Lighting fixture with a retractable sensor module and methods of operating the same

• US 20080068841A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IQ Group Sdn. Bhd. (IQ Group Holdings Bhd.)
• Original Assignee: IQ Group Sdn. Bhd. (IQ Group Holdings Bhd.)
• Inventors: Ho, Wei-Jen, Chi, Yung Chih, Lai, Kong Yeow, Chen, Ching-Chen
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/189 using passive radiation detection systems

Abstract

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a lighting fixture is provided with a housing space to receive a retractable sensor module. The housing space is provided with an internal holder with electrical circuitry to operate the lighting fixture. The internal holder is essentially cylindrical in shape, with one closed end. The closed end is provided with openings and slots for screw and wires. The internal holder allows for pan rotation of a retractable sensor module. The retractable sensor module includes a control module comprising a top cover, a lower cover and a printed circuit board sub-assembly inside, and a lens assembly. The printed circuit board sub-assembly comprises a power printed circuit board, a sensor printed circuit board, with a printed circuit board and a transmitter printed circuit board. The lens assembly constitutes dotted lenses.

The lighting fixture is independently operable, after the sensor module has been detached and a dummy cover is employed to close off the housing space of the internal holder.
In a second embodiment, the lighting fixture with a sensor module can be further fitted with a plug-in transmitter module. The transmitter module receives and re-directs a signal from the sensor module to activate a receiver product, including a chime or a lighting fixture, in a separate part of a building or an operation control room.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture (100), comprising a lighting means and a support means, is characterized in which

the lighting fixture (100) is provided with a housing space (101) to receive a sensor module (200);

the housing space (101) is provided with an internal holder (30) electrically connectable to an electrical circuitry operating the lighting fixture (100);

the sensor module (200) includes a control module (20) comprising a top cover (10), a lower cover (60) and a printed circuit board sub-assembly (50) inside and a lens assembly (50);

adjustment knobs (61) are provided on the control panel wall (62) of the lower cover (60) cooperating with the printed circuit board sub-assembly; and

the sensor module (200) includes electrical circuitry therein to connect with the internal holder (30),

whereby the sensor module (200) is retractable or extendable from the internal holder (30) inside the housing space (101) of the lighting fixture (100) to conceal and expose the adjustment knobs (61) appearing on the control panel wall (62) of the lower cover (60).

2. A lighting fixture (100a) with a retractable sensor module (200a) as in claim 1 in which the sensor module (200a) is horizontally mounted on the lighting fixture (100a), where the axis of the internal holder (30a) is horizontal.

3. A lighting fixture (100b) with a retractable sensor module (200b) as in claim 1 in which the sensor module (200b) is vertically mounted on the lighting fixture (10b), where the axis of the internal holder (30b) is vertical.

4. A lighting fixture (100) with a retractable sensor module (200) as in claim 2 or 3 in which a dummy cover is inserted into the internal holder (30) and converts the lighting fixture (100) to normal on-off switching, whereby the lighting fixture (100) is operational, even after the sensor module (200) has been withdrawn from the lighting fixture (100).

5. A lighting fixture (100) with a retractable sensor module (200) as in claim 1 in which the lighting fixture (100) is further provided with an electrical housing or connection point to receive optionally a plug-in transmitter module (90),

whereby the transmitter module (90) redirects a signal from the sensor module (200) to another receiver product including a chime or a light fixture in a separate part of a building or an operation control room.

6. A method of operating a lighting fixture (100) comprising a lighting means and a support means, integrally provided with a housing space (101) with an internal holder (30), which is operable by a main electrical wiring;

providing an electrical wiring to the housing space (101) in parallel to the main electrical wiring;

inserting a sensor module (200) into the internal holder (30) when controlling the lighting fixture (100);

the sensor module (200) includes a control module (20) comprising a top cover (10), a lower cover (60) and a printed circuit board sub-assembly (50) inside and a lens assembly (50), is characterized in which

the operating method includes the steps of

providing external adjustment knobs (61) on the control panel wall (62) of the lower cover (60), co-operating with the printed circuit board sub-assembly inside, which can be retracted into and extended from the internal holder (30),

whereby the external adjustment knobs (61) are concealed from view when the sensor module (200) is retracted.

8. A sensor-monitored method of operating the lighting fixture (100) as in claim 6 in which the operating method further includes the step of

further providing a transmitter module (90) adjacent to the sensor module (200);

receiving and re-transmitting a signal from the sensor module (200) to a receiver product in a separate part of a building, whereas the receiver product includes a chime or a lighting fixture.

7. A method of operating a lighting fixture (100) comprising a lighting means and a support means, integrally provided with a housing space (101) with an internal holder (30), which is operable by a main electrical wiring, is characterized in which

the operating method includes the steps of:

providing an electrical wiring to the housing space (101) in parallel to the main electrical wiring;

inserting a dummy cover into the internal holder (30) when not controlling the lighting fixture (100),

whereby the lighting fixture (100) reverts to the on/off switching of the main electrical wiring when the internal holder (30) is not fitted with a sensor module (200).

9. A lighting fixture (100) comprising a housing space (101) to receive a sensor module (200);

the housing space (101) is provided with an internal holder (30) electrically connect-able to an electrical circuitry operating the lighting fixture (100);

the sensor module (200) includes a lens assembly (50) and electrical circuitry therein connected to the internal holder (30);

wherein the sensor module (200) is shiftable between a retracted position within the internal holder (30) and an extended position from the internal holder (30) inside the housing space (101) of the lighting fixture (100) while connected to the internal holder (30).

10. The lighting fixture (100) of claim 9 and means defined by the internal holder (30) for guiding the sensor module (200) between its said retracted and extended positions.

11. The lighting fixture (100) of claim 10 wherein the sensor module (200) includes a control module (20) associated with the lens assembly (50);

adjustment knobs (61) carried by the sensor module (200) associated with the control module (20);

the control knobs (61) being concealed with the sensor module (200) in its retracted position and exposed with the sensor module (200) in its extended position.