Patent Abstract:
A relocate able add-on control sensor module is described which electrically connects and controls at least one recessed light fixture. The relocate able add-on control module is mounted to a suspended ceiling t-bar grid and can be positioned anywhere in the ceiling grid while still controlling one or more recessed lighting fixtures. The control sensor module containing at least one sensor controlling light output of at least one recessed lighting fixture based on human occupancy, light intensity or both.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is related to a relocatable add-on sensor module for recessed lighting systems and in particular an add-on sensor module which senses motion, light intensity or other environment characteristics for control of recessed luminaires. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a lower view of the add-on sensor module for recessed lighting systems of the present invention as installed in the suspended ceiling and t-bar grid system; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the add-on sensor module for recessed lighting systems of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exposed view of the add-on sensor module for recessed lighting systems of the present invention in conjunction with at least one recessed luminaire and a t-bar suspended ceiling grid system; 
       FIG. 4  is a side-view of the add-on sensor module for recessed lighting systems of the present invention as installed with a portion of the housing and inner connection wiring removed for clarity. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Various types of lighting and luminaire controls are desirable as a means for controlling the amount of light as well as the amount of energy used by the lighting system during various installed environments. A number of various sensors and controlling electronics may be utilized such as motion sensors, light sensors, dimming electronic controls and other known electronic control devices, all of which may be integrated with lighting systems and luminaires. It is desirable to incorporate an add-on and relocatable sensor module allowing for the mounting of a variety of available sensors for control of recessed luminaires. Module sensors are selectable to respond to multiple environmental circumstances in order to reduce the amount of light produced by the luminaire, control or reduce the amount of electricity utilized by the luminaire, or activate/deactivate the luminaire or lighting system. By relocatable, it is meant that the add-on sensor module is constructed so as to be movable, portable, prefabricated, or modular, as well as separate and distinct from the actual controlled recessed luminaire. Such add-on sensor modules are highly desirable and should necessarily be easy to install and incorporate with existing luminaire and ceiling constructions, both from the standpoint of wiring as well as interfacing with the ceiling and the luminaire control circuitry. Many characteristics may also be required and implemented herein, such as modularity, simple construction, easy installation and integration with a ceiling support and grid system, clamping mechanisms for integrating into said system, as well as electronic controls contained within the module for electrically connecting and controlling the external recessed luminaire(s). 
   As disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention is depicted as disclosed and is electronically configured to control a recessed luminaire  30  in a t-bar grid system  20  as is shown. The add-on sensor module  10  is a separate control system for controlling a multitude of luminaires and recessed lighting systems. The add on sensor module  10  may be integrated with pre-existing or pre-installed recessed luminaires or may be installed initially in order to control one or more recessed luminaires  30 . The add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention, as is depicted and disclosed herein, may generally incorporate control of a plurality of luminaires as required such that entire banks of luminaires may be effected by the add-on sensor control module  10  in order to effect the desired characteristic and measured environmental condition. The add-on sensor control module  10  can contain any variety of sensors to control the light output of the recessed luminaire  30  including, but not limiting to, motion sensing, light intensity sensing or other environmental characteristics as measured by the sensor  12 . The add-on sensor module  10  for the recessed luminaire of the present invention may be a stand-alone, modular, add-on product which is designed to interface with a variety of recessed luminaires and which has control cables which directly interface with the lighting control cables  31 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 , of the target recessed luminaire. It is further desirable that the sensor module  10  of the present invention provide a housing  14  which has a trim flange  15  which allows the add-on sensor module  10  be mounted directly to a ceiling member, such as a t-bar support system  20  as shown, and positioned adjacent or near to the controlled luminaire  30 , the trim flange  15  provided to cleanly finish the opening formed in the ceiling. The add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention is not desired to be mounted directly to a ceiling tile but may be separately added on as an independent unit and attached directly to the t-bar support grid  20  as is depicted. The trim flange  15 , which is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , incorporates a face plate on which the sensor  12  is mounted and on which the diameter of the sensor  12  mounting, as well as the lens  13 , may be modified in order to accept a wide variety of types of sensors. The trim flange  15  is designed such that it may finish off the opening formed in a ceiling tile where it penetrates through the tile in order to provide a clean installed appearance as depicted. Multiple mechanisms are provided on the housing in order to properly install the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention onto the t-bar grid support system  20 . 
   As is commonly understood and known in the art, t-bar support grids  20  as depicted, are utilized to support ceiling tiles and other luminaires and recessed luminaire systems  30  as are shown. These common place t-bar support grids  20  typically provide openings of various desired widths and are utilized to support air vents, luminaires, and other systems. As is depicted herein, for installation of the add-on sensor module  10  for a recessed lighting system  30  of the present invention, the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention may be incorporated in a pre-existing t-bar grid support system and placed in electrical connectivity and control of a recessed luminaire  30 , in this example a fluorescent troffer luminaire supported in the ceiling. As shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein the ceiling tiles are shown as being removed, the add-on sensor module  10  may be electrically connected to the recessed luminaire  30 . An aperture or various other hole, as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be formed in the ceiling tile for exposing the sensor module  10  and sensor  12  there through, leaving the trim flange  15  exposed on a lower surface of the ceiling tile in order to properly finish and provide a clean appearance to the exposed ceiling tile. Meanwhile, the entire add-on sensor module  10  may be directly affixed to the t-bar support grid  20  either directly adjacent to the recessed luminaire  30  or placed in remote proximity thereto. 
