Abstract:
A luminaire includes a luminaire housing element for holding a lamp housing, and a lamp housing for accommodating a flat lamp, wherein the lamp housing has a laterally projecting connecting element, and wherein the luminaire housing element has a recess in which the connecting element engages in a form-fitting manner and is fixed when the mechanical connection has been produced.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a national stage entry according to 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT application No. PCT/EP2012/050004 filed on Jan. 2, 2012, which claims priority from German application No. 10 2011 003 839.6 filed on Feb. 9, 2011. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Various embodiments relate to a lamp housing, a luminaire element and a luminaire. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The development of modern light-emitting devices has opened up new possibilities for styling lamps. 
         [0004]    A particular light-emitting device is the organic light-emitting diode (OLED). An OLED has an organic layer in the active layer in order to convert electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation. When contact between the OLED and a power source is made via the electrodes, different charge carrier types are injected into the organic layer. Positive charge carriers, also designated as holes, move from the anode toward the cathode through the organic layer, while electrons move through the organic layer from the cathode toward the anode. In the process, excitation states in the form of electron-hole pairs, what are known as excitons, are formed in the organic layer, which break down with the emission of electromagnetic radiation. 
         [0005]    An OLED is distinguished in particular by the fact that particularly flat and large-area lamps can be provided therewith. The lamp can have a thickness of less than 2 mm, while it is able to emit light from an area from several cm 2  up to m 2 . 
         [0006]    It is desirable to transfer the low thickness of the lamp to a luminaire having the lamp. To this end, it should be possible for a lamp housing that is as thin as possible to be fixed stably to a luminaire housing element of the luminaire. The disclosure is based on the problem of providing an appropriate lamp housing, a lamp housing element and a corresponding luminaire. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the luminaire has a luminaire housing element for holding a lamp housing and a lamp housing for accommodating a flat lamp. 
         [0008]    Ideally, the lamp housing is likewise a flat structure which is suitable to accommodate the flat lamp. The lamp housing may carry the lamp. However, it is likewise conceivable that the lamp housing is a constituent part of the lamp. The flat lamp is in particular a semiconductor light-emitting element, for example an OLED or a system including optical fibers and inorganic LEDs. The lamp housing may have a multilayer structure. For example, it may have between two plates, for example glass plates, between which the lamp may be arranged, for example in a floating manner. As a result of the provision of two transparent plates, two light outlet openings from the lamp housing may be provided, so that, for example, transparent lamps or lamps emitting in two directions can be used efficiently. It is also conceivable that one of the plates is configured to be reflective. As a result of the floating accommodation of the lamp, the latter is not exposed to any particular mechanical stresses, since pressure, flexing or shear is intercepted by the lamp housing. Thus, account is taken of mechanical protection of the lamp. This is particularly advantageous since, for example, an OLED frequently includes sensitive materials, such as glass or a thin film encapsulation or TFE. 
         [0009]    The lamp housing has, for example, a plate-like or else a film-like structure. For instance, it has a longitudinal extent, its width being smaller than its length. Likewise, however, square, polygonal or rounded lamp housings are also conceivable. Typically, the lamp housing is only slightly thicker than the lamp. An OLED may have a thickness of less than 2 mm. As a result of a correspondingly thin lamp housing, it is thus possible for a very thin luminaire to be provided. Typically, the lamp housing at the thickest point is approximately 3 times as thick as the lamp, that is to say for example 6.5 mm in the case of a 2 mm thick lamp. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, the lamp housing is electrically insulating, so that protection against contact is ensured. To this end, the lamp housing has, for example, an electrically insulating plastic. This leads to a further weight saving. Given an appropriate design/safeguard against contact, the use of metal, for example aluminum or steel, is at least equally possible. 
         [0011]    The lamp housing has at least one laterally projecting connecting element. By means of this connecting element, the lamp housing can be connected mechanically to the luminaire housing element. For this purpose, the luminaire housing element has a recess, in which the connecting element engages in a form-fitting manner when the mechanical connection has been produced and, for example, is fixed by means of contact pressure, adhesive bonding or welding. 
