JP2018125145A - Radio communication module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication module which can provide a radio communication function to a device having no radio communication function.SOLUTION: A radio communication module is a radio communication module 100 which is attachable to a device (a lighting device 1) having an infrared ray receiving part 40. The radio communication module 100 includes: an infrared ray output part 120 which outputs infrared signals to the infrared ray receiving part 40; a radio receiving part 130 which receives radio signals for operating the device from a radio transmitter (a remote controller 200); a control part 160 which causes the infrared ray output part 120 to output the infrared signals corresponding to the radio signals received by the radio receiving part 130; a holding part 110 which integrally holds the infrared ray output part 120, the radio receiving part 130, and the control part 160; and an attachment part 140 which attaches the holding part 110 to the device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication module.

  In recent years, lighting fixtures having a wireless communication function are known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a ceiling light equipped with a wireless communication device connected to a home energy management system.

JP 2014-150032 A

  However, in reality, a lighting fixture that can be operated by a conventional infrared remote controller does not have a wireless communication function and cannot be connected to a home energy management system. For this reason, it is desired to provide a wireless communication function to a device that can be operated by a conventional infrared remote controller.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a wireless communication module that can provide a wireless communication function even to a device that does not have the wireless communication function.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication module according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication module that can be attached to a device having an infrared light receiving unit, and outputs an infrared signal to the infrared light receiving unit. An output unit, a radio reception unit that receives a radio signal for operating the device from a radio transmitter, a control unit that causes the infrared output unit to output an infrared signal corresponding to the radio signal received by the radio reception unit, A holding unit that integrally holds the infrared output unit, the wireless reception unit, and the control unit; and an attachment unit that attaches the holding unit to the device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the radio | wireless communication module which can provide a radio | wireless communication function also with respect to the apparatus which does not have a radio | wireless communication function can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance by the side of the floor surface of the lighting fixture which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the lighting fixture which concerns on this Embodiment in the state which removed the outer cover. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the radio | wireless communication module which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of the radio | wireless communication module which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the radio | wireless communication module which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state at the time of use of the radio | wireless communication module which concerns on embodiment.

  Below, the radio | wireless communication module which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail using drawing. Each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangements, connection forms, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims showing the highest concept of the present invention are described as optional constituent elements.

  Each figure is a mimetic diagram and is not necessarily illustrated strictly. Therefore, for example, the scales and the like do not necessarily match in each drawing. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the substantially same structure, The overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified. Further, in the following embodiments, expressions using “substantially” such as substantially parallel or substantially vertical are used. For example, substantially parallel means not only that it is completely parallel, but also that it is substantially parallel, i.e. includes a difference of, for example, a few percent. The same applies to expressions using other “abbreviations”.

  In the present specification and drawings, the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis indicate the three axes of the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. In each embodiment, the z-axis direction is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the z-axis (the direction parallel to the xy plane) is the horizontal direction. Note that the positive direction of the z-axis is vertically downward.

(Embodiment)
[lighting equipment]
First, the luminaire 1 will be described as an example of a device to which the wireless communication module 100 (see FIG. 2) according to the embodiment is attached. That is, the lighting fixture 1 does not have a wireless communication function in a state before the wireless communication module 100 is attached.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the floor surface side of the lighting fixture 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luminaire 1 according to the present embodiment with the outer cover 70 removed.

  The lighting fixture 1 shown by FIG.1 and FIG.2 is installed in the construction material of buildings, such as a house, for example. As an example, the lighting fixture 1 is a ceiling light fixed to the ceiling of a building, and illuminates a space inside the building. Specifically, the luminaire 1 is installed on the ceiling by being attached to a hook ceiling body fixed to the ceiling. In addition, the lighting fixture 1 is operated to turn on / off, adjust light, and adjust color based on an infrared ray signal emitted from an infrared remote controller (infrared transmitter: not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting fixture 1 includes a fixture body 10, a light emitting module (light emitting portion: not shown), a light source cover 30, an infrared light receiving portion 40, a light guide plate 50, and a reflecting member 60. And an outer cover 70, a decorative cover 80, and an instrument mounting member 90.

  The instrument body 10 is a housing for supporting the light emitting module. In the present embodiment, the instrument body 10 further supports the light source cover 30, the light guide plate 50, the reflecting member 60, and the decorative cover 80. Further, the outer cover 70 is detachably attached to the instrument main body 10 through the reflecting member 60.

  The instrument body 10 is made of metal and is formed using a metal material. A through hole 15 a is formed in the center of the instrument body 10 in plan view. The through-hole 15a is a hole for exposing an instrument attachment member 90 for attachment to a hooking sealing body provided on the ceiling when the outer cover 70 is removed as shown in FIG. The plan view shape of the through hole 15a is, for example, a racetrack shape that is long in a predetermined direction, but is not limited thereto. Since the fixture mounting member 90 is exposed to the floor side through the through hole 15a, the operation lever for removal provided in the fixture mounting member 90 can be easily operated, and the lighting fixture 1 can be detached from the ceiling surface. .

  In addition, a light emitting module is placed and fixed around the through hole 15 a in the instrument body 10. Moreover, it is the instrument main body 10, Comprising: The infrared rays light-receiving part 40 is arrange | positioned between the light emitting module and the through-hole 15a. The light emitting module and the infrared light receiving unit 40 are covered with a light source cover 30 having translucency. The light source cover 30 transmits light emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements included in the light emitting module. The light transmitted through the light source cover 30 is emitted to the outside of the lighting fixture 1 through at least a part of the light guide plate 50, the reflection member 60, and the outer cover 70.

  The light source cover 30 has a light distribution control function for controlling the light distribution of light emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements, for example. The light source cover 30 transmits an infrared signal emitted from an infrared remote controller or the wireless communication module 100.

  The infrared light receiving unit 40 receives an infrared signal emitted from an infrared remote controller or the wireless communication module 100. ON / OFF of lighting of the light emitting module, light adjustment, color adjustment and the like are controlled by the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 40.

  Further, around the through hole 15 a in the instrument main body 10, there is a portion where the surface of the instrument main body 10 is exposed. The wireless communication module 100 can be attached to this portion.

[Wireless communication module]
Next, the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the wireless communication module 100 includes a holding unit 110, an infrared output unit 120, a wireless reception unit 130, a mounting unit 140, a power supply unit 150, and a control unit 160. ing.

  The holding unit 110 is a housing that integrally holds the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, and the attachment unit 140, and is formed of resin or the like. The holding | maintenance part 110 is a box-shaped body formed in the side view substantially L-shape. In the holding part 110, a part corresponding to the L-shaped long side is referred to as a long side part 111, and a part corresponding to the short side is referred to as a short side part 112. In addition, the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, the rechargeable battery 151 of the power supply unit 150, and the control unit 160 are housed inside the holding unit 110. In addition, a photovoltaic cell 152 of the power supply unit 150 and an attachment unit 140 are provided on the outer surface of the holding unit 110.

  The infrared output unit 120 is an infrared LED that outputs an infrared signal. The tip of the infrared output unit 120 protrudes from one end surface of the long side portion 111 of the holding unit 110. When the wireless communication module 100 is attached to the fixture body 10 of the luminaire 1, the infrared output unit 120 outputs an infrared signal to the infrared receiver 40 of the luminaire 1.

  The wireless receiving unit 130 receives a control signal for controlling the light emitting module by performing wireless communication. The control signal is, for example, a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter by a user operation. The wireless transmitter is a device that outputs a wireless signal for operating the lighting fixture 1, and includes a wireless remote controller 200 (see FIG. 6) or a portable terminal (operation terminal) such as a smartphone.

  Wireless communication is communication using radio waves (that is, excluding visible light and infrared light). The wireless communication module 100 performs wireless communication based on a wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE, or ZigBee (registered trademark), for example. From the viewpoint of power saving, BLE can be used.

  Radio receiving unit 130 receives a radio signal emitted from remote controller 200. The wireless signal includes a turn-on instruction for turning on the light-emitting module, a turn-off instruction for turning off the light-emitting module, or an instruction for selecting a dimming ratio or color temperature (light color) of the light-emitting module.

  The wireless reception unit 130 is disposed in the short side portion 112 of the holding unit 110. For this reason, the wireless receiver 130 is in a state of being erected with respect to the long side portion 111.

  The attachment part 140 is a part for attaching the holding part 110 to the lighting fixture 1. Specifically, the attachment portion 140 is formed in a plate shape by a magnet and is provided on the first main surface 111 a of the long side portion 111 of the holding portion 110.

