LAMP CONTROL MODULE CONSISTING OF BASE AND CONTROL PARTS, COMMNICATING VIA NFC

Abstract

A control arrangement includes a control module and a control module base for mounting the control module to an external surface of a luminaire. The control module includes a contacts; the control module base includes a base body portion having first and second surfaces and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces, wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for receiving the control module contacts. The control module base includes a near-field communication means including information relating to the specification of the luminaire. The control module includes a near-field communication unit configured to read out information in the near-field communication means of the control module base. The control module includes a communication unit configured for communicating said information to at least one of another control module, a segment controller configured for controlling a group of control modules, and a server.

Claims

1. A control arrangement comprising a control module and a control module base for mounting the control module to an external surface of a luminaire; said control module comprising a plurality of contacts; said control module base comprising a base body portion having a first surface, a second surface and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces; wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for receiving the plurality of contacts of the control module; said control module base further comprising a near-field communication means including at least one item of information relating to the specification of the luminaire; said control module comprising a near-field communication unit configured to read out information in the near-field communication means of the control module base; said control module further comprising a communication unit configured for communicating said information to at least one of: another control module, a segment controller configured for controlling a group of control modules, and a server.

2. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is at least partially integrated into the base body portion.

3. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is arranged at least partially on the outside of the base body portion.

4. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is a battery-free, passive means, which is configured for transmitting information in a contactless manner.

5. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is configured for transmitting information using any one of the following: radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, infrared technology.

6. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control module is part of a mesh network of control modules and wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with at least one other control module of the mesh network.

7. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control module base includes an information carrier configured for at least one of: marking the position of the near-field communication means, positioning the control module, and aligning the near-field communication means.

8. The control arrangement of claim 7, wherein the information carrier is arranged on the lateral surface of the base body portion, which is angled with respect to the first surface.

9. The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the information included in the near-field communication means comprises a unique identifier relating to a luminaire to which it is to be mounted and which corresponds to a unique identifier in a database for subsequent individualization of the luminaire with which the near-field communication means is associated.

10. A control module configured for the integration of a luminaire with which the control module is associated, into a luminaire network, said control module comprising a plurality of at least electrical components and electronic components and a near-field communication unit; said control module being configured to be mounted to a control module base and said control module having an end face configured to be directed towards the control module base and provided with outwardly projecting contacts configured to be received in recesses in the control module base; wherein said near-field communication unit comprises a substantially planar antenna arranged to be substantially parallel to an end face of the control module.

11. The control module of claim 10, wherein the electronic components comprise any one or more of the following: a control unit configured to run programs for controlling the control module, a means for supplying power, a sensor for recording environmental data.

12. The control module of claim 10, wherein the near-field communication unit is configured to read a near-field communication means of the luminaire, by means of near-field communication.

13. The control module of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to check a sensor of the luminaire using the near-field communication unit.

14. The control module according to claim 10, further comprising a processor printed circuit board, wherein the antenna is formed parallel to the processor printed circuit board which has at least some of the electrical or electronic components.

15. The control module of claim 10, wherein the planar antenna comprises curved sections and straight sections, the curved sections being at different radial distances from a longitudinal axis of the control module and being connected to one another by means of the straight antenna sections.

16. The control module of claim 10, wherein the antenna comprises a part of an antenna printed circuit board arranged to be directed towards the end face, and wherein the control module further comprises a shielding configured for shielding the antenna printed circuit board from interference from other components within the control module.

17. The control module of claim 10, wherein the outwardly projecting contacts are solid rotary contacts and/or plug contacts configured to provide power to the control module, and the control module is further provided with weak current contacts, preferably two of which being used for dimming, another one of which being used for a 12V direct current, and a further weak current contact being used for a sensor input.

18. The control module according to claim 16 and 17, wherein the antenna printed circuit board is connected via lines to weak current contacts which have corresponding mating pieces in the control module base and which are configured to be used to transmit commands on a 0 to 10V or digital addressable lighting interface, DALI protocol.

