Field of Invention

The field of the invention relates to receptacles, in particular for lighting equipment, and in particular receptacles mountable in a luminaire housing, more in particular in an outdoor luminaire housing.

Background

Lighting equipment for roadways, parking lots and other outdoor areas typically use plug twist- lock external modules containing different control blocks and/or sensors, e.g. a light sensor for sensing the light level of ambient light to automatically control the light sources of the lighting equipment. For uniformity throughout the lighting industry, electrical receptacles for receiving such external modules are mostly made according to specific standards such as standards approved by American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI). Such receptacles are typically mounted on the top of a housing or in an opening in the housing of the lighting equipment and are electrically connected to various components of the lighting equipment. The receptacle has a connection interface located on an external side of the housing, so that an external module can be plugged into the receptacle to provide control for the lighting equipment.

An external module typically comprises at least three standard prongs or plug contacts which are inserted into corresponding apertures in the receptacle. After the prongs are completely inserted, the external module is rotated to lock it in place. The external module may comprise further contacts in the form of conductive springs for cooperating with receptacle contacts in the form of conductive plates. Preferably, the receptacle and the external module fulfil the requirements of the ANSI C136.10-2017 standard or of the ANSI C136.41-2013 standard or of the Zhaga Interface Specification Standard (Book 18, Edition 1.0, July 2018, see

https ://www. zhagastandard.org/data/downloadables/ 1 /0/8/ l/book_ 18.pdf) .

Summary

The object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a receptacle socket assembly for equipment, preferably lighting equipment which can be more easily connected to components of the equipment.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a receptacle having a front side and a rear side. The front side is configured for receiving electrical contacts of an external module, preferably an external module of a lighting equipment. The receptacle houses a plurality of receptacle contacts, each receptacle contact being provided, at a front end, with a front contact portion configured for being electrically connected with a contact of the external module, and, at a rear end, with at least one wire receiving contact portion in which at least one wire is fixed. At least one receptacle contact of said plurality of receptacle contacts is provided, at said rear end, with at least two wires, such that the number of wires provided at the rear side is higher than the number of front contact portions.

By providing a receptacle with one or more receptacle contacts which are provided, at a rear end, with at least one wire receiving contact portion in which at least two wires are fixed, the number of wires provided at the rear side is higher than the number of front contact portions. In other words a front contact portion is electrically connected to at least two wires. In that manner the same front contact portion (which is connected to an electrical contact of the external module) can be connected to different components of a luminaire in a convenient manner. Stated differently, embodiments of the invention allow to“duplicate” or“split” a receptacle contact so that it can be connected to multiple components in the luminaire in a convenient manner. Embodiments of the invention may have one or more“duplicated” or“split” receptacle contacts. Note that it is also possible to have a front contact portion which is electrically connected to three or more wires, such that the receptacle contact is“triplicated” or“split” in even more wires. Further, embodiments of the invention will allow increasing the number of connected components in a flexible manner. For example, one or more wires may not be used when installing the luminaire but could be used when performing an upgrade of the luminaire.

The receptacle can be fixed to a housing of the lighting equipment, such that the electrical contacts of an external module can be plugged in the front side to be in electrical contact with the front contact portions, and such that the wires are available inside the housing for being connected to different luminaire components.

The external module may comprise any one or more of the following: a sensor (e.g. a light sensor, a motion sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an environmental sensor, a visibility sensor, an image sensor, a radar sensor, a sound sensor, a voice recorder, a pollutant sensor, a microphone, a detector of C02, NOx, smoke, etc.), communication circuitry, control circuitry, protection circuitry (e.g. an SPD or a fuse), a metering circuitry, an actuator, an energy storage element, etc. More generally the external module may comprise any component that needs to be powered, any component involved in the transmission and/or reception of signals, any component completing the circuitry inside the luminaire head, such as protection circuitry, etc. It is further noted that the external module may be configured to receive a further external module. In other words, a stack of interconnected external modules may be arranged in the receptacle, wherein some functionalities may be included in a first external module and other functionalities in a second external module. In that manner, the system is given an extra degree of modularity.

