Ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system

• US 6,715,246 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Armstrong World Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armstrong World Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Cronin, John E., Frecska, Sandor A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jennifer I.
• Application Number:
  US09/604,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 522/206, 522/201, 522/208, 525/060.6, 527/471, 525/78, 523/16, 52/27, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/693.11, 174/40.R, 312/242, 312/245, 181/198, 181/150, 181/153, 343/872, 343/873
• US Class Current: 52/220.6
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/045 being laminated
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/0457 having closed internal cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them

Abstract

A ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system having at least one transmitter/receiver device located in a ceiling panel either during or after the ceiling panel fabrication process. In one embodiment one or more pockets of variable size and shape are created on a surface of the ceiling panel during or after the ceiling panel manufacturing process and then a transmitter/receiver device, such as an RF antenna, is inserted in the pocket. In another embodiment, the transmitter/receiver device is embedded in the front side (lower surface) of the ceiling tile and a “scrim” covering is placed over it to secure it in place. The transmitter/receiver device can also be embedded inside the ceiling tile or on an upper, lower or side surface of the ceiling tile. Various combinations of these embodiments can be used with a single ceiling tile. A high temperature resistant “place holding” structure that can withstand the ceiling tile treatments can be provided and later removed to allow the installation of the transmitter/receiver device.

Claims

1. A ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a defined area of a building space, comprising:

a ceiling tile including a lower surface, an upper surface and a plurality of lateral side surfaces, with one of the surfaces modified to form a pocket depression extending partially through the ceiling tile in order to insert a transmitter/receiver device completely; and

transmitter/receiver device fully inserted into the one modified surface.

2. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is rigidly affixed in a pocket on the upper surface of the ceiling tile.

3. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is rigidly affixed in a pocket on a lateral side surface of the ceiling tile.

4. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is rigidly affixed in a pocket on the lower surface of the ceiling tile.

5. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 4 further comprising a scrim cover placed over the entire lower surface of the ceiling tile.

6. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket depression is formed by cutting the pocket in the surface of the ceiling tile with a ceiling tile router.

7. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the pocket depression is formed by stamping the pocket in the surface after the ceiling tile is wet manufactured.

8. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the pocket depression is formed by placing a ceramic placeholder for the pocket in the one surface during the forming and curing of the ceiling tile, the ceramic placeholder being removed after the ceiling tile dries.

9. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pocket depressions that are formed in at least one surface for the insertion of transmitter/receiver devices wherein each pocket depression extends partially through the ceiling tile.

10. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is secured inside the formed pocket by applying an adhesive material.

11. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is secured inside the formed pocket by a clamp.

12. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signals are radio frequency (RF) signals and the transmitter/receiver device is an RF antenna.

13. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 12 wherein the RF antenna is a microstrip antenna.

14. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 12 wherein the RF antenna includes an omnidirectional air-loaded patch element.

15. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is located above the plane formed by the lower surface of a ceiling suspension system.

16. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver device includes at least one of a miniature antenna, a single chip transceiver, an electromagnetic sensor, a power supply and a microprocessor.

17. A ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a defined area of a building space, comprising:

a ceiling tile including a lower surface, an upper surface and a plurality of lateral side surfaces; and

a transmitter/receiver device embedded inside a pocket in the ceiling tile, wherein the pocket extends partially through the ceiling tile.

18. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 17 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is embedded adjacent to the lower surface and further comprises a scrim cover placed over the entire lower surface of the ceiling tile.

19. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver of claim 17 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is encapsulated within the ceiling tile during the manufacturing process.

21. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 17 wherein the electromagnetic signals are radio frequency (RF) signals and the transmitter/receiver device is an RF antenna.

22. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 21 wherein the RF antenna is a microstrip antenna.

23. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 21 wherein the RF antenna includes an omnidirectional air-loaded patch element.

24. The ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 17 wherein the transmitter/receiver device includes at least one of a miniature antenna, a single chip transceiver, an electromagnetic sensor, a power supply and a microprocessor.

20. A ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a defined area of a building space, comprising:

a ceiling tile including a lower surface, an upper surface and a plurality of lateral side surfaces; and

at least one transmitter/receiver device embedded inside the ceiling tile, wherein the transmitter/receiver device is embedded inside the ceiling tile by an adhesive that attaches a plug of ceiling tile to the transmitter/receiver device to cover the opening created in the ceiling tile.

25. A method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a defined area of a building space, comprising:

forming a pocket depression on any of the external surfaces of the ceiling tile and extending partially through the ceiling tile in order to install a transmitter/receiver device completely; and

fully inserting a transmitter/receiver device in the pocket depression formed on an external surface.

26. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is fully inserted in a pocket depression on an upper surface of the ceiling tile.

27. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is fully inserted in a pocket depression on a lateral side surface of the ceiling tile.

28. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 wherein the transmitter/receiver device is fully inserted in a pocket depression on a lower surface of the ceiling tile.

29. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 26 further comprising adhering a scrim cover to the entire lower surface of the ceiling tile.

30. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 further comprising forming a pocket depression by cutting the pocket on the external surface of the ceiling tile with a ceiling tile router.

31. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 further comprising forming a pocket depression by stamping the pocket on the external surface after the ceiling tile is wet manufactured.

32. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 further comprising forming a pocket depression by placing a ceramic placeholder for the pocket during the forming and curing of the ceiling tile and removing the ceramic placeholder after the ceiling tile dries.

33. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 further comprising securing the transmitter/receiver device inside the formed pocket by applying an adhesive material.

34. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 further comprising clamping the transmitter/receiver device inside the formed pocket.

35. The method for fabricating a ceiling tile transmitter and receiver system of claim 25 wherein the transmitter/receiver device includes at least one of a miniature antenna, a single chip transceiver, an electromagnetic sensor, a power supply and a microprocessor.