19. The control module of claim 11, wherein the near-field communication unit is configured to transmit data using any one of the following: radio frequency identification, RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE technology, infrared technology.

20. A luminaire including the control arrangement of claim 1.

21. A control module base for mounting a control module with a plurality of contacts to an external surface of a luminaire; said control module base comprising: a base body portion having a first surface, a second surface and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces; wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for facing the control module and for receiving the plurality of contacts of the control module; said control module base further comprising a near-field communication means including at least one item of information relating to the specification of the luminaire, said near-field communication means being arranged on at least one of the first surface and the lateral surface, or being partially integrated with at least one of the first surface and the lateral surface.

Description

[0051] Further advantages and details of the invention become apparent from the following description of figures. In the schematic illustrations:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a control module according to the present invention,

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the control module shown in FIG. 1,

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a vertical section through a portion of the control module shown in FIG. 1,

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a control module base according to the present invention,

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the control module base as shown in FIG. 4,

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a control module base according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a portion of an information carrier according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, and

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an antenna printed circuit board according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] Single technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below may also be combined to form other embodiments according to the present invention in combination with exemplary embodiments that are described herein. In addition, combinations of the exemplary embodiments with the features of the claims are also in accordance with the present invention.

[0061] Where appropriate, elements that have the same functional effect are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0062] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a control module 1 according to the present invention which has a housing which comprises an outer housing part or cover 2 and an inner housing part 3. An end face 4 of the inner housing part 3 is additionally provided with a seal 6 by means of which a sealed closure with a control module base according to the present invention (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) can be established.

[0063] A series of components of the control module 1 are schematically illustrated. These components include antennas 8a, 8b which can be driven by means of a processor printed circuit board 9 which has at least one microprocessor and further electrical or electronic components (not shown) for managing and/or controlling the operation of the antennas 8a, 8b. Although two antennas 8a, 8b are shown, it will readily be appreciated that any suitable number of antennas may be implemented.

[0064] The control module 1 also includes a main printed circuit board 11 on which at least one microprocessor and further electrical or electronic components (also not shown). The main printed circuit board 11 is intended to be located adjacent to the processor printed circuit board 9 and is configured to control the operation of at least some of the functionality of the control module 1.

[0065] In order to improve the insulation between the processor printed circuit board 9 and the main printed circuit board 11, a shielding film or foil 12a is provided between the processor printed circuit board 9 and the main printed circuit board 11. Relays, transformers and capacitors which are used for supplying power to the control module 1, and also further electrical or electronic components, are arranged on the main printed circuit board 11. By arranging the relays, transformers and capacitors etc. on a surface of the main printed circuit board 11 which is not adjacent to the processor printed circuit board 9, and, arranging components on a surface of the processor printed circuit board 9 which is not adjacent to the main printed circuit board 11, the air gap between the two printed circuit boards can substantially be minimized.

[0066] Power is supplied to the control module 1 mainly by means of solid rotary contacts and/or plug contacts 13a, 13b, 13c which are made from brass, for example, and which engage into associated and correspondingly shaped recesses in a control module base (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) in order to fasten the control module 1 thereto. Each contact 13a, 13b, 13c is designed to be different to each of the other contacts.

[0067] Uke the contacts 13a, 13b, 13c, the recesses in the associated control module base into which the contacts are inserted are designed to be different from one another so that unambiguous positioning of the control module 1 on the control module base is possible. The recesses are used as fastening means.

[0068] As shown, the contacts 13a, 13b, 13c extend beyond the lower side 4. Four weak current contacts 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d (only contact 14c can be seen in FIG. 1 and only contacts 14a and 14c can be seen in FIG. 3) are arranged on the lower side 4.

[0069] Both the contacts 13a, 13b, 13c and the weak current contacts 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d are partially arranged in the inner housing part 3 and fixed therein.