Also, it is noted that it is possible to provide one or more functionalities in the receptacle itself, such as a sensor, communication circuitry, control circuitry, protection circuitry (e.g. an SPD or a fuse), an actuator, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one receptacle contact of said plurality of receptacle contacts is provided at the rear end with a first wire receiving contact portion in which a first wire is received and with a second wire receiving contact portion at a distance of said first wire receiving contact portion, in which a second wire is received. The first and the second wire receiving portion are located at a distance of each other, and are both connected with the same front contact portion of the receptacle contact. Preferably, the front contact portion and the corresponding first and second wire receiving portions are integrally formed. In that manner, the receptacle contact itself is“duplicated” or“split” so that a first and second wire can be received in the respective first and second wire receiving portions. In that manner, the connection of the receptacle contact to two wires can be realized in an effective manner. Embodiments of the invention may have one or more receptacle contacts which are“duplicated” or“split” in the above described manner.

In further developed embodiments, at least one receptacle contact of said plurality of receptacle contacts may be provided at the rear end with more than two wire receiving portions for receiving more than two wires.

In other embodiments, there may be provided two or more wires in a single wire receiving portion.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of receptacle contacts comprises a plurality of first receptacle contacts and optionally one or more second receptacle contacts.

In an exemplary embodiment, seen in a radial direction around a central axis of the receptacle, the plurality of first receptacle contacts are positioned further away from the central axis than the one or more second receptacle contacts.

In a first variant, the one or more second receptacle contacts may be used for carrying one or more power signals for feeding components of the external module, and the plurality of first receptacle contacts may be used for carrying data or control signals, typically low-current, low- voltage signals. Optionally, one of the plurality of first receptacle contacts and/or one of the one or more second receptacle contacts may be used for carrying both a power signal and a data or control signal.

In another variant, no second receptacle contacts are provided, and the plurality of first receptacle contacts comprises both one or more contacts for carrying a power signal as well as one or more contacts for carrying a data or control signal, wherein optionally one or more contacts may be used for carrying both power and data/control signals. In such an embodiment, typically, at least three first receptacle contacts are provided of which two carry power signals and one a data or control signal. In yet another variant without second receptacle contacts, the plurality of first receptacle contacts comprises only receptacle contacts for carrying power supply signals, e.g. two DC terminal contacts, of which one may be a ground terminal.

In a further variant, the one or more second receptacle contacts may be used for carrying one or more data or control signals, and the plurality of first receptacle contacts may be used for carrying power signals. The one or more second receptacle contacts may then be e.g. a central pin terminal surrounded by a cylindrical contact terminal (e.g. an RCA connector).

The skilled person understands that other combinations are possible, and that one or more receptacle contacts may be used for carrying both a power signal and a control/data signal and/or that control messages may be included in a power signal.

Preferably, at least one receptacle contact of said plurality of first receptacle contacts is duplicated, i.e. is provided with at least two wires, and if one or more second receptacle contacts are present, preferably at least one receptacle contact of said one or more second receptacle contacts is duplicated, i.e. is provided with at least two wires. In that manner, any electrical contacts of the external module that need to be connected to more than one component of the lighting equipment can be connected without the need for additional connection devices inside the lighting equipment. Alternatively, only one or more receptacle contacts of the plurality of first receptacle contacts or only one or more second receptacle contacts are duplicated.

Preferably, the plurality of first receptacle contacts extends substantially along a first cylindrical surface around the central axis. When more than one second receptacle contact is present, the two or more second receptacle contacts may extend substantially along a second cylindrical surface around the central axis. However, it is also possible to have two second receptacle contacts in the form of a central pin and a surrounding cylindrical contact (e.g. an RCA connector) arranged centrally at the front side of the receptacle. Also, if only one second receptacle contact is provided, it may be arranged centrally. Alternatively, it may be arranged externally of the first cylindrical surface, further away of the central axis of the receptacle. If no second receptacles are present, typically at least three first receptacle contacts are present, more preferably four receptacle contacts.

In an exemplary embodiment, the front contact portions of the plurality of first receptacle contacts extend flush with the front side of the receptacle. For example, the front contact portions of the plurality of receptacle contacts fulfil the requirements of the ANSI C136.41-2013 standard or the ANSI C136.10-2017 standard.

In another exemplary embodiment, the front contact portions of the plurality of first receptacle contacts are accessible via apertures in the front side of the receptacle and extend near the front side of the receptacle. For example, the front contact portions of the plurality of receptacle contacts fulfil the requirements of the Zhaga standard mentioned above.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of wires comprises a plurality of first wires and optionally one or more second wires.

In an exemplary embodiment, seen in a radial direction around a central axis of the receptacle, the plurality of first wires is positioned further away from the central axis than the one or more second wires.

In a first variant, the one or more second wires may be used for carrying one or more power signals for feeding components of the external module, and the plurality of first wires may be used for carrying data or control signals, typically low-current, low-voltage signals. Optionally, one of the plurality of first wires and/or one of the one or more second wires may be used for carrying both a power signal and a data or control signal.

In another variant, no second wires are provided, and the plurality of first wires comprises both one or more wires for carrying one or more power signals as well as one or more wires for carrying one or more data or control signals, wherein optionally one or more wires may be used for carrying both power and data/control signals. In such an embodiment, typically, at least three wires are provided of which at least two carry power signals and at least one a data or control signal.

In a further variant, the one or more second wires may be used for carrying one or more data or control signals, and the plurality of first wires may be used for carrying power signals.

The skilled person understands that other combinations are possible, and that one or more receptacle contacts may be used for carrying both a power signal and a control/data signal and/or that control messages may be included in a power signal. According to an exemplary embodiment, the front contact portions of the plurality of receptacle contacts extend at or near the front side of the receptacle.

Preferably, the rear side of the receptacle is provided with a plurality of ducts for receiving the wire receiving contact portions. The plurality of ducts may comprise a plurality of first ducts and optionally one or more second ducts.

In an exemplary embodiment, seen in a radial direction around the central axis of the receptacle, the plurality of first ducts are positioned further away from the central axis than the one or more second ducts. The plurality of first ducts may have a length, seen in an axial direction, which is different from a length of the one or more second ducts. In that manner, a length of the plurality of ducts may be suitably adjusted to the length of the receptacle contacts.

Preferably, the plurality of first ducts extends substantially along a first cylindrical surface around the central axis. When more than one second duct is present, the two or more second ducts may extend substantially along a second cylindrical surface around the central axis. However, it is also possible to have two second ducts in the form of a central duct for a central pin and a surrounding duct for a surrounding contact (e.g. such that an RCA connector is formed). Also, if only one second duct is provided, it may be arranged centrally. Alternatively, it may be arranged externally of the first cylindrical surface, further away of the central axis of the receptacle. If no second ducts are present, typically at least three first ducts are present, more preferably ducts.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the receptacle has a housing comprising a substantially cylindrical front portion at the front side of the receptacle, and a rear portion protruding rearward at the rear side of the substantially cylindrical front portion. In that manner the rear portion may be inserted through an opening of a luminaire housing, whilst the front portion abuts against a wall portion around the opening.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the wire receiving contact portion comprises a first portion clamping a wire end and a second portion clamping a cable sheath end. In that manner the fixation of the cable in the wire receiving contact portion can be very secure. Preferably, the wire receiving contact portions of the plurality of receptacle contacts are configured in that way.

Optionally an alignment recess or protrusion may be provided at the front side of the receptacle, said alignment recess or protrusion being configured for cooperating with an alignment protrusion or recess of the external module. The alignment recess may be a central hole for receiving a central pin of the external module. In another variant, there may be provided an alignment mark on both the receptacle and the external module to allow an operator to align the external module with the receptacle.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the receptacle comprises an RFID tag, preferably at the front side of the receptacle. Including an RFID tag in a receptacle has been described in detail in PCT publication WO2017/133793 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of receptacle contacts comprises at least one receptacle contact for carrying a power signal and/or at least one receptacle contact for carrying a data or control signal and/or at least one receptacle contact for carrying both a power signal and a data or control signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of receptacle contacts comprises at least three receptacle contacts for carrying power signals and/or at least two receptacle contacts for carrying data or control signals. In another exemplary embodiment, the plurality of receptacle contacts comprises one receptacle contact for carrying a power signal, one receptacle contact for carrying both a power and a data/control signal, and/or at least two receptacle contacts for carrying data or control signals.

It is noted that the at least two power signals may comprise DC and/or AC signals. For example, a DC power supply signal may be transferred through the receptacle, wherein there is provided a first DC terminal contact for a positive DC voltage and a second DC terminal contact for a ground connection (wherein optionally the ground connection may also be used as a ground terminal for a data or control signal). Such an embodiment may be conform the Zhaga standard mentioned above. Alternatively or in addition, an AC power supply signal may be transferred through the receptacle, wherein there is provided a first, second and third AC terminal contact for a three-phase AC signal. Such an embodiment may be conform the NEMA standards mentioned above.

In a preferred embodiment, each receptacle contact is an integrally formed contact made of metal, i.e. the receptacle contact is formed as one integral metal body.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a receptacle socket assembly comprising a receptacle according to any one of the embodiments above. The receptacle may be provided at the rear side thereof with a screw-thread, and the receptacle socket assembly may further comprise a nut configured to be screwed on the screw-thread of the receptacle. In that manner the receptacle can be easily fixed in an opening of a housing of a luminaire. Alternatively or additionally, the receptacle can be fixed to the luminaire housing by screws.

Optionally, the receptacle may be provided with a flat portion on the peripheral side between a front side and a rear side to ensure a proper alignment of the socket with respect to the luminaire housing.

Optionally, the receptacle may be configured and/or mounted as described in patent application NL2023425 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference.

Optionally, the receptacle may be mounted such that an angular adjustment of the receptacle relative to the luminaire housing is possible. To that end, there may be provided an annular support member which is inserted between the receptacle and a housing of a luminaire head, and which surrounds an opening in the luminaire housing, such that a rear portion of the receptacle extends through the annular support member making the rear side of the receptacle available from the inner space of the housing of the luminaire head. An interface between the annular support member and the receptacle is configured to allow an angular adjustment of the receptacle with respect to the luminaire housing.

Preferably, the receptacle socket assembly may further comprise a gasket inserted between the nut and the rear side.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a luminaire comprising a housing, a light source arranged in said luminaire housing, electrical components, such as light driver components and/or light control components, arranged in said luminaire housing, and a receptacle according to any one of the previous embodiments. The receptacle is arranged in an opening of the luminaire housing with its rear side facing an inner space of the housing, and the wires of the receptacle are connected to the electrical components inside the luminaire housing.

In embodiments of the invention the luminaire may comprise one or more of the following components, inside or outside of the luminaire housing:

- an energy storage element,

- protection circuitry, such as an electrostatic discharge device ESD or a surge protection device,

- a sensor, such as a sensor sensing environmental data. Examples of a sensor which may be included are a movement sensor, a light sensor, an image sensor, a radar sensor, a sound sensor, a voice recorder, a pollutant sensor, a microphone, a detector of C02, NOx, smoke, etc.

- a metering device,

- power management circuitry preferably configured to manage the provision of power to the light sources of one or more luminaires; examples of power management circuitry comprise e.g. one or more of: a power meter, a fuse, a line protection, a circuit breaker, an electrical connection for multiple power lines, a clock, an astroclock, a power supply module, an PLC, a computer, a communication module, display circuitry, etc.;

- telecommunication and/or networking circuitry for wired and/or wireless communication, which can comprise at least one of: an optical fiber connection, a fiber to copper interface, a fiber patch panel, a modem, a router, a switch, a patch panel, a network video recorder (NVR), a computer;

- audio system management circuitry which can comprise at least one of: an amplifier, a transformer, a media player (connected to network or not), electrical connections for multiple loudspeaker lines, a computer;

- WiFi circuitry, wherein an antenna for receiving WiFi signals may be integrated either in the functional module or in a separate antenna module as in the exemplary embodiment described above;

- charger circuitry, e.g. phone/computer/tablet charger circuitry or vehicle charger circuitry or UAV charger circuitry (such as drone charger circuitry);

- a human interface device (HID) and the associated circuitry, e.g. a camera, a loudspeaker, a button, a display, etc.

- a signaling device, e.g. a light ring capable of performing signaling;

- a mechanical and/or electrical plug-in device, e.g. a universal plug-in module, e.g. a mechanical device to fix a flag, a waste bin, etc.

More in particular any components described in any one of the following patent applications of the applicant may be included in the luminaire: a driver, optionally with one or more pluggable modules as described in PCT publication WO 2017/220690, an optical receiving means with control means as described in WO 2020/053342, a communication device as disclosed in NL application NL2023556 and PCT/EP2020/053326, a surge protection device as disclosed in PCT applications PCT/EP2020/050419, PCT/EP2020/050420, W02020/064487 Al, and more generally any one of the components described in those documents which are included herein by reference.

According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to a use of a receptacle according to any one of the previous embodiments, for transferring at least two power signals and optionally at least one data and/or control signal via the plurality of receptacle contacts between one or more components of an external module and one or more components arranged in a housing of a luminaire. It is noted that at least two receptacle contacts of the plurality of receptacle contacts may be used for carrying power signals and that one or more receptacle contacts may be used for carrying data or control signals, wherein optionally one or more receptacle contacts are used for carrying both a power signal and a data or control signal.

It is noted that the at least two power signals may comprise DC and/or AC signals. For example, a DC power supply signal may be transferred through the receptacle, wherein there is provided a first DC terminal contact for a positive DC voltage and a second DC terminal contact for a ground connection (wherein optionally the ground connection may also be used as a ground terminal for a data or control signal). Such an embodiment may be conform the Zhaga standard mentioned above. Alternatively or in addition, an AC power supply signal may be transferred through the receptacle, wherein there is provided a first, second and third AC terminal contact for a three-phase AC signal. Such an embodiment may be conform the NEMA standards mentioned above.

The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate presently preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments of devices of the present invention. The above and other advantages of the features and objects of the invention will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle socket assembly;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle, seen from a rear side;

Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of the receptacle of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle, seen from a front side;

Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the receptacle of figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic exploded view of the receptacle of figure 4;

Figures 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B are schematic perspective views of embodiments of receptacle contacts for use in a receptacle;

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a receptacle socket assembly mounted in a luminaire housing H and of a external module to be plugged in the receptacle of the receptacle socket assembly;

Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a receptacle; and Figure 11 is a schematic view of a luminaire head comprising a receptacle. Description of embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle socket assembly for e.g. lighting equipment, typically for an outdoor luminaire. The receptacle socket assembly 1000 comprises a receptacle 100, a nut 300 for fixing the receptacle 100 in an opening of a luminaire housing H (not shown in figure 1), and a gasket 400 to be inserted between the receptacle 100 and the nut 300.

By outdoor luminaires, it is meant luminaires which are installed on roads, tunnels, industrial plants, stadiums, airports, harbors, rail stations, campuses, parks, cycle paths, pedestrian paths or in pedestrian zones, for example, and which can be used notably for the lighting of an outdoor area, such as roads and residential areas in the public domain, private parking areas and access roads to private building infrastructures, etc.

Lighting equipment for roadways, parking lots and other outdoor areas typically use plug twist- lock external modules 500 (see figure 9) containing different control blocks and/or sensors (not shown). An external module 500 may comprise e.g. a light sensor for sensing the light level of ambient light to automatically switch light fixtures on at dusk and off at dawn. More generally the external module may comprise any one of the following: a sensor (e.g. a light sensor, a motion sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an environmental sensor, a visibility sensor, an image sensor, a radar sensor, a sound sensor, a voice recorder, a pollutant sensor, a microphone, a detector of C02, NOx, smoke etc.), communication circuitry, control circuitry, protection circuitry (e.g. an SPD or a fuse), metering circuitry, an actuator, an energy storage element, etc. For uniformity throughout the lighting industry, electrical receptacles 100 for receiving such external modules 500 are mostly made according to specific standards such as standards approved by American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI). Such receptacles 100 are typically mounted on the top of a luminaire housing FI (see figure 9) of the lighting equipment and are electrically connected to various components (not shown) of the lighting equipment through wires. An external module 500 is plugged into a receptacle 100 to provide e.g. control for the lighting equipment.

The external module 500 typically comprises three standard prongs 520 (see figure 9, also called plug contacts or simply contacts) which are inserted into corresponding apertures 160 in the receptacle 100. After the prongs 520 are completely inserted, the external module 500 is rotated to lock it in place. When locked in place, the prongs 520 contact the receptacle contacts 120a-c, see also figure 4 which will be discussed in detail below. The external module 500 may comprise further contacts 510 in the form of conductive springs for cooperating with receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d of receptacle 100 in the form of conductive plates, see also figure 4 which will be discussed in detail below. Preferably, the receptacle 100 and the external module 500 fulfil the requirements of the ANSI C136.10-2017 standard or the ANSI C136.41-2013 standard.

The receptacle 100 has a front side 101 and a rear side 102. The front side 101 is configured for receiving contacts of the pluggable external module (not shown). An RFID tag may be provided at or near the front side 101, as indicated with arrow 199 in figure 1. The receptacle 100 is shown in figures 1-6. As shown in figures 4 and 5, the receptacle 100 houses a plurality of receptacle contacts l lOa-d, 120a-c. Each receptacle contact l lOa-d, 120a-c is provided, at a front end, with a front contact portion 11 la-d, 121a-c configured for being electrically connected with a contact of an external module, see figure 5 which shows the front side 101 of the receptacle 100. Each receptacle contact 1 lOa-d, 120a-c is provided, at a rear end, with a wire receiving contact portion 112a-d, 112a’, 122a-c, 122a’ fixing a wire end of a wire 113a-d, 113a’, 123a-c, 123a’ to be connected to the lighting equipment. At least one receptacle contact 110a, 120a of said plurality of receptacle contacts is provided, at said rear end, with at least two wires 113a, 113a’; 123a, 123a’, such that the number of wires provided at the rear side is higher than the number of front contact portions.

Preferably, the plurality of receptacle contacts l lOa-d, 120a-c comprises at least two receptacle contacts for carrying power signals and/or one or more receptacle contacts for carrying data or control signals and/or one or more receptacle contacts for carrying both power signals and data or control signals. In the illustrates embodiment receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d may be for carrying data or control signals and receptacle contacts 120a-c may be for carrying power signals.

The plurality of receptacle contacts l lOa-d, 120a-c comprises a plurality of first receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d and a plurality of second receptacle contacts 120a-c. As is best visible in figures 4 and 5, seen in a radial direction around a central axis A of the receptacle 100, the plurality of first receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d are positioned further away from the central axis than the plurality of second receptacle contacts 120a-c. The plurality of first receptacle contacts l lOa-d extends in an axial direction, substantially along a first (virtual) cylindrical surface around the central axis A, and the plurality of second receptacle contacts 120a-c extends in an axial direction, substantially along a second (virtual) cylindrical surface around the central axis A, said second cylindrical surface having a smaller diameter than said first cylindrical surface. The front contact portions 11 la-d of the plurality of first receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d extend flush with the front side 101 of the receptacle 100. The plurality of first receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d is shown in detail in figures 8 A and 8B. Each first receptacle contacts 1 lOa-d has a front contact portion 11 la-d in the form of a plate intended to extend flush with the front side 101 of the receptacle 100, a rear wire receiving portion 112a-d,

112a’ intended to extend substantially in the axial direction A of the receptacle, and a connection portion 115a-d connecting the front contact portion 11 la-d with the rear wire receiving portion 112a-d, 112a’. In the illustrated embodiment one front contact portion 11 la is provided with two rear wire receiving portions 112a, 112a’ . The plurality of second receptacle contacts 120a-c is shown in detail in figures 7A and 7B. Each first receptacle contact 120a-c has a front contact portion 121a-c with two flexible lips 125a-c, 126a-c for receiving a contact prong of a external module, a rear wire receiving portion 122a-c, 122a’ intended to extend substantially in the axial direction A of the receptacle 100, and a connection portion 127a-c connecting the front contact portion 121a-c with the rear wire receiving portion 122a-c, 122a’. The front contact portions 111a- d, 121a-c of the plurality of receptacle contacts l lOa-d, 120a-c extend at or near the front side 101 of the receptacle 100. In other words, the receptacle contact 110a has a split or duplicated rear wire receiving portion comprising a first wire receiving portion 112a and a second wire receiving portion 112a’. Similarly, the receptacle contact 120a has a split or duplicated rear wire receiving portion comprising a first wire receiving portion 122a and a second wire receiving portion 122a’. The skilled person understands that the receptacle contacts 110a, 120a may also be provided with more than two wire receiving portions if it is desirable to receive more than two wires per receptacle contact. Preferably, the wire receiving portions 112a-d, 112a’, 122a-c, 122a’ comprise a first portion (the upper wings in figures 8A and 8B) clamping a wire end and a second portion (the lower wings in figures 8A and 8B) clamping a cable sheath end. In that manner the fixation of the cable in the wire receiving contact portion 112a-d, 112a’, 122a-c, 122a’ can be very secure.

As shown in figure 2, wherein the rear side of the receptacle 100 is provided with a plurality of ducts 130a-d, 130a’, 140a-c, 140a’ for receiving the wire receiving contact portions 112a-d, 112a’, 122a-d, 122a’. The plurality of ducts comprises a plurality of first ducts 130a-d, 130a’ and a plurality of second ducts 140a-c, 140a’, wherein, seen in a radial direction around the central axis of the receptacle, the plurality of first ducts 130a-d, 130a’ are positioned further away from the central axis than the plurality of second ducts 140a-c, 140a’. The plurality of first ducts 130a-d, 130a’ has a length, seen in an axial direction, which is lower than a length of the plurality of second ducts 140a-c, 140a’. In other embodiments, the plurality of first ducts may have a length, seen in an axial direction, which is higher than a length of the plurality of second ducts. As can be seen in figure 2, the plurality of second ducts 140a-c, 140a’ may protrude outwardly at the rear side 102 of the receptacle 100 The receptacle 100 may comprise a substantially cylindrical front portion 181 at the front side 101 of the receptacle 100, and a substantially cylindrical rear portion 182 at the rear side 102 of the receptacle 100. The front portion 181 has larger dimensions than the rear portion 182. The rear portion 182 is intended to be arranged through an opening in a housing of a luminaire, whilst the front portion 181 abuts against a wall of the luminaire housing. The substantially cylindrical rear portion 182 may be provided with a screw thread 170 for cooperating with a corresponding screw- thread 370 of the nut 300. As shown in figure 1 , the nut 300 may be provided with a ribbed surface or a surface with a certain surface roughness, said surface being intended for being in contact with an inner wall of the luminaire housing. This will allow obtaining an improved fixation of the receptacle 100 in an opening of the luminaire housing H. Although not shown, it is noted that the receptacle 100 may also be fixed to the luminaire housing using screws. To that end, the front portion 181 of the receptacle 100 may be provided with a number of through-holes for screws, e.g. two through-holes as shown in figures 1, 5. The ducts 140a-c may extend through the substantially cylindrical front portion 181 and the substantially cylindrical rear portion 182. Optionally, the receptacle 100 may be mounted such that an angular adjustment of the receptacle relative to the luminaire housing is possible. To that end, there may be provided an annular support member (not shown) which is inserted between the receptacle 100 and a housing of a luminaire head, and which surrounds an opening in the luminaire housing, such that a rear portion of the receptacle 100 extends through the annular support member making the rear side 102 of the receptacle available from the inner space of the luminaire housing of the luminaire head. An interface between the annular support member and the receptacle is then configured to allow an angular adjustment of the receptacle 100 around axis A with respect to the luminaire housing.

Optionally, the receptacle 100 may be provided with a flat portion on the peripheral side between a front side and a rear side to ensure a proper alignment of the socket with respect to the luminaire housing, and for some applications also a desired orientation with respect to the road.

More specifically, the receptacle 100 may be configured and/or mounted as described in patent application NL2023425 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference. More in particular the receptacle 100 may have a peripheral side between a front side and a rear side, with at least one peripheral body arranged around the peripheral side of the receptacle and coupled in such a manner to a wall of the luminaire housing that the at least one peripheral body is non- rotatable relative to the wall. The at least one peripheral body and the peripheral side of the receptacle are coupled such that the receptacle is non-rotatable relative to the at least one peripheral body. In that way, any rotation of the receptacle during installation of an external module and/or when the nut is tightened can be limited or avoided.

The receptacle 100 may be formed in one or in two or more parts. As shown in figure 6, the receptacle 100 may comprise a central body portion 100a and a flange portion 100b which are coupled to each other. To fix the central body portion 100a to the flange portion 100b, the central body portion 100a may be provided with a central hole 196, and the flange portion 100b may be provided with a screw receiving portion 195, such that a screw can extend through the central hole 196 into the screw receiving portion 195 to fix the central body portion 100a to the flange portion 100b.

Figure 10 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a receptacle 100 having a front side 101 and a rear side 102. The receptacle 100 may be in accordance with the Zhaga standard (see LEX-R in book 18, Edition 1.0, July 2018). The front side 101 is configured for receiving electrical contacts of an external module (not shown) of a lighting equipment. The external module may also be in accordance with the Zhaga standard (see LEX-M in book 18, Edition 1.0, July 2018). The rear side 102 is intended for being electrically connected to components of the lighting equipment, such as a driver, a controller, a sensor, a metering device, an energy storage device, an actuator, protection circuitry, such as ESD, SPD, etc. (see also the list included above in the summary). The receptacle 100 houses a plurality of receptacle contacts 210a-d (shown in a schematic manner in figure 10) in apertures 160a-d arranged in the front side 101. Each receptacle contact 210a-d is provided, at a front end, with a front contact portion configured for being electrically connected with a contact of the external module, e.g. a prong similar to the prong 520 of figure 9, and, at a rear end, with at least one wire receiving contact portion in which at least one wire 123a, 123a’, 123b, 123c, 123d, 123d’ is fixed. The front contact portions of the plurality of receptacle contacts 210a-d extend near the front side 101 of the receptacle 100. The receptacle contacts 210a and 210c may be similar to the receptacle contacts of figure 7 A allowing for two wires to be fixed in the wire receiving portions. However, the receptacle contacts 210a and 210c may also have a different shape and/or may allow fixing more than two wires. The receptacle contacts 210b and 210d may be similar to the receptacle contacts of figure 7A or may be different. Thus, the receptacle contacts 210a and 210c are each provided, at the rear end, with two wires 123a, 123a’ and 123d, 123d’, such that the number of wires provided at the rear side 102 is six which is higher than the number of front contact portions which is four. It is noted that according to other variants, only one of the receptacle contact 210a-d or more than two of the receptacle contacts 210a-d could be split for receiving two, three or more wires, e.g. could be duplicated or triplicated. The plurality of receptacle contacts 210a-d extends substantially along a first cylindrical surface around a central axis of the receptacle. The front side 101 of the receptacle 100 may be provided with a central recess 165 configured for receiving a central pin of the external module, preferably in accordance with the above mentioned Zhaga standard.

The rear side 102 of the receptacle 100 may be provided with a plurality of ducts (not visible in figure 10) for receiving the wire receiving contact portions, in a similar manner as has been described above for the other embodiments. Optionally, the receptacle 100 comprises an RFID tag (not shown in figure 10), preferably at the front side 101 of the receptacle 100. Also other components may be included in the receptacle 100, such as wireless communication means, sensor means, an antenna, protection circuitry, etc.

The receptacle 100 has a housing comprising a substantially cylindrical front portion 181 at the front side 101 of the receptacle 100, and a rear portion 182 protruding rearward at a rear side of the cylindrical front portion 181. The rear portion 182 is provided at the rear side thereof with a screw- thread 170. The receptacle socket assembly may further comprise a nut (not shown in figure 10) configured to be screwed on the screw-thread 170. The substantially cylindrical front portion 181 may comprise a first substantially cylindrical front portion 181a having a first diameter and a second substantially cylindrical front portion 181b having a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter. A peripheral surface of the first substantially cylindrical front portion 181a may be provided with recesses 185 adapted to cooperate with notches of the external module in order to lock an external module in the receptacle.

Preferably, the plurality of receptacle contacts 210a-d comprises: at least one receptacle contact for carrying power signals, and/or at least one receptacle contact for carrying data or control signals, and/or at least one receptacle contacts for carrying a power signal and a data or control signal. For example, contact 210b may be a DC power supply (e.g. 24 V), contact 210c may be a positive pole for a dimming protocol (e.g. DALI), contact 210a may be a general digital I/O (e.g. greater than 7 V), and contact 210d may be at the same time a negative pole for the dimming protocol, a ground for the power supply, a ground for the general digital I/O.

Figure 11 illustrates a luminaire head with a housing H in which electrical components, such as a driver 710 and a PCB 720 with LEDs, are arranged. The luminaire housing H has an opening O, in which the receptacle 100 is arranged with its rear side 102 facing an inner space of the luminaire housing H. The wires W (for reasons of simplicity only one line is drawn, but this line represents more than one wire) of the receptacle 100 are connected to the electrical components. As shown, the luminaire housing H may be configured to be attached to a pole P. Figure 11 shows a so-called “side -entry” luminaire of a luminaire, but the skilled person understand that embodiments of the invention are equally applicable to other types of luminaire such as so called“post-top” luminaires where the pole extends below the luminaire housing or modular luminaires comprising a plurality of pole modules mounted one above the other.

Whilst the principles of the invention have been set out above in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is merely made by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of protection which is determined by the appended claims.