MODULAR WIRELESS INTERFACE FOR A LIGHTING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of modular luminaires and lighting devices, and to wireless communication. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular wireless interface for a lighting device. The lighting device can in particular be an emergency lighting device.

BACKGROUND

In the prior art, conventional wireless interfaces for luminaires or lighting devices, in particular for emergency lighting devices, are well known.

Usually such conventional wireless interfaces are integrated in a housing of a lighting device (or an emergency lighting device, respectively). Due to the large variety of lighting devices available, each conventional wireless interface has to be specifically adapted to the lighting device in which it is used. That is, the size of the housing of the conventional wireless interface has to be adapted to the size of the housing of each lighting device. Further, not only a size of the conventional wireless interface has to be adapted according to its predefined use case, but also predefined desired features of the conventional wireless interface are different, depending on the lighting device in which the conventional wireless interface is to be used. That is, there is a huge amount of different conventional wireless interfaces required, each of which varying in size and features supported, according to its predefined use case. Consequently, due to the high number of different conventional wireless interfaces required, a manufacturing process is expensive and manufacturing costs are high.

As a result, in the prior art, there is need for a wireless interface which can be produced cheaply and can be used with a variety of different lighting devices or emergency lighting devices. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention aims to improve the conventional wireless lighting devices.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless interface which can be flexibly adapted in a modular way, e.g. to comply with features or size required by a lighting device or emergency lighting device, for which the wireless interface can be used. To this end, the wireless interface provides at least one wireless communication module which can be connected in a detachable manner with further modules, each of the further modules providing a predefined function to the wireless interface. This allows for adjusting a size (which scales with a number of further modules comprised by the wireless interface) and a number of features (which are also dependent on the number of further modules) of the wireless interface.

These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading the following description, are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a wireless interface for a lighting device, the wireless interface comprising at least one wireless communication module, and at least one further module, wherein the at least one further module is detachably connected to the at least one wireless communication module, and wherein the wireless communication module is configured to provide wireless communication means to the at least one further module.

Preferably, the wireless communication module comprises at least an antenna for transceiving wireless signals, and/or a microcontroller.

The wireless interface can provide wireless communication to a luminaire, and also can provide further functionality which is enabled by the further module. At least one further module is comprised by the wireless interface. However, there can also be two, three, four or more further modules be comprised by the wireless interface, each of which can provide a predefined function. Since all modules can be connected in a detachable fashion, the device can be flexibly adjusted to a user’s needs. Preferably, the at least one wireless communication module supports various wireless communication standards, more preferably Bluetooth communication, or near field communication, NFC, or wireless local area network, WLAN, or radio-frequency identification, RFID.

Preferably, the wireless interface, in particular the wireless communication module, does not only allow for wireless communication, but also for wired communication e.g. with an external device such as a converter, e.g. a lighting converter, or a luminaire. That is, the wireless interface in particular provides a means for wireless communication to a converter or a luminaire, which is connected to the wireless interface in a wired fashion. In other words, the wireless interface can be addressed wirelessly, but is then communicating with the converter or the luminaire in a wire- bound fashion.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one further module comprises at least one sensor module and/or at least one actuator module, wherein the at least one wireless communication module is further configured to obtain information from the at least one sensor module and/or control the at least one actuator module.

In other words, the wireless interface can provide function to a lighting device or luminaire that comprises the wireless interface. This function can e.g. be obtaining sensor data by the sensor module and providing the sensor data to the wireless communication module, e.g. for wireless transmission to an external device. Further exemplary, this function can be controlling said actuator by the wireless communication module, e.g. based on information that is obtained by, or received by the wireless communication module.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one wireless communication module is configured to control the at least one actuator module based on information obtained from the at least one sensor module.

This ensures that the wireless interface can e.g. use sensor data obtained by the sensor module to control the actuator module. Thereby, a predefined functionality can be provided by the wireless interface itself (that is, the wireless interface also can control the actuator module without the need for external information), and the wireless interface can be integrated into a lighting device, thereby enriching the lighting device with the predefined functionality. This can be e.g. an emergency functionality.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one sensor module comprises at least one of a daylight sensor, a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, a passive infrared, PIR, sensor, a light dependent resistor, LDR, a RFID sensor, or an IRID sensor.

