JP7828669B2 - Remote control devices and lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a remote control device and lighting fixture for general residential use.

In typical homes, lighting fixtures such as ceiling lights are widely used. When installing these lighting fixtures to the ceiling (mounting area), using a power supply unit and a lighting mounting adapter allows for easy installation. The lighting mounting adapter is mechanically and electrically connected to the power supply unit (a hook-type ceiling body) that receives household AC power. It holds the lighting fixture body and supplies AC power to the fixture body via the adapter.

The power supply unit, such as a hook-type ceiling socket used in lighting fixtures like ceiling lights, is a dedicated outlet for the lighting fixture. Therefore, efficient utilization of AC power has been proposed, such as branching a portion of the AC power supplied from the power supply unit to other lighting fixtures (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-54122

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-16410

Patent Document 1 describes a lighting device equipped with a ceiling hook body (power supply unit) and a lighting fixture adapter (lighting mounting adapter). To add an indirect lighting function, a lighting device with an indirect lighting mechanism is added between the lighting device and the lighting fixture adapter, and this lighting device is equipped with a power supply unit. The lighting device with the indirect lighting mechanism is located in the middle section of the overall lighting device, and the power supply unit is added to supply power to the lighting devices located in the lower section. However, this lighting device lacks a remote controller (remote control) function in the lighting mounting adapter for sending and receiving control signals such as turning the lighting fixture on/off and dimming. Therefore, it has the problem of not being able to simplify the lighting device.

Furthermore, while Patent Document 2 describes a lighting fixture that uses a lighting fixture mounting adapter on the power supply unit (hanging ceiling socket), it has the drawback of lacking versatility because it incorporates an infrared signal receiving device within the lighting fixture body.

Therefore, the present invention provides a remote control device and lighting fixture that allow for easy operation of a lighting fixture and its surrounding external devices, such as smart home appliances and other household electrical appliances (hereinafter also referred to as "home appliances"), by transmitting signals from a remote controller as infrared signals from an infrared signal transmitting device provided in the lighting fixture adapter.

To achieve the above objective, the remote control device according to the first aspect of the present invention is:
A remote control device having a housing,
The aforementioned enclosure is
A power supply unit installed on the mounting part and a hook bracket that can be attached detachably,
An AC power output cable connected to the aforementioned hook fitting and extending from the bottom plate of the housing,
A DC power supply device that connects to the aforementioned AC power output cable and converts the AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,
An infrared signal transmitting device that connects to the aforementioned DC power supply and receives signals output from the remote controller and transmits infrared signals to external equipment and the lighting fixture itself,
A retaining member that detachably holds the main body of the lighting fixture,
Equipped with,
The remote controller is used to control the external device and the lighting fixture itself.

To achieve the above objective, the remote control device according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
A remote control device having a lighting mounting adapter and an infrared signal transmission box,
The aforementioned lighting mounting adapter is
A power supply unit installed on the mounting part and a hook bracket that can be attached detachably,
An AC power output cable that connects to the aforementioned hook fitting and extends from the bottom plate of the lighting mounting adapter,
A DC power supply device that connects to the aforementioned AC power output cable and converts the AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,
A DC power output cable that is electrically connected to the aforementioned DC power supply unit,
A DC power output terminal is attached to the base plate of the aforementioned lighting mounting adapter and electrically connected to the DC power output cable,
It has a retaining member that detachably holds the lighting fixture body,
The infrared signal transmission box is
A DC power input terminal is connected to the aforementioned DC power output terminal and receives DC power,
An infrared signal transmitting device connected to the DC power input terminal receives a signal output from the remote controller and transmits an infrared signal to an external device and the lighting fixture body,
Equipped with,
The remote controller is used to control the external device and the lighting fixture itself.

To achieve the above objective, the lighting fixture according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a remote control device according to the first or second aspect, the lighting fixture body, a lighting cover that covers the lower surface of the lighting fixture body, and the remote controller that operates the lighting fixture body.

According to this invention, an infrared signal transmitter is installed near the lighting mounting adapter. The transmitter receives a transmission signal from a remote controller and transmits it as an infrared signal. This signal is then received and processed by an infrared receiver on an external device or lighting fixture located in the room. This allows for reliable control of external devices and lighting fixtures that can only be operated with infrared signals, using a simple device and methods other than infrared signals. The infrared signal transmitter located on the lighting mounting adapter is positioned near the ceiling, enabling infrared signals to reach every corner of the room. Therefore, external devices placed in the room can be easily controlled using transmission signals from the remote controller.

