Lighting device with expandable functionality

Abstract

A main unit of a lighting device with expandable functionality. The main unit includes at least one light source, driver electronics, and a housing with an at least partially light-permeable housing wall. The main unit further includes a coupling element for forming a wireless coupling interface to an extension unit, wherein the coupling element is located within the housing and is designed such that the wireless coupling between the main unit and the extension unit through the partially light-permeable housing wall is carried out. Furthermore, an extension unit and a lighting device are provided.

Claims

1. A coupling element configured to be disposed inside a lighting device and to form through a housing wall of the lighting device a wireless coupling interface to an extension unit external to the lighting device, said extension unit being configured for extending functionality of the lighting device beyond a basic lighting functionality to include at least one of controller interfacing and sensor interfacing.

2. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein in being configured to form the wireless coupling interface to the extension unit, the coupling element is configured to provide wireless power transmission to the extension unit through the housing wall of the lighting device.

3. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein in being configured to form the wireless coupling interface to the extension unit, the coupling element is configured to provide wireless signal communication through the housing wall of the lighting device.

4. The coupling element of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal communication is bi-directional.

5. The coupling element of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal communication through the housing wall of the lighting device is through a portion of the housing wall which is at least partially light-permeable.

6. The coupling element of claim 5, wherein the portion of the housing wall is light-permeable in an infrared spectral range.

7. The coupling element of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal communication includes at least one of transmission and reception of a control signal which changes an operating state of the lighting device.

8. The coupling element of claim 7, wherein the change in operating state comprises at least one of: switching on or off the lighting device; dimming the lighting device; changing a color of light produced by the lighting device; and changing a color temperature of light produced by the lighting device.

9. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein in being configured to form the wireless coupling interface to the extension unit, the coupling element is configured to provide both wireless power transmission and wireless signal communication through the housing wall of the lighting device.

10. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the coupling element is configured such that the wireless coupling interface is formable through the housing wall of the lighting device at different housing locations along the lighting device.

11. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the coupling element is shaped to substantially conform to the housing wall of the lighting device.

12. The coupling element of claim 11, wherein the housing wall is curved.

13. The lighting device comprising the coupling element of claim 1.

14. The lighting device of claim 13, wherein the lighting device is a light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp.

15. A luminaire comprising the lighting device of claim 13.

16. A lighting system comprising: the lighting device of claim 13; and the extension unit.

17. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the extension unit comprises a counter-coupling element configured for forming the wireless coupling interface to the coupling element.

18. The lighting system of claim 17, wherein the counter-coupling element comprises an infrared sensor.

19. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the extension unit is at least partially light-permeable in an infrared spectral range.

20. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the extension unit comprises a sensor system configured for providing at least one sensor signal.

21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a daylight sensor, a temperature sensor, a dust sensor, and a gas sensor.

22. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the extension unit is configured to be wirelessly controlled via a control device external to both the lighting device and the extension unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure is now explained in more detail with the aid of the attached figures. The same reference numbers are used in the figures for identical or similarly acting parts.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a lighting device with extended functionality according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a lighting device with extended functionality according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a lighting device with extended functionality according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The lighting device 1 with extended functionality may include a main unit 2 with extendable functionality and an extension unit 3 for extending the functionality of the main unit 2. The main unit 2 may have a housing 4 with a housing wall 5, wherein the main unit 2 and the extension unit 3 may be wirelessly electrically coupled to each other through the housing wall 5 via a wireless coupling interface 6. The main unit 2 of the lighting device 1 may further include electrical connections (not shown) for supplying power to the main unit 2.

(5) The wireless coupling interface 6 may be designed to transmit electrical energy from the main unit 2 to the extension unit 3 for power supply of the extension unit 3 wirelessly or cable-free. The energy transmission via the coupling interface 6 is symbolically represented by the black arrows in FIG. 1. The extension unit 3 may be designed as a sensor and/or control unit which may be attached to the housing 4 from the outside and may be supplied with electrical energy by the main unit 2 via the wireless interface 6.

(6) The wireless coupling interface 6 may further be adapted to transmit electrical signals from the extension unit 3 to the main unit 2 and/or from the main unit 2 to the extension unit 3. The extension unit 3 may include a controller and a memory for storing data and machine-readable instructions for the controller. The signal transmission via the coupling interface 6 is symbolically represented by white arrows in FIG. 1.

(7) The wireless coupling interface 6 may be designed to electrically couple the main unit 2 and the extension unit 3 to each other by inductive and/or capacitive coupling, wherein the type of coupling and the geometry of the wireless coupling interface 6 may depend on the specific application.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a lighting device with extended functionality according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the embodiment example of FIG. 1, the lighting device 1 may include a main unit 2 and an extension unit 3, wherein the main unit 2 and the extension unit 3 may be wirelessly electrically coupled to each other via the wireless coupling interface 6.

(9) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the lighting device 1 may be in the form of an LED tube, which may have an elongated housing 4 with a substantially cylindrical light-permeable housing wall 5. Within the housing 4, an LED light source (not shown) may be arranged together with driver electronics (not shown) for driving the light source.

(10) A coupling element 7 may be formed on the inside of the housing 4 to form the wireless coupling interface 6 of the main unit 2 with the extension unit 3. The coupling element 7 may be elongated and extend over a length of the LED tube which is larger than the dimensions of the extension unit 3.

(11) FIG. 2 also shows a counter-coupling element 8 of the extension unit 3 for forming the wireless coupling interface 6 to the main unit 2 by means of the coupling element 7 of the main unit 2.

(12) The lighting device 1 may further include fastening elements (not shown) for fastening the main unit 2 to the extension unit 3. The fastening elements may include magnetic and/or mechanical fastening elements and may be designed such that the extension unit 3 is freely displaceable along the housing wall 5 of the main unit 2. This allows the extension unit 3 to be freely positioned along this length section in accordance with the application.

(13) The coupling element 7 or the counter-coupling element 8 may include inductive and/or capacitive coupling elements. These coupling types may be used for both energy and signal transmission. Depending on the choice of the coupling type, different constraints may arise with respect to the geometry and required accuracy of the positioning of the extension unit 3 with respect to the main unit 2 alignment. The type of coupling may be selected depending on the respective application.

(14) The main unit 2 may be designed to receive control signals sent by the extension unit 3 via the coupling element 7 for controlling the driver electronics in order to change the operating state of the main unit 2. The main unit 2 may be configured to receive control signals from the extension unit 3 to switch on or off and/or dim the main unit 2. In some embodiments, the main unit 2 may be controlled by an expansion unit 3 such that the color or color temperature of the light or white light produced by the main unit may be influenced or changed.

(15) Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been shown in the foregoing description, various changes and modifications may be made. The aforementioned embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing description provides the person skilled in the art with a plan for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, wherein numerous changes in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Furthermore, according to the principles described herein, several modules or several products may also be connected with each other in order to obtain further functions.