Methods and apparatuses for mounting a wireless network component to a fluorescent light

• US 7,247,994 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nxsteps Communication Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nxsteps Communication Incorporated
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Shih-Chao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/790,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/155, 315/117, 315/112, 315/50, 315/108, 315/186, 315/312, 315/95, 315/158, 315/159, 315/291, 313 11- 13, 455/90.3, 455/7, 455/572, 340/531, 340/693.5, 362/221, 362/225
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps structurally associated with the discharge lamps H01J61/54, H01J61/56
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatuses for mounting a wireless network component to a fluorescent light. The internal electronics of the wireless network component are contained within a housing. Attachment means are used to attach the housing to a fluorescent lamp. The attachment means may comprise a support tube removably attached to the housing. The support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing to secure the wireless network component to the fluorescent lamp. Alternatively, the housing may include power coupling pins on one side and fluorescent lamp pin connectors on the opposite side. The power coupling pins fit into one receptacle of the fluorescent light fixture and the pins of the fluorescent lamp are inserted into the fluorescent lamp pin connectors of the housing such that the wireless network component is mounted between the fluorescent lamp and the fluorescent light fixture.

Claims

1. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp installed within a fluorescent light fixture;

a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing above the recess channel and for fitting over the fluorescent lamp such that the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp; and

wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

2. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp.

3. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

4. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

5. The wireless network component of claim 4, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

6. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

7. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

8. The wireless network component of claim 7, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

9. The wireless network component of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted byte fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

10. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent lamp comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving the fluorescent lamp installed within a fluorescent light fixture;

a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing; and

wherein the support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing generally above the recess channel so as to suspend the wireless network component below the fluorescent lamp.

11. The wireless network component of claim 10, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

12. The wireless network component of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

13. The wireless network component of claim 10, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

14. The wireless network component of claim 10, wherein the shape of the support tube generally corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the fluorescent lamp.

15. The wireless network component of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

16. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component;

one or more power coupling pin protruding from one side of the housing and configured to be inserted into a first receptacle within a fluorescent light fixture that would otherwise receive one or more pin of a fluorescent lamp;

one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector located on an opposite side of the housing and electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is configured to receive the one or more pin of the fluorescent lamp; and

wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are offset relative to each other such that, when the fluorescent lamp is installed between the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector and a second receptacle of the fluorescent light fixture, the fluorescent lamp is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to its intended axis within the fluorescent light fixture, thereby allowing the installed fluorescent lamp to have a length substantially equal to the distance between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

17. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin via a power converter internal to the housing.

18. The wireless network component of claim 17, wherein the power convener receives power from a power source of the fluorescent light via the one or more power coupling pin;

and

wherein the power convener supplies the power to the internal electronics of the wireless network component and to the fluorescent lamp pin connector.

19. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are vertically offset relative to each other.

20. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are horizontally offset from each other.

21. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the housing is at least partially transparent so that light from the fluorescent lamp can pass through the housing.

22. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein the housing includes means for dissipating heat generated by the fluorescent light.

23. The wireless network component of claim 16, wherein the housing includes a recess channel for receiving the fluorescent lamp.

24. The wireless network component of claim 16, further comprising means for attaching the housing to the fluorescent lamp.

25. The wireless network component of claim 24, wherein the means for attaching the housing to the fluorescent lamp comprises a support tube configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the housing;

and

wherein the support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing so as to attach the housing to the fluorescent lamp.

26. A method for configuring a wireless network component for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

containing the wireless network component within a housing that includes a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp installed within a fluorescent light fixture; and

mounting the housing to the fluorescent lamp using a support tube that fits over the fluorescent lamp and removably attaches to at least a portion of the housing generally above said recess channel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the support tube includes joints that are designed to fit within corresponding grooves on the housing.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

36. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp;

one or more power coupling pin protruding from one side of the housing and configured to be inserted into a receptacle within a fluorescent light fixture that would otherwise receive one or more pin of the fluorescent lamp;

one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector located on an opposite side of the housing and electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is configured to receive the one or more pin of the fluorescent lamp;

wherein the one or more power coupling pin and the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector are offset relative to each other such that the fluorescent lamp is installed between the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector and a second receptacle of the fluorescent light fixture;

a support tube attached to at least a portion of the housing; and

wherein the support tube fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to the housing so as to mount the housing to the fluorescent lamp.

37. The wireless network component of claim 36, wherein the one or more fluorescent lamp pin connector is electrically connected to the one or more power coupling pin via a power converter internal to the housing.

38. The wireless network component of claim 37, wherein the power converter receives power from power source of the fluorescent light via the one or more power coupling pin;

and

wherein the power converter supplies the power to the internal electronics of the wireless network component and to the fluorescent lamp pin connector.

39. The wireless network component of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the housing is at least partially transparent so that light from the fluorescent lamp can pass through the housing.

40. The wireless network component of claim 36, wherein the housing includes means for dissipating heat generated by the fluorescent light.

41. A wireless network component configured for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

a housing containing the wireless network component and including a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp installed within a fluorescent light fixture; and

a support tube configured to be attached to at least a portion of the housing above the recess channel and for fitting over the fluorescent lamp such that the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp.

42. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

43. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp.

44. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

45. The wireless network component of claim 44, wherein the support tube includes one or more vents to dissipate the heat.

46. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

47. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

48. The wireless network component of claim 47, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

49. The wireless network component of claim 41, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.

50. A method for configuring a wireless network component for being mounted to a fluorescent light comprising:

containing the wireless network component within a housing that includes a recess channel for receiving a fluorescent lamp installed within a fluorescent light fixture; and

mounting the housing to the fluorescent lamp using a support tube that fits over the fluorescent lamp and attaches to at least a portion of the housing generally above said recess channel.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the housing is suspended below the fluorescent lamp when the housing is mounted to the fluorescent lamp.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein at least a portion of the support tube is at least partially transparent.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the support tube is designed to dissipate heat generated by the fluorescent lamp.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the support tube is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the support tube is generally cylindrical in shape.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the support tube is configured to be opened in order to insert the fluorescent lamp therein.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein the housing includes a window to allow light emitted by the fluorescent lamp to pass through the housing.