System and method for performing self-test and predicting emergency lighting fixtures life expectancy

• US 10,047,921 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2018
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gooee Limited (Gooee Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Gooee Limited (Gooee Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Coombes, Simon, Silverman, Shmuel, Couch, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Jimmy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandez, Pedro C
• Application Number:
  US15/868,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20180128437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the source H05B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A system for managing emergency lighting is generally described. In particular, the present disclosure relates to self-tests and predictive life expectancy operations of emergency lighting systems. Further, the present disclosure relates to an automated system and method for performing self-tests and predicting emergency lighting fixture life expectancy. In the exemplary embodiments, emergency lighting system tests may be automatically scheduled, carried out, and evaluated.

Claims

1. A method for performing an emergency lighting fixture function test, comprising:

logging a start time for the test;

switching off a power supply to a luminaire, wherein switching off the power supply to the luminaire comprises switching off a power supply through a gateway;

initiating illumination of the luminaire by an emergency power source;

measuring with a color sensor configured to face the luminaire directly a color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire, either continuously or at intervals;

measuring with an environment sensor, either continuously or at intervals, an ambient light intensity in an environment in which the luminaire is installed;

transmitting respective data regarding the color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire and the ambient light intensity, from the color sensor and environment sensor, to a server, either directly or via the gateway;

determining with the server at least one of a lux level at the luminaire and a floor lux in the environment, based at least in part on the data regarding color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire and the ambient light intensity;

determining with the server whether at least one of the lux level at the luminaire and the floor lux is above a threshold lux level; and

,

logging whether the test is a PASS or FAIL, based at least in part on whether at least one of the lux level at the luminaire and the floor lux is above a threshold lux level.

2. A method for performing an emergency lighting fixture duration test, comprising:

a) logging a start time of a test;

b) switching off a power supply to a luminaire, wherein switching off the power supply to the luminaire comprises switching off a power supply through a gateway;

c) initiating illumination of the luminaire by an emergency power source;

d) measuring with a color sensor configured to face the luminaire directly a color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire, either continuously or at intervals;

e) measuring with an environment sensor, either continuously or at intervals, an ambient light intensity in an environment in which the luminaire is installed;

f) transmitting respective data regarding the color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire and the ambient light intensity, from the color sensor and environment sensor, to a server, either directly or via the gateway;

g) determining with the server at least one of a lux level at the luminaire and a floor lux in the environment, based at least in part on the data regarding color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire and the ambient light intensity;

h) determining with the server whether at least one of the lux level at the luminaire and the floor lux is above a respective threshold lux level; and

,

i) logging whether the test is a PASS or FAIL, based at least in part on whether the at least one of the lux level at the luminaire and the floor lux is above the respective threshold lux level, and, if the test is a PASS, repeating steps d)-h) for at least one of an amount of time or a degree of depletion of the emergency power source, or, if the test is a FAIL, logging an end time for the test and restoring power to the luminaire.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising calculating with the server a predictive curve for life expectancy of the emergency power source, based at least in part on the data regarding the color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire and the ambient light intensity.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising calculating with the server at least one of a half-life and end of life of the emergency power source, wherein calculating with the server at least one of a half-life and end of life of the emergency power source comprises comparing the data regarding the color intensity of the light that is emitted by the luminaire during two or more duration tests.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the emergency power source is a rechargeable battery and the method further comprises:

logging a battery charging cycle start time after restoring power to the luminaire;

charging the rechargeable battery with a charging device, wherein the charging device is connected to the power supply to the luminaire;

measuring with a power meter an amount of power being drawn by the gateway during the charging;

comparing with the server the amount of power being drawn by the gateway during the charging to an amount of power drawn by the gateway in a non-charging state, and, if the power being drawn by the gateway during an amount of time of the charging is less than the amount of power drawn by the gateway in a non-charging state, determining that the charging is complete;

logging a battery charging cycle end time and a battery charging cycle duration; and

,

determining with the server a required duration for the test, based at least in part on at least one of the battery charging cycle duration and an amount of time that is required to charge the rechargeable battery to a level at which the rechargeable battery is capable of powering the luminaire at a requisite lux level for a requisite amount of time of emergency operation.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining with the server a life expectancy of the rechargeable battery, based at least in part on the battery charging cycle duration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining a life expectancy of the rechargeable battery is based at least in part on at least one of a comparison of the battery charging cycle duration to known performance values for the rechargeable battery and a comparison of the battery charging cycle duration in two or more duration tests.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining with the server at least one of a dimming level of the luminaire and a dimming control protocol of the luminaire at which the emergency power source is capable of powering the luminaire at a requisite lux level for a requisite amount of time of emergency operation.