   The housing  14  of the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention may incorporate both a mounting lip  17  for flush connectivity to the lower portion of the t-bar grid system as shown, in combination with a t-bar support  19  which may have a clamping mechanism adjacently positioned thereby in order to properly allow the modular sensor module  10  of the present invention to be directly affixed to the t-bar support grid  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the t-bar support  19  attached to the housing  14  provides a longitudinally extending lip  19  which can clasp or clamp onto the top edge of the t-bar support grid  20  as shown installed on  FIG. 4 . Thus, the add-on sensor module  10  may be directly affixed to the t-bar support grid  20  in multiple configurations which provides increased flexibility for installation and positioning of the sensor module  10  depicted herein. Various known clamping and removable support assemblies may be integrated within the housing  14  of the sensor module  10  of the present invention and the t-bar support  19  attached to a single side of the sensor module  10  is but one of a number of implementations which may be utilized. It may be desirable such that the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention may be readily and easily removable and attachable to the t-bar support grid  20  such that placement may be modified or installed in multiple positions. Further, the clamping mechanism may allow for floating connectivity such that the height of the module may vertically be adjusted depending on the ceiling depth, position of the grid, and other factors. 
   Integrated with the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention may be a sensor control line  16  which may be provided with a number of attachments for electrical control and connectivity to the recessed luminaire  30 . As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the removable and pluggable connections may be utilized in order to electrically and controllingly connect the add-on sensor module  10  to the recessed luminaire  30  such that the connectors may exit either the housing  14  or the luminaire housing for the recessed luminaire  30  and exit thereby without having to entirely open the module itself. The sensor control line  16  may be readily configurable to any desirable configuration to connect to a recessed luminaire control line  31  as is shown as long as the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention is placed in electrical and control connectivity with the luminaire  30 . Various known sensor control lines and connectors are available for use and integration with the add-on sensor module  10  depicted. 
   The add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , incorporates a sensor  12  extending below the trim flange  15  such that varying environmental characteristics may be measured by control electronics placed on an interior portion of the housing  14 . The exposed sensor  12  may be covered by a lens  13  as is necessary, the lens  13  either controlling the input characteristics of the environmental condition being measured or magnifying the same characteristics. The sensor  12  affixed to the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention may measure a number of different known characteristics and control circuitry and electronics may be placed on an interior of the housing  14  for proper electronic control of the recessed luminaire  30 . Such control electronics are well known in the art and may be integrated with the sensor module  12  and with the sensor control line  16  as is necessary to control the light output of the recessed luminaire  30  depicted. The housing  14 , as previously described, incorporates the clamp mechanism in order to directly and removable attach the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention to the adjacent t-bar support grid  20  for mounting. The sensor control line  16  may be directly connected to the recessed luminaire control line  31  in order that the add-on sensor module of the present invention may directly and electronically control the recessed luminaire  30  shown. The sensor module control line  16  as well as the troffer or recessed luminaire control line  31  may be resident in the interior of the housing, the respective devices may be pulled out through openings without the necessity of opening either housing such that they may be placed in electronic connectivity. The ceiling tile at which the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention is to be incorporated may then be notched and installed on top of the trim flange  15  after clamping of the t-bar support  19  directly to the t-bar support grid  20  and further by providing additional clamp  22  to position the ceiling tile tightly to said trim flange  15  to eliminate unsightly gaps as seen from below the ceiling and provide vertical adjustability thereof. 
   The add-on sensor control module  10  of the present invention provides a system for adding control of at least one recessed luminaire, which incorporates a housing and a mechanism for mounting the add-on control sensor module  10  to a suspended ceiling member next to a recessed luminaire  30 . The add-on sensor module of the present invention may contain at least one sensor  12  for controlling light output of at least one luminaire  30  wherein the add-on sensor module  10  may be installed and at least one ceiling tile may be modified in order to provide an opening for the sensor module to penetrate the ceiling tile. The add-on sensor module  10  incorporates a trim flange  15  in order to hide the edges of the ceiling tile which are cut for the opening thereof. The add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention provides a means for electronically controlling and being placed into electrical connectivity between the add-on sensor module  10  and the recessed luminaire  30 . 
   A number of configurations are available for the add-on sensor module  10  of the present invention as is discussed and disclosed herein. While the add-on sensor module  10  has been described for a number of embodiments, the invention presented is not limited to the specific structure and elements taught. The disclosure and claims are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included herein and are considered to be incorporated within the spirit and scope of the teachings hereof. The scope the claims set forth are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functionality.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5