Patent ID: 8061865

Claim:
A lighting interface component that forms at least a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling, the lighting interface component comprising: a first flange configured to support a first ceiling tile when the first ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling; a second flange configured to support a second ceiling tile when the second ceiling tile is installed in the suspended ceiling; a central channel portion disposed between the first flange and the second flange and configured to provide a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to at least one lighting unit when the at least one lighting unit is coupled to the central channel portion, wherein the electrical connection is configured to provide an operating power and at least one control signal different from the operating power to the at least one lighting unit, said central channel portion including first and second downwardly depending support members; a cross member support spanning said first and second support members; an air flow cooling channel formed interiorly of said central channel portion and above said at least one lighting unit; wherein said central channel portion extends into a plenum above said suspended ceiling, said air flow channel formed so as to preclude a flow of air between said plenum and an area below the suspended ceiling; a plurality of cooling features thermally connected to said cross member and extending into said air flow cooling channel to dissipate heat generated from said at least one lighting unit said cross member support spanning said central channel portion and having: a plurality of conductors disposed spatially and substantially in parallel along at least a portion of a length of said cross member support spanning said central channel portion and interposed between first and second rails longitudinally extending along at least a portion of said cross member support, said opposing first and second rails retaining said at least one lighting unit; wherein said plurality of conductors provide the electrical connection at any of a plurality of locations along the length of the central channel portion, the plurality of conductors comprising: at least one first conductor to provide the operating power to the at least one lighting unit; and at least one second conductor to provide the at least one control signal to the at least one lighting unit.