         [0012]    As a result of the form-fitting engagement of the connecting element in the recess and the subsequent fixing, it is in particular ensured that there is a high load-bearing ability in relation to tension and compression in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction horizontal to a contact area between the lamp housing and the luminaire housing element. Likewise, as a result of the connecting element engaging in the recess, a high load-bearing ability of the connection in relation to flexural forces on the connecting element transversely with respect to the connecting direction is ensured. This may advantageously additionally be ensured by the provision of at least one further connecting element. 
         [0013]    In relation to fixing the connecting element in the recess in the luminaire housing element, different precautions can be taken. Advantageously, the luminaire housing element has a lower shell, which includes the recess, and an upper shell for fixing to the lower shell. If the upper shell is fixed to the lower shell, it covers the recess and in this way holds the introduced connecting element in the recess. Advantageously, for this purpose the upper shell can be fixed to the lower shell by a connecting means in such a way that a portion of the area of the upper shell runs above the recess. The upper shell may be fixed to the lower shell by an extremely wide range of connecting means, for example by screwing, riveting, adhesives, welding or else latching means. 
         [0014]    Alternatively or additionally, the connecting element can also be held in the recess by different means, such as for example by pressing, by a screw fixing or by adhesive bonding. 
         [0015]    It is further possible that the upper shell also has a recess, which is likewise equipped to accommodate the connecting element, at least partly. 
         [0016]    In various embodiments, the luminaire housing element and/or the lamp housing have/has a supply channel, through which the, for example, electric feed lines or control lines can be led from the luminaire housing element to the lamp in the lamp housing. If a plurality of connecting means are provided between the lamp housing and the luminaire housing element, the supply channel is provided between the connecting elements, in order to permit the most possible stress-free guidance of the lines. 
         [0017]    Overall, in this way a mechanically solid and load-bearing connection between the luminaire housing element and the lamp housing, i.e. between a plurality of housing elements of the luminaire, is achieved. A modular system is provided, with which the external outline of the housing elements can be adapted in accordance with technical or aesthetic desires. For instance, in this way a plurality of lamps can be fixed to a base, or else a plurality of luminaire elements and a lamp, the flattest possible connection and nevertheless mechanically stable connection of the housing elements constantly being achieved. 
         [0018]    The luminaire housing element can fulfill different functions. It may include, for example, fixing means for fixing the luminaire to a stand, to the wall or to the ceiling. Likewise, it may include an energy supply or else control electronics for the lamp. In some embodiments, the luminaire housing element includes at least one electronic component, in particular a ballast for the lamp. Furthermore, the luminaire housing element may also include further optical elements, for example additional lamps, such as LEDs. In any case, the luminaire housing element may have a plurality of recesses in order to accommodate a plurality of lamp housings. To this end, the luminaire housing element have the shape of a multiple node. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a luminaire; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a lamp housing; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a lower shell of a luminaire housing element; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a lower shell of a luminaire housing element; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an upper shell of a luminaire housing element; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawing that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of a luminaire  100 . The luminaire  100  is a modular system including a multiplicity of elements which, in order to simplify the illustration, are only partly illustrated. The luminaire  100  has a lamp housing  102  and a luminaire housing element. The luminaire housing element has a lower part  104  and an upper part  106 . These are joined together in an operating state of the luminaire but, in  FIG. 1 , are illustrated separately in order to illustrate the connecting principle. 
         [0027]    The lamp housing  102  has a frame  108  into which a flat lamp  110  is introduced. The lamp  110  is an OLED. However, it is likewise conceivable that another flat luminaire element, for example a system including a flat optical fiber with adjacent LEDs, is used as a lamp  110 . The lamp  110  is introduced in a floating manner into the frame  108 , so that it is largely decoupled from mechanical stresses in the luminaire  100 , and/or in the luminaire housing. It is conceivable but not necessary that the lamp is covered on the front and rear side respectively by a plate, in order to be protected further. At least one of the plates is transparent in order to permit the emergence of light over a large area. If a transparent OLED is used as luminaire  110 , it is advantageous to provide both plates of a transparent material in order, during operation of the lamp, to permit a two-sided emergence of light and a transparent impression of the lamp  110  as soon as the lamp  110  is switched off. 
