SOLID-STATE LIGHTING FIXTURES WITH SOCKET CONNECTIONS FOR ACCESSORIES AND ACCESSORIES FOR USE THEREWITH
A solid-state lighting fixture assembly having a lighting fixture with a socket configured to receive a plug associated with one or more accessories to allow for easy in-field mounting of accessories, e.g., controls, onto installed lighting fixtures. The socket may be internally electrically connected to an auxiliary power output of a driver and/or to a battery power pack within the lighting fixture assembly, thereby providing direct-current voltage power for the accessory and, also, allowing for signal transmission to and from the accessory. Each accessory includes one or more sensors and communication components to provide the connected lighting fixture assembly with specific capabilities including, but not limited to, motion detection, ambient light level detection, ambient temperature measurement and wireless communications. The wireless communication can also be used to control one or a group of lighting fixtures and transmit sensor data associated with, for example, monitoring space utilization and asset tracking.
1 . A lighting fixture assembly comprising:
a body;
solid-state lighting elements associated with the body;
a socket mounted on said body, said socket being externally accessible from outside the body; and,
an accessory having a housing and a plug, the plug being receivable in the socket, wherein said housing contains at least one communication component configured to wirelessly collect and wirelessly transmit data regarding the operation of the solid-state lighting elements.
2 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the socket is in the form of an audio jack and the plug is in the form of an audio jack plug.
3 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the socket is in the form of a USB port and the plug is in the form of a USB connector.
4 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said accessory contains at least one sensor.
5 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 4 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect motion.
6 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 4 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect ambient light levels.
7 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 4 , wherein said at least one sensor collects and stores sensor data and said at least one communication component provides wireless communication of the sensor data stored by said at least one sensor.
8 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said accessory includes at least one thread element, wherein at least one secondary thread element is associated with said body, and, wherein said accessory is rotatable relative to said socket with said at least one thread element engaging the at least one secondary thread element.
9 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said socket is through-panel-mounted to said body.
10 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the plug has two or more contacts.
11 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 10 , wherein the plug includes a positive contact, a negative contact, and a ground.
12 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication component includes a wireless transceiver.
13 . The lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the operation of the solid-state lighting elements includes one or more of: on, off, and dimming.