Repeater unit with flourescent ballast

Abstract

A signal repeater for receiving and re-transmitting signals from environmental transducers and the like, and for mechanically and electrically cooperating with existing electrically powered fixtures is described. In one embodiment, the repeater is configured to be mechanically and electrically coupling to a standard power fixture such as, for example, a screw-in lamp base (two-way, three-way, and the like), a wall outlet, etc. In one embodiment, the repeater unit includes fluorescent lamp ballast for driving one or more fluorescent lamps.

1 . A repeater for mounting to an electrically powered fixture comprising: 
 a rechargeable power source configured to be charged by electrical power received from said electrically powered fixture;    a repeater module configured to receive power from said rechargeable power source; and    a fluorescent lamp ballast configured to receive electrical power from said electrically powered fixture, said fluorescent lamp ballast further configured to receive operational dimmer function commands from said repeater module.    
     
     
         2 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered fixture comprises a screw-in lamp base.  
     
     
         3 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered fixture comprises a two-way lamp base.  
     
     
         4 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered fixture comprises a three-way lamp base.  
     
     
         5 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply configured to convert electrical power received from said electrically powered fixture to a current and voltage suitable for recharging said rechargeable power source.  
     
     
         6 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein further comprising a mating structure for maintaining said electrically powered fixture functionality.  
     
     
         7 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said rechargeable power source comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.  
     
     
         8 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a connector for connecting to a fluorescent lamp.  
     
     
         9 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a communication path between said ballast and said repeater module.  
     
     
         10 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said repeater module is configured to receive commands to control said ballast.  
     
     
         11 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said repeater module is configured to receive status information from said ballast.  
     
     
         12 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said repeater module receives a signal from at least one transducer and re-transmits said signal to a base station.  
     
     
         13 . The repeater in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the repeater module is further configured to communicate status information.