Patent Application
20180115049
The present invention relates to [field], and more specifically, to [a more specific description of the field].
The cost and environmental impact of energy generation and distribution motivates self-initiated and code imposed energy saving measures though control of electrical devices. To maximize savings, control of individual electrical devices is often desirable, and it is often preferable to install such controls directly at the device manufacturer, rather than in the field at the time of installation of the device. This reduces installation costs by giving the installer fewer tasks to perform in order to accomplish the installation. Installation costs may further be reduced by eliminating wiring, and hence wireless control is frequently desirable.
A luminaire or other lighting device is typically comprised of the housing or enclosure, an optical system, one or more light sources, and one or more power supplies (e.g., driver or ballast) for the one or more light sources, as applicable.
In some situations, it is advantageous to embed a wireless control device directly into the power supply, so as to not add an addition component to the luminaire. However, in other situations, this may not be advantageous. For example, a typical power supply radiates electromagnetic interface, and thus is typically designed to contain such radio waves, so that it does not cause undesired interference, typically by using a tight metal enclosure. Such an enclosure may also impede the transmission and reception of the desired radio waves that enable wireless control of the luminaire. Further, the housing or enclosure of a typical luminaire is itself typically metal, or at the least compartment containing the power supply is typically metal. This may (further) impede the transmission and reception of the desired radio waves that enable wireless control of the luminaire. Additionally, the design of conventional luminaires places the power supply within the wall or ceiling in which the luminaire is installed, which may inhibit the directionality of the signal transmitted from and/or received by the wireless control module as well as degrading signal quality. Poor signal quality results in retransmissions, and/or, in the case of a mesh network, increased hops or relayed messages. This in turn limits the available bandwidth. The size of a mesh network is rarely limited by the mere count of participating devices. Typically, the available bandwidth limits the size. Once the bandwidth is depleted, the network loses its ability to self-heal and response times become noticeable.
A radio signal, at a strong attenuation, may pass from the metal enclosure of a power supply through the metal of the luminaire. However, this escaped signal is now very directional. Due to the directionality, signal strength can no longer be relied on to determine the proximity to a luminaire. For example, it would not be possible to automatically detect a user with a mobile device being in the same room as the luminaire, and thus the user would have no way to control the luminaire from that mobile device. The localization would not be good enough. More importantly, such directional communication cannot be utilized to triangulate a particular luminaire within a set of luminaires. Therefore, attractive secondary applications such as asset tracking cannot benefit from the existing network of devices.
Finally, the lifetime of a power supply may be limited due to the electrical and thermal stress on its components. Embedding a wireless control module inside the power supply requires re-commissioning of the wireless control network if the power supply fails. This incurs extra cost, particularly if many power supplies reach end-of-life at the same time.
Embodiments address the above potential issues and more. In a particular embodiment, a wireless mounted control module includes an antenna portion, which encloses at least in part an antenna, and a holder portion. The holder portion allows the movement of the antenna portion from an installed position, where the top of the antenna portion is flush and/or substantially flush with the exterior surface of the device (such as but not limited to a luminaire or other lighting device) in which the module is installed, to an extended position, where an upper section of the antenna portion (including the top of the antenna portion) extends beyond the exterior surface. Thus, when the device is shipped from its manufacturer, the wireless mounted control module sits recessed into the device. This minimizes interference with existing packaging for the device, as well as protecting the module.
In an embodiment, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus includes: a holder portion; an antenna portion movably disposed within the holder portion; and an antenna disposed within the antenna portion, wherein when the apparatus is mounted in a device, a portion of the device is in electrical communication with the antenna and a portion of the device is in mechanical communication with the holder portion.
In a related embodiment, the antenna portion is movable from a first position wherein a top of the antenna portion is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the device the apparatus is mounted in, to a second position wherein an upper portion of the antenna portion, which includes the top of the antenna portion, extends beyond the exterior surface of the device the apparatus is mounted in.
In another related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a clip in mechanical communication with the holder portion, the clip securing the holder portion in position within an opening in a mounting surface of the device in which the apparatus is mounted. In a further related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a first mechanical stop, wherein a first section of the holder portion may be sized to fit within the opening in the mounting surface. In a further related embodiment, the first mechanical stop may include a section of the holder portion having a larger diameter than the opening in the mounting surface, and the holder portion may be secured within the opening by the clip and the first mechanical stop.
In another further related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a second mechanical stop, the second mechanical stop preventing the antenna portion from being extended past a defined location when the second mechanical stop contacts the holder portion. In a further related embodiment, the second mechanical stop may include a protrusion extending from the antenna portion. In another further related embodiment, the second mechanical stop may include a locking mechanism to secure the antenna portion in a defined position.
In still another related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a label extending from the antenna portion. In a further related embodiment, the label may serve as a handle configured to extend the antenna portion from a first position to a second position.