This ensures that the wireless interface (e.g. the at least one wireless communication module) can obtain sensor data from one of the listed sensors, based on which the wireless interface (e.g. the at least one wireless communication module) can control other modules, or which the interface can provide to an external device, e.g. by means of the wireless communication module. Each of the listed sensors in particular allows for detecting an emergency condition (e.g. the daylight sensor can determine the outage of a lighting, or the smoke or fire sensor can detect a smoke or fire condition), and signaling the emergency condition to an external device, or to control the actuator module according to the detected emergency condition.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one actuator module comprises an indicator light emitting diode, LED, or a power LED.

Preferably, the indicator LED allows for indicating a status of the wireless interface, e.g. an operating status or battery status.

Preferably, the power LED allows for providing light, thereby implementing a luminaire, in particular an emergency luminaire.

Preferably, the actuator module comprising a power LED in particular allows that the wireless interface may be an emergency lighting device of its own and thus does not have to be connected to a luminaire, since the power LED brings lighting, especially emergency lighting functionality to the wireless interface. In case that the wireless interface comprises an actuator module that has a power LED, the wireless interface may in particular also comprise an actuator module with an indicator LED, which e.g. shows a status regarding a battery, wired or wireless connection, or operation of the wireless interface. Preferably, the wireless interface can be configured to control the actuator module based on one of the above detected emergency conditions. E.g. when a supply voltage sensor (e.g. included in the wireless interface, or the at least one wireless communication module, or the at least one further module, e.g. the sensor module) detects an outage of a supply voltage, the power LED can be turned on. E.g. when the daylight sensor detects an outage of a luminaire or nightfall, the power LED can be turned on. E.g. when the smoke or fire sensors detect smoke or fire, or when the PIR sensor detects motion, the power LED can be turned on, e.g. to indicate an escape route.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one further module comprises a second wireless communication module, and the at least one wireless communication module is further configured to exchange information with the second wireless communication module.

By means of the wireless communication module and the at least one further module that comprises a second wireless communication module, the wireless interface can support various wireless communication standards, since the wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module can not only both support a same wireless transmission standard, but also different standards each.

The second wireless transmission module also supports various wireless communication standards, preferably Bluetooth communication, or near field communication, NFC, or wireless local area network, WLAN, or radio-frequency identification, RFID. The second wireless transmission module may support various types of wireless communication, e.g. mesh networks or point to point communication.

In other words, the second wireless communication module can be used to support a further network protocol, by the wireless interface. The second wireless communication module can e.g. be used for initial configuration of the wireless interface. The second wireless communication module can e.g. be used to route information (i.e. to forward information) between two different protocols, e.g. to receive information by the second wireless communication module that supports a first protocol and send it by means of the at least one wireless communication module that supports a second protocol, or vice versa. The second wireless communication module can be used to support for service tasks like programming, commissioning, pairing or diagnosis.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, each wireless communication module and/or each further module comprises an isolation barrier, wherein the isolation barrier is configured to electrically isolate at least two of said detachably connected modules from each other.

This ensures that the modules are protected (e.g. isolated) from each other, so that a failure, e.g. based on too high currency in one of the modules, cannot propagate through the whole wireless interface. In particular, a wireless communication module can be isolated from another wireless communication module, a further module can be isolated from another further module, and a wireless communication module can be isolated from a further communication module. The isolation barrier can in particular be a safety extra-low voltage (SELV) barrier.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the detachable connection comprises mechanical connection by means of form closure and/or friction closure, and/or the detachable connection comprises electrical connection, preferably for exchange of information between said modules, and/or for power transmission between said modules.

The modules can in particular be regarded as stackable. The detachable connection in particular comprises a standardized mechanical connection, e.g. comparable to building bricks. In other words, a general aspect of the invention is that the mechanical connection between the individual modules of the wireless interface are such that they can be taken apart in a non-destructive fashion.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the wireless interface further comprises at least one termination element, detachably connected to the at least one wireless communication module or the at least one further module.

This ensures that connectors that enable the detachable connection can be protected by the termination element. This also ensures that further functionality can be provided to the wireless interface, by means of the termination element. Particularly, the termination element can be a cap, protection the ends of the wireless interface. The wireless interface can in particular comprise one or two termination elements. In particular, a first termination element can be arranged on one end of the wireless interface, and a second termination element can be arranged at another end of the wireless interface.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the termination element comprises means for electrically connecting the at least one wireless communication module or the at least one further module with an external device, and/or wherein the termination element comprises fastening means.

