Gateway system including communication module and method of driving the same

• US 9,807,820 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Yull Oh
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US14/085,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 700294
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Disclosed are a gateway system for controlling at least one electronic appliance and a method of driving the same. The gateway system includes a gateway module to transmit a control signal to the electronic appliance by using a first wireless network; and at least one communication module detachably coupled to the gateway module to provide a second wireless network different from the first wireless network to the gateway module.

Claims

1. A gateway system comprising:

a gateway interfacing data transmitted and received between a wireless controller and at least one electronic appliance by a first wireless communication scheme and having a connector connected to a control unit of the gateway, and

a communication device configured to be inserted into the connector of the gateway in a detachable way and providing a second wireless communication scheme different from the first wireless communication scheme of the gateway;

wherein the gateway is configured to;

communicate the data between the wireless controller and the electronic appliance by the first wireless communication scheme prior to the insertion of the communication device into the connector,

transmit a request signal of information for the communication device to the communication device if the communication device is inserted into the connector,

receive the information transmitted from the communication device, and

add the second wireless communication scheme provided by the inserted communication device to the first wireless communication scheme of the gateway, such that the gateway communicates with the wireless controller to control the electronic appliance;

wherein the information includes a wireless communication scheme of a wireless communication chip mounted in the communication device;

wherein the communication device comprises a housing provided therein with a space, and a module substrate disposed in the space of the housing and on which the wireless communication chip for providing the second wireless communication scheme is mounted;

wherein the module substrate comprises an antenna part, a communication module part to receive a control signal from the antenna part and to generate an output signal through the wireless communication chip, and an interface part to transmit the output signal;

wherein a recess part is formed on the interface part of the module substrate,

wherein the interface part comprises;

a first pin part disposed at a first side of the recess part for a voltage signal; and

a second pin part disposed at a second side of the recess part for a lighting control signal;

wherein the first pin part is spaced apart from the second pin part by the recess part,

wherein the first pin part comprises;

a first pin outputting a signal indicating attachment and detachment of the communication device,

a second pin receiving a reference voltage to drive the communication device, and

a third pin receiving a ground voltage; and

wherein the second pin part comprises;

a fourth pin transmitting the lighting control signal, and

a fifth pi receiving the lighting control signal.

2. The gateway system of claim 1, wherein the gateway communicates with the wireless controller which transmits a control signal of the electronic appliance to the gateway through the first wireless communication scheme or the second wireless communication scheme.

3. The gateway system of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises:

a first receiving part to receive the antenna part; and

a second receiving part to receive the communication module part, and

wherein the interface part protrudes out of the housing.

4. The gateway system of claim 3, further comprising at least one fixing protrusion protruding from a lateral side of the first receiving part of the housing to fix the communication device.

5. The gateway system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless communication schemes employ mutually different communication schemes selected from a ZigBee communication scheme, a Z-wave communication scheme, a WiFi communication scheme, and a Bluetooth communication scheme.

6. The gateway system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance comprises at least one lighting apparatus.