WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ANTENNA ILLUMINATED WITH VISIBLE LIGHT

• US 20170125875A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Courtney, Brian Michael, McDonald, Matthew Philip
• Granted Patent: US 10,476,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/06 Means for the lighting or illuminating of antennas, e.g. for purpose of warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

A wireless control device, such as a system controller for a load control system, may comprise a light-transmissive cover for an antenna that may be illuminated to provide feedback to a user of the load control system. The light-transmissive cover may receive light energy from a light-generating circuit to provide a visible display of the light energy. The wireless control device may be mounted to, for example, a ceiling, and the light-transmissive cover may extend from the wireless control device (e.g., down from the ceiling). The light-transmissive cover may be viewed by a user at large viewing angles and at a distance away from the wireless control device, which may simplify and improve reliability of commissioning of the load control system as well as speed up troubleshooting of the load control system after commissioning is completed.

Claims

1. A wireless control device for use in a load control system, the wireless control device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit;

an antenna coupled to said wireless communication circuit and configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals;

a control circuit coupled to said wireless communication circuit and configured to control the generation of signals by said wireless communication circuit to be transmitted by said antenna;

a visible-light-generating circuit coupled to said control circuit; and

a light-transmissive cover surrounding said antenna, said light-transmissive cover receiving light energy from said light-generating circuit to visibly display the light energy.

2. The wireless control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing containing said control circuit, said visible-light-generating circuit and said wireless communication circuit, said antenna comprising an antenna element extending from said housing and surrounded by said light-transmissive cover.

3. The wireless control device of claim 2, wherein said light-generating circuit comprises one or more light-emitting diodes capable of producing substantially all colors in the visible light spectrum.

4. The wireless control device of claim 3, wherein said control circuit and at least one light-emitting diode are mounted on a printed circuit board disposed in said housing, said wireless control device further comprising:

a light pipe optically coupling light energy from said at least one light-emitting diode to said light-transmissive cover for said antenna.

5. The wireless control device of claim 4, further comprising:

a reflective shroud surrounding said light pipe to reduce loss of light energy from said light pipe.

6. The wireless control device of claim 5, wherein said reflective shroud is substantially frusto-conically shaped surrounding said light pipe.

7. The wireless control device of claim 6, wherein said light pipe comprises two half sections that comprise two partial substantially frusto-conical sections.

8. The wireless control device of claim 7, wherein said housing comprises a two-part housing and wherein said light pipe, reflective shroud and antenna cover are held in place when said two part housing is assembled.

9. The wireless control device of claim 8, further comprising at least one alignment member on one or both parts of said housing for aligning said reflective shroud and light pipe.

10. The wireless control device of claim 9, wherein said antenna cover has a flange for securing said antenna cover between said housing and said reflective shroud.

11. The wireless control device of claim 5, further comprising:

a light reflecting surface on said printed circuit board adjacent said at least one light-emitting diode to facilitate reflection of light energy from said at least one light-emitting diode into said light pipe.

12. The wireless control device of claim 2, wherein said antenna cover comprises a translucent plastic extending member surrounding said antenna and extending through an opening in said housing.

13. The wireless control device of claim 12, wherein said housing is designed to be recessed into an opening of a building structure, with said housing having a visible surface through which said antenna cover extends.

14. The wireless control device of claim 2, wherein said light-transmissive cover comprises a translucent plastic member extending from said housing and surrounding said antenna element.

15. The wireless control device of claim 2, wherein said antenna comprises a helical antenna element extending into said light-transmissive cover.

16. The wireless control device of claim 1, wherein said visible light energy displayed by said antenna cover provides visible communication of a functional status of said wireless control device.

17. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the functional status may comprise one of a startup boot mode, a normal mode and an error mode.

18. The wireless control device of claim 17 wherein, in said error mode, said antenna cover displays information relating to a hardware or software error.

19. The wireless control device of claim 17, wherein, during said startup boot mode, said antenna cover displays information relating to the state of said microprocessor boot process.

20. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein said visible communication is provided by at least one of the light color displayed, the intensity of the color and the frequency of blinking of the color.

21. The wireless control device of claim 1, wherein said antenna cover has a tapering cylindrical shape.

22. A wireless control device for use in a load control system, the wireless control device comprising:

a housing;

a light-transmissive protruding structure attached to the housing, wherein the light-transmissive structure extends at least 0.5 inches from the surface of the housing; and

one or more light-emitting diodes located within the housing and configured to transmit light through the light-transmissive structure.