(A) is a schematic perspective view of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture including the remote control device according to Embodiment 1. (A) is a schematic perspective view of the remote control device according to Embodiment 2, and (B) is a schematic perspective view of a modified example of the remote control device for lighting fixtures according to Embodiment 2. This is a schematic perspective view of the remote control device according to Embodiment 3. This is a schematic perspective view of the remote control device according to Embodiment 4. (A) is a schematic perspective view of a lighting fixture using a typical lighting mounting adapter. (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture using a typical lighting mounting adapter. This is a schematic block diagram of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1.

To facilitate understanding of the present invention, examples of general lighting fixtures will be described with reference to Figures 5(A) and (B). Figure 5(A) is a schematic perspective view of a lighting fixture using a general lighting mounting adapter shown in Patent Document 2, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture using a lighting mounting adapter.
In typical residential homes, a power supply unit 1, also known as a hook ceiling rosette, hook ceiling body, hook ceiling, or hook rosette, is installed on the ceiling (mounting area) for attaching ceiling lights and the like. As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), a lighting fixture is attached to the power supply unit 1 installed on the ceiling (mounting area) 18 inside the house.

The lighting fixture 100 consists of a lighting mounting adapter 10, a lighting fixture body 80, and a lighting cover 90. Furthermore, a remote controller 91 is provided as an accessory to operate the lighting fixture 100, such as turning it on and off.
In addition, AC power is supplied to ordinary residential homes from the residential power grid. The lighting mounting adapter 10 is attached to the power supply unit 1 installed on the ceiling (mounting part) 18, thereby mechanically and electrically connecting the power supply unit 1 and the lighting mounting adapter 10. Through the connection between the power supply unit 1 and the lighting mounting adapter 10, AC power is supplied to the lighting mounting adapter 10 from the power lines within the house through the power supply unit 1.

Here, a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely specific examples of the present invention; therefore, the arrangement of components, functions, numerical values, etc., described in the embodiments are merely examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, the release lever 17, which is part of the retaining member that constitutes the lighting mounting adapter 10, is omitted in Figures 2 to 4 and 5(B) to avoid making the drawings too complex (the claw 16 and the release lever 17 together are referred to as the retaining member).

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a remote control device and the like according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the lighting mounting adapter 10 will be described. Figure 1(A) shows a schematic perspective view of the lighting mounting adapter 10, and Figure 1(B) shows a schematic cross-sectional view. Figures 1(A) and (B) illustrate the lighting mounting adapter 10 as a remote control device. The lighting mounting adapter 10 includes a DC power supply 20, an infrared signal transmitter 22 (signal receiver 21, signal decoder 24, infrared signal transmitter 23), etc. (see Figure 6). The infrared transmitter 22 is, for example, a rectangular box-shaped container and is made of polycarbonate resin, which is a material that transmits infrared rays. In addition to polycarbonate resin, other suitable materials that transmit infrared rays, such as acrylic resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene resin, and polyethylene terephthalate resin, can be selected as the resin that makes up the container. Note that in Figures 1 and 5(B), components such as the DC power supply 20, infrared signal transmitter 22, hook fitting 15, control unit 83, and light receiving unit 85 are drawn as schematic cross-sectional views, and the internal structure and wiring between devices are omitted.

The lighting mounting adapter 10 has a top plate 12, a bottom plate 13, and side plates 14, and is generally cylindrical in shape. The top plate 12 and bottom plate 13 are roughly circular flat plates, and a pair of hook-shaped hook fittings 15 are fixed to the top of the top plate 12. The hook fittings 15 are fixed in place by fitting their hook-shaped parts into two arc-shaped locking grooves (hook fitting locking grooves) drilled in the power supply unit 1 installed in the ceiling (mounting section) 18. Thus, the lighting mounting adapter 10 is locked to the power supply unit 1, and the hook-shaped parts of the hook fittings 15 and the output terminals in the power supply unit 1 become electrically conductive, supplying AC power to the lighting mounting adapter 10.

Furthermore, the lighting mounting adapter 10 has a pair of claws (retaining members) 16 that protrude from a notched hole (not shown) drilled in the side plate 14. The claws 16 are biased outward from the side plate 14 of the lighting mounting adapter 10.

Now, referring to Figure 5, we will explain how to attach the lighting fixture body 80 to the lighting mounting adapter 10.
First, the lighting mounting adapter 10 is attached to the power supply unit 1. Next, the top plate 81 of the lighting fixture body 80 is held, and the opening 84 provided in the top plate 81 is inserted into the lighting mounting adapter 10. Next, the top plate 81 is lifted so as to push up the claws 16 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 from below, and the claws 16 are pushed into the side plate 14 by the circumferential edge of the opening 84 provided in the top plate 81 of the lighting fixture body 80. If the top plate 81 is lifted in this state, the edge of the opening 84 of the top plate 81 will move over the claws 16, and the claws 16 will be positioned below the top plate 81. Since the claws 16 are biased outward from the side plate 14, they will protrude outward from the side plate 14 again, supporting the top plate 81 from below.

To remove the top plate 81 from the lighting mounting adapter 10, use the two release levers 17 provided on the bottom plate 13 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. By simultaneously placing your hands on the two release levers 17 and moving them inward, the claws 16 retract into the side plate 14, releasing the lock on the top plate 81, and the top plate 81 can be removed from the lighting mounting adapter 10.
Furthermore, the shape of the lighting mounting adapter 10 is not limited to a roughly cylindrical shape; various shapes such as a rectangular prism, triangular prism, or octagonal prism can be used.
Furthermore, to remove the lighting mounting adapter 10 from the power supply unit 1, simply press the release button 19 provided on the side plate 14 of the lighting mounting adapter and rotate the lighting mounting adapter 10 horizontally.

In Embodiment 1, the lighting mounting adapter 10 includes an AC power output cable 40 that outputs AC power supplied from the power supply unit 1 to the outside of the housing 11. An AC power output terminal 41 is attached to the tip of the AC power output cable 40. The AC power output terminal 41 connects to an input terminal (not shown) provided on the lighting fixture body 80, supplying AC power to the lighting fixture body 80. The AC power output cable 40 may be branched to provide multiple AC power output terminals 41. Furthermore, the AC power output terminal 41 may be installed on the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11. In that case, the tip of the AC power output terminal 41 should be flush with the bottom surface.

Furthermore, the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 houses a DC power supply unit 20 that receives AC power and an infrared signal transmitter 22. The AC power input to the DC power supply unit 20 is converted to DC power and supplied to the infrared signal transmitter 22.

Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1. The signal transmitted from the remote controller 91 is received by the signal receiving unit 21 of the infrared signal transmitting device 22. The signal decoding unit 24 decodes the signal transmitted from the remote controller 91, and infrared signals are transmitted from the infrared signal transmitting units 23, 34, and 76 to the infrared signal receiving device 86, including the light receiving unit 85 of the lighting fixture body 80, and to external devices such as home appliances like TVs and air conditioners. The transmitted control signals control the lighting fixture 100 (on/off, dimming, color adjustment, etc.) as well as the ON/OFF functions of home appliances such as TVs and air conditioners. The home appliances to be controlled include, but are not limited to, TVs, Blu-ray recorders, air conditioners, electric fans, and desk lamps; any external device equipped with an infrared receiving device that is controlled by infrared signals is acceptable.

Here, with reference to Figures 5(A) and (B), the configuration of a typical lighting fixture 100 will be described.

The lighting fixture 100 is attached to the power supply unit 1 using a lighting mounting adapter 10. The top plate 81 of the lighting fixture body 80 is a flat plate formed from metal, but the top plate 81 is not limited to metal and may be made of synthetic resin. The top plate 81 has an opening 84 in the center and is ring-shaped overall. As described above, the claws 16 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 act to support the area around the opening 84 of the top plate 81 from below. In this way, the lighting fixture body 80, including the top plate 81, is held by the claws 16 so as not to fall off the lighting mounting adapter 10. A light source 82 having a light-emitting element such as an LED and its mounting substrate (not shown) and a control unit 83 are arranged at the bottom of the top plate 81. Daylight-colored LEDs and incandescent-colored LEDs are arranged alternately on the mounting substrate. The control unit 83 is equipped with an infrared signal receiving device 86 with a light-receiving unit 85, a drive circuit (not shown), etc. The components constituting the light source 82, the control unit 83, the infrared signal receiving device 86 equipped with a light receiving unit 85, the lighting fixture body 80, the drive circuit, etc., are connected by wiring (not shown).
The surface of the top plate 81 on which the light source 82 is positioned is painted white so as to efficiently reflect the light from the light source 82 downwards.

The lighting fixture 100 is remotely controlled by a remote controller 91 linked to an infrared signal receiving device 86 equipped with a light receiving unit 85. The remote controller 91 outputs infrared signals indicating the content of the operation performed by the user (control content for how to control the lighting fixture 100). The infrared signals can be, for example, signals indicating an IR (Infrared) code indicating the control content. The remote controller 91 outputs an infrared signal indicating the control content of the lighting fixture 100, for example, by outputting an infrared signal indicating an IR code corresponding to the operation content.

The light-receiving unit 85, located on the lighting fixture body 80, receives infrared signals from the remote controller 91. The light-receiving unit 85 is composed of a light-receiving element (e.g., an infrared sensor) capable of receiving infrared signals. The infrared signal receiving device 86, equipped with the light-receiving unit 85, converts the received infrared signals into electrical signals and supplies them to a drive circuit (not shown). The drive circuit controls the light source 82 according to the electrical signals output from the infrared signal receiving device 86 (e.g., the control content indicated by the infrared signal) to perform functions such as turning the light on/off, dimming, and adjusting the color temperature. In other words, the light-receiving unit 85 functions as a detection unit that detects infrared signals transmitted from the remote controller 91.

These infrared signal receiving device 86 equipped with light receiving unit 85, control unit 83, etc., enable remote control of the lighting fixture 100 by the remote controller 91. For example, when a user performs an operation to turn on the lighting fixture 100 using the remote controller 91, an infrared signal indicating that it is turned on is supplied to the lighting fixture 100, the control unit 83 receives the infrared signal with the light receiving unit 85, and turns on the light source 82 based on the infrared signal. For example, when a user performs an operation to turn off the lighting fixture 100 using the remote controller 91, an infrared signal indicating that it is turned off is output to the lighting fixture body 80, and the light source 82 is turned off based on the infrared signal.
Similarly, the infrared signal receiving device 86 equipped with a light receiving unit 85, the control unit 83, etc. enable remote control of external devices equipped with infrared receiving devices, such as home appliances like TVs 110 and air conditioners 120, by the remote controller 91.

The control unit 83 receives AC power from the power supply unit 1 through the lighting mounting adapter 10, and the drive circuit supplies this power to the light source 82. The control unit 83 controls the amount of power supplied to the light source 82 (specifically, the amount of current flowing through the light source 82) according to an infrared signal, thereby controlling the light source 82. The drive circuit illuminates the light source 82 by supplying power to it. Furthermore, the drive circuit turns off the light source 82 by stopping the power supply to it. The drive circuit performs dimming by changing the amount of power supplied to the light source 82 (specifically, the amount of current), thereby changing the brightness of the light source 82. The color temperature of the lighting fixture 100 is then adjusted by changing the illumination ratio of the daylight-colored LEDs and incandescent-colored LEDs arranged in the light source 82. The control unit 83 is positioned and shaped in such a way that it does not cast shadows due to the light from the light source 82. In this way, the control unit 83 functions as a light source control unit that controls the light source 82.

The remote controller 91 may include a receiving device that uses signals such as infrared signals, Wi-Fi® signals, Bluetooth® signals, and mobile communication signals (for example, signals from third-generation mobile communication (3G), fifth-generation mobile communication (5G), LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication, and LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area) communication) as signals, and a transmitting device that transmits such signals.

The infrared signal transmitter 22 installed on the lighting mounting adapter 10, etc., may include a signal receiving unit 21 and a signal decoding unit 24 that receive and decode signals other than infrared signals, such as Wi-Fi® signals, Bluetooth® signals, and mobile communication signals (for example, signals from third-generation mobile communication (3G), fifth-generation mobile communication (5G), LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication, LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area) communication, etc.).

Furthermore, the infrared signal transmitter 22 may, for example, receive and decode signals transmitted via PLC (Power Line Communication), wired LAN, or Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), which depend on the in-house wiring connected to the remote controller 91 or the lighting fixture mounting adapter 10, and transmit infrared signals from the infrared signal transmitters 23, 34, and 76. The infrared signal receiver 86, which includes a light receiver 85 provided on the lighting fixture body 80, may then operate the lighting fixture 100 or external devices.

In other words, the infrared signal transmitter 22 not only functions as an infrared signal transmitter that manipulates infrared signals, but by changing the specifications of the signal receiver 21, it can also be configured to support devices that transmit wireless signals, such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptop computers, as well as PLC devices, acting as a remote controller 91.

The lighting cover 90 is a component that diffuses the light emitted from the light source 82, and covers the entire component of the lighting fixture body 80, including the light source 82 and the control unit 83, from the bottom side (light source side). The lighting cover 90 is detachably attached to the top plate 81 of the lighting fixture body 80 by a locking member (not shown) provided on the top plate 81. The lighting cover 90 is made of a synthetic resin material that transmits infrared rays, such as milky white acrylic resin.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, a remote control device and the like according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 2(A).
This embodiment is an example in which the infrared signal transmitting device 22, which was provided on the lighting mounting adapter 10 in Embodiment 1, is located in a separate infrared signal transmitting box 33.

The lighting mounting adapter 10 includes an AC power output cable 40 that transmits AC power supplied from the power supply unit 1, and an AC power output terminal 41 attached to its end. The AC power output terminal 41 connects to an input terminal (not shown) located inside the lighting fixture body 80, supplying AC power to the lighting fixture body 80.

Furthermore, the AC power output cable 40 may be branched in two directions midway to provide multiple AC power output terminals 41. Also, the AC power output terminals 41 may be installed on the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11, parallel to the DC power output terminals 30 provided on the bottom plate 13, rather than at the end of the AC power output cable 40. While the infrared signal transmission box 33 is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped in this embodiment, it is not limited to this; various shapes such as a cylinder (same shape as the lighting mounting adapter 10), a triangular prism, an octagonal prism, or a hemispherical shape may be used.

The infrared signal transmitting box 33 is attached to the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. As a simple means of attaching the infrared signal transmitting box 33, if the infrared signal transmitting box 33 is very lightweight, it can be directly attached by means such as plugging it into the DC power output terminal 30, thereby maintaining a fixed state. Alternatively, if the infrared signal transmitting box 33 is lightweight, it can be attached using double-sided tape, adhesive, etc. If the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 contains metal material such as iron, a magnet may be attached to the infrared signal transmitting box 33, and the infrared signal transmitting box 33 may be attached to the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 by the magnetic force of the magnet attracting metal. Attachment using magnets eliminates the need for double-sided tape, etc., and makes the attachment of the infrared signal transmitting box 33 easy. Alternatively, it may be attached using screws or a dedicated attachment.

Furthermore, as with Embodiment 1, the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 shown in Figure 2 has two release levers (see Figure 1), although these are omitted from the drawing due to the complexity of the diagram. The infrared signal transmission box 33 is mounted on the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 so as to avoid the release levers.

Similar to Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 1, the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 houses a DC power supply unit (not shown) connected to the power supply unit 1. AC power input to the DC power supply unit is converted to DC power and output to the DC power output terminal 30 via a DC power output cable (not shown). For example, an AC voltage of 100V is converted to DC 5V. The DC voltage output to the DC power output terminal 30 is not limited to DC 5V; it can output a suitable voltage, such as DC 15V, depending on the characteristics of the connected equipment. The DC power output terminal 30 is usually installed on the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11, so that its tip does not protrude from the bottom plate 13 and is approximately flush with the bottom plate 13. However, the DC power output terminal 30 may be configured to extend from the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11.

The infrared signal transmission box 33, configured as a separate component from the lighting mounting adapter 10, has an infrared signal transmission unit 34 on its bottom surface and a DC power input cable 32 on its top surface. The cable has a DC power input terminal 31 attached to its end, which connects to a DC power output terminal 30 located on the bottom surface 13 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. Furthermore, an infrared signal transmission device 22, similar to that in Embodiment 1, is built into the infrared signal transmission box 33. DC power output from the DC power output terminal 30 is supplied to the infrared signal transmission device 22 located in the infrared signal transmission box 33 via the DC power input cable 32.

The DC power output terminal 30 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal, etc. Furthermore, if necessary, the DC power output terminal 30 can be provided in multiple locations, such as two locations, by branching the DC power output cable. Additionally, if the DC power output terminal 30 on the lighting mounting adapter 10 side is a USB terminal, then the DC power input terminal 31 on the infrared signal transmission box 33 side will also be a USB terminal connected via a USB cable.

Although this embodiment primarily describes an example using a USB terminal, it is not necessary to use a USB terminal for the DC power input terminal 31. Depending on the connected device, a suitable terminal such as a DC power socket may be provided.
Although the example shown includes a DC power input cable 32 and a DC power input terminal 31 on the infrared signal transmission box 33, it is also possible to provide a DC power output cable on the lighting fixture adapter 10 side and a DC power input terminal on the infrared signal transmission box 33 side.

