U.S. patent application number 13/591371 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for connector having wireless control capabilities.
This patent application is currently assigned to IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Nolan Bello, David DiDonato, Sushil N. Keswani. Invention is credited to Nolan Bello, David DiDonato, Sushil N. Keswani.
Application Number | 20130229067 13/591371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49042425 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130229067 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DiDonato; David ; et
al. |
September 5, 2013 |
CONNECTOR HAVING WIRELESS CONTROL CAPABILITIES
Abstract
A connector for connecting a source of low-voltage DC power to a
low-voltage DC powered device includes a line-side interface
arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the connector to
the source of low-voltage DC power, a line-side interface arranged
for electrically coupling the connector to the low-voltage DC
powered device, a power controller electrically coupled to the
line-side interface and the load-side interface and operarable to
control a bringing of power to the load-side interface from the
line-side interface, and an RF receiver electrically coupled to the
power controller for receiving a first signal from a device
external to the connector and for generating, in response thereto,
a second signal for controlling operations of the power
controller.
Inventors: |
DiDonato; David; (Geneva,
IL) ; Bello; Nolan; (North Aurora, IL) ;
Keswani; Sushil N.; (Sycamore, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DiDonato; David
Bello; Nolan
Keswani; Sushil N. |
Geneva
North Aurora
Sycamore |
IL
IL
IL |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Sycamore
IL
|
Family ID: |
49042425 |
Appl. No.: |
13/591371 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61606129 |
Mar 2, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/175 20200101;
Y04S 20/246 20130101; H02J 1/00 20130101; H02J 13/0003 20130101;
Y04S 40/126 20130101; H02J 13/0075 20130101; H02J 3/00 20130101;
H01H 9/54 20130101; Y04S 20/00 20130101; H05B 47/105 20200101; Y02B
90/20 20130101; Y02E 60/00 20130101; H05B 47/19 20200101; Y02B
70/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/112 |
International
Class: |
H02J 1/00 20060101
H02J001/00 |
Claims
1. A connector for connecting a source of low-voltage DC power to a
low-voltage DC powered device, comprising: a line-side interface
arranged for electrically coupling the connector to the source of
low-voltage DC power; a line-side interface arranged for
electrically coupling the connector to the low-voltage DC powered
device; a power controller electrically coupled to the line-side
interface and the load-side interface and operarable to control a
bringing of power to the load-side interface from the line-side
interface; and an RF receiver electrically coupled to the power
controller for receiving a first signal from a device external to
the connector and for generating, in response thereto, a second
signal for controlling operations of the power controller.
2. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the line-side
interface is arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the
connector to a low-voltage DC power grid system.
3. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the load-side
interface comprises at least one of a push-in type contact, an IDC
type contact, an IPC type contact, a crimp type contact, and a weld
type contact for engaging a corresponding one or more wires
associated with the low-voltage DC powered device.
4. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller functions as an on/off power controller.
5. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller functions as a dimming power controller.
6. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller comprises an Opto-isolator.
7. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller comprises an SCR.
8. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller comprises a FET, transistor.
9. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the power
controller comprises a MEMS switch.
10. The connector as recited in claim 1, comprising a DC-DC
converter electrically coupled to the line-side interface and the
RF receiver for providing power to the RF receiver.
11. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF receiver is
directly, electrically coupled to the line-side interface which
provides power to the RF receiver.
12. The connector as recited in claim 1, comprising a battery for
providing power to the RF receiver 20.
13. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF receiver
comprises a RF transceiver.
14. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF receiver is
provided with an address.
15. The connector as recited in claim 14, comprising an address
setting device associated with the RF receiver.
16. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the line-side
interface comprises at least one of a push-in type contact, an IDC
type contact, an IPC type contact, a crimp type contact, and a weld
type contact for engaging a corresponding one or more wires
associated with the source of low-voltage DC power.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/606,129, filed on Mar. 2, 2012, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The subject disclosure is generally related to electrical
connectors and, more particularly, to an electrical connector
having wireless control capabilities for use in connection with a
low-voltage DC power system.
[0003] Systems for bringing low-voltage DC power to low-voltage DC
powered devices, such as light fixtures, sensors, or the like, are
known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,901, U.S.
Pat. No. 8,062,042, U.S. Pat. No. 7,679,222, and U.S. Pat. No.
7,762,821 (which patents are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety) disclose various grid systems that support
conductive materials that are electrically coupled to a low-voltage
DC power source and which provide contact surfaces that are
connectable to low-voltage DC powered devices. These patents also
describe various types of connectors that provide a means for
coupling a low-voltage DC powered device to the contact surfaces of
the grid system. While the described connectors will work for their
intended purpose, the following describes an improvement to such
connectors.
SUMMARY
[0004] Described hereinafter is an improved connector which, among
other advantages, has the advantage of allowing for wireless
control of the bringing of power to a low-voltage DC powered device
that is coupled via use of the connector to a low-voltage DC power
source. While not intended to be limiting, the subject connectors
may be used to couple a low-voltage DC powered device to any one of
the aforementioned, low-voltage DC power grid systems, to
low-voltage DC power cables, and/or to other
disconnection/connection points in a DC power system. When utilized
in connection with a low-voltage DC power system, the subject
connectors may be provided with one or more mechanical structures,
such as those described in the above-noted patents, to thereby
allow the subject connectors to be releasably attached thereto.
