# US 2021/0345472 A1 · Lamp control module consisting of base and control parts, commnicating via nfc > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0345472 A1 - Document ID: US20210345472A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/344,270 - Filed: 2021-06-10 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-11 - Assignees: Schreder S.A. - Applicants: Schreder - Inventors: HELMUT SCHROEDER; DANIEL BRAND - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210345472A1 ## CPC - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - H01Q 1/2208: {associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00)} - H01Q 1/00: Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas (arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00) - H01Q 1/40: Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material - H01Q 1/526: {Electromagnetic shields} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H05B 47/195: the transmission using visible or infrared light - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A control arrangement includes a control module and a control module base for mounting the control module to an external surface of a luminaire. The control module includes a contacts; the control module base includes a base body portion having first and second surfaces and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces, wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for receiving the control module contacts. The control module base includes a near-field communication means including information relating to the specification of the luminaire. The control module includes a near-field communication unit configured to read out information in the near-field communication means of the control module base. The control module includes a communication unit configured for communicating said information to at least one of another control module, a segment controller configured for controlling a group of control modules, and a server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control arrangement comprising a control module and a control module base for mounting the control module to an external surface of a luminaire; said control module comprising a plurality of contacts; said control module base comprising a base body portion having a first surface, a second surface and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces; wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for receiving the plurality of contacts of the control module; said control module base further comprising a near-field communication means including at least one item of information relating to the specification of the luminaire; said control module comprising a near-field communication unit configured to read out information in the near-field communication means of the control module base; said control module further comprising a communication unit configured for communicating said information to at least one of: another control module, a segment controller configured for controlling a group of control modules, and a server. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is at least partially integrated into the base body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is arranged at least partially on the outside of the base body portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is a battery-free, passive means, which is configured for transmitting information in a contactless manner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication means is configured for transmitting information using any one of the following: radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, infrared technology. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control module is part of a mesh network of control modules and wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with at least one other control module of the mesh network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control module base includes an information carrier configured for at least one of: marking the position of the near-field communication means, positioning the control module, and aligning the near-field communication means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control arrangement of claim 7, wherein the information carrier is arranged on the lateral surface of the base body portion, which is angled with respect to the first surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The control arrangement of claim 1, wherein the information included in the near-field communication means comprises a unique identifier relating to a luminaire to which it is to be mounted and which corresponds to a unique identifier in a database for subsequent individualization of the luminaire with which the near-field communication means is associated. ### Claim 10 A control module configured for the integration of a luminaire with which the control module is associated, into a luminaire network, said control module comprising a plurality of at least electrical components and electronic components and a near-field communication unit; said control module being configured to be mounted to a control module base and said control module having an end face configured to be directed towards the control module base and provided with outwardly projecting contacts configured to be received in recesses in the control module base; wherein said near-field communication unit comprises a substantially planar antenna arranged to be substantially parallel to an end face of the control module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the electronic components comprise any one or more of the following: a control unit configured to run programs for controlling the control module, a means for supplying power, a sensor for recording environmental data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the near-field communication unit is configured to read a near-field communication means of the luminaire, by means of near-field communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to check a sensor of the luminaire using the near-field communication unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The control module according to claim 10, further comprising a processor printed circuit board, wherein the antenna is formed parallel to the processor printed circuit board which has at least some of the electrical or electronic components. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the planar antenna comprises curved sections and straight sections, the curved sections being at different radial distances from a longitudinal axis of the control module and being connected to one another by means of the straight antenna sections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the antenna comprises a part of an antenna printed circuit board arranged to be directed towards the end face, and wherein the control module further comprises a shielding configured for shielding the antenna printed circuit board from interference from other components within the control module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The control module of claim 10, wherein the outwardly projecting contacts are solid rotary contacts and/or plug contacts configured to provide power to the control module, and the control module is further provided with weak current contacts, preferably two of which being used for dimming, another one of which being used for a 12V direct current, and a further weak current contact being used for a sensor input. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16, 17) The control module according to claim 16 and 17, wherein the antenna printed circuit board is connected via lines to weak current contacts which have corresponding mating pieces in the control module base and which are configured to be used to transmit commands on a 0 to 10V or digital addressable lighting interface, DALI protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The control module of claim 11, wherein the near-field communication unit is configured to transmit data using any one of the following: radio frequency identification, RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE technology, infrared technology. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A luminaire including the control arrangement of claim 1. ### Claim 21 A control module base for mounting a control module with a plurality of contacts to an external surface of a luminaire; said control module base comprising: a base body portion having a first surface, a second surface and a lateral surface between the first and second surfaces; wherein at least one recess is provided on the first surface and configured for facing the control module and for receiving the plurality of contacts of the control module; said control module base further comprising a near-field communication means including at least one item of information relating to the specification of the luminaire, said near-field communication means being arranged on at least one of the first surface and the lateral surface, or being partially integrated with at least one of the first surface and the lateral surface.