Abstract:
A connector for connecting a source of AC power to a powered device includes a line-side interface arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the connector to the source of power, a load-side power interface arranged for electrically coupling the connector to the powered device, a load-side control interface for controlling the power supplied to the powered device, a controller electrically coupled to the line-side interface, the load-side power interface, and the load-side control interface and operable to control a bringing of power to the load-side power interface from the line-side interface and for bringing a control signal to the load-side control interface, and a receiver electrically coupled to the controller for receiving a first signal from a device external to the connector and for generating, in response thereto, a second signal for controlling operations of the controller.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/591,371 entitled “Connector Having Wireless Control Capabilities,” filed Aug. 22, 2012, which is a non-provisional  application claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/606,129, filed on Mar. 2, 2012, the disclosures of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present description relates generally to a wireless smart connector and more particularly to a connector having wireless control capabilities. 
       BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    The subject disclosure is generally related to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to an electrical connector having wireless control capabilities for use in connection with an alternating current (AC) power system. 
         [0004]    Systems for bringing low-voltage direct current (DC) power to low-voltage DC powered devices, such as light fixtures, sensors, or the like, are known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,910, U.S. Pat. No. 8,062,042, U.S. Pat. No. 7,679,222, and US Pat. No. 7,762,821 (which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety) disclose various grid systems that support conductive materials that are electrically coupled to a low-voltage DC power source and which provide contact surfaces that are connectable to low-voltage  DC powered devices. These patents also describe various types of connectors that provide a means for coupling a low-voltage DC powered device to the contact surfaces of the grid system. 
         [0005]    In addition, systems and methods of providing an adaptor for bringing wireless communication to a wired sensor include the use of a sensor interface, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,471, U.S. Pat. No. 7,839,017, U.S. Pat. No. 7,925,384, US Patent Publication No. 2011/0043052, and US Patent Publication No. 2011/0043052. In at least one example, the referenced publications describe a system and method for enabling wireless communication with a wired sensor. In this example, power is continuously supplied to an electrical load device under control of a separate wireless controller. The wireless controller includes information stored and/or detected to directly control the electric load device. 
         [0006]    Sill further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,394 describes a control system for allowing remote control of a load. In the described example, a light fixture includes a lamp controller which controls the operation of a lamp by selectively coupling the power source to the lamp. The lamp controller selectively operates the lamp in response to signals received from a remote controller and a light switch, as well as from a motion sensor and a photo sensor. 
         [0007]    While the described connectors, systems and methods generally work for their intended purpose, the following describes an improvement to the known connectors for use in such similarly constructed systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Described hereinafter is an improved push-in type connector which, among other advantages, has the advantage of allowing for wireless control of and the bringing of power to an AC voltage fixture. The connector is well suited for both retrofit/rehabilitation installations as well as for new construction. While not intended to be limiting, the subject connectors may be used to couple an AC powered device to any suitable AC powered wireless control system, to any suitable AC power cables, and/or to other disconnection/connection points in an AC power system. The subject connectors may be provided with one or more mechanical terminal structures, such as for example, push-in type terminal connectors, to thereby allow the subject connectors to be easily and releasably attached thereto. 
         [0009]    While the foregoing provides a general description of the subject connector, a better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties, and relationships of the subject connector will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing which set forth an illustrative example and which is indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For a better understanding of the subject invention, reference may be had to the following drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of exemplary components of a connector having wireless communication capabilities. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of exemplary components of the connector having wireless communication capabilities including an environmental sensor directly coupled to the connector. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic diagram of exemplary components of the connector having wireless communication capabilities including an environmental sensor indirectly coupled to the connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Turning now to the  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of an exemplary connector  10  for use in bringing power from a power source  12 , such as an alternating current (AC) power source to a powered fixture or device  13 , such as a light fixture, sensor, or the like, is illustrated. 
         [0015]    For allowing the connector  10  to be coupled to the power source  12 , the connector  10  includes a line-side interface  14  comprised of one or more electrical contacts arranged to allow engagement with corresponding electrical conductors or surfaces associated with the power source  12 . The electrical contacts of the line-side interface  14  may be incorporated into a housing, such as for example a non-conductive housing, having mechanical structures as needed to allow the connector  10  to be releasably attached to a power grid system, power cables, and/or to other disconnection/connection points in a power system. While not limiting, the wireless connector  10  may also be attached to conductors, such as wires, associated with the source of AC power through use of insulation piercing type contacts (IPC type contacts), insulation displacing type contacts (IDC type contacts), push-in type contacts, crimp type contacts, weld type contacts, etc. 
         [0016]    For allowing the connector  10  to be coupled to the powered device  13 , the connector  10  includes a load-side power interface  16  and a load-side control interface  18  comprising one or more electrical contacts (which one or more electrical contacts may be incorporated into the same or a further housing having mechanical structures as needed) adapted to be engaged with wires  17 ,  19 , respectively, plugs, or the like, that are associated with the powered device  13 . The example load-side power interface provides AC power to the device  13 , while the example load-side control interface  19  provide a control signal, such as for example, a dim, flash, brighten, chase, turn on, turn off, etc. control signal. 
         [0017]    While the load-side power interface  16  and the load-side control interface  18  are illustrated in the present example as separate components, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the interfaces  16 ,  18  may be integrally and/or separately formed as desired. Additionally, each of the electrical contacts and/or wires  17 ,  19 , may be otherwise combined and/or separated. Still further, without limitation, the electrical contacts of the load-side interface  16  and/or the load-side control interface  18  may be push-in type contacts, IDC type contacts, IPC type contacts, crimp type contacts, weld type contacts, etc. 
