Wall-mounted electrical device with modular antenna bezel frame

• US 8,089,414 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Feldstein, George, Wisniewski, Stan, Bellingham, Philip, Draganovic, Krunoslav
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US13/037,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343745-748, 343/907
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• 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: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An electrical device comprises a bezel frame that is configured to fit within a faceplate. The bezel frame includes an antenna element. The electrical device further comprises a radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication with the antenna element and configured to receive a control signal from the antenna element and a housing, which includes a housing cover. The housing cover is located between the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component. The electrical device further comprises one or more connectors configured to place the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication. The one or more connectors protrude through the housing cover.

Claims

1. An electrical device, comprising:

(a) a bezel frame configured to fit within a faceplate, wherein the bezel frame includes an antenna element;

(b) a radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication with the antenna element and configured to receive a control signal from the antenna element;

(c) a housing having a housing cover, wherein the housing cover is located between the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component; and

(d) one or more connectors configured to place the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication, wherein the one or more connectors protrude through the housing cover.

2. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more connectors comprise spring loaded connectors.

3. The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply located in the housing, wherein the power supply is wired in series with a controlled load, and wherein the power supply is connected to electrical neutral through the controlled load.

4. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component operate at a frequency, and wherein the frequency is in the gigahertz range.

5. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is mounted to the antenna bezel frame via press-fitting, in-place molding, one or more adhesives, or heat-staking.

6. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is fabricated from conductive tape.

7. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is molded into a front surface of the bezel frame.

8. A device kit, comprising:

(a) a first antenna bezel frame; and

(b) a first antenna element mounted to the first antenna bezel frame such that the first antenna element is located a distance forward of a plane that contains a front surface of a faceplate when the first antenna bezel frame is installed in a field configurable electrical device; and

wherein at least a portion of the first antenna bezel frame that includes the first antenna element is configured to protrude through an opening in the faceplate.

9. The device kit of claim 8, further comprising:

(a) a first radio frequency circuitry component corresponding to the first antenna element, wherein the first antenna element and the first radio frequency circuitry component operate at a first frequency;

(b) a second antenna bezel frame, at least a portion of which is configured to protrude through an opening in the faceplate, and a second antenna element mounted to the second antenna bezel frame such the second antenna element is located at least the distance forward of the plane that contains the front surface of the faceplate when the second antenna bezel frame is installed in the field configurable electrical device; and

(c) a second radio frequency circuitry component corresponding to the second antenna element, wherein the second antenna element and the second radio frequency circuitry component operate at a second frequency.

10. The device kit of claim 9, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are fabricated from conductive tape.

11. The device kit of claim 9, wherein the first antenna element is molded into a front surface of the first antenna bezel frame.

12. The device kit of claim 9, further comprising:

(a) a housing having a housing cover, wherein the housing cover is located between the first antenna element and the first radio frequency circuitry component when the first antenna element and the first radio frequency circuitry component are installed in the field configurable electrical device; and

(b) one or more connectors configured to place the first antenna element and the first radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication when the first antenna element and the first radio frequency circuitry component are installed in the field configurable electrical device, wherein the one or more connectors protrude through the housing cover.

13. The device kit of claim 12, wherein the one or more connectors comprise spring-loaded connectors.

14. The device kit of claim 9, wherein the first antenna element comprises one of an F type antenna element, a monopole antenna element, or a loop antenna element.

15. The device kit of claim of claim 9, wherein the first frequency is different than the second frequency, and wherein the first frequency and the second frequency comprise one of 2.440 gigahertz (GHz), 3.670 GHz, or 5.220 GHz.

16. An electrical device, comprising:

(a) a bezel frame configured to fit within a faceplate, wherein the bezel frame includes an antenna element;

(b) a radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication with the antenna element and configured to receive a control signal from the antenna element;

(c) a housing having a housing cover, wherein the housing cover is located between the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component; and

(d) one or more connectors configured to place the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component in electrical communication;

(e) wherein the one or more connectors protrude through the housing cover; and

(f) wherein the one or more connectors comprise spring loaded connectors.

17. The electrical device of claim 16, further comprising a power supply located in the housing, wherein the power supply is wired in series with a controlled load, and wherein the power supply is connected to electrical neutral through the controlled load.

18. The electrical device of claim 16, wherein the antenna element and the radio frequency circuitry component operate at a frequency, and wherein the frequency is in the gigahertz range.

19. The electrical device of claim 16, wherein the antenna element is mounted to the antenna bezel frame via press-fitting, in-place molding, one or more adhesives, or heat-staking.

20. The electrical device of claim 16, wherein the antenna element is fabricated from conductive tape.