  The power supply unit 150 is a power supply unit that supplies power to the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, and the control unit 160. Specifically, the power supply unit 150 includes a rechargeable battery 151 and a photovoltaic cell 152. The rechargeable battery 151 is, for example, a dry battery type or a button battery type secondary battery. 3 and 4, a dry battery type rechargeable battery 151 is illustrated. The rechargeable battery 151 is accommodated in the long side part 111 of the holding part 110 in a replaceable manner. The photovoltaic cell 152 is a plate-like solar cell and is attached to the second main surface 111 b of the long side portion 111 of the holding portion 110. Here, the 2nd main surface 111b of the long side part 111 is a main surface on the opposite side to the 1st main surface 111a. That is, the photovoltaic cell 152 is opposed to the attachment portion 140 provided to the first main surface 111 a via the holding portion 110. For this reason, when the attachment part 140 is attached to the instrument main body 10, the photovoltaic cell 152 will be exposed and will be in the state which is easy to receive light. The photovoltaic cell 152 is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 151, and the rechargeable battery 151 is charged with the power generated by the photovoltaic cell 152.

  In the control unit 160, the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, and the power supply unit 150 are electrically connected. Specifically, the control unit 160 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and realizes various functions by reading a program stored in the ROM into the CPU. The ROM stores an infrared signal code corresponding to the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver 130. That is, the control unit 160 reads the infrared signal code corresponding to the wireless signal received by the wireless reception unit 130 from the ROM, and causes the infrared output unit 120 to emit light based on the code. As a result, an infrared signal corresponding to the wireless signal is output from the infrared output unit 120. By such association, the instruction indicated by the wireless signal received by the wireless receiving unit 130 and the instruction indicated by the infrared signal output from the infrared output unit 120 are the same. For example, when the wireless signal indicates a lighting instruction, the infrared signal also indicates a lighting instruction.

[how to use]
Next, a method for using the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment will be described.

  First, when installing the wireless communication module 100, the user removes the outer cover 70 from the fixture body 10 of the lighting fixture 1. And a user makes the attachment part 140 of the radio | wireless communication module 100 contact the exposed part of the instrument main body 10. FIG. Thereby, due to the magnetism of the attachment portion 140, the attachment portion 140 is attracted to the exposed portion of the appliance body 10, and the wireless communication module 100 is fixed to the appliance body 10. In this state, since the short side portion 112 of the holding unit 110 is erected with respect to the instrument body 10, the wireless reception unit 130 in the short side portion 112 is also erected with respect to the instrument body 10. If the wireless reception unit 130 is in this posture, the reception sensitivity can be increased as compared with the case where the wireless reception unit 130 is in a posture lying on the instrument body 10.

  Thereafter, the user attaches the outer cover 70 to the instrument body 10 and completes the installation work of the wireless communication module 100.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a state when the wireless communication module 100 according to the embodiment is in use. In FIG. 6, the outer cover 70 is not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the user operates the wireless remote controller 200, a wireless signal is output from the remote controller 200 (see arrow Y1). The wireless reception unit 130 of the wireless communication module 100 receives a wireless signal from the remote controller 200 and outputs it to the control unit 160. The control unit 160 causes the infrared output unit 120 to output an infrared signal corresponding to the wireless signal received by the wireless reception unit 130 (see arrow Y2).

  In the luminaire 1, the infrared light receiving unit 40 receives the infrared signal emitted from the wireless communication module 100, thereby controlling ON / OFF of lighting of the light emitting module, light adjustment, and color adjustment.

  When the light emitting module is turned on, the photocell 152 of the wireless communication module 100 generates power by receiving light from the light emitting module, and this power is charged by the rechargeable battery 151.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, the wireless communication module according to the present embodiment is a wireless communication module 100 that can be attached to a device (lighting fixture 1) having the infrared light receiving unit 40. The wireless communication module 100 includes an infrared output unit 120 that outputs an infrared signal to the infrared light receiver 40, a wireless receiver 130 that receives a wireless signal for operating the apparatus from a wireless transmitter (remote controller 200), A control unit 160 that outputs an infrared signal corresponding to a radio signal received by the wireless reception unit 130 to the infrared output unit 120, and a holding unit 110 that integrally holds the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, and the control unit 160. And an attachment part 140 for attaching the holding part 110 to the device.

  According to this configuration, the control unit 160 of the wireless communication module 100 causes the infrared output unit 120 to output an infrared signal corresponding to the wireless signal received by the wireless receiving unit 130, so that an instruction corresponding to the wireless signal is transmitted using the infrared signal. It can be transmitted to the luminaire 1. Moreover, since the holding | maintenance part 110 which hold | maintains the infrared output part 120, the radio | wireless receiving part 130, and the control part 160 integrally is attached to the lighting fixture 1 by the attachment part 140, the wireless communication module 100 and the lighting fixture 1 are integrated. be able to. That is, it is possible to give a wireless communication function to the lighting fixture 1 that does not have a wireless communication function.

