Acuity Brands has been granted a patent for a light fixture that includes a wireless baffle module. The module consists of a baffle used to focus light emitted from the light engine, and a wireless printed circuit board assembly connected to an antenna. The assembly receives and processes wireless signals, sending control signals to the light engine. The wireless baffle module can be used to replace an existing non-wireless module or be coupled to a lighting system with a different wireless protocol. GlobalData’s report on Acuity Brands gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Acuity Brands, Electric load control systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Acuity Brands's grant share as of September 2023 was 79%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Wireless baffle module for controlling light fixture wirelessly
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777199B2) describes a new design for a light fixture that includes a housing with upper and lower compartments. The fixture also features a baffle, which has a concave exterior surface designed to focus the light emitted by the fixture. The baffle also has a convex interior surface, which houses a wireless printed circuit board assembly. An antenna is electrically coupled to the wireless printed circuit board assembly and is either connected to or integrally formed with the baffle. This allows the wireless printed circuit board assembly to send control signals based on wireless signals received by the antenna.
The patent also describes various embodiments of the light fixture. In one embodiment, the antenna is coupled to the convex interior surface of the baffle and connected to the wireless printed circuit board assembly using coaxial cable. The antenna is positioned within the housing of the light fixture. The antenna can be a printed inverted-F antenna or a flexible printed circuit board antenna, and it is coupled to the baffle using adhesive.
Another embodiment of the light fixture includes a second wireless printed circuit board assembly and a second antenna, both electrically coupled to each other. The first wireless printed circuit board assembly operates with a first wireless protocol, while the second wireless printed circuit board assembly operates with a different second wireless protocol.
The baffle in some embodiments is made of metal and the antenna is integrally formed on the baffle. The coaxial cable connecting the antenna to the wireless printed circuit board assembly is positioned within the housing of the light fixture. The baffle may also have a flange portion that extends radially outward from the convex interior surface, with the antenna integrally formed on the flange portion. The antenna can be a stamped or punched IFA or a dual-band slot antenna.
The light fixture also includes a light engine that emits the light focused by the baffle. The wireless printed circuit board assembly is electrically coupled to the light engine. The housing of the light fixture can be made of metal, while the baffle is made of plastic.
The patent also describes a method of assembling the light fixture, which involves providing the housing, light engine, baffle, wireless printed circuit board assembly, and antenna. The wireless printed circuit board assembly is then placed within the upper compartment of the housing and electrically coupled to the light engine. The baffle is coupled to the housing, and the antenna is electrically coupled to the wireless printed circuit board assembly.
Overall, this patent presents a new design for a light fixture that incorporates a baffle with a wireless printed circuit board assembly and an antenna. The design allows for wireless control of the light fixture and provides improved focus of the emitted light.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
