Integrated sensing and control of light fixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401007-B1
Application number	US-201615213858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A backbox is disclosed herein. The backbox can include at least one wall forming a cavity, and a sensor mounting feature disposed on an outer surface of the at least one wall, where the sensor mounting feature is configured to couple to a sensor device. The backbox can also include at least one fixture coupling feature disposed on the at least one wall, where the at least one fixture coupling feature is configured to couple to a complementary coupling feature disposed on a housing of a light fixture. The at least one wall can be configured to extend substantially seamlessly from a portion of the light fixture at which the at least one complementary coupling feature is located.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture of a lighting system, comprising:
a power supply that provides power to at least one light source;
a main light fixture (LF) portion comprising at least one first backbox coupling feature, at least one second backbox coupling feature, and at least one main LF wall that forms a first cavity;
a backbox coupled to the main LF portion, wherein the backbox comprises at least one first main LF coupling feature, at least one second main LF coupling feature, a plurality of backbox walls that form a second cavity, and a sensor mounting feature disposed on at least one backbox wall of the plurality of backbox walls, wherein the at least one first main LF coupling feature is disposed at a distal end of the backbox and couples to the at least one first backbox coupling feature;
a sensor device coupled to the sensor mounting feature of the backbox; and
a controller coupled to the sensor device and disposed within the second cavity of the backbox,
wherein the first cavity and the second cavity face each other and are enclosed when the main LF portion and the backbox are coupled to each other,
wherein the at least one second backbox coupling feature and the at least one second main LF coupling feature, when engaged with each other, form a liquid-tight seal that prevents liquid from entering the first cavity and the second cavity,
wherein the at least one first backbox coupling feature and the at least one first main LF coupling feature are aligned for engagement with each other when the at least one second backbox coupling feature and the at least one second main LF coupling feature are engaged with each other,
and wherein the power supply is disposed in the first cavity,
wherein the backbox replaces a rear panel removed from the main LF portion.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first main LF coupling feature comprises a plurality of first apertures that traverse at least one backbox wall of the plurality of backbox walls.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of fastening devices that traverse the plurality of first apertures and, at least in part, a plurality of second apertures in the main LF portion, wherein the at least one first backbox coupling feature of the main LF portion comprises the plurality of second apertures.

4. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of backbox walls comprises a plurality of recesses that provide access to the plurality of fastening devices.

5. The light fixture of claim 4 , wherein the backbox further comprises at least one standoff disposed within the second cavity and that extends toward the first cavity of the main LF portion.

6. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the power supply based on measurements taken by the sensor device.

7. The light fixture of claim 6 wherein the controller uses at least one algorithm to control the power supply.

8. The light fixture of claim 6 , wherein controlling the power supply comprises a dimming function.

9. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the backbox couples to the main LF portion at a back end of the main LF portion.

10. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the main LF portion is part of an existing light fixture, and wherein the backbox is used to retrofit the existing light fixture.

11. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the backbox and the main LF portion, when coupled to each other, form a substantially continuous housing.

12. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is a motion sensor that detects movement in a volume of space proximate to the sensor device.

13. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the sensor mounting feature is mounted on a top wall of the plurality of backbox walls of the backbox, and wherein the sensor device measures a parameter located above the main LF portion.

14. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the sensor mounting feature is mounted on a bottom wall of the plurality of backbox walls of the backbox, and wherein the sensor device measures a parameter located below the main LF portion.

15. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the controller operates using a hardware processor.

16. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein main LF portion further comprises at least one throughhole through which at least one electrical conductor is disposed, wherein the at least one electrical conductor electrically couples the controller in the second cavity to at least one electrical component disposed in the first cavity.

17. A light fixture of a lighting system, comprising:
a power supply that provides power to at least one light source;
a main light fixture (LF) portion comprising at least one first backbox coupling feature, at least one second backbox coupling feature, and at least one main LF wall that forms a first cavity;
a backbox coupled to the main LF portion, wherein the backbox comprises at least one first main LF coupling feature, at least one second main LF coupling feature, a curved backbox wall that forms a second cavity, and a sensor mounting feature disposed on the curved backbox wall, wherein the at least one first main LF coupling feature is disposed at a distal end of the backbox and couples to the at least one first backbox coupling feature;
a sensor device coupled to the sensor mounting feature of the backbox; and
a controller coupled to the sensor device and disposed within the second cavity of the backbox,
wherein the first cavity and the second cavity face each other and are enclosed when the main LF portion and the backbox are coupled to each other,
wherein the at least one second backbox coupling feature and the at least one second main LF coupling feature, when engaged with each other, form a liquid-tight seal that prevents liquid from entering the first cavity and the second cavity,
wherein the at least one first backbox coupling feature and the at least one first main LF coupling feature are aligned for engagement with each other when the at least one second backbox coupling feature and the at least one second main LF coupling feature are engaged with each other,
and wherein the power supply is disposed in the first cavity,
wherein the backbox replaces a rear panel removed from the main LF portion.

Assignees

• York Chenell Erika
• Brooks Bobby
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• York Chenell Erika
• Brooks Bobby

Classifications

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• F21V23/0442

  activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors · CPC title

• F21V23/02

  the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier} · CPC title

• F21V23/008 Primary

  the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device · CPC title