[0005] While the foregoing provides a general description of the
subject connector, a better understanding of the objects,
advantages, features, properties, and relationships of the subject
connector will be obtained from the following detailed description
and accompanying drawing which set forth an illustrative embodiment
and which is indicative of the various ways in which the principles
of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] For a better understanding of the subject invention,
reference may be had to the following drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of exemplary
components of a connector having wireless communication
capabilities.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Turning now to the FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of an
exemplary connector 10 for use in bringing power from a low-voltage
DC power source 12 to a low-voltage DC powered device 13, such as a
light fixture, sensor, or the like, is illustrated.
[0009] For allowing the connector 10 to be coupled to the
low-voltage DC power source 12, the connector 10 includes a
line-side interface 14 comprised of one or more electrical contacts
arranged to allow engagement with corresponding electrical
conductors or surfaces associated with the low-voltage DC power
source 12. The electrical contacts of the line-side interface 14
may be incorporated into a housing having mechanical structures as
needed to allow the connector 10 to be releasably attached to a
low-voltage DC grid system, low-voltage DC power cables, and/or to
other disconnection/connection points in a low-voltage DC power
system. While not limiting, the wireless connector 10 may also be
attached to wires associated with the source of low-voltage DC
power through use of insulation piercing type contacts (IPC type
contacts), insulation displacing type contacts (IDC type contacts),
push-in type contacts, crimp type contacts, weld type contacts,
etc.
[0010] For allowing the connector 10 to be coupled to the
low-voltage DC powered device 13, the connector includes a
load-side interface 15 comprises of one or more electrical contacts
(which one or more electrical contacts may be incorporated into the
same or a further housing having mechanical structures as needed)
adapted to be engaged with wires 16, plugs, or the like, that are
associated with the low-voltage DC powered device 13. Thus, without
limitation, the electrical contacts of the load-side interface 15
may also be push-in type contacts, IDC type contacts, IPC type
contacts, crimp type contacts, weld type contacts, etc.
[0011] To control the bringing of power from the line-side
interface 14 to the load-side interface 15, and accordingly to the
device 13 coupled to the load-side interface 15, the connector 10
further includes a power controller 17. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
the power controller 17 is electrically coupled to the line-side
interface 14 via an electrical connection 18 and is electrically
coupled to the load-side interface 15 via an electrical connection
19. By way of example only, the power controller 17 may comprise a
semiconductor based electronic device such as an Opto-isolator,
FET, transistor or the like. The power controller 17 is further
coupled to a wireless receiver or transceiver 20 which, as
described hereinafter, functions to provide a control signal to the
power controller 17 via an electrical connection 22. Power is
provided to the wireless receiver or transceiver 20 by means of an
optional DC-DC converter 24 which is electrically coupled to the
wireless receiver or transceiver 20 via an electrical connection 26
and to the line-side interface 14 via an electrical connection 28.
The wireless receiver or transceiver 20 may also be directly
coupled to the line-side interface 14. It will be understood that
other means for providing power to the wireless receiver or
transceiver 20 could also be employed, such as by providing power
through use of a battery, through use of ambient RF power
harvesting, or the like. It will also be understood that the
electrical connections between the various components illustrated
in FIG. 1 may be traces formed on a PCB, wires, or the like without
limitation.
[0012] More particularly, for controlling the bringing of power to
the load-side interface 15, the wireless receiver or transceiver 20
is adapted to transmit a control signal to the power controller 17
via the electrical connection 22 in response to the wireless
receiver or transceiver 20 receiving a control signal from a
remotely located device, e.g., a switch, control center, or the
like. Preferably, the remotely located device and the wireless
receiver or transceiver 20 are adapted to communicate via use of
wireless RF transmissions. The power controller 17 is, in turn,
adapted to respond to the control signal transmitted thereto via
the electrical connection 22 to control the bringing of power to
the load-side interface 15 from the line-side interface 14 via the
electrical connections 18 and 19. In this regard, the control
signal provided to the power controller 17 by the wireless receiver
or transceiver 20 may be used to simply turn on or turn off the
power connection between the load-side interface 15 and the
line-side interface 14. It is contemplated that the control signal
provided to the power controller 17 by the wireless receiver or
transceiver 20 may also be used to limit the amount of power that
is provided to the load-side interface 15 from the line-side
interface 14, e.g., to provide for a dimming effect. It will also
be appreciated that, in the case when a transceiver 20 is utilized,
the connector 10 may allow for state data associated with the power
controller 17, and according the device 13, and/or other data to be
communicated to other remotely located devices as needed. While not
illustrated, the connector 10 may additionally include a mechanism
or other means for allow a user to set (or for pre-setting at a
time of manufacture) an address to thereby allow communications to
the connector 10, via the receiver or transceiver 20, to be
specifically targeted thereto--which would be particularly useful
in an instance where multiple connectors are intended to be used in
a confined area.
[0013] While specific embodiments of the subject invention have
been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those
details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of
this disclosure. It will therefore be appreciated that features
described are not to be limited to any particular embodiment but
may be freely used across embodiments where applicable.
Additionally, it will be appreciate that the size, shape,
arrangement, and/or number of components illustrated and described
can be changed as necessary to meet a given need. Accordingly, the
particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only
and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be
given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *