WIRELESS SYSTEM AND WIRELESS MODULE THEREFOR

• US 20090033485A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Pereira, Luis R., Luebke, Charles J., Naeve, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 7,911,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.230
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless system includes a server having a port, a plurality of sensors or devices, each of which includes a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and a wireless module. The wireless module includes a port interconnected with the port of the server, a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of the wireless module, the wireless transceiver of the wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of the sensors or devices, a proximity sensor structured to sense one of the sensors or devices, and a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of such one of the sensors or devices. The port of the server is structured to cooperate with the port of the wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages. The port of the wireless module cooperates with the wireless transceiver to transmit and receive the wireless messages.

Claims

1. A wireless system comprising:

a server comprising a port;

a number of sensors or devices, each of said number of sensors or devices comprising a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and

a wireless module comprising;

a port interconnected with the port of said server,

a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of said wireless module, the wireless transceiver of said wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices,

a proximity sensor structured to sense one of said number of sensors or devices, and

a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices,

wherein the port of said server is structured to cooperate with the port of said wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages, said port of said wireless module cooperating with said wireless transceiver to transmit and receive said wireless messages.

2. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said server is a personal computer.

3. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said server further comprises a display.

4. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein the port of said wireless module and the port of said server are USB ports;

and wherein the USB port of said wireless module is interconnected with the USB port of said server by a USB cable having a length of about three feet to about six feet.

5. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said wireless module is structured to be powered from the port of said server.

6. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transceiver of said wireless module and the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices are ZigBee wireless transceivers.

7. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said one of said number of sensors or devices is structured to sense said target and responsively send a first wireless message to the wireless transceiver of said wireless module;

wherein said server is structured to receive said first wireless message and send a second wireless message to said one of said number of sensors or devices through the wireless transceiver of said wireless module, in order to confirm receipt of said first wireless message;

wherein said one of said number of sensors or devices is structured to receive said second wireless message and responsively send a third wireless message to the wireless transceiver of said wireless module, said third wireless message including profile information of said one of said number of sensors or devices; and

wherein said server is structured to receive said third wireless message and send a fourth wireless message to said one of said number of sensors or devices through the wireless transceiver of said wireless module, in order to confirm receipt of said third wireless message.

8. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein a number of said number of sensors or devices is structured to send state information to the wireless transceiver of said wireless module.

9. The wireless system of claim 8 wherein one of said number of sensors or devices is a sensor structured to sense a condition change of an input and send a first wireless message to the wireless transceiver of said wireless module;

and wherein said server is structured to receive said first wireless message and send a second wireless message to said sensor through the wireless transceiver of said wireless module, in order to confirm receipt of said first wireless message.

10. A wireless system comprising:

a server comprising a port;

a number of sensors or devices, each of said number of sensors or devices comprising a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and

a wireless module comprising;

a port structured to be interconnected with the port of said server,

a processor,

a power source structured to be powered through the port of said wireless module when interconnected with the port of said server, and/or to temporarily power said wireless module when the port of said wireless module is disconnected from the port of said server,

a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of said wireless module, the wireless transceiver of said wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices,

a proximity sensor structured to sense one of said number of sensors or devices,

a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices, and

an annunciator structured to be activated after the proximity sensor of said wireless module senses one of said number of sensors or devices, and after said target is sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices,

wherein the port of said server is structured to cooperate with the port of said wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages when said port of said server is interconnected with the port of said wireless module, said port of said wireless module cooperating with said wireless transceiver to transmit and receive said wireless messages, and

wherein said wireless module is structured to transmit and receive wireless messages through the wireless transceiver thereof when disconnected from the port of said server.

11. The wireless system of claim 10 wherein said annunciator is one of a visual annunciator and an audible annunciator.

12. The wireless system of claim 10 wherein said processor is structured to activate said annunciator after the proximity sensor of said wireless module senses one of said number of sensors or devices, and after said one of said number of sensors or devices is joined to a wireless communication network.

13. The wireless system of claim 12 wherein the port of said wireless module is structured to be reconnected to the port of said server after said processor activates said annunciator.

14. The wireless system of claim 10 wherein said power source comprises an ultra-capacitor and a charging circuit structured to charge said ultra-capacitor from the port of said server when interconnected with the port of said wireless module.

15. The wireless system of claim 10 wherein said processor comprises a nonvolatile memory structured to store information from one of the wireless messages received by the wireless transceiver of said wireless module when disconnected from the port of said server.

16. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said processor is structured to transfer the stored information from said nonvolatile memory and through the port of said wireless module to the port of said server after said wireless module is reconnected to the port of said server.

17. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said one of said number of sensors or devices further comprises an identifier and a profile;

and wherein said stored information includes said identifier and said profile.

18. The wireless system of claim 10 wherein said power source is a power module comprising a battery and a connector structured to connect to the port of said wireless module when disconnected from the port of said server, said power module being structured to temporarily power said wireless module when the port of said wireless module is disconnected from the port of said server.

19. The wireless system of claim 18 wherein the port of said wireless module and the port of said server are USB ports;

wherein said connector is a first USB connector having a first polarity; and

wherein said power module further comprises a second USB connector having an opposite second polarity, said second USB connector being structured to be connected to the USB port of said server when the USB port of said wireless module is disconnected from the USB port of said server, said battery being charged from the USB port of said server and through said second USB connector.

20. A wireless system comprising:

a server comprising a port;

a number of sensors or devices, each of said number of sensors or devices comprising a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor;

a first wireless module comprising;

a port interconnected with the port of said server, and

a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of said first wireless module, the wireless transceiver of said first wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices; and

a second module separate from said first wireless module, said second module comprising a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of one of said number of sensors or devices,

wherein the port of said server is structured to cooperate with the port of said first wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages, said port of said first wireless module cooperating with said wireless transceiver to transmit and receive said wireless messages.

21. The wireless system of claim 20 wherein said target is a number of magnets;

and wherein said second module comprises a molded housing housing said number of magnets therein.

22. The wireless system of claim 20 wherein the target of said second module is structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices, in order to cause said one of said number of sensors or devices to join a wireless communication network including said first wireless module.

23. The wireless system of claim 22 wherein said server is structured to accept input to confirm that said one of said number of sensors or devices may join the wireless communication network.

24. The wireless system of claim 22 wherein said wireless transceiver of said first wireless module is structured to receive one of said wireless messages from said one of said number of sensors or devices after the target of said second module is sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices.

25. A wireless module for a wireless system including a server having a port, said wireless system also including a number of sensors or devices, each of said number of sensors or devices comprising a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor, said wireless module comprising:

a port structured to be interconnected with the port of said server;

a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of said wireless module, the wireless transceiver of said wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices;

a proximity sensor structured to sense one of said number of sensors or devices; and

a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices,

wherein the port of said server is structured to cooperate with the port of said wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages, said port of said wireless module cooperating with said wireless transceiver to transmit and receive said wireless messages.

26. A wireless module for a wireless system including a server having a port, said wireless system also including a number of sensors or devices, each of said number of sensors or devices comprising a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor, said wireless module comprising:

a port structured to be interconnected with the port of said server;

a processor;

a power source structured to be powered through the port of said wireless module when interconnected with the port of said server, and/or to temporarily power said wireless module when the port of said wireless module is disconnected from the port of said server;

a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of said wireless module, the wireless transceiver of said wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of said number of sensors or devices;

a proximity sensor structured to sense one of said number of sensors or devices;

a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices; and

an annunciator structured to be activated after the proximity sensor of said wireless module senses one of said number of sensors or devices, and after said target is sensed by the proximity sensor of said one of said number of sensors or devices,

wherein the port of said server is structured to cooperate with the port of said wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages when said port of said server is interconnected with the port of said wireless module, said port of said wireless module cooperating with said wireless transceiver to transmit and receive said wireless messages, and

wherein said wireless module is structured to transmit and receive wireless messages through the wireless transceiver thereof when disconnected from the port of said server.