LUMINAIRE HAVING A DATA TRANSMISSION FUNCTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a luminaire having at least one illuminant (6), a luminaire housing (1), and at least one operating device (4), arranged in the luminaire housing (1), for the at least one illuminant (6), wherein the operating device (4) has an antenna (5) for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, and the luminaire housing (1) has at least one slot antenna (2) that is coupled to the antenna (5) of the operating device (4) by means of radiation coupling, a waveguide, or a cavity resonator in order to transmit the radio signal to outside the luminaire housing (1).

Claims

1. A luminaire, having: at least one illuminant (6), a metallic luminaire housing (1), and at least one operating device (4), arranged in the luminaire housing (1), for the at least one illuminant (6), wherein the operating device (4) has an antenna (5) for transmitting a radio signal, and the luminaire housing (1) has at least one slot antenna (2) that, by means of a radiation coupling, a waveguide, or a cavity resonator, is coupled to the antenna (5) of the operating device (4) in order to transmit the radio signal to outside the luminaire housing (1).

2. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the cavity resonator is formed by the luminaire housing (1).

3. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the slot antenna (2) has several slots and is a slot group antenna.

4. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the slot antenna (2) is arranged on one side of the luminaire housing (1) on which the at least one illuminant (6) is arranged.

5. The luminiare according to claim 3, wherein the luminaire has several illuminants (6), and the illuminants (6) and the slots (2) are arranged alternatingly next to one another on the side of the luminaire housing (1) at least in one direction of extension.

6. The luminaire according to claim 4, wherein the luminaire has a transparent cover (3) which covers the slot antenna (2) and the at least one illuminant (6).

7. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the slot length of the slot antenna (2) corresponds to half or a multiple of half the wavelength of the radio signal.

8. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the operating device (4) has a housing on which is arranged the antenna (5) for transmitting and receiving the radio signal.

9. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least one slot antenna (2), which is coupled to the antenna (5) of the operating device (4) by means of the radiation coupling, the waveguide, or the cavity resonator, is in each case arranged on at least two different sides of the luminaire housing (1).

10. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the luminaire has several of the operating devices (4) and several of the slot antennas (2), and each antenna (5) is coupled to another slot antenna (2) by means of the radiation coupling, the waveguide, or the cavity resonator.

11. The lumnaire according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric filler material is arranged in the slot of the slot antenna (2), or the dielectric material covers the slot at least on one side of the slot of the slot antenna (2).

12. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least one slot of the slot antenna (2) does not have a rectangular shape.

13. The luminaire according to claim 11, wherein the slot of the slot antenna (2) runs in its main extension direction at least partially parallel to an edge of the luminaire.

14. The luminaire according to claim 12, wherein the edge is an edge of the luminaire housing (1) or an edge of a transparent cover (3) of the luminaire.

15. The luminaire according to claim 11, wherein the slot is at least part of a character applied to the luminaire.

16. The luminaire according to claim 15 wherein the antenna (5) in the operating device (4) also receives a receives radio signals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail in the following using the accompanying drawings. The following are shown:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a first exemplary embodiment of a luminaire according to the present invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 is a side view of the luminaire shown in FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3 is a cutout of an arrangement of antenna slots and LED's on the luminaire housing,

[0032] FIG. 4 is a second exemplary embodiment of a luminaire according to the present invention, and

[0033] FIGS. 5a through 5f are slot antennas 2 in different shapes for a luminaire according to the present invention.

[0034] Components having the same functions are denoted by the same reference signs in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a luminaire according to the present invention in a simplified spatial representation. The luminaire has a metallic housing 1, a slot 2 located in the upper side of the box-shaped housing 1, an illuminant (not shown) located on the lower side of the luminaire, a transparent cover 3 covering the illuminant, and an operating device 4, arranged in the interior of the luminaire, for the illuminant

[0036] The illuminant can be an LED module, wherein the operating device 4 provides the current required for the LED's. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the luminaire, shown in FIG. 1, with the illuminant 6.

