Lighting fixture with integral motion detector

• US 5,434,764 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heathco LLC (Transom Capital Group)
• Original Assignee: Intelectron Products Company
• Inventors: Sandell, Donald R., Lee, Wade P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DORITY, CARROLL B
• Application Number:
  US08/359,624
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/802, 250/239
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A lighting fixture with infra-red responsive motion detector unit incorporated into the fixture design. The lighting fixture includes a motion detector housing forming an integral part of the lighting fixture body and having a generally convexo-convex shape fitting in with the decorative styling of the fixture body. The bottom portion of the housing has a bottom wall containing an azimuthally extending lens aperture. A plastic lens member is positioned in the lens aperture and is formed to conform to the convex bottom wall so that the lens member appears to form a continuous portion of the wall. The lens member defines a plurality of Fresnel lenses which are disposed to direct infra-red radiation from an object in their aggregate field of view to an infra-red sensor mounted within the housing. The housing is incorporated into the body of the lighting fixture itself, instead of being mounted on a separate mounting base, and is disposed on the lighting fixture such that no other portion of the lighting fixture obstructs the aggregate field of view of the plurality of Fresnel lenses.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture actuated by an infra-red sensing motion detector, the lighting fixture having a decorative fixture body and comprising:

a motion detector housing disposed to form an integral part of said decorative fixture body, said housing having a convexo-convex shape and comprising a generally convex bottom portion and a generally convex top portion defining said convexo-convex shape;

wherein said generally convex bottom portion has an azimuthally extending lens aperture formed therein, said lens aperture having at least a portion extending out of the vertical direction;

an infra-red sensor responsive to infra-red radiation mounted within said housing in view of said lens aperture;

a plastic lens member covering said lens aperture and formed to conform to the curvature of said generally convex bottom portion, said lens member having a plurality of Fresnel lenses formed thereon and disposed to direct infra-red radiation to said sensor;

wherein said motion detector bottom portion includes a frusto-conical wall portion defining said azimuthally extending lens aperture and said lens member is conically shaped to conform to said frusto-conical wall portion; and

wherein said motion detector housing is disposed such that no portion of said decorative fixture body obstructs the fields of view of said plurality of Fresnel lenses.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

vertical indexing means for vertically indexing said infra-red sensor with respect to said lens member; and

azimuthal indexing means for azimuthally indexing said lens member with respect to said infra-red sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a printed circuit board within said motion detector housing, said infra-red sensor being mounted on said printed circuit board; and

wherein said vertical indexing means comprises stop means engaging said printed circuit board for establishing the vertical position of said printed circuit board and infra-red sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a lens frame member having a second azimuthally extending lens aperture aligned with the lens aperture in said bottom portion; and

wherein said azimuthal indexing means comprises a first index member on said lens frame member and a second index member on said lens member mating with said first index member for establishing the azimuthal position of said lens member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said lens frame member and the bottom portion of said motion detector housing are indexed together.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a blocking member; and

at least two infra-red sensors disposed within said bottom portion bilaterally with respect to said blocking member to receive infra-red radiation emanating from opposite sides of said blocking member whereby radiation emanating from one side of said blocking member is prevented from illuminating a sensor on the opposite side of said blocking member.