Figure 2(B) shows a schematic perspective view of a modified remote control device for lighting fixtures according to Embodiment 2. The infrared signal transmission box 33, which has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, is integrally attached to the bottom 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. In this modified example, a protrusion corresponding to the infrared signal transmission box 33 is formed on the bottom 13 by molding, and the infrared signal transmission device 22 is built into this protrusion.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a remote control device and the like according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 3.
This embodiment is an example in which the DC power supply unit 20 and infrared signal transmitter 22, which were provided in the lighting mounting adapter 10 in Embodiment 1, are arranged in a separate infrared signal transmitter box 70. In this embodiment, a DC power supply unit, infrared signal transmitter, etc. (not shown), similar to those in Embodiment 1, are arranged inside the infrared signal transmitter box 70. The infrared signal transmitter box 70 has an infrared signal transmitter unit 76 built inside, and on the bottom surface of the infrared signal transmitter box 70 are an AC power input terminal 42 and an AC power output cable 40 with an AC power output terminal 44 attached to the end that extends from a small hole 75. The separate lighting mounting adapter 10 is provided with an AC power output cable 40 extending from a small hole similar to the small hole 75 provided in the bottom plate 13 of the infrared signal transmitter box 70. The AC power output cable 40 has an AC power output terminal 41 attached to its end and transmits AC power supplied from the power supply unit 1. The AC power output terminal 41 is connected to the AC power input terminal 42 provided on the infrared signal transmission box 70, and supplies AC power to the infrared signal transmission box 70.

The AC power output cable 40 is routed through a notch (groove) 71 recessed in the infrared signal transmission box 70 and connected to an AC power input terminal 42 provided on the bottom surface of the infrared signal transmission box 70. The notch (groove) 71 is designed to accommodate the AC power output cable 40 so that it does not get in the way when the infrared signal transmission box 70 is attached to the lighting fixture adapter 10.
In this embodiment, the shape of the infrared signal transmission box 70 is approximately cylindrical, the same as that of the lighting mounting adapter 10, but it is not limited to this, and various shapes such as a rectangular prism, triangular prism, or octagonal prism can be used.

The infrared signal transmitting box 70 is attached to the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. As a simple means of attaching the infrared signal transmitting box 70, if the infrared signal transmitting box 70 is lightweight, it can be attached using double-sided tape, adhesive, etc. Furthermore, if the lighting mounting adapter 10 contains metal materials such as iron, a magnet may be attached to the transmitting box 70, and the infrared signal transmitting box 70 may be attached to the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 by the magnetic force of the magnet attracting metal. Attachment using magnets eliminates the need for double-sided tape, etc., making the attachment of the infrared signal transmitting box 70 easy. Alternatively, it may be attached using screws or a dedicated attachment.

Furthermore, as with Embodiment 2, the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 shown in Figure 3 has two release levers (holding members), although these are omitted from the drawing to avoid complicating the diagram (see Figure 1). The upper surface of the infrared signal transmission box 70 has two recesses (not shown) for housing the release levers (holding members). The release levers (holding members) are housed in these recesses, allowing the bottom plate 13 of the lighting fixture mounting adapter 10 and the upper surface of the housing 11 to be flush.

Similar to Embodiment 1, the infrared signal transmitting box 70 houses a DC power supply unit 20 (not shown) connected to an AC power input terminal 42, and an infrared signal transmitting device 22. The AC power input to the DC power supply unit 20 through the AC power input terminal 42 is converted to DC power and output to the infrared signal transmitting device 22. The bottom surface of the infrared signal transmitting box 70 houses the AC power input terminal 22, an AC power output cable 43 with an AC power output terminal 44 attached to its end, and an infrared signal transmitting unit 76. Although the infrared signal transmitting unit 76 is installed on the bottom surface of the infrared signal transmitting box 70, its installation location is not limited to this, and it may also be installed inside the infrared signal transmitting box 70.
The AC power supplied from the AC power output cable 43 is output from the AC power output terminal 44 and supplied to the lighting fixture body 80.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a remote control device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. The remote control device shown in Figure 4 employs the lighting mounting adapter 10 shown in Embodiment 3 (see Figure 3) and the infrared signal transmission box 33 shown in Embodiment 2 (see Figure 2), and newly adds a power adapter 65 between the lighting mounting adapter 10 and the infrared signal transmission box 33.

In this embodiment, both the lighting mounting adapter 10 and the power adapter 65 are cylindrical and of approximately the same size. The infrared signal transmission box 33 is the same as that shown in Embodiment 2.

The power adapter 65 houses a DC power supply unit (not shown) similar to that in Embodiment 1. The AC power supplied from the lighting mounting adapter 10 is converted to DC power by the DC power supply unit and output from the DC power output terminal 67 located on the bottom surface of the power adapter 65. The DC power output terminal 67 is typically positioned on the bottom surface of the power adapter 65 so that its tip does not protrude from the bottom surface, and is approximately flush with the bottom surface.