This ensures that information can be exchanged by the wireless interface with an external device. The information to be exchanged in particular can be the kind of information that is received or transmitted according to any of the above implementation forms of the first aspect or the first aspect as such. The external device can e.g. be a luminaire, a lighting converter or a power supply. The electrical connection can in particular be wire bound. The electrical connection can in particular be implemented by flying leads, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a micro USB connector, or an RJ45 connector.

The fastening means can in particular comprise a clip, screw, sticky pad, bayonet cap, or a magnet connecting means. For example, by having a fastening means on the termination element, the assembled wireless interface can be easily mounted in the case of a luminaire.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the wireless interface further comprises a controller, configured to obtain information regarding resources, in particular communication resources, used by the wireless interface.

In other words, the wireless interface can be self-learning in the sense that intelligence, such as for example a controller, can be provided, which collects all information as to the communication and other resources of the wireless interface. The controller can e.g. be part of the wireless interface, the wireless communication module or the further module. The controller can e.g. be implemented by means of a CPU and memory, by a microcontroller, or by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In particular, the controller typically is part of a head of the wireless interface, e.g. part of the at least one wireless communication module. The controller in particular can determine resources (e.g. communication resources) that are available according to the plugged together module (that is, according to the capabilities provided by all wireless communication modules and all further modules of the wireless interface).

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the controller is further configured to transmit the obtained information to an external device, preferably wherein the external device is connected to the device in a wired fashion.

That is, the wireless interface can optionally communicate resources as well as parameters for using such resources to an external device (e.g. wire-bound to a luminaire or a converter, or wireless to any wireless device).

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the wireless interface further comprises a shroud.

The shroud ensures that the wireless interface may be an emergency lighting device of its own and thus does not have to be connected to a luminaire. In this case, the wireless interface is provided with at least one further module being an actuator module with a power LED bringing lighting, especially emergency lighting functionality to the wireless interface.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one further module comprises a power module, preferably wherein the power module is a power supply unit, or a battery unit, or a power connector.

The power supply unit in particular can be a converter, e.g. for converting AC to low- voltage regulated DC power. The battery unit can in particular include rechargeable batteries. The power connector can in particular be configured to be connectable to a bus to draw power from the bus, such as for example a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) bus, which has a non-zero power level. Since the power module is comprised by the at least one further module, the power module of course can also comprise an isolation barrier, e.g. SELV barrier. A second aspect of the present invention provides an emergency lighting device comprising the wireless interface according to the first aspect or any of its implementation forms. That is the wireless interface can in particular be used for emergency lightings. In that case, the wireless interface typically also can have an indicator LED. Preferably, as the indicator LED should be exposed to the outside, it can be combined with a wireless communication interface, which also can be exposed to the outside. To implement the emergency lighting device, in the used wireless interface, preferably the at least one further module comprises an actuator module with an indicator LED and/or a power LED.

The device according to the second aspect in particular includes all advantages of the device according to the first aspect and its implementation forms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures, in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention in more detail.

FIG. 3 shows another schematic view of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention in more detail.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows another schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows another schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention being a lighting device or emergency lighting device.

FIG. 8 shows another schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a wireless interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of means of detachable connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a wireless interface 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As it is shown in Fig. 1, the wireless interface 100 comprises at least one wireless communication module 101, and at least one further module 102. As it is indicated by the four round connectors on the right-hand side of the at least one wireless communication module 101 and the double arrow, the at least one wireless communication module 101 and the at least one further module 102 can be connected to each other in a detachable manner. In other words, the wireless interface 100 could be a modular control module (e.g. for a luminaire) or in case that an LED is an integral part of the wireless interface 100, the wireless interface 100 could be a modular luminaire concept. Being connected to each other, the wireless communication module 101 provides wireless communication means to the at least one further module 102.

In a specific implementation manner, it is also possible that only a single module (e.g. the wireless communication module 101) is used, e.g. to provide wireless capabilities to general illumination (GI). The single module can have a termination connector with a wire harness to connect the single module to a luminaire converter, via for example Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). For emergency applications, the single module (e.g. the wireless communication 101) generally can be connected to a second module (e.g. the at least one further module 102) which e.g. provides an indicator LED or a power LED, but might not necessarily be electrically linked. The second module can be electrically linked, but might also be only mechanically linked. The flexibility of the wireless interface 100 is that connections of modules comprised by the wireless interface 100 can be mechanical and or electrical.