[0070] In FIG. 1, a label or module information carrier 16 is illustrated in a position immediately before mounting the outer housing part 2 to the inner housing part 3 of the control module 1. The label or module information carrier 16 accordingly extends partially from the outer housing part or cover 2.

[0071] An antenna printed circuit board 17 (shown in FIG. 2) is arranged within an outer periphery or boundary of the inner housing part 3 of the control module 1. The antenna printed circuit board 17 has a recess 17a through which parts 18a, 18b, 18c of the lower housing part 3 which have plug contacts 13a, 13b, 13c can protrude. Accordingly, the plug contacts 13a, 13b, 13c can pass through as far as the main printed circuit board 11 and can be connected there. A film-like or foil-like shielding 12b is also arranged between the antenna printed circuit board 17 and the main printed circuit board 11, the shielding 12b also having a recess (not labelled for clarity) through which the parts 18a, 18b, 18c can protrude. The label or module information carrier 16 is designed to mark the position of the near-field communication unit or to indicate the correct positioning of the near-field communication means.

[0072] As little space is required for the antenna printed circuit board 17 in the direction of a longitudinal central axis 34 (FIG. 2) and the antenna printed circuit board 17 is located in a lower portion of the inner housing part 3 of the control module 1 as shown in FIG. 3, the lower portion of the inner housing part has a relatively large amount of installation space available for the components of the main printed circuit board 11. The main printed circuit board 11 is fastened to the inner housing part part 3 of the housing by means of the parts 18a, 18b, 18c. The processor printed circuit board 9, like the main printed circuit board 11, is arranged on the inner housing part 3 by means of rod-like printed circuit board holders 19 as shown in FIG. 3. The three rod-like printed circuit board holders 19, only one of which is labelled in FIG. 3, are integrally formed with the inner housing part 3 and are distributed around the processor printed circuit board 9 and the main printed circuit board 11 in a regular manner around the circumference of the inner housing part 3 and of each printed circuit board. The printed circuit board holders 19 may be constructed from two or more rod-like holding elements which are located not only regularly around the circumference but also at suitable locations on the edge of the inner housing part 3.

[0073] The antennas 8a, 8b are connected to the processor printed circuit board 9 by means of flexible printed circuit board parts 21 and are held in position within the inner housing part 3 by means of an antenna holder 22 which is arranged on the processor printed circuit board 9.

[0074] Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a side view of a control module base 23 shows an arrangement of a near-field communication means 24, in the form of an RFID transponder, on an upper side or top side 26 of the control module base 23. Recesses 28a, 28b, 28c (FIG. 5) are of different sizes, as described above, for receiving the plug contacts 13a, 13b, 13c. The recesses 28a, 28b, 28c are arranged on a raised portion 27 of the control module base 23 (FIG. 4). Due to the shaping, the recesses 28a, 28b, 28c serve to fix the control module 1, preferably in a latching manner, and therefore form fastening means for fastening the control module 1 on the upper or top side 26 of the control module base 23.

[0075] Conductive contact strips 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d serve to make contact with respective ones of the weak current contacts 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d as shown in FIG. 2. The contact strips 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d form conductive connection contacts for the control module base 23 with further contact means, not shown, which line the inner surfaces of the recesses 28a, 28b, 28c. Power is supplied to the control module 1 by way of the further contact means arranged in the recesses 28a, 28b, 28c (not shown) and the plug contacts 13a, 13b, 13c of the control module 1.

[0076] An information carrier 31, which is fitted on a lateral surface 29 (FIG. 4), indicates the location of the RFID transponder 24. The RFID transponder 24 can also be read by the operating personnel using a hand-held read device 30 (FIG. 6), so that, for example, in the event of a fault, any information which the control module 1 contains, or which has been transmitted to a server, can be checked. The upper or top side 26 and the lateral surface 29 of the base body are angled relative to one another. In one embodiment, the upper or top side 26 is substantially orthogonal (at substantially 90 degrees) to the lateral surface 29 but it will be appreciated that other angles are possible.