Furthermore, an AC power input terminal 68 for inputting AC power output from the lighting mounting adapter 10 is located on the bottom surface of the power adapter 65. The AC power input terminal 68 is usually installed on the bottom surface of the power adapter 65, similar to the DC power output terminal 67, so that its tip does not protrude from the bottom surface and is approximately flush with the bottom surface.
A notch (groove) 69 is provided on the side of the power adapter 65, into which the AC power output cable 40 extending from the lighting mounting adapter 10 fits.
Furthermore, the bottom surface of the power adapter 65 is equipped with an AC power output cable 63 for transmitting AC power supplied from the power supply unit 1, and an AC power output terminal 64 at its end. The AC power output terminal 64 is connected to an input terminal (not shown) provided on the lighting fixture body 80, and supplies AC power to the lighting fixture body 80 and the like.

Furthermore, the AC power output cable 63 may be branched to provide multiple AC power output terminals 64. The AC power output terminals 64 may also be installed on the bottom surface of the power adapter 65 in parallel with the DC power output terminals 67. In this embodiment, the power adapter 65 is approximately cylindrical, the same as the lighting mounting adapter 10, but it is not limited to this; various shapes such as rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, and octagonal prisms can be used.

The power adapter 65, which houses the DC power supply unit, is attached to the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10. As a simple means of attaching the power adapter 65, if the power adapter 65 is lightweight, it can be attached using double-sided tape, adhesive, etc. If the lighting mounting adapter 10 contains metal materials such as iron, a magnet may be attached to the power adapter 65, and the power adapter 65 may be attached to the housing 11 and bottom plate 13 by the magnetic force of the magnet attracting metal. Attaching with a magnet eliminates the need for double-sided tape, etc., and makes attaching the power adapter 65 easier.

Furthermore, the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 and the power adapter 65 may be secured using screws. Alternatively, a mounting attachment may be used to securely fasten the housing 11 and the power adapter 65. In addition to the lighting fixture body 80, other devices such as speakers, fans, emergency alarms, and surveillance cameras may be attached to the lighting mounting adapter 10, and these devices may be operated by power output from the AC power output terminal 64 or DC power output terminal 67.

Furthermore, as with Embodiments 2 and 3, the bottom plate 13 of the housing 11 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 shown in Figure 4 has two release levers (holding members), although these are omitted from the illustration due to the complexity of the drawing (see Figure 1). The top surface of the power adapter 65 has two recesses (not shown) for accommodating the release levers (holding members). By housing the release levers (holding members) in these recesses, the bottom plate 13 of the lighting mounting adapter 10 and the top surface of the power adapter 65 can be installed flush.

The infrared signal transmission box 33 is the same as the infrared signal transmission box 33 described in Embodiment 2 above. The infrared signal transmission box 33 has an infrared signal transmitting device 22 housed inside. DC power output from the DC power output terminal 67 is output to the infrared signal transmitting device 22 inside the infrared signal transmission box 33 via the DC power input cable 32.

The infrared signal transmitting box 33 is attached to the bottom of the power adapter 65. As a simple means of attaching the infrared signal transmitting box 33, if it is very lightweight, it can be directly attached to the DC power output terminal 67. If the infrared signal transmitting box 33 is lightweight, it can be attached using double-sided tape, adhesive, etc. If the power adapter 65 contains metal materials such as iron internally, a magnet can be attached to the infrared signal transmitting box 33, and the magnetic force of the magnet attracting metal can be used to attach it to the bottom of the power adapter 65. Attaching it with a magnet eliminates the need for double-sided tape, etc., making the attachment of the infrared signal transmitting box 33 easy. Alternatively, it can be attached using screws or a dedicated attachment.

Furthermore, when mounting the infrared signal transmission box 33 to the bottom of the power adapter 65, it should be mounted in a manner that avoids the DC power output terminal 67 and the AC power input terminal 68.

The DC power output terminal 67 is a USB terminal, etc. The output voltage is, for example, DC 5V. If the DC power output terminal 67 on the power adapter 65 is a USB terminal, then the DC power input terminal 31 on the infrared signal transmission box 33 is also a USB terminal connected via a USB cable.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a lighting fixture mounting adapter specifically for lighting fixtures is attached to a power supply unit such as a hook-type ceiling socket installed on the ceiling 18 (mounting section), and the lighting fixture body is attached to this lighting fixture mounting adapter. However, by using an E26 base as the power supply unit 1 connected to the power supply unit installed on the ceiling 18 (mounting section), using a GX53 base as the lighting fixture mounting adapter 10, and arranging an infrared signal transmitting device 22 near the lighting fixture mounting adapter 10, a remote control device for lighting fixtures and a lighting fixture using such a device can be realized that can control the lighting fixture and transmit infrared signals to external devices such as home appliances to control those external devices.

