US 7651245

US Patent 7651245, titled "LED light fixture with internal power supply," was filed on June 13, 2007, and issued on January 26, 2010. The original and current assignee is Electraled Inc.. The inventors are James Thomas, David Lynd, Gary Gatesman, Jim Mosier, and Bryan T. Warner.

The abstract describes a light fixture with a light engine, a rugged housing, and an internal power module that is thermally isolated. The invention focuses on novel heat management features to reduce the risk of power supply failure and increase reliability. The light engine includes groups of LED modules, each with an LED and a Zener diode. The power module, comprising a power supply, a box, and a cover, is located within a rear receptacle of the housing. Heat generated by the LEDs is dissipated through the main body portion of the housing and external fins to the ambient environment without negatively affecting the power supply.

A plain-language overview of the independent claims is as follows:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a light fixture including a housing with a main body and multiple fins that form a receptacle. A light engine assembly is mounted to the main body, featuring LEDs and Zener diodes on a printed circuit board, and a heat transfer element positioned between the circuit board and the body. A power module, which contains an internal power supply within a box and an openable cover, resides inside this receptacle and is connected to the main body.

• Claim 11: This claim defines a LED light fixture that includes a housing with a body portion and multiple fins extending rearward, which collectively define a receptacle. A light engine assembly is mounted to the body portion, comprising several light modules, each made up of an LED and a Zener diode mounted on a printed circuit board. Within the receptacle, there is a power module that includes a power supply residing within an openable box.

• Claim 21: This claim outlines a LED light fixture featuring a housing with a flange, an internal receiver, a frontal lens, and an array of fins extending rearward from the flange to create a rear receptacle. This receptacle is enclosed by a rear cover. A light engine assembly is mounted to the receiver, with each light module containing an LED on a printed circuit board and an optical lens extending from the board. A power supply is situated within the rear receptacle and enclosed by the cover. A key operational aspect is that heat generated by the LEDs during operation passes through the circuit board and is dissipated by the array of fins without the need for a fan.

As of the current date (April 26, 2026), US Patent 7651245 is listed as "Active" and is expected to expire on September 22, 2027. The patent family has been involved in litigation, with cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court and the Florida Southern District Court. Additionally, a PTAB case, IPR2025-01022, was filed (though it was Not Instituted - Procedural). No contradictory information was found in general USPTO or CAFC docket searches, which typically provide access points rather than specific, real-time case details for individual patents without further interactive querying.