[0077] In a further exemplary embodiment of a control module base 23, as shown in FIG. 6, the near-field communication means 24, in the form of an RFID transponder as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, is fixed on the lateral surface 29 by means of the information carrier 31. The information carrier 31 may also have means for indicating the presence of the transponder 24 (which may not always be visible), for example, coloured markings on the outside of the information carrier 31. The information carrier 31 may be in the form of a label.

[0078] The transponder 24 may be incorporated into the information carrier 31 so that it is located in or between one or more layers of the information carrier 31. The information carrier 31 may comprise, for example, a multi-layered label with an internal adhesive layer and an external water-repellent layer.

[0079] The external water-repellent layer is preferably constructed from polypropylene (PP), for example, but it will be appreciated that any other suitable material having water-repellent properties may be used. The adhesive and the external layer of the information carrier 31 are designed to be suitable for outdoor use and have a service life that at least matches the projected 15-year service life of the control module 1. The adhesive and external layer are UV-resistant and resistant to sunlight and retain their properties in a temperature range of from −40° C. to 75° C.

[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates the module information carrier 16 of the control module 1 in more detail. The information carrier 16 has an indicator means 32 which corresponds, for example, with an indicator of the information carrier 31 of the control module base 23 in the fastening position of the arrangement according to the present invention in order to be able to check for correct positioning of the NFC elements of the control module base 23 and the control module 1 after assembly.

[0081] FIG. 8 illustrates the antenna printed circuit board 17 of the control module 1 in more detail. As described above, the antenna printed circuit board 17 is located in inner housing part 3 of the control module 1 with the longitudinal central axis 34 passing through the aperture 17a formed therein (FIG. 2). The antenna printed circuit board 17 is fitted with an antenna 33 which, with respect to the longitudinal central axis 34 (shown in FIG. 2), has curved sections 36a, 36b which are at different radial distances from the longitudinal central axis and substantially straight sections 35a, 35b connecting the curved sections 36a, 36b to one another as shown.

[0082] Each of the curved sections 36a, 36b and the substantially straight sections 35a. 35b comprises a plurality of conductor tracks of a NFC antenna which are formed as bundles. The curved sections 36a, 36b are arranged at different radial distances from the longitudinal central axis 34 with one curved section 36a arranged on an outer edge 37 of the antenna printed circuit board 17 and another curved section 36b is arranged adjacent an inner edge 38 defining the aperture 17a. The straight sections 35a, 35b are arranged to extend substantially in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal central axis between the outer edge 37 and an inner edge 38 defining the aperture 17a of the printed circuit board 17. In this embodiment, it will readily be understood that the antenna printed circuit board 17 is in the form of an annular disc.

[0083] Together with an associated electronics unit 39, the antenna 33 forms the near-field communication unit which can communicate with the components of the control module 1 which are arranged, in particular, on the processor printed circuit board 9. As described above, the processor printed circuit board 9 is arranged to be parallel with the antenna printed circuit board, and therefore to be parallel to the antenna 33. An interface 41, which is illustrated in the form of a block, is provided for the electronics control unit 39. The connections, not illustrated in detail, to the weak current contacts 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d (FIG. 2) can be realized by means of a further interface 42.

[0084] The antenna 33 runs on the antenna printed circuit board 17, due to its planar configuration, parallel to the lower side 4 of the inner housing part 3.

[0085] The lower side 4 forms the fastening side of the control module 1 since it is the side which is directed towards the control module base 23 and on which fastening and/or sealing means 6 are arranged.

[0086] Although specific implementations of the control module 1 and the control module base 23 are described above, these implementations are by way of example and other implementations for the control module 1 and the control module base 23 are possible.

[0087] It will be appreciated that the functionality of the control module within the luminaire network is not essential to the present invention and therefore has not been described in detail here.