Fluorescent light and motion detector with quick plug release and troubleshooting capabilities

• US 6,091,200 A
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Lenz
• Original Assignee: Mark Lenz
• Inventors: Lenz, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/213,691
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/154, 315/158, 315/159, 315/302, 315/295, 315/307, 340/522, 340/541, 340/643, 340/693, 439/147, 439/320, 439/369, 362/276, 250/221
• US Class Current: 315/159
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An energy saving fluorescent light fixture for small confined areas predominant in residential settings, having a motion detector with a quick plug connector capable of attaching and detaching the detector from the light fixture base. Additional trouble-shooting capabilities are provided by dedicated electronic circuitry and LED display indicators. The LED display indicators signal a nontechnical consumer when maintenance is required, and isolate the failures to the sub-system level, i.e., the detector or fixture base circuitry. The detector is attached through the quick plug connector and concurrently supported by either an elbow joint with rigid wire supporting segments, a flexible arm, or a ball-swivel joint with rigid wire supporting segment. The supporting means enables the user to control the sensor viewing area. A simplified trouble-shooting method enabling the user to use the LED display indicators and quick plug connector facilitates sub-system replacement by nontechnical operators.

Claims

1. A fluorescent lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a fluorescent lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, comprising mechanical connections for mounting said base, mechanical connections adapted to receive said fluorescent lamp, and having a first threaded plug connector;

means for detecting occupancy in said controlled area, said occupancy detecting means having a second threaded plug connector for connecting with said first threaded plug connector on said base, a wire support segment attaching the occupancy detecting means to said second threaded plug connector, and said occupancy detecting means adapted to receive said electrical power from said base and switch said electrical power to said lamp when said occupancy is detected; and

,

one of said base or said occupancy detecting means having a threaded female plug connector, and the other of said base or said occupancy detecting means having a threaded male plug connector matching said threaded female plug connector.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 further including means for trouble shooting including determining when the following conditions occur:

a) said electrical power is properly being delivered to said occupancy detecting means; and

,

b) said electrical power is properly being delivered by said occupancy detecting means to said lamp.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 further including means for detecting low ambient light in said controlled area, such that said means for detecting occupancy and said means for detecting low ambient light combine to provide said source of electrical power to said lamp when said occupancy and said low ambient light are detected.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said second threaded plug connector further includes a threaded plug cover slideably attached to said wire support segment and adapted to receive the threads of said first threaded plug connector.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said occupancy detecting means comprises a motion detector.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein said low ambient light detecting means comprises a photocell.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 5 wherein said motion detector comprises an infrared sensing device having a predetermined field of vision and an adjustable detection sensitivity level such that the motion detection is limited to said controlled area.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 5 further including a timing circuit for removing said electrical power from said lamp after said occupancy has not been detected for a predetermined period of time.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 8 wherein said predetermined period of time is approximately one minute.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 2 wherein said means for troubleshooting further includes means for displaying the troubleshooting condition with green and red light emitting diodes.

11. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the threaded male and female plug connectors further comprise three-prong mating electrical connections having electrical wire pigtails approximately six to twelve inches in length, and a key switch for mating alignment, such that one end of said plug has a male key and the other end of said plug has a receiving cavity.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 11 further including a locking washer capable of adjusting and holding said plug connector ends in a stationary position for positioning said occupancy detection means.

13. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein said pigtails provide hardwired connections for said electrical power from said base to said occupancy detecting means.

14. A fluorescent lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a fluorescent lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, comprising mechanical connections for mounting said base, mechanical connections adapted to receive said fluorescent lamp, and having a first threaded plug connector;

a motion detector adapted to detect occupancy in said controlled area, said motion detector having an attached second threaded plug connector for connecting with said first threaded plug connector on said base, and adapted to receive said electrical power from said base and switch said electrical power to said lamp when said occupancy is detected;

one of said base or said motion detector having a threaded female plug connector, and the other of said base or said motion detector having a threaded male plug connector matching said threaded female plug connector; and

, trouble shooting circuitry capable of determining and indicating when the following conditions occur;

a) said electrical power is properly being delivered to said occupancy detecting means; and

,

b) said electrical power is properly being delivered by said occupancy detecting means to said lamp.

15. The fluorescent lighting fixture of claim 14 wherein said trouble-shooting circuitry is adapted to indicate when said conditions occur by providing power to light emitting diodes.

24. A method for trouble-shooting a fluorescent lighting fixture comprising the steps of:

a) providing the fluorescent lighting fixture of claim 15;

b) monitoring said light indicators to determine a trouble-shooting condition;

c) detaching said releasable threaded three prong plug connector when said light indicator indicates said electrical power is not properly being delivered by said motion detector to said lamp; and

,

d) replacing said motion detector with a second motion detector having a releasable threaded three prong plug connector capable of mating with said plug connector on said base.

