Antennae for hazardous location light fixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10655833-B2
Application number	US-201715724005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2017
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A light fixture can include a housing comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the housing complies with applicable standards for a hazardous environment. The light fixture can also include an antenna assembly disposed on an outer surface of the housing. The antenna assembly can provide communication with another device within the hazardous environment without compromising the applicable standards for the hazardous environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture, comprising:
a housing that complies with applicable standards for a hazardous environment;
a controller;
an antenna assembly communicably coupled to the controller; and
a lens coupled to the housing, wherein the antenna assembly is disposed, at least in part, within a cavity formed between the housing and the lens,
wherein the antenna assembly provides communication with another device within the hazardous environment without compromising the applicable standards for the hazardous environment applied to the housing,
wherein the antenna assembly sends and receives signals substantially unobstructed by the housing.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the signals are substantially unobstructed in a hemispherical orientation.

3. A light fixture, comprising:
a housing comprising at least one wall that forms a first cavity, wherein the housing complies with applicable standards for a hazardous environment;
an antenna assembly disposed, at least in part, within the first cavity of the housing; and
a lens disposed adjacent to the at least one wall of the housing, wherein the lens forms a second cavity with the at least one wall,
wherein the antenna assembly provides communication with another device within the hazardous environment without compromising the applicable standards for the hazardous environment,
wherein the lens, when coupled to the housing, is rated for the hazardous environment,
wherein a portion of the antenna assembly is disposed within the first cavity of the housing, and wherein a remainder of the antenna assembly is disposed in the second cavity formed by the lens and the at least one wall of the housing.

4. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly sends and receives signals unobstructed by the housing.

5. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly is configured to avoid adversely impacting light emitted by light sources disposed in the second cavity.

6. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly avoids direct exposure to the hazardous environment.

7. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein potting compound is used to fill a space where the portion of the antenna assembly meets the remainder of the antenna assembly.

8. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly is integrated with a circuit board on which at least one light source is disposed.

9. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly is disposed on a surface of the housing disposed within the second cavity.

10. The light fixture of claim 3 , further comprising:
a controller comprising a communication module, wherein the communication module is coupled to the antenna assembly.

11. The light fixture of claim 10 , further comprising:
a transceiver coupled to the antenna assembly and the controller.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Freer Benjamin Avery
• Treible Jr Daniel Robert
• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Scarlata Andrew Francis
• Jayawardena Adikaramge Asiri

Classifications

• F21V15/015

  Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings · CPC title

• F21V17/107

  using hinge joints · CPC title

• F21V29/83

  the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes · CPC title

• H01Q1/42

  Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome · CPC title

• F21V31/005

  Sealing arrangements therefor · CPC title