         [0018]    To control the bringing of power from the line-side interface  14  to the load-side power interface  16 , and accordingly to the device  13  coupled to the load-side interface  16 , the connector  10  further includes a controller  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the example controller  20  is electrically coupled to the line-side interface  14  via an electrical connection  22  and is electrically coupled to the load-side interface  16  via an electrical connection  24 . In addition, to provide control instructions and/or signals to the load-side control interface  18 , the controller  20  is coupled to the load-side control interface  18  via an electrical connection  26 . By way of example only, the controller  20  may comprise a semiconductor based electronic device such as an Opto-isolator, silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), field-effect transistor (FET), transistor, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch, and/or any other suitable controller. Furthermore, as previously noted, while the load-side power interface  16  and the load-side control interface  18  may be integrally or separately formed as desired, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the controller  20  may also be integrally formed with one or more of the interfaces as desired. 
         [0019]    In this example, the controller  20  is further coupled to a receiver (e.g., a wireless receiver) or transceiver  30 , which, as described hereinafter, functions to provide a control signal to the controller  20  via an electrical connection  32 . Power is provided to the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  by means of an optional DC-DC converter  34 , which is electrically coupled to the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  via an electrical connection  36  and to the line-side interface  14  via a rectifier  38  having an electrical connection  40  to the DC-DC converter  34  and an electrical connection  42  to the line-side interface  14 . The wireless receiver or transceiver  30  may also be directly coupled to the line-side interface  14  and/or the rectifier  38  as desired. It will also be understood that other means for providing power to the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  could also be employed, such as by providing power through use of a battery, through use of ambient radio frequency (RF) power harvesting, or the like. It will also be understood that the electrical connections between the various components illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be traces formed on a printed circuit board (PCB), wires, or the like without limitation. 
         [0020]    More particularly, for controlling the bringing of power to the load-side interface  16  and/or for controlling the bringing of control signals to the load-side control interface  18 , the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  is adapted to receive and transmit a control signal (e.g., a DC control signal) to the controller  20  via the electrical connection  32  in response to the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  receiving a control signal from a remotely located device  31 , e.g., a switch, control center, or the like. In one example, the remotely located device and the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  are adapted to communicate via use of wireless RF transmissions. The controller  20  is, in turn, adapted to respond to the control signal transmitted thereto via the electrical connection  32  to control the bringing of power to the load-side interface  16  from the line-side interface  14  via the electrical connections  22  and  24 . Additionally, the controller  20  is adapted to respond to the control signal transmitted thereto via the electrical connection  32  to control the bringing of a control signal to the load-side control interface  18  via the electrical connection  26 . 
         [0021]    In this regard, the control signal provided to the controller  20  by the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  is used to turn on or turn off the power connection between the load-side power interface  16  and the line-side interface  14 . Furthermore, the control signal provided to the controller  20  by the wireless receiver or transceiver  30  may also be used to provide a controlling signal to the load-side control interface  18  to limit and/or otherwise modify or control the amount of power that is provided to the device  13  e.g., to provide for a dimming effect. Specifically, in at least one example, the load-side control interface may reduce (e.g., dim) the output AC voltage by chopping the AC output for typical incandescent light. Still further, the load-side control interface may provide an analog (e.g., 0 to 10) volt variable output to dim fluorescent lights. 
         [0022]    It will also be appreciated that, in the case when a transceiver  30  is utilized, the connector  10  may allow for state data associated with the controller  20 , and accordingly the device  13 , and/or other data to be communicated to other remotely located devices as needed. While not illustrated, the connector  10  may additionally include a mechanism or other means for allowing a user to set (or for pre-setting at a time of manufacture) an address to thereby allow communications to the connector  10 , via the receiver or transceiver  30 , to be specifically targeted thereto - which would be particularly useful in an instance where multiple connectors are intended to be used in a confined area. 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for providing the connector  10  with environmental and/or status information, the connector  10  may be directly coupled to a sensor  200  via a communication link, such as for example, a wire  202  ( FIG. 2 ). It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the communication link may be wireless, wired, and/or other suitable link as desired. For example, the sensor  200  may be capable of communicating directly with the transceiver  30  or may communicate directly with the controller  20 . Still further, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sensor  200  may be adapted to communicate directly with the remotely located device  31 , which in turn communicates with the connector  10  as described hereinabove. 
         [0024]    In the example of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sensor  200  may be adapted to sense an environmental condition, such as a temperature, motion, light level, time of day, etc., and communicate the sensed condition to the connector  10  (either directly or indirectly as shown) for influencing the ultimate performance of the device  13 . For example, the sensor  200  may detect an ambient light of the room in which the sensor  200  is installed and relay that the relevant information to the connector  10  for influencing the load -side power interface  16  and/or the load-side control interface  18 , which in turn influences the performance state of the device  13 . In this way, the connector  10  may be “smart” in that the connector  10  is able to influence the performance of the fixture device to which it is connected in response to an external stimuli. 
         [0025]    While specific examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure. It will therefore be appreciated that features described are not to be limited to any particular embodiment but may be freely used across embodiments where applicable. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the size, shape, arrangement, and/or number of components illustrated and described can be changed as necessary to meet a given need. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.