16. A fluorescent lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a fluorescent lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, said base having mechanical connections for mounting, and adapted to receive said fluorescent lamp;

a motion detector adapted to detect occupancy in said controlled area having a predetermined field of vision and a predetermined detection sensitivity level such that the motion detection is limited to said controlled area, said motion detector adapted to receive said electrical power from said base and switch said electrical power to said lamp for a predetermined timing interval;

a releasable threaded three prong plug connector with a female end and a male end, wherein said female end is attached to said base and said male end is attached to said motion detector; and

,

means for trouble shooting including light indicators for determining when the following conditions occur;

a) said electrical power is properly being delivered to said motion detector; and

,

b) said electrical power is properly being delivered by said motion detector to said lamp.

17. The lighting fixture of claim 16 wherein said threaded plug connector male end further comprises an in-line flexible extension arm connected to said motion detector for aligning and adjusting said detector.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 16 wherein said threaded plug connector male end further comprises an in-line ball and swivel joint connected to said motion detector for aligning and adjusting said detector.

19. The lighting fixture of claim 16 wherein said threaded plug connector further comprises a single key switch on said male and female plug connectors for mating alignment.

20. The lighting fixture of claim 16 wherein said means for trouble shooting comprise electronic circuitry adapted to provide power to green and red light emitting diodes under predetermined trouble shooting conditions.

21. The lighting fixture of claim 16 further including a locking washer capable of adjusting and holding said plug connectors in a stationary position for positioning said motion detector.

22. The lighting fixture of claim 17 wherein said in-line flexible extension arm comprises a jointed, molded plastic tube approximately between one and two inches in length.

23. A fluorescent lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a fluorescent lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, said base having mechanical connections for mounting, and adapted to receive said fluorescent lamp;

a motion detector adapted to detect occupancy in said controlled area having a predetermined field of vision and an adjustable detection sensitivity level such that the motion detection is limited to said controlled area, and adapted to receive said electrical power from said base and switch said electrical power to said lamp;

a releasable threaded three prong plug connector with a female end and a male end, each having wire support segments, wherein said female end is attached to said base and said male end is attached to said motion detector, said male end having a threaded plug cover slideably attached to said wire support segment on said male end, and adapted to receive the threads of said female end plug connector,

a locking washer capable of adjusting and holding said plug connector in a stationary position for positioning said motion detector;

a photocell for measuring ambient light intensity such that said motion detector and said photocell combine to provide said source of electrical power to said lamp when said occupancy and said low ambient light are detected; and

,

trouble shooting electronics including light emitting diodes for determining and displaying when said electrical power is properly being delivered to said motion detector, and, when said electrical power is properly being delivered by said motion detector to said lamp.

25. A lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, said base having mechanical connections for mounting, and adapted to receive said lamp;

a motion detector adapted to detect occupancy in said controlled area;

one of said base or said motion detector having a threaded female plug connector, and the other of said base or said motion detector having a threaded male plug connector, for attachment of said motion detector to said base; and

,

a trouble-shooting electronic circuit comprising

a printed circuit board;

at least two light emitting diodes of different colors; and

,

a microelectronic circuit for operating said light emitting diodes to establish when said electrical power is being delivered to said motion detector, and when said electrical power is being delivered by said motion detector to said lamp.

26. A lighting fixture for a controlled area, comprising:

a lamp;

a base for establishing electrical connections with a source of electrical power, said base having mechanical connections for mounting, and adapted to receive said lamp;

a motion detector adapted to detect occupancy in said controlled area;

one of said base or said motion detector having a threaded female plug connector, and the other of said base or said motion detector having a threaded male plug connector, for attachment of said motion detector to said base; and

,

a trouble-shooting electronic circuit adapted to establish when electrical power is being delivered to said motion detector, and when said electrical power is being delivered by said motion detector to said lamp, comprising

a printed circuit board;

at least two light emitting diodes having different colors;

electrical connections to said source of electrical power having a high voltage line and a neutral line;

low voltage and power supply electronic components adapted to connect to said source of electrical power wherein said power supply electronic components are adapted to provide constant power to one of said at least two light emitting diodes and said motion detector, and to toggle the electrical power to said lamp;

an electrical component within said motion detector having an output electrically connected to another of said at least two light emitting diodes, for providing power to said another of said at least two light emitting diodes; and

,

an electrical sensor within said low voltage and power supply electronic components adapted to sense said output of the motion detector electrical component and provide a signal to said low voltage and power supply electronic components to toggle the electrical power to said lamp and said another of said at least two light emitting diodes.