Sensor module connector

• US 8,636,385 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Fabbri, William, Crane, Roy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYNE, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US12/371,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20090141499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/147, 362/148, 362/642, 362/652, 362/364, 362/365, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/693.9, 340/693.11, 340/693.12, 702/91, 702/4
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/043 mounted by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/046 having multiple lighting devices, e.g. connected to a common ceiling base
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

A relocatable add-on control sensor module is described which electrically connects and controls at least one recessed light fixture. The add-on control sensor module includes a sensor ethernet socket that may be electrically connected by an ethernet cable to a light fixture ethernet socket of the at least one recessed light fixture so that the add-on control sensor module may control the at least one recessed light fixture.

Claims

1. A relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one recessed light fixture mounted in a suspended ceiling system comprising:

a sensor module including a sensor module housing having a sensor socket, a bottom trim flange and at least one sensor extending through said trim flange, said at least one sensor being in electrical connectivity with said at least one sensor socket;

at least one recessed light fixture having at least one fixture socket to which said add-on sensor module is electrically connected by a removable and pluggable cable allowing direct communication between said light fixture and said sensor module;

a suspended ceiling t-bar grid support member extending along at least one side of said sensor module housing to which said sensor module housing is mounted;

a bracket affixed to said sensor module housing for mounting said sensor module to said support member separate and remote from said recessed light fixture;

wherein said sensor module housing is separate and relocatable from said light fixture such that said sensor module housing is relocatable to a point remote from said recessed light fixture and designed for affixation directly to said suspended ceiling t-bar grid support member.

2. A relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one recessed light fixture comprising:

a sensor module including a sensor module housing and a wire connector;

said sensor module housing having at least two removable and pluggable connectors and a sensor electrically connected to a first sensor wire and a second sensor wire;

said wire connector having at least a first sensor wire receptacle that receives said first sensor wire and a second sensor wire receptacle that receives said second sensor wire, said first sensor wire receptacle and said second sensor wire receptacle being in electrical communication with each of said two removable and pluggable connectors;

at least one recessed light fixture having a control circuitry and at least one light fixture socket electrically connected to said control circuitry;

wherein a single of said at least two removable and pluggable connectors and a single of said at least one light fixture socket may be electrically connected by a cable allowing electrical communication between said light fixture and said sensor module; and

wherein said sensor module housing is separate and relocatable from said recessed light fixture such that said sensor module housing is relocatable to a position remote from said recessed light fixture.

3. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 2 wherein said sensor is a light intensity sensor.

4. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 2 further comprising a suspended ceiling t-bar grid support member extending along at least one side of said sensor module housing to which said sensor module housing is mounted.

5. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 4 further comprising a bracket affixed to said sensor module housing for mounting said sensor module to said ceiling t-bar grid support member separate and remote from said recessed light fixture.

6. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 2 wherein each said wire receptacle is a non-insulation piercing push-in type wire receptacle.

7. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 6 wherein each said sensor module ethernet socket and each said light fixture ethernet socket is an 8P8C type socket having eight contacts.

8. The relocatable, add-on control sensor module for control of at least one light fixture of claim 7 wherein said wire connector block has four wire receptacles, each said wire receptacle being in electrical communication with a unique two of said eight contacts of each said sensor module ethernet socket.