WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080117110A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nemer, Kurt, Luglio, Juan
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus adapted to be mounted on an elevated surface having an electrical socket thereon. The apparatus includes a housing, a photocell and a transceiver. The housing at least partially defines an interior space and has a portion which is translucent. The photocell is supported by the housing in the interior space so that ambient light exterior to the housing passes through the translucent portion to the photocell. The transceiver is also supported by the housing and is positioned within the interior space of the housing.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus adapted to be mounted on an elevated surface having an electrical socket thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a housing at least partially defining an interior space and having a portion which is translucent;

a photocell supported by the housing in the interior space so that ambient light exterior to the housing passes through the translucent portion to the photocell; and

a communication card supported by the housing in the interior space, the communication card including a transceiver;

wherein the communication card is configured to perform gateway functions.

2. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket so that when the electrical connector is connected to the electrical socket, the housing is supported on the elevated surface.

3. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 2, and wherein the electrical connector includes a switched-line terminal, and wherein the photocell is coupled to the switched-line terminal.

4. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the photocell is positioned adjacent the translucent portion of the housing.

5. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising an antenna coupled to the transceiver, and wherein the antenna is positioned within the interior space of the housing.

6. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, and wherein the antenna includes a radiating element and a ground plane.

7. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, and wherein the antenna includes a radiating element and a ground plane, and wherein the ground plane is at least a portion of the housing.

8. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a circuit support supported by the housing and positioned within the interior space of the housing, the circuit support at least partially defining an area for positioning an electrical circuit.

9. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 8, and wherein the communication card is supported by the circuit support.

10. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 8, and further comprising:

an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket so that when the electrical connector is connected to the electrical socket, the housing is supported on the elevated surface; and

a power circuit coupled to the electrical connector, the power circuit supported by the circuit support.

11. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a first circuit support, a second circuit support and a third circuit support, each circuit support positioned within the interior space of the housing and at least partially defining an area for positioning an electrical circuit.

12. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 11, and further comprising:

an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket; and

a power circuit supported by the first circuit support and coupled to the electrical connector; and

wherein the communication card is a radio frequency (“

RF”

) communication card supported by the second circuit support and coupled to the power circuit, the RF communication card including the transceiver; and

wherein the third circuit support supports the photocell, the photocell positioned adjacent the translucent portion of the housing.

13. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 12, and further comprising an antenna coupled to the RF communication card, the antenna configured to transmit and receive RF communication signals.

14. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 13, and wherein the antenna includes a radiating element and a ground plane, and wherein the antenna is positioned substantially above the ground plane.

15. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the elevated surface is a surface of a light fixture and the electrical socket is positioned on the surface of the light fixture, and further comprising an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket so that when the electrical connector is connected to the electrical socket, the housing is supported on the surface of the light fixture.

16. The wireless communication apparatus as set forth in claim 14, and wherein the electrical connector includes a switched-line terminal, the photocell coupled to the switched-line terminal.

17. A wireless communication system adapted to be mounted on an elevated surface having an electrical socket thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a housing at least partially defining an interior space;

an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket;

a power circuit coupled to the electrical connector and positioned within the interior space of the housing;

a communication card including a transceiver, the communication card supported by the housing and positioned within the interior space of the housing; and

an antenna coupled to the transceiver and positioned within the interior space of the housing; and

wherein the communication card is configured to perform gateway functions.

18. The wireless communication system as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising a photocell coupled to the electrical connector and positioned within the interior space of the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the housing is formed from a substantially translucent material.

19. The wireless communication system as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising a plurality of circuit supports, and wherein each circuit support is supported by the housing and partially defines an area for positioning an electrical circuit.

20. The wireless communication system as set forth in claim 19, and wherein the plurality of circuit supports includes a first circuit support and a second circuit support, such that the first circuit support supports the power circuit, and the second circuit support supports the transceiver.

21. The wireless communication system as set forth in claim 17, and wherein the system is configured to mount to a light fixture.

22. An apparatus adapted to be mounted on an elevated surface having an electrical socket for distributing electrical power, the apparatus comprising:

a housing at least partially defining an interior space;

an electrical connector supported by the housing and being adapted to be connected to the electrical socket, so that when the electrical connector is connected to the electrical socket, the housing is supported directly on the elevated surface;

an antenna supported by the housing; and

a circuit support supported by the housing and extending perpendicular from a base of the housing into the interior space of the housing, the circuit support at least partially defining an area for positioning an electrical circuit.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and further comprising a second circuit support supported by the housing and positioned within the interior space of the housing, and wherein the second circuit support at least partially defines a second area for positioning a second electrical circuit.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, and further comprising:

a power circuit coupled to the electrical connector and supported by the circuit support; and

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) communication circuit coupled to the power circuit and the antenna and supported by the second circuit support and including one of a transmitter, a receiver and a transceiver.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, and further comprising a third circuit support supported by the housing and positioned within the interior space of the housing, the third circuit support at least partially defining a third area for positioning a third electrical circuit.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25, and further comprising:

a power circuit coupled to the electrical connector, the power circuit supported by the circuit support; and

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) communication circuit coupled to the power circuit and to the antenna, the RF communication circuit including one of a transmitter, a receiver and a transceiver, and wherein the RF communication circuit is supported by the second circuit support.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein the RF communication circuit is configured to perform gateway functions.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, and further comprising a photocell circuit coupled to the electrical connector and supported by the third circuit support.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28, and wherein a portion of the housing is formed from a substantially translucent material.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, and wherein the photocell circuit is positioned within the interior space of the housing adjacent the translucent portion of the housing such that ambient light exterior to the housing passes through the translucent potion to the photocell circuit.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and further comprising a power circuit coupled to the electrical connector and supported by the circuit support.

32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and further comprising a transceiver coupled to the antenna and supported by the circuit support.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and further comprising a radio frequency (“

RF”

) communication circuit coupled to the antenna and supported by the second circuit support.

34. The apparatus as set forth in claim 33, and wherein the RF communication circuit includes one of a transmitter, a receiver and a transceiver.

35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and wherein the circuit support includes a plurality of circuit supports positioned within the interior space of the housing.