[0037] In addition, the operating device 4 can wirelessly receive data for configuring the operating device 4 (specification of the maximum operating current and/or the light temperature) and for controlling the luminaire (input/output commands or dimming level) from an external control device, and/or wirelessly transmit information to the control device on the current configuration and the current operating status. For this purpose, the operating device 4 has an antenna 5, which can be a Bluetooth or WLAN antenna, and emits or receives a corresponding radio signal.

[0038] The slot 2 located in the upper side of the metallic housing 1 and extending through the metallic housing forms a slot antenna which is fed or excited by the radio signal of the operating device 4 or an incoming signal, and which in turn radiates said signal to the outside (outside the luminaire) or inwards to the antenna 5. The antenna 5 and the slot antenna are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the antenna 5 generates an electric field E which impinges on the feed point of the slot antenna 2 at a right angle (radiation coupling). The slot length corresponds to half or a multiple of half the wavelength of the radio signal (λ/2 or n*λ/2), which corresponds to a length of 6.25 cm or n*6.25 cm at a radio signal frequency of 2.4 GHz. In order to enable precise positioning of the operating device and thus to enable efficient coupling, elements can be provided in the luminaire which establish the installation position of the operating device 4. For example, receptacles or stops are formed inside the metallic housing 1.

[0039] As an alternative to direct radiation coupling, coupling can take place by means of a waveguide which leads from the antenna 5 to the slot antenna 2, or a cavity resonator formed by the luminaire housing, which cavity resonator is excited by the antenna 5 and generates the electric field E.

[0040] The slot antenna can have several slots in order to achieve directivity. FIG. 3 shows such an arrangement having four slots 2, in which the slots 2 and three illuminants 6 are arranged on the same side of the housing 1. The illuminants 6 are designed as strip-shaped LED modules with eight LED's in each case. The slots 2 are arranged between the illuminants 6 (LED modules). The distance between two slots 2, which run parallel with respect to their main extension direction, is greater than λ/2.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a luminaire according to the present invention, in which the slot antenna 2 is not rectangular. The luminaire shown in FIG. 4 has a circular, metallic housing 1, a circular, arc-shaped slot 2 located on the upper side of the round housing 1, an illuminant (not shown), a transparent, round cover 3 covering the illuminants, and the operating device 4 (not shown), arranged in the interior of the luminaire, for the illuminant.

[0042] The slot 2 forming the slot antenna has a uniform width and runs parallel to the outer edge 3a of the round cover 3, wherein the circumference of the circular arc is selected such that the length of the straight lines between the ends of the circular arc corresponds to half or a multiple of half the wavelength of the radio signal (λ/2 or n*λ/2). The antenna 5 of the operating device 4 is coupled as described above.

[0043] FIGS. 5a through 5f show slot antennas 2 in different shapes with the dimensions for a radio signal frequency of 2.4 GHz, wherein the arrows indicate the respective orientation of the electromagnetic field. As shown in FIGS. 5c through 5f, the shape of the slot antenna 2 can correspond to a character which serves, for example, to identify the luminaire or the manufacturer.

[0044] In the described exemplary embodiments, the slot antenna 2 is formed on one of the sides of the housing 1. However, it is also possible, at least on two different sides of the housing 1, to arrange in each case at least one slot antenna 2, which are coupled to the antenna of the operating device 4 by means of the radiation coupling, the waveguide, or the cavity resonator.

[0045] Alternatively, several operating devices 1 and/or another device with a radio function (repeater, radio network module for wireless Internet access) can be arranged in the luminaire, wherein each device antenna is coupled to another slot antenna 2 by means of the radiation coupling, the waveguide, or the cavity resonator.

[0046] The position of the operating device 4 is selected, taking into account the position of its antenna 5 in the housing 1 of the luminaire, so that optimal excitation of the slot antenna 2 is possible. For different operating devices 4, different positioning aids can be provided in the housing for this purpose, so that several configurations are possible by means of only one luminaire housing, and, in particular, operating devices 4 can also be used which use different radio signals (Bluetooth, WiFi).

[0047] In the described exemplary embodiments, the slot 2 forming the slot antenna can be open, or be closed with a dielectric filler material. The electrical material can either be limited to the open region of the slot or can be applied to the inner and/or exterior of the housing. The material applied to an area preferably has a relief-like surface, so that the electrical material penetrates into the open region of the slot.