         [0028]    The lamp housing  102  also has a hook element  112 . The hook element  112  is used for the mechanical connection of the lamp housing  102  to the luminaire housing element  104 . For this purpose, the luminaire housing element  104  has a depression  114 . The depression  114  is configured in such a way that the hook element  112  engages in a form-fitting manner. If the lamp housing  102  is connected to the luminaire housing element, the hook element  112  engages in the depression  114 . The upper part  106  is connected firmly to the lower part  104 , for example by screwing or by means of a latching connection. The upper part  106  therefore fixes the hook element  112  in the depression  114  by contact pressure. The connection between lamp housing  102  and luminaire housing element is mechanically stable and simultaneously ensures a flat configuration of the luminaire  100 , the thickness of which is thus determined substantially by the thickness of the lamp  110 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a lamp housing  200 . The lamp housing  200  has a central recess  202 , which is bounded by a circumferential frame  204 . However, likewise conceivable is also a frame running laterally, with the effect of a guide, into which the lamp can be slid. The boundary and on the side on which the hook element  112  is provided is provided by the luminaire housing element. It is also conceivable that the mechanical support of the lamp is carried out exclusively by one or more luminaire housing elements, so that the lamp housing  200  comprises the lamp but does not support the latter mechanically. 
         [0030]    The recess  202  is bounded by a base plate. A flat lamp, such as an OLED, can be introduced into the recess  202 . The recess  202  is dimensioned in such a way that it is able to accommodate the lamp. The lamp housing also has a first connecting means  206  and a second connecting means  208 , by means of which the lamp housing  200  can be fixed to a luminaire housing element. Between the first connecting means  206  and the second connecting means  208 , an opening  206  is provided in the frame  204 , which is used as a supply channel for a lamp introduced into the recess  202 . In order to fix the lamp, a cover plate, not illustrated, can be fitted to the frame and fixed, for example by means of screw fixing. Likewise conceivable is retention by means of a lateral guide or by means of a fixing in the recess by means of adhesive. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration of a lower shell  300  of a luminaire housing element. The lower shell  300  is equipped in such a way that the lamp housing  200  from  FIG. 2  can be fixed thereto. For this purpose, the lower shell  300  has recesses  302 ,  304 ,  306  and  308 , which are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the lower shell. The recesses  302 ,  304 ,  306  and  308  are configured in such a way that they are able to accommodate the first connecting means  206  and the second connecting means  208  in a form-fitting manner. By means of the pairs of recesses, a lamp housing  200  can be fitted respectively to each side of the lower shell. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, the lower shell  300  has a cavity  310 , into which, for example, electronics for supplying or driving a lamp can be introduced. The lower shell  300  has a supply channel  312 , which is arranged between one of the pairs of recesses and is configured in such a way that it can attach directly to the supply channel  210  of the lamp housing. Via the supply channels, a supply or control line is thus able to connect the lamp to the electronics. 
         [0033]    The lower shell  300  may be covered by a simple plate which, for example, is fixed to the lower shell  300  by screwing, pressing, welding, latching or adhesive bonding. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6  show a lower shell  400  and an upper shell  500 , respectively, of a second exemplary embodiment of a luminaire housing element. The lower shell  400  differs from the lower shell  300  in that an additional pair of recesses  402 ,  404  are provided. The luminaire housing element thus forms a type of T-piece, to which three lamp housings can be fixed. Furthermore, in the second exemplary embodiment, a fixing point is provided for an LED which radiates outward. In order to fix to a support, for example, or to a ceiling, additional openings are made in the shell for, for example, supporting cords or fixing elements. 
         [0035]    As opposed to the exemplary embodiment described previously, the upper shell  500  and the lower shell  400  have a supply channel  502  and a recess  504 , which correspond to a recess and a supply channel of the lower shell  400 . Thus, when the upper shell  500  is attached to the lower shell  400 , a common supply channel is formed from the supply channel  312  and the supply channel  502 . The recess  504  rests on the recess  302  in order to form a common recess, in which the connecting means  208  can be anchored in a form-fitting manner. 
         [0036]    While the disclosed embodiments has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosed embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.