  Moreover, since the space | interval of both can be made small if the radio | wireless communication module 100 and the lighting fixture 1 are integrated, the communication distance of the radio | wireless communication module 100 can also be made small. Therefore, power saving of the wireless communication module 100 can be achieved.

  Moreover, the attachment part 140 is formed of a magnet.

  According to this configuration, since the attachment portion 140 is formed of a magnet, the wireless communication module 100 can be detachably attached to a metal portion of the lighting fixture 1 (for example, the fixture body 10).

  The wireless communication module 100 further includes a power supply unit 150 that supplies power to the infrared output unit 120, the wireless reception unit 130, and the control unit 160.

  According to this configuration, since the wireless communication module 100 includes the power supply unit 150, the wireless communication module 100 can be driven independently. As described above, since power saving of the wireless communication module 100 is achieved, the power supply unit 150 alone can be driven for a long time.

  Further, the power supply unit 150 includes a photovoltaic cell 152.

  According to this configuration, since the power supply unit 150 includes the photovoltaic cell 152, the photovoltaic cell 152 can generate power with illumination light or natural light. In particular, when the wireless communication module 100 is attached to the lighting fixture 1, the illumination light of the lighting fixture 1 can be used for power generation, which is effective.

(Other)
As mentioned above, although the lighting fixture which concerns on this invention was demonstrated based on said embodiment, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the wireless communication module 100 has only the reception function is illustrated. However, the wireless communication module may also have a transmission function. For example, the wireless communication module transmits the received wireless signal to another lighting fixture or the like. That is, the wireless communication module may relay a wireless signal from the operation terminal (remote controller 200 or smartphone) to another lighting fixture. Thereby, the radio signal transmitted from the operating terminal can be received by a lighting fixture (a lighting fixture not located within the communication range of the operating terminal) remote from the operating terminal. In this case, the wireless communication module includes a wireless transmission / reception unit instead of the wireless reception unit 130. The wireless transmission / reception unit is an example of a reception unit that receives a wireless signal. The wireless transmission / reception unit includes, for example, a chip antenna or a pattern antenna and a control IC (Integrated Circuit), and transmits / receives a wireless signal. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit receives and transmits a radio signal transmitted from an operation terminal or the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the attaching part 140 formed from the magnet was illustrated, as long as the attaching part attaches the holding | maintenance part 110 to the lighting fixture 1, what kind of thing may be sufficient as it. For example, the attachment part which has the engaging part engaged with the inside of the lighting fixture 1 is mentioned. As an engaging part, it is a hook-shaped hook part etc. which are hooked in the inside of the lighting fixture 1, for example. Moreover, it can also be set as the attaching part which consists of an adhesive tape. Further, the attachment portion may be a restraining tool made of, for example, a flexible wire that restrains the holding portion with respect to the lighting fixture 1. That is, in a state before the wireless communication module is attached to the luminaire 1, the holding unit and the restraining tool can be separated.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the electric power supply part 150 was provided with the rechargeable battery 151 and the photovoltaic cell 152 was illustrated and demonstrated, if an electric power supply part is provided with at least one of a rechargeable battery and a photovoltaic cell. Good. Moreover, even if it is not a rechargeable battery and a photovoltaic cell, the electric power supply part may be provided with the primary battery.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the electric power supply part 150 was provided in the radio | wireless communication module 100 was illustrated, the radio | wireless communication module is electrically connected with respect to a lighting fixture, and a radio | wireless communication module is connected from a lighting fixture. It is also possible to supply electric power. In this case, the power supply unit can be omitted from the wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module can be reduced in size.

  In addition, it is realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in each embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention, and forms obtained by making various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art to each embodiment. Forms are also included in the present invention.

1 Lighting equipment (device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Wireless communication module 110 Holding part 120 Infrared output part 130 Wireless receiving part 140 Attachment part 150 Power supply part 152 Photocell 160 Control part 200 Remote control (wireless transmitter)

Claims (4)

A wireless communication module that can be attached to a device having an infrared light receiving unit,
An infrared output unit for outputting an infrared signal to the infrared light receiving unit;
A wireless receiver for receiving a wireless signal for operating the device from a wireless transmitter;
A control unit that causes the infrared output unit to output an infrared signal corresponding to a wireless signal received by the wireless reception unit;
A holding unit that integrally holds the infrared output unit, the wireless reception unit, and the control unit;
A wireless communication module comprising: an attachment portion for attaching the holding portion to the device. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is formed of a magnet. further,
The wireless communication module according to claim 1, further comprising: a power supply unit that supplies power to the infrared output unit, the wireless reception unit, and the control unit. The wireless communication module according to claim 3, wherein the power supply unit includes a photovoltaic cell.

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