Test configuration for emergency lighting fixtures

• US 10,416,243 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Kenneth Edwin, Hanley, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh Q
• Application Number:
  US15/724,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20180095142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection

Abstract

Aspects are described for a test configuration for emergency lighting fixtures. In one example, a light fixture includes a lighting element, a battery, a clock, and a processor. The processor is configurable via a user interface. The processor is configured to test the light fixture. The testing includes illuminating the lighting element for a predetermined duration using the battery as a power source. The testing is initiated by a timer that uses the clock. The processor of the light fixture receives input, via the user interface, adjusting a value for the start timer. Based on the start timer expiring, the processor initiates a test of the light fixture for the predetermined duration. The processor further indicates a result of the test via the user interface. Based on the test being successful, the processor resets the start timer.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a lighting element;

a battery;

a clock; and

a processor configurable via a user interface, wherein the processor is configured to;

detect, using the clock, an expiration of a start timer having an initial value;

perform, responsive to the expiration of the start timer having the initial value, a test of the light fixture, wherein the test comprises illuminating the lighting element for a predetermined duration using the battery as a power source;

receive input, via the user interface, adjusting the start timer from the initial value to a modified value; and

perform, responsive to an additional expiration of the start timer having the modified value, operations comprising;

initiating a subsequent test of the light fixture for the predetermined duration;

configuring the user interface to indicate a result of the subsequent test via the user interface; and

resetting the start timer, based on the subsequent test being successful for the light fixture.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to detect a loss of building power and delay the test until one or more of (i) the battery is recharged or (ii) a maximum delay has been reached.

3. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform one or more of (i) using mains power to power the light fixture and (ii) using mains power to recharge the battery.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a secondary battery and a clock power regulator, wherein the clock power regulator is configured to maintain power to the clock during a low battery condition using the secondary battery.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the light fixture further comprises a tactile button configured to adjust the initial value of the start timer when the tactile button is pressed using a predefined sequence.

6. The light fixture of claim 5, wherein the user interface is configured to display the result of the test by illuminating the tactile button.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with a limit for adjusting the initial value of the start timer prior to the test.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the light fixture further comprises a wireless receiving device configured for receiving wireless inputs via a provisioning session between a user device and the light fixture, wherein the processor is further configured to:

establish the provisioning session with a mobile device,

receive the input during the provisioning session, and

responsive to receiving the input, terminate the provisioning session.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the input adjusting the initial value for the start timer comprises a test start time and the processor is further configured to adjust the start timer to expire at the test start time.

10. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the modified value comprises one or more of (i) a time entered as a current time or (ii) a time entered as an absolute time.

11. The light fixture of claim 10, wherein the absolute time is configured by selecting a day from a calendar.

12. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to indicate the result using a visual indicator.

13. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to indicate the result using an audible indicator.

14. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an infrared sensor, and wherein the infrared sensor is configured to receive the input.

15. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to receive the input from a wireless remote control device.

16. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a wireless transceiver, wherein configuring the user interface to indicate a result comprises sending the result to a user device via the wireless transceiver.

17. A method for testing a light fixture on a modified time interval, the method comprising:

detecting, using a clock, an expiration of a start timer having an initial value;

performing, responsive to the expiration of the start timer having the initial value, a test of a light fixture, wherein the test comprises illuminating a lighting element for a predetermined duration using a battery as a power source;

receiving input, via a user interface, adjusting the start timer from the initial value to a modified value; and

performing, responsive to an additional expiration of the start timer having the modified value, operations comprising;

initiating a subsequent test of the light fixture for the predetermined duration;

configuring the user interface to indicate a result of the subsequent test via the user interface; and

resetting the start timer, the resetting based on the subsequent test being successful for the light fixture.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the user interface comprises a tactile button, the input adjusting the initial value of the start timer is a sequence of button presses, and the result of the test is indicated visually.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the input adjusting the initial value for the start timer further comprises a test start time, the method