Wireless light switch to control a mesh network of light devices in hazardous environments
A wireless light switch includes an explosion-proof enclosure comprising a raised keypad and a controller enclosed by the explosion-proof enclosure and electrically coupled to the raised keypad. The controller is configured to receive a password via the raised keypad, authenticate the password, upon the password being authenticated, connect to a mesh network comprising a plurality of light devices, and after connecting to the mesh network, send a control message to a first light device of the mesh network. In some cases, the control message directs the plurality of light devices to perform a new action that is different from a current action set by a light schedule for the plurality of light devices. In some cases, the mesh network is a secure Bluetooth® mesh network and the controller is further configured to convert Bluetooth® mesh data into Wi-Fi®/ZigBee® data and send the Wi-Fi®/ZigBee® data to a distributed control system wirelessly.
1 . A wireless light switch, comprising:
an explosion-proof enclosure comprising a raised keypad; and
a controller enclosed by the explosion-proof enclosure and electrically coupled to the raised keypad, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a password via the raised keypad;
authenticate the password;
upon the password being authenticated, connect to a mesh network comprising a plurality of light devices; and
after connecting to the mesh network, send a control message to a first light device of the mesh network, wherein the control message is retransmitted across the entirety of the plurality of light devices of the mesh network until each of the light devices of the plurality of light devices of the mesh network has received the control message.
2 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a directive to control the plurality of light devices from a user via the raised keypad.
3 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the control message directs the plurality of light devices to perform a new action that is different from a current action set by a light schedule for the plurality of light devices.
4 . The wireless light switch of claim 3 , wherein the control message specifies a time period for the plurality of light devices to perform the new action.
5 . The wireless light switch of claim 3 , wherein the control message directs the plurality of light devices of the mesh network to change a brightness of the plurality of light devices.
6 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , further comprising a battery enclosed by the explosion-proof enclosure and electrically coupled to the controller.
7 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the raised keypad is alpha-numeric.
8 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the raised keypad comprises a time-synch button configured to synchronize a time of the plurality of light devices with a time recorded by the wireless light switch.
9 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network is a secure Bluetooth® mesh network, wherein the controller is further configured to:
convert Bluetooth® mesh data into Wi-Fi® data or ZigBee® data; and
send the Wi-Fi® data or the ZigBee® data to a distributed control system wirelessly.
10 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless antenna, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a signal strength of the wireless signal antenna.
11 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the step of receive the password via the raised keypad comprises receive a first password to unlock functionality of the wireless light switch and a second password to connect to the mesh network; and
wherein the step of authenticate the password comprises authenticate the first password and authenticate the second password.
12 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the wireless light switch is intrinsically safe.
13 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network is a secure Bluetooth® mesh network.
14 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network is a secure Wi-Fi® mesh network.
15 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a first password entered via the raised keypad to enable operation of the light switch, and
receive a second password to authenticate network access to the mesh network, the controller being configured to propagate a control message across the mesh network only after successful authentication of the second password.
16 . The wireless light switch of claim 1 , wherein the explosion-proof enclosure is sealed to prevent ignition of surrounding flammable gases or vapors, and wherein the controller, responsive to authentication of the password, electronically unseals the light switch by enabling operation of power-control circuitry within the enclosure while maintaining the sealed, intrinsically-safe condition of the enclosure.
17 . An intrinsically-safe wireless control apparatus for hazardous environments, comprising:
an explosion-proof enclosure housing control electronics and a raised keypad, the enclosure being sealed to prevent ignition of surrounding flammable gases or vapors;
a controller within the enclosure configured to receive, via the raised keypad, a password entered by an authorized user; and
wherein the controller, upon verification of the password,
electronically unseals the apparatus by enabling operation of power-control circuitry within the enclosure while maintaining the sealed, intrinsically-safe condition of the enclosure,
enables wireless communication with one or more external devices; and
establishes wireless communication with one or more external devices in response to the verification.
18 . The intrinsically-safe wireless control apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a first password entered via the raised keypad to unseal the power-control circuitry;
receive a second password to authenticate network access for the wireless communication with the one or more external devices; and
upon verification of the second password, propagate a control message through the wireless communication with the external devices.
19 . A wireless control apparatus for hazardous environments, comprising:
an explosion-proof enclosure housing control electronics and a raised keypad;
a controller within the enclosure configured to receive a first password entered via the raised keypad to enable operation of the apparatus;
the controller further configured to receive a second password to authenticate network access to a wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of external devices; and
wherein the controller is configured to propagate a control message across the wireless mesh network only after successful authentication of the second password.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the explosion-proof enclosure is sealed to prevent ignition of surrounding flammable gases or vapors, and the controller is configured, upon authentication of the first password, to enable operation of power-control circuitry within the enclosure while maintaining the sealed, intrinsically-safe condition of the enclosure.