Light fixture wireless access points

• US 7,162,258 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Beach, Robert, Martino, Ray Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/758,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/572, 455/573, 455/461, 455/454, 455/462, 455/558, 455/7, 455/10, 455/16, 455/19, 370/338, 370/245, 370/329, 370/396, 370/389, 370/217
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An access point for a wireless local area data communications network is designed to derive power from a lighting fixture. In one arrangement, the access point includes a housing configured to be received in one or more sockets of a lighting fixture and to replace a lamp which would be inserted therein. In another arrangement, the housing includes a socket for receiving a lamp whereby both the access point and a lighting fixture can be serviced by the socket of the lighting fixture.

Claims

1. A wireless data communications device, arranged to be installed in a light fixture having a lamp socket for receiving a lamp, comprising:

a housing containing a wireless access point arranged to communicate with mobile units and other fixed wireless communications devices forming a data communications network;

a connector on said housing arranged to engage said lamp socket on said light fixture;

a socket on said housing arranged to receive a connector of a lamp and connected to receive power from said connector and said housing; and

a power supply in said housing arranged to receive power from said connector on said housing and provide power to said wireless access point.

2. A wireless data communications device as specified in claim 1 arranged to be installed in a light fixture having a socket for receiving an incandescent bulb, wherein said housing connector is arranged to screw into said socket, and wherein said socket on said housing is arranged to receive an incandescent bulb.

3. A wireless data communications device as specified in claim 1 wherein said light fixture is a florescent lamp, and wherein said housing includes a first connector arranged to engage a socket on said light fixture arranged to receive a florescent tube having a first length and the housing socket arranged to engage a florescent tube end, said housing socket being spaced from an opposed socket on said fixture when said housing is installed on said fixture, by a spacing arranged to accommodate a florescent tube having a shorter length than said first length.

4. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 1 wherein said power supply further includes a rechargeable battery and a recharging circuit, and wherein said power supply is arranged to recharge said battery when said connector receives power from said fixture and said wireless access point receives power from said battery when said connector does not receive power from said fixture.

5. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 4 wherein said wireless access point is arranged to act as a master device and communicate with mobile units and arranged to act as a slave device and communicate with at least one other fixed location wireless communications device.

6. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 5 wherein said access point communicates with mobile units using IEEE Standard 802.11 protocol.

7. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 6 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other fixed wireless communications device using IEEE standard 802.11 protocol.

8. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 5 wherein said access point communicates with mobile units using Bluetooth protocol.

9. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 8 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other wireless communications device using IEEE standard 802.11 protocol.

10. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 8 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other wireless communications device using Bluetooth scatternet protocol.

11. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 1 further comprising at least one arrangement for communicating over and AC power network through said connector on said housing.

12. A wireless data communications device, arranged to be installed in a light fixture having a lamp socket, comprising:

a housing containing a wireless access point arranged to communicate with mobile units and other fixed wireless communications devices forming a data communications network;

a connector on said housing arranged to engage said lamp socket on said light fixture; and

a power supply in said housing arranged to receive power from said connector on said housing and provide power to said wireless access point.

13. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 12 wherein said power supply further includes a rechargeable battery and a recharging circuit, and wherein said power supply is arranged to recharge said battery when said connector receives power from said fixture and power said wireless access point using power from said battery when said connector does not receive power from said fixture.

14. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 12 wherein said wireless access point is arranged to act as a master device and communicate with mobile units and arranged to act as a slave device and communicate with at least one other fixed location wireless communications device.

15. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 14 wherein said access point communicates with mobile units using IEEE standard 802.11 protocol.

16. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 15 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other wireless communications device using IEEE standard 802.11 protocol.

17. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 14 wherein said access point communicates with mobile units using Bluetooth protocol.

18. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 17 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other fixed location wireless communications device using IEEE 802.11 protocol.

19. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 17 wherein said access point communicates with said at least one other wireless communications device using Bluetooth scatternet protocol.

20. A wireless communications device as specified in claim 12 further comprising at least one arrangement for communicating over AC power network through said connector on said housing.

21. A wireless data communications device, arranged to be installed in a florescent light fixture having first and second spaced lamp sockets arranged to receive a florescent tube comprising:

a housing containing a wireless access point arranged to communicate with mobile units and other fixed wireless communications devices forming a data communications network,

first and second spaced connectors on said housing arranged to engage said lamp sockets on said light fixture; and

a power supply in said housing arranged to receive power from said connectors on said housing and provide power to said wireless access point, said power supply further including a circuit for emulating the impedance behavior of a florescent tube.