Methods and apparatuses for mounting a wireless network component to a fluorescent light

• US 20040232849A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxsteps Communication Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nxsteps Communication Incorporated
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps structurally associated with the discharge lamps H01J61/54, H01J61/56
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatuses for mounting a wireless network component to a fluorescent light. The internal electronics of the wireless network component are contained within a housing. Attachment means are used to attach the housing to a fluorescent lamp. The attachment means may comprise a support tube removably attached to the housing. The support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing to secure the wireless network component to the fluorescent lamp. Alternatively, the housing may include power coupling pins on one side and fluorescent lamp pin connectors on the opposite side. The power coupling pins fit into one receptacle of the fluorescent light fixture and the pins of the fluorescent lamp are inserted into the fluorescent lamp pin connectors of the housing such that the wireless network component is mounted between the fluorescent lamp and the fluorescent light fixture.

Claims

1. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp;

a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing above the recess channel and for fitting over the fluorescent lamp such that the housing is attached to the fluorescent lamp, wherein the fluorescent lamp can be installed within a fluorescent light fixture; and

wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

3. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the fluorescent lamp is installed within the fluorescent light fixture.

4. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

6. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

7. The wireless network component of claim 6, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

8. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

9. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

10. The wireless network component of claim 9, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

12. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

2. (Canceled).

5. (Canceled).

11. (Canceled).

13. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent lamp comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving the fluorescent lamp;

a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing; and

wherein the support tube fits over a fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing generally above the recess channel so as to suspend the housing below the fluorescent lamp when the fluorescent lamp is installed within a fluorescent light fixture.

15. The wireless network component of claim 13, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

16. The wireless network component of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

17. The wireless network component of claim 13, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

18. The wireless network component of claim 13, wherein the shape of the support tube generally corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the fluorescent lamp.

20. The wireless network component of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

14. (Canceled).

19. (Canceled).

21. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component;

one or more power coupling pin protruding from one side of the housing and configured to be inserted into a receptacle within a fluorescent light fixture that would otherwise receive one or more pin of a fluorescent lamp; and

one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector located on an opposite side of the housing and electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is configured to receive the one or more pin of the fluorescent lamp.

22. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin via a power converter internal to the housing.

23. The wireless network component of claim 22, wherein the power converter receives power from power source of the fluorescent light via the one or more power coupling pin;

and

wherein the power converter supplies the power to the internal electronics of the wireless network component and to the fluorescent lamp pin connector.

24. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are vertically offset relative to each other, such that the fluorescent lamp is installed at an angle relative to its intended axis within the fluorescent light fixture.

25. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are horizontally offset from each other, such that the fluorescent lamp is installed at an angle relative to its intended axis within the fluorescent light fixture.

26. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the housing is at least partially transparent so that light from the fluorescent lamp can pass through the housing.

27. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein the housing includes means for dissipating heat generated by the fluorescent light.

28. The wireless network component of claim 21, wherein the housing includes a recess channel for receiving the fluorescent lamp.

29. The wireless network component of claim 21, further comprising means for attaching the housing to the fluorescent lamp.

30. The wireless network component of claim 29, wherein the means for attaching the housing to the fluorescent lamp comprises a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing;

and

wherein the support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing so as to attach the housing to the fluorescent lamp.

31. A method for configuring a wireless network component for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

containing the wireless network component within a housing that includes a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp; and

attaching the housing to a fluorescent lamp using a support tube that fits over the fluorescent lamp and removably attaches to at least a portion of the housing generally above said recess channel such that the housing is attached to the fluorescent lamp.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

32. (Canceled).

33. The method of 31, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the fluorescent lamp is installed within the fluorescent light fixture.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

41. (Canceled).

43. A power source configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing a power port to which an external device may be electrically connected, said power port being electrically connected to the power supply of the fluorescent light; and

attachment means for attaching the housing to a fluorescent lamp, wherein the fluorescent lamp can be installed within a fluorescent light fixture.

44. The power source of claim 43, wherein the attachment means comprises a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing;

and

wherein the support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing such that the housing is attached to the fluorescent lamp.

45. The power source of claim 44, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

46. The power source of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

47. The power source of claim 44, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

48. The power source of claim 44, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

49. The power source of claim 44, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

50. The power source of claim 49, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

51. The power source of claim 43, wherein the housing includes a recess channel for receiving the fluorescent lamp.

52. The power source of claim 43, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

53. The power source of claim 43, wherein the power port is electrically connected to a first point and a second point within a circuit that supplies power from the power supply of the fluorescent light to the fluorescent lamp such that a second circuit is completed between the power port, the first point and the second point.

54. The power source of claim 53, wherein at least one of the first point or the second point comprises a pin of the fluorescent lamp.

55. The power source of claim 53, wherein at least one of the first point or the second point comprises a connector within a fluorescent light fixture designed to receive a pin of the fluorescent lamp.

56. The power source of claim 53, wherein at least one of the first point or the second point comprises a point within the fluorescent ballast of the fluorescent light fixture.