POWER SUPPLY HAVING A WIRELESS TRANSMITTER

• US 20110260854A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Echoflex Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Echoflex Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Parfitt, Loren, Aikens, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US12/766,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A power supply having a wireless transmitter includes an input receiving a first voltage from a power source, a power converter operable to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, and an output providing the second voltage to a load. A communication module is operable to receive a data signal from the load via a wired connection. A wireless transmitter is operable to transmit a wireless signal to a receiver in response to the received data signal such that the load is operable to communicate wirelessly with the receiver. A housing forms an enclosure around the power converter, the communication module, and the wireless transmitter.

Claims

3-1. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is one of 120 VAC, 220 VAC, 277 VAC or 347 VAC and the second voltage is 24 VDC.

7. A system for communicating sensor data, comprising:

a sensor operable to transmit a data signal in response to detecting a condition, the sensor lacking independent wireless communication functionality; and

a power supply operable to power the sensor, and operable to transmit a wireless signal in response to receiving the data signal from the sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor, a current sensor, or a gas sensor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the power supply includes:

an input receiving a first voltage from a power source;

a power converter operable to convert the first voltage to a second voltage; and

an output providing the second voltage to the sensor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power converter performs one of an AC/DC or a DC/DC power conversion.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes:

a housing that forms an enclosure around the power converter, a communication module that receives the data signal, and a wireless transmitter that transmits the wireless signal; and

a threaded fastener nipple operable to secure the housing to a light socket, wherein the light socket acts as the power source.

12. A method of wirelessly transmitting sensor data, comprising:

enclosing a power converter, a communications module and a wireless signal transmitter in a housing;

receiving an input voltage;

converting the input voltage to an output voltage using the power converter;

providing the output voltage to a load;

receiving a data signal from the load to the communications module via a wired connection; and

transmitting a wireless signal in response to the received data signal using the wireless signal transmitter such that the wired load is able to communicate wirelessly with the receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving a data signal from the load to the communications module via a wired connection includes:

sensing motion; and

transmitting the data signal to the communications module via the wired connection to indicate the sensed motion.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving a data signal from the load to the communications module via a wired connection includes:

sensing electrical current; and

transmitting the data signal to the communications module via the wired connection to indicate the sensed electrical current.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving a data signal from the load to the communications module via a wired connection includes:

sensing the presence of a gas exceeding a predefined threshold; and

transmitting the data signal to the communications module via the wired connection to indicate the gas exceeding the predefined threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, including:

inserting a threaded fastener nipple extending from the housing into a light socket;

rotating the housing to secure the housing into the light socket; and

using a threaded fastener using a threaded fastener nipple, wherein said input voltage is received through the light socket.