Universal Rf Wireless Sensor Interface

• US 20080266050A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Keith, William L., Crouse, Kent E., Brown, Andrew C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A RF wireless sensor interface (20) interfaces one or more of a variety of sensors (12, 13) to a RF wireless network (11). A power converter (30) of the interface (20) converts a primary power (P_PRM) into a DC power (P_DC) that is supplied to the sensor(s) (12, 13). A microcontroller (60) of the interface (20) receives sensor detection information (SDI) from the sensor(s) (12, 13) in response to the sensor(s) (12, 13) receiving the DC power (P_DC) from the power converter (30). A RF transmitter/transceiver (50) of the interface (20) executes a sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI_RF) and/or a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS_RF) to the RF wireless network (11) in response to the microcontroller (60) receiving the sensor detection information (SDI). The power converter (30), the microcontroller (60) and the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) are located within a modular housing (80).

Claims

1. A RF wireless sensor interface (20) for interfacing a variety of sensors (12, 13) to a RF wireless network (11), the RF wireless sensor interface (20) comprising:

a power converter (30) operable to convert a primary power (P_PRM) into a DC power (P_DC) and to supply the DC power (P_DC) to at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13);

a microcontroller (60) operable to receive sensor detection information (SDI) from the at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13) in response to the at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13) receiving the DC power (P_DC) from the power converter (30);

a RF transmitter/transceiver (50) operable to perform at least one of a sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI_RF) and a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS_RF) to the RF wireless network (11) in response to the microcontroller (60) receiving the sensor detection information (SDI); and

a modular housing (80), wherein the power converter (30), the microcontroller (60) and the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) are located within the modular housing (80) to facilitates an operably coupling of the variety of sensors (12, 13) to the RF wireless sensor interface (20).

2. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (60) is further operable to execute an interface control signal relay (ICS_RL) to an interface controlled device (14) in response to the microcontroller (60) receiving the sensor detection information (SDI).

3. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (60) is further operable to execute an interface control signal relay (ICS_RL) to an interface controlled device (14) in response the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) receiving a device control information RF transmission (DCI_RF) from the RF wireless network (11).

4. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (60) includes a network stack (61) operable to facilitate a control by the microcontroller (60) of the at least one of the sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI_RF) and a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS_RF) to the RF wireless network (11) by the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) in accordance with a RF communication protocol associated with the RF wireless network (11).

5. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (60) includes an application manager (62) operable to generate at least one of a sensor control signal as a function of a network application of the RF wireless network (11) and an interface controls signal as a function of a relay application of an interface controlled device (11).

6. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the primary power (P_PRM) is a mains AC power.

7. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the RF wireless network (11) is a wireless lighting control network (90).

8. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the RF wireless network (11) is a wireless building automation network.

9. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the variety of sensors (12, 13) includes a daylight analog sensor (100).

10. The RF wireless sensor interface (20) of claim 1, wherein the variety of sensors (12, 13) includes an occupancy digital sensor (110).

20. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 1, wherein the variety of sensors (12, 13) includes an occupancy digital sensor (110).

11. A RF wireless sensing system, comprising:

at least one of a variety of sensors (12, 13); and

a RF wireless sensor interface (20) including;

a power converter (30) operable to convert a primary power (P_PRM) into a DC power (P_DC) and to supply the DC power (P_DC) to at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13);

a microcontroller (60) operable to receive sensor detection information (SDI) from the at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13) in response to the at least one of the variety of sensors (12, 13) receiving the DC power (P_DC) from the power converter (30);

a RF transmitter/transceiver (50) operable to perform at least one of a sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI_RF) and a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS_RF) to the RF wireless network (11) in response to the microcontroller (60) receiving the sensor detection information (SDI); and

a modular housing (80), wherein the power converter (30), the microcontroller (60) and the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) are located within the modular housing (80) to facilitates an operably coupling of the variety of sensors (12, 13) to the RF wireless sensor interface (20).

12. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller (60) is further operable to execute an interface control signal relay (ICS_RL) to an interface controlled device (14) in response to the microcontroller (60) receiving the sensor detection information (SDI).

13. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller (60) is further operable to execute an interface control signal relay (ICS_RL) to an interface controlled device (14) in response the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) receiving a device control

14. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller (60) includes a network stack (61) operable to facilitate a control by the microcontroller (60) of the at least one of the sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI_RF) and a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS_RF) to the RF wireless network (11) by the RF transmitter/transceiver (50) in accordance with a RF communication protocol associated with the RF wireless network (11).

15. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller (60) includes an application manager (62) operable to generate at least one of a sensor control signal as a function of a network application of the RF wireless network (11) and an interface controls signal as a function of a relay application of an interface controlled device (11).

16. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the primary power (P_PRM) is a mains AC power.

17. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the RF wireless network (11) is a wireless lighting control network (90).

18. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the RF wireless network (11) is a wireless building automation network.

19. The RF wireless sensing system of claim 11, wherein the variety of sensors (12, 13) includes a daylight analog sensor (100).