Two of the connectors can e.g. be for power transmission, while two others of them can be for data-transmission. However, there can be a lower or higher number of connectors. In case that there is a lower number of connectors (e.g. two), these can be used for simultaneous transmission of power and data. Each of the four connectors also allows for mechanical connection, e.g. by means of form and/or friction closure.

Although there is only one wireless communication module 101, and one further module 102 shown in Fig. 1, there can be arbitrary amount of wireless communication modules 101 or further modules 102, each. For example, there can be one wireless communication module 101, and one, two, or three, further modules 102. However, there also can be a larger number of wireless communication modules 101, and a larger number of further modules 102. Each of the further modules 102 can provide a specific function to the wireless communication module 101. To this end, each further module 102 can for example include a sensor module, an actuator module, or a second wireless communication module, each, as it is going to be described below. This allows for flexibly adjusting the wireless interface 100 according to a predefined use case.

In a specific implementation manner, the wireless interface 100 (which can also be called wireless emergency (WE) head, can communicate in a wired fashion inside a luminaire and in a wireless fashion with entities outside the luminaire (e.g. the“outside world”). Typically, sensors of the wireless interface 100 can be used to control the luminaire. Further, additionally or alternatively, information gathered by the wireless interface 100 can be provided back to external entities (e.g. a central management personal computer (PC)) via the wireless fashion.

Fig. 2 shows a wireless interface 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in more detail. The wireless interface 100 of Fig. 2 includes all features and functionality of the wireless interface 100 of Fig. 1. To this end, identical features are labelled with identical reference signs. All features that are going to be described in view of Fig. 2 are optional features of the wireless interface 100.

The wireless interface 100 shown in Fig. 2 comprises two termination elements 201 , which are optional. As it is indicated in Fig. 2 by means of the double arrows, the termination elements 201 can be detachably connected to the wireless communication module 101 or to the further module 102. In particular, one termination element 102 can be connected to the at least one wireless communication module 101, while a second termination element 201 can be connected to the further module 102. Also there are two termination elements 102 shown in Fig. 2, there also can be a lower or higher number of termination elements 102 comprised by the wireless interface 100.

On the left-hand side of Fig. 2, the four round connectors at the right side of the termination element 201 exemplary show, how the detachable connection between a termination element 201 and a module 101; 102 can be implemented, e.g. to allow for exchange of information, or for transmission of power. Two of the connectors can e.g. be for power transmission, while two others of them can be for data-transmission. However, there can be a lower or higher number of connectors. In case that there is a lower number of connectors (e.g. two), these can be used for simultaneous

transmission of power and data.

Fig. 3 shows a wireless interface 100 which comprises three further modules 302. The wireless interface 100 of Fig. 3 includes all features and functionality of the wireless interface 100 of Figs. 1 and 2. To this end, identical features are labelled with identical reference signs. All features that are going to be described in view of Fig. 3 are optional features of the wireless interface 100.

As it is shown in Fig. 3, one of the at least one further modules 102 is a sensor module 301. The sensor module 301 can e.g. be a daylight sensor, a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, a passive infrared, PIR, sensor, a light dependent resistor, LDR, an radio frequency identification, RFID, sensor, or an IRID sensor. Although there is only one sensor module 301 shown in Fig. 2 being one of the further modules 102, there can be an arbitrary number of sensor modules 301 being further modules 102 comprised by the wireless interface 100. As it is further illustrated in Fig. 3, two further modules 102 are actuator modules 302, 303. The first actuator module 302 of Fig. 3 is an indicator LED 302’, while the second actuator modules 303 of Fig. 3 is a power LED 303’.

Although it is not shown in Fig. 3, the wireless interface 100 can also comprise at least one termination element 201, e.g. being detachably connected to the wireless communication module 101 , the sensor module 301 or the actuator module 302, 303. There can in particular be two termination elements 201 or more. In case that there are two termination elements 201, e.g. one can be connected to the sensor module 301 and one can be connected to the actuator module 302, 303.