In this embodiment, the example using a USB terminal has been mainly described, but it is not necessary to use a USB terminal for the DC power input terminal 31; a DC power socket or the like may be provided instead.
In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a DC power output terminal 67 is provided on the lighting mounting adapter 10 or the power adapter 65. However, instead, a terminal for inputting DC power may be provided on the infrared signal transmission box 33.

Furthermore, this invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible with respect to the above embodiments.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of a remote control device used for a lighting fixture 100 attached to a lighting mounting adapter 10 installed on a ceiling (mounting section) 18 was explained. However, the location of the lighting mounting adapter 10 is not limited to the ceiling (mounting section) 18. For example, even if the lighting fixture 100 is attached to a remote control device including a lighting mounting adapter 10 installed on the upper part of a wall, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be expected.

According to the present invention, by installing an infrared signal transmitting device near the lighting mounting adapter, receiving a transmission signal from a remote controller and transmitting the content of that signal as an infrared signal, and then receiving and processing the transmitted infrared signal with an infrared signal receiving device installed on the lighting fixture, it becomes possible to reliably control lighting fixtures that can only be operated with infrared signals using methods other than infrared signals, such as turning the light on/off, dimming, and adjusting the color temperature. Furthermore, it becomes possible to realize a remote control device and lighting fixture using it that can transmit infrared signals to external devices such as home appliances and control those external devices.

1... Power supply unit 10... Lighting mounting adapter 11... Housing 12... Top plate 13... Bottom plate 14... Side plate 15... Hooking bracket 16... Claw (retaining member)
17… Release lever (holding member)
18… Ceiling (mounting area)
19… Release button 20… DC power supply unit 21… Signal receiving unit 22… Infrared signal transmitting device 23… Infrared signal transmitting unit 30… DC power output terminal 31… DC power input terminal 32… DC power input cable 33… Infrared signal transmitting box 34… Infrared signal transmitting unit 40… AC power output cable 41… AC power output terminal 42… AC power input terminal 43… AC power output cable 44… AC power output terminal 60… AC power output cable 61… AC power output terminal 63… AC power output cable 64… AC power output terminal 65… Power adapter 67… DC power output terminal 68… AC power input terminal 69… Notch (groove)
70... Infrared signal transmission box 71... Notch (groove)
75… Small hole 76… Infrared signal transmitting unit 80… Lighting fixture body 81… Top plate 82… Light source 83… Control unit 84… Opening 85… Light receiving unit 86… Infrared signal receiving device 90… Lighting cover 91… Remote controller (remote control)
100... Lighting fixtures

Claims (5)

A remote control device having a lighting mounting adapter and an infrared signal transmitting device,
The aforementioned lighting mounting adapter is
A power supply unit installed on the mounting part and a hook bracket that can be attached detachably,
An AC power output cable that connects to the aforementioned hook fitting and extends from the bottom plate of the lighting mounting adapter,
A DC power supply device that connects to the aforementioned AC power output cable and converts the AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,
A DC power output cable that is electrically connected to the aforementioned DC power supply unit,
It has a retaining member that detachably holds the lighting fixture body,
The infrared signal transmitting device is connected to the DC power output cable.
A signal receiving unit that receives signals other than infrared signals output from a remote controller , such as Wi-Fi® signals, Bluetooth® signals, mobile communication signals, or LPWA communication signals, and transmits them to a signal decoding unit.
The signal decoding unit decodes the signal transmitted from the signal receiving unit and transmits it to the infrared signal transmitting unit,
The infrared signal transmitting unit receives a signal transmitted from the signal decoding unit and transmits an infrared signal to an external device and the lighting fixture body,
Equipped with,
A remote control device characterized by controlling the external device and the lighting fixture body using the remote controller. The aforementioned lighting mounting adapter is
The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising an AC power output terminal attached to the end of the AC power output cable. The aforementioned lighting mounting adapter is
It is equipped with a DC power output terminal that is electrically connected to the aforementioned DC power output cable,
The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the DC power output terminal is a USB terminal. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a home appliance. A lighting fixture comprising the remote control device described in claim 1, the lighting fixture body, a lighting cover that covers the lower surface of the lighting fixture body, and the remote controller that operates the external device and the lighting fixture body.