Compact radio frequency transmitting and receiving antenna and control device employing same

• US 5,736,965 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Spira, Joel S., Mosebrook, Donald R., Compton, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/598,239
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/702, 343/767, 343/770, 343/745, 343/746, 315/312, 315/315, 455/90, 455/347, 455/352
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A radio frequency antenna for use with a wall mounted transmitter and/or receiver for receiving and/or transmitting signals adapted to control a control device and/or indicate status of the control device. The antenna includes an insulating substrate sized to fit within an area defined by a faceplate sized to cover an outwardly facing opening of an electrical wallbox. Conductors are disposed on both sides of the substrate forming a capacitive component. At least one of the conductors is adapted to radiate radio frequency energy into the environment. The one conductor is electrically coupled to the other conductor, and the one conductor has a pattern such that the conductor is absent in areas so as to provide the antenna with an inductive component. The at least one conductor further provides a connection to the transmitter and/or receiver. The antenna provides an antenna near-field which is substantially at the edges of the substrate and which provides insubstantial electromagnetic field coupling to an electronic circuit disposed adjacent the antenna connected to the antenna and further provides a radiated field substantially isotropic in the antenna far-field.

Claims

1. A radio frequency antenna for use with a wall mounted transmitter and/or receiver for receiving and/or transmitting signals adapted to control a control device and/or indicate status of the control device, the antenna comprising:

an insulating substrate sized to fit within an area defined by a faceplate sized to cover an outwardly facing opening of an electrical wallbox, the substrate having sides and edges;

conductors disposed on both sides of the substrate forming a capacitive component;

at least one of the conductors adapted to radiate radio frequency energy into the environment, said one conductor being electrically coupled to the other conductor, said one conductor having a pattern such that the conductor is absent in areas so as to provide the antenna with an inductive component;

the at least one conductor further providing a connection to the transmitter and/or receiver; and

the antenna providing a near-field which is substantially at the edges and which provides insubstantial electromagnetic field coupling to an electronic circuit disposed adjacent the antenna connected to the antenna and further providing a radiated field substantially isotropic in a far-field.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and/or receiver is disposed the electrical wallbox.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the control device is disposed adjacent the antenna.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the control device comprises a lighting control having a manual actuator, the lighting control further being controlled by the transmitter and/or receiver, the substrate providing clearance for the manual actuator of the lighting control.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the conductors are electrically coupled to the lighting control, and further comprising an insulating bezel disposed over the antenna to electrically isolate the antenna from the environment.

6. The antenna of claim 5, further comprising a metal support plate for supporting the substrate and the lighting control and adapted for mounting the lighting control, an insulator being disposed between the antenna and the support plate.

7. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the substrate is substantially coextensive with an opening in a single gang electrical wall box.

8. The antenna of claim 4, further comprising an optical indicator coupled to the lighting control, and further comprising an opening in the substrate for the optical indicator so the optical indicator will be visible in the environment.

9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein the optical indicator comprises an optical waveguide.

10. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the control device comprises a master control device for remotely controlling at least one lighting control device.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the control device is disposed remotely from the antenna.

12. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the one conductor includes longitudinally extending slots where the conductor is absent to provide said inductive component.

13. The antenna of claim 12, wherein the slots are formed in the shape of an H-pattern, with areas of the conductor adjacent the H-pattern forming side radiators for providing said near-field.

14. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a length and width, the length and width of the substrate being substantially less than a transmit and/or receive free space wavelength of radiation processed by the transmitter and/or receiver.

15. The antenna of claim 14, wherein the substrate has a dielectric constant such that the substrate has a resonant length within its length and/or width.

16. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a series matching component disposed on the one conductor connecting the one conductor to the transmitter and/or receiver.

17. The antenna of claim 16, further comprising a matching component disposed on the one conductor in parallel with the capacitive component of the antenna.

18. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the one conductor is disposed facing outwardly from a wall on which the transmitter and/or receiver is mounted, the other conductor facing the wall, the near-field being insubstantial adjacent a surface of the other conductor facing the wall.

19. A radio frequency antenna for use with a transmitter and/or receiver for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency signals, the antenna comprising:

an insulating substrate sized to fit within an area defined by a faceplate sized to cover an outwardly facing opening of an electrical wallbox, the substrate having sides and edges;

conductors disposed on both sides of the substrate forming a capacitive component;

at least one of the conductors adapted to radiate radio frequency energy into the environment, said one conductor being electrically coupled to the other conductor, said one conductor having a pattern such that the conductor is absent in areas so as to provide the antenna with an inductive component;

at least one conductor further providing a connection to the transmitter and/or receiver;

the antenna providing a near-field which is substantially at the edges and which provides each substantial electromagnetic field coupling to an electronic circuit disposed adjacent the antenna connected to the antenna and further providing a radiated field substantially isotropic in a far-field;

the substrate having a length and a width, the length and width of the substrate being substantially less than a transmit and/or receive free space wavelength of radiation processed by the transmitter and/or receiver.

20. The antenna of claim 19, wherein the length and width of the substrate are less than about one-tenth the free space wavelength of the radiation processed by the transmitter and/or receiver.