Fig. 4 shows a wireless interface 100 which in particular combines the features of the wireless interface 100 of Fig. 2 with the features of the wireless interface 100 of Fig. 3. That is, Fig. 4 shows a top view of a wireless interface 100, which comprises a wireless communication module 101, a sensor module 301, a first actuator module 302 and a second actuator modules 303, and additionally two termination elements 201, one of them being attached to the sensor module 301 , the other one of them being attached to the second actuator module 303. The sensor module 301 , the first actuator module 302 and the second actuator module 303 can be regarded as three further modules 102 of the wireless interface 100.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a wireless interface 100, which comprises a wireless communication module 101, a sensor module 301 , a first actuator module 302 and a second actuator module 303. As it is illustrated in Fig. 5, the modules of the wireless interface 100 can also be arranged in a circular shaped manner. In such a case, the detachable connection is implemented by means of connectors being arranged at the contact surfaces of the individual modules of the wireless interface 100. Although it is not illustrated in Fig. 5, the circular shaped wireless interface 100 can also comprise an arbitrary number of termination elements 201 which can also be detachably connected to the respective contact surfaces of visual modules of the wireless is 100. In Fig. 5 the sensor module 301, the first actuator module 302 and the second actuator module 303 can again be regarded as three further modules 102 of the wireless interface 100.

Fig. 6 shows a wireless interface 100 in which the termination elements 201 comprise means 601 for electrical connection, as well as fastening means 602, 603. The wireless interface 100 of Fig. 6 includes all features and functionality of the wireless interface 100 of Figs. 1 to 5. To this end, identical features are labelled with identical reference signs. All features that are going to be described in view of Fig. 6 are optional features of the wireless interface 100.

As it is shown in Fig. 6, a termination element 201 may comprise means 601 for electrically connecting the at least one wireless communication module 101 or the at least one further module 102 with an external device. Further, as also illustrated in Fig. 6, a termination element 201 may also comprise fastening means 602, 603. This can e.g. be a clip 602, and/or a magnet 603. Thereby, the wireless interface 100 can e.g. be mounted to a lighting device or an emergency lighting device, in particular inside a case thereof.

Fig. 7 shows a wireless interface 100 with an outer shroud 701. The wireless interface 100 of Fig. 7 includes all features and functionality of the wireless interface 100 of Figs. 1 to 6. To this end, identical features are labelled with identical reference signs. All features that are going to be described in view of Fig. 7 are optional features of the wireless interface 100.

The outer shroud 701, as shown in Fig. 7, can be mounted to the at least one wireless communication module 101 and/or the at least one further module 102 of the wireless interface 100 directly, or can be mounted by means of at least one termination element 201.

In particular, the outer shroud 701 makes the wireless interface 100 a standalone lighting device or in particular a standalone emergency lighting device. In case that the outer shroud 701 is present, the wireless interface 100 can specifically include a further module 102 that is an actuator module 303 being a power LED 303’.

Fig. 8 shows a wireless interface 100 with a power module 801. The wireless interface 100 of Fig. 8 includes all features and functionality of the wireless interface 100 of Figs. 1 to 7. To this end, identical features are labelled with identical reference signs. All features that are going to be described in view of Fig. 8 are optional features of the wireless interface 100. The power module 801 can e.g. be a power supply unit, a battery unit, or a power connector (which can e.g. be the means 601 for establishing an electrical connection, and is e.g. part of a termination element 201).

The power module 801 being part of the wireless interface 100 is in particular desired in case that the wireless interface 100 is implemented as a standalone lighting device or an emergency lighting device.

Fig. 9 shows, in Fig. 9A, Fig. 9B, and Fig. 9C, an alternative way of establishing the mechanical and/or electrical detachable connection among the modules of the wireless interface 100. Instead of establishing the detachable connection exclusively by means of friction closure, a first module comprises a pin corresponding to an opening of a second module. The pin is sled into the opening by moving the modules into a direction essentially perpendicular to a direction in which the modules cannot be taken apart after form closure was established by means of sliding the pin into the opening.

Although it is not shown in any one of the figures for means of brevity, in any of the above wireless interfaces 100, the at least one further module 102 can comprise a second wireless communication module. The at least one wireless communication module 101 can be further configured to exchange information with the second wireless communication module.

Although it is not shown in any one of the figures for means of brevity, in any of the above wireless interfaces 100, each wireless communication module 101 and/or each further module 102 can comprise an isolation barrier, e.g. SELV barrier, wherein the isolation barrier is configured to electrically isolate at least two of said detachably connected modules 101, 102 from each other.

Although it is not shown in any one of the figures for means of brevity, any of the above wireless interfaces 100 can include a controller, configured to obtain information regarding resources, in particular communication resources, used by the wireless interface 100. The controller can in particular be further configured to transmit the obtained information to an external device, preferably wherein the external device is connected to the device in a wired fashion 601.