RF antenna integrated into a control device installed into a wall switch box

• US 7,756,556 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Parimal, Estanislao, Danilo, Guthrie, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/559,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/227, 455/575.1, 455/575.7, 455/550.1, 343/700.R
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5888 Terminals of surface mounted devices [SMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/044 Elastic part on actuator or casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/16 Driving mechanisms

Abstract

A remote control electrical device which can communicate with a remote control device. The electrical control device is adapted to fit into a housing which fits into a wall mounting. The remote control electrical device can comprise a control circuit disposed in the housing, a transmitter disposed in the housing, a receiver disposed in the housing wherein said transmitter and said receiver are in communication with the control circuit. There is also a support plate having an inside face facing into the housing and an outside face facing away from the housing body. The support plate is coupled to the housing, wherein there is also an antenna disposed on the outside face of the support plate. This antenna does not receive any power-line AC frequencies or DC, instead it is capacitively coupled to the rest of the electrical components and disposed on the outside face of the support plate.

Claims

1. A remote control electrical device which can communicate with a remote control device, the remote control electrical device being connectable to a power source and adapted to fit into a housing which fits into a wall mounting, the remote control electrical device comprising:

a) a control circuit disposed in the housing;

b) a transmitter disposed in the housing;

c) a receiver disposed in the housing wherein said transmitter and said receiver are in communication with said control circuit;

d) a support plate comprising a strap having an inside face facing in towards said housing and an outside face, and being coupled to the housing; and

e) an antenna, capacitively coupled to the source of power wherein said antenna is adapted to receive signals from the remote control device and transmit signals to the remote control device, said antenna being in communication with said transmitter, and said receiver, wherein said antenna is coupled to said outside face of said strap wherein said antenna extends from an outside face of said strap to an inside face of said strap.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one printed circuit board, wherein said control circuit is disposed on said at least one printed circuit board.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are in the form of a transceiver mounted on said at least one printed circuit board.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said antenna is capacitively coupled to said at least one printed circuit board.

5. The device as in claim 4, further comprising at least two isolating capacitors disposed on said at least one printed circuit board and coupled in series between said antenna and said transceiver.

6. The device as in claim 2, further comprising an antenna feed point, disposed on said at least one printed circuit board and being capacitively coupled to said antenna.

7. The device as in claim 6, wherein said antenna feed point is in the form of a strip line disposed on said at least one printed circuit board.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said strap is in the form of a plate which acts as a heat sink for the device.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein said strap is in the form of an aluminum plate.

10. The device as in claim 1, wherein said strap further comprises wings extending outside of the housing.

11. The device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna coupler for coupling said antenna to said support plate.

12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said antenna coupler comprises a dielectric material for coupling said antenna to said support plate.

13. The device as in claim 12, wherein said antenna coupler comprises a channel for receiving said antenna therein.

14. The device as in claim 11, wherein said antenna coupler further comprises at least one prong for selectively securing said antenna to said support plate.

15. The device as in claim 11, wherein said antenna coupler is L-shaped.

16. The remote control electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said antenna is configured such that the source of power is not communicated to an outside face of the strap.

17. The remote control electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said antenna is a single wire antenna.

18. A remote control electrical device which can communicate with a remote control device, the remote control electrical device being connectable to a power source and being adapted to fit into a housing which fits into a wall mounting, the remote control electrical device comprising:

a) a control circuit disposed in the housing;

b) a transmitter disposed in the housing;

c) a receiver disposed in the housing wherein said transmitter and said receiver are in communication with said control circuit;

d) a support plate having an inside face and an outside face, and being coupled to the housing, said support plate extending outside of said housing;

e) an antenna coupler coupled to said support plate;

f) an antenna, coupled to said antenna coupler, wherein said antenna is adapted to receive signals from the remote control device and transmit signals to the remote control device, said antenna being in communication with said transmitter, and said receiver, wherein said antenna is coupled to said outside face of said support plate and extends to an inside face of said support plate.

19. The remote control electrical device as in claim 18, wherein said antenna is configured such that the source of power is not communicated to an outside face of the support plate.

20. The remote control electrical device as in claim 18, wherein said antenna is a single wire antenna.

21. A remote control electrical device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a strap coupled to said housing and having an inside face facing into said housing and an outside face, facing out from said housing

c) an antenna coupled to an outside face of said strap;

d) a printed circuit board disposed inside of said housing; and

e) a strip line buss disposed on said printed circuit board, said strip line buss including an antenna feed point wherein said antenna extends from an outside face on said strap to an inside face on said strap and is coupled to said antenna feed point and extends on a plane outside of said housing on an outside face of said strap.

22. The remote control electrical device as in claim 21, further comprising at least one isolating capacitor coupled to said printed circuit board, wherein said antenna is capacitively coupled to said printed circuit board via said at least one isolating capacitor.

23. The remote control electrical device as in claim 21, wherein said antenna feed point is adapted in size and shape so as to achieve a desired antenna impedance.

24. The remote control electrical device as in claim 21, wherein said antenna is configured such that the source of power is not communicated to an outside face of the strap.

25. The remote control electrical device as in claim 21, wherein said antenna is a single wire antenna.