In yet still another related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a movement mechanism to extend the antenna portion from the first position to the second position. In still yet another related embodiment, the apparatus may further include a strain relief disposed within the holder portion, the strain relief including an arm to support a wire connected to a connector on the antenna portion. In a further related embodiment, the strain relief may be located above at least one connector on the antenna portion.
In yet still another related embodiment, the apparatus may further include at least one connector disposed within the antenna portion and in electrical communication with the antenna.
In another embodiment, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus includes: a holder portion; an antenna portion disposed in mechanical contact with the holder portion; and an antenna disposed within the antenna portion; wherein when the apparatus is mounted in a device, a portion of the device is in electrical communication with the antenna and a portion of the device is in mechanical communication with the holder portion.
In a related embodiment, at least a portion of the antenna may be located in a portion of the antenna portion that is above a surface of the device into which the apparatus is mounted. In another related embodiment, the antenna may be disposed within the antenna portion such that it is located beneath the surface of the device into which the apparatus is mounted. In yet another related embodiment, the antenna may be disposed within the antenna portion such that it is located at the surface of the device into which the apparatus is mounted.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages disclosed herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments disclosed herein, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein.
Embodiments of a wireless mounted control modules are capable of being used with all types of electronic devices, such as but not limited to lighting devices (power supplies, fixtures, luminaires, etc.), lighting-related devices (sensors, switches, etc.), and power delivery devices (HVAC devices, VAV boxes, electrical panels, etc.). Embodiments are described throughout with regards to lighting devices, particularly luminaires, for ease of explanation only, and those of skill in the art will understand that the principles described herein apply to all electronic devices that interface with control systems and that may be controlled wirelessly. Embodiments allow for transport of the wireless mounted control module in existing (unmodified) electronics device packaging without any protrusions, while at the same time providing, when installed and activated, strong wireless signal strength and omni- or hemi-spherical directionality. This enables larger and higher performance wireless networks and increases the use of proximity and triangulation features in connection with establishing, maintaining, and using such wireless networks. Further, some embodiments require no changes to the construction of the electrical device, while others require only minimal modification to the construction of the electrical device.
In some embodiments, it may desirable to separate the wireless control module (at least the radio and possibly the controller) from the power supply. It is also desirable to avoid strong directionality of the radio. Typically a planar or omni-directional pattern is preferable. This can be accomplished via an external antenna portion, for example a dipole antenna portion, but such an antenna portion would either have to be field mounted, incurring cost and complexity, or a device manufacturer would have to design new packaging that would accommodate the fragile antenna portion on the outside of the luminaire. The packaging has been carefully designed to minimize damage during shipping, yet at the same time is kept small to minimize cost and optimize pallet utilization. Changes to a device that would require redesigning such packaging would likely be undesirable and would likely not be adapted by device manufacturers.
The antenna portion is shaped such that it is surrounded, at least in part, by the holder portion. Thus, in some embodiments, as shown, the portion of the module visible from the exterior includes the antenna portion sitting between two half-spherical holder portions surrounded by a circular ring, such that the antenna portion slides up and down between the two half-spherical holder portions. Of course, other shapes and configuration for the holder portion(s) and the antenna portion are possible, including but not limited to two rectangular holder portions, two crescent-shaped holder portions, two square holder portions, and so on. The module includes a first mechanical stop that keeps the module mounted in the device, and a second mechanical stop that prevents the antenna portion from being raised completely beyond the holder portion. Thus, when in the extended position, some part of the antenna portion is visible from the exterior of the installed luminaire, and some part of the antenna portion is not visible from the exterior of the installed luminaire. The first mechanical stop may be, but is not limited to, a tension clip, a spring-mounted clip, spring-loaded tabs, tension tabs, and so forth. In some embodiments, the first mechanical stop is located on one portion of the holder portion, and in some embodiments, the first mechanical stop is a plurality of mechanical stops located on more than one portion of the holder portion. In some embodiments, at least one of the first mechanical stops is located on the antenna portion. In some embodiments, the second mechanical stop is a protrusion that extends out from the antenna portion on the interior of the device, such that the antenna portion is physically stopped from being raised higher when the protrusion comes into contact with the holder portion. In some embodiments, there is a locking feature on the protrusion of the antenna portion and an interfacing feature on the holder portion, such that the antenna portion, when raised into the extended position, is locked into the extended position. In some embodiments, this locking feature is overcome by pushing on the antenna portion with some force, such that the antenna portion is returned to the installed position.
Connections between the power supply of the device and the wireless mounted control module are accomplished via one or more wires placed into one or more connectors, such as but not limited to push-in connectors, clip connectors, screw-wrap connectors, and the like, located on the portion of the antenna portion that remains on the interior of the device (e.g., luminaire). These are, in some embodiments, pre-wired at the device manufacturer to minimize labor on site, and in some embodiments, wired on site if the power supply is installed on site. Note that the wires move with the antenna portion of the wireless mounted control module as it is being moved from the installed position to the extended position. Thus, no further flexible interconnect is required. In some embodiments, so as to minimize the height requirements inside the luminaire when it is being shipped, it is desirable to have the wires exit the module perpendicular to the module, which in some embodiments is parallel to the exterior surface of the luminaire.
