a shape of the channel to maximize contact with the channel track and promote heat exchange; 
 the bottom outer housing surface is substantially in a horizontal plane with the bottom track opening; 
 wherein the bottom outer housing surface is configured to match an appearance of the track and surrounding surfaces; and, 
 wherein the housing is configured to encompass a majority of a space in total volume of the track and substantially all space in of the total volume of the track not otherwise occupied by other components of the power delivery system in order to maintain a continuity of appearance between light fixtures, walls of the track and the surrounding surfaces. 
 
     
     
       8. The power delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the housing maintains a continuity of a ceiling line when the track is recessed in a ceiling. 
     
     
       9. The power delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom outer housing surface is configured to match an appearance of an outer surface of the first vertical track side and an vertical outer surface second side of track such that the bottom outer housing surface is substantially indistinguishable from the track. 
     
     
       10. The power delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the housing and a first light fixture are configured to slidably and independently attach at an identical location on the track such that the housing and the first light fixture are adjacent one another on the track. 
     
     
       11. The power delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein a power source connects to the power supply in the channel with a neutral wire and a hot wire that are in separate insulated chambers, sharing a common central wall that extends below the neutral wire and the hot wire and prevents contact between the neutral wire and the hot wire. 
     
     
       12. A power delivery system comprising:
 a track having a base, a top track opening and a bottom track opening; wherein the track is generally rectangular and extends longitudinally;   the track having a first vertical track side and a second vertical track side that extend from a bottom of the track to a top of the track;   the top of the first vertical track side having a first flange and the top of the second vertical track side having a second flange; wherein the first flange and the second flange extend horizontally inward and the top track opening extends between the first flange and the second flange to form the base;   the bottom track opening extends between a lower terminus of the first vertical track side and a lower terminus of the second vertical track side;   a channel is formed by the bottom track opening, an inner surface of the first vertical track side, an inner surface of the second vertical track side and an inner surface of the top of the track;   wherein a set of electrical connections for supplying power are situated along at least one of the inner surfaces of the first vertical track side, the inner surface of the second vertical track side and the inner surface of the top of the track;   the inner surface of the first vertical track side has at least one groove or rail and the inner surface of the second vertical track has at least one groove or rail for interfacing with a power supply;   the power supply has a housing which includes a top outer housing surface, a first outer side housing surface, a second outer side housing surface, and a bottom outer housing surface;   the first outer side housing surface and the second outer side housing surface each have at least one groove or rail for removably attaching the housing to the channel;   the housing matches a shape of the channel to maximize contact with the track and promote heat exchange;   the bottom outer housing surface is substantially in a horizontal plane with the bottom track opening;   wherein the bottom outer housing surface is configured to match an appearance of surrounding surfaces;   wherein the housing does not vertically overlap an at least one light fixture along the track;   wherein the housing is configured to encompass a majority of a total volume of the track and substantially all of the total volume of the track not otherwise occupied in order to maintain a continuity of appearance between the at least one light fixture, walls of the track and surrounding surfaces;   wherein the at least one light fixture is compatible for attachment with the at least one groove or rail of the inner surface of the first vertical track side and the at least one groove or rail inner surface of the second vertical track side; and   wherein the housing and the at least one light fixture are configured to slidably and independently attach on the track such that the housing and the at least one light fixture are adjacent one another on the track.   
     
     
       13. A power delivery system comprising:
 a track having a base for interfacing with a support and a bottom track opening;   wherein the track is generally rectangular and extends longitudinally;   the track having a first vertical track side and a second vertical track side that extend from substantially a bottom of the track to substantially a top of the track;   the bottom track opening extends between a lower terminus of the first vertical track side and a lower terminus of the second vertical track side;   a channel is formed by the bottom track opening, an inner surface of the first vertical track side, an inner surface of the second vertical track side and an inner surface of the top of the track;   wherein a set of electrical connections for supplying power are situated along at least one of the inner surfaces of the first vertical track side, the inner surface of the second vertical track side and the inner surface of the top of the track;   a power supply has a housing which includes a top outer housing surface, a first outer side housing surface, a second outer side housing surface, and a bottom outer housing surface;   wherein the power supply is contained within the track;   the housing matches a shape of the channel, thereby promoting heat exchange from the power supply to the track;   the bottom outer housing surface is substantially in a horizontal plane with the bottom track opening; and   wherein the housing is configured to encompass a majority of a total volume of the track and substantially all of the total volume of the track not otherwise occupied such that the housing maintains a visual continuity of surface between the housing, the track and surfaces surrounding the track when viewed from a position below the track.