Referring to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the first mechanical stop and/or the second mechanical stop are designed so as to not interfere with the one or more wires or other connected mechanism (e.g., direct electrical contacts, traces, leads, etc.) that interconnect the wireless mounted control module 10 with the electronic portion of the device into which the wireless mounted control module 10 is mounted. For example, when the device is a luminaire or other lighting device, the electronic portion may be a power supply for one or more solid state light sources. In such embodiments, for example, the stop(s) may be and in some embodiments are located on a side of the wireless mounted control module 10 that is opposite the wire(s). In some embodiments, the interconnect with the electronic portion of the device may be, but is not limited to, any known electrical interface, such as but not limited to 0-10V plus auxiliary power, DALI, a proprietary interface, and so on. In some embodiments, as shown in greater detail below with regards to
Note that some electrical devices, such as some luminaires, are designed such that they do not require opening during installation, for example, but not limited to, to prevent ingress of dust, which in the case of a luminaire, may accumulate on the optical system. Embodiments of the wireless mounted control module 10 allow compliance with this requirement, while still providing excellent signal strength for wireless control, proximity, and triangulation applications.
In some embodiments, a label is affixed to the wireless mounted control module (shown in the drawings with a large arrow or other indicia of direction). The label does not interfere with the packaging of the device in which the module is installed, but is immediately visible upon removal of the device from its packaging. Having drawn the attention of the installer, the label instructs the installer to pull the antenna portion of the wireless mounted control module out from the device, from its installed position (i.e., the first position) to its extended position (i.e., the second position). As described above, mechanical features prevent complete removal of the wireless mounted control module from the device, and prevent complete removal of the antenna portion as well, but allow for sufficient movement to the extended position so that the antenna portion, and the antenna (or portion thereof) contained in part therein, and the signal to/from that antenna portion, is not obstructed. In some embodiments, an increase in height of the antenna portion of the module above its installed position improves signal quality and creates hemi-spherical radiation, even with a conventional PCB trace antenna portion. In some embodiments, an increase in height of 10 mm to 25 mm, or 10 mm to 20 mm, or 10 mm to 15 mm, or substantially any of these, is sufficient to achieve the desired results.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the label 64 performs one or more of the following functions: indicates “pullout instructions”, serve as a pullout handle for the wireless mounted control module 50, indicates code and emission requirement(s), and contains color coding/wiring instructions for the at least one connector 16.
In some embodiments, the wireless mounted control module is mechanically snapped into a conventional half inch knock out of the device into which it is mounted. Other fastening mechanisms are possible, including but not limited to other shapes of openings, adhesives, screw mounts, and the like. Knock outs are common in North America for electrical wiring and thus are either already present on an electrical device such as a luminaire, or otherwise the tools to punch such openings are within the existing capabilities of most manufacturers.
It is important to recognize that the wireless mounted control module will still function even in the installed (i.e., first) position, should pulling the antenna portion out into the extended (i.e., second) position not be possible for any reason. However, some or all of the benefits described above may not be realized if the wireless mounted control module is in the installed (i.e., first) position. In some embodiments, moving the wireless mounted control module to the extended (i.e., second) position is not needed to realize all of the benefits described herein. In some such embodiments, the shape of the antenna portion is configured so to extend past the surface when in the installed (i.e., first position) such that it is not necessary to change the position of the antenna portion.
In some embodiments, to move the antenna portion of the wireless mounted control module from the installed (i.e., first) position to the extended (i.e., second) position, a screw-type rotary mechanism, a push-to-eject/push-to-retract mechanism, a spring loaded mechanism, and/or any other known extension/retraction mechanism is used. Further, in embodiments where the knock out or other hole in the device limits the amount of space through which the antenna portion must pass, a sub-portion of the antenna portion of the module that will fit in the space is separately movable from the remaining portion of the antenna portion.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The wireless mounted control module 150 also includes a strain relief 160. In some embodiments, the strain relief 160 includes an arm 160 disposed over an opening in the holder portion 152. The strain relief 160 is useful for routing wires 162 to the at least one connector 156 without stressing the connection between a wire 162 and the at least one connector 156.
Unless otherwise stated, use of the word “substantially” may be construed to include a precise relationship, condition, arrangement, orientation, and/or other characteristic, and deviations thereof as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that such deviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems.
Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles “a” and/or “an” and/or “the” to modify a noun may be understood to be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one, of the modified noun, unless otherwise specifically stated. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the FIGS. to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based on, something else, may be understood to so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a direct and/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.
Although the methods and systems have been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, they are not so limited. Obviously many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above teachings. Many additional changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, may be made by those skilled in the art.
The present application is an international application and claims priority, and the benefit, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/153,503, entitled “WIRELESS MOUNTED CONTROL MODULE” and filed Apr. 27, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US16/29636 | 4/27/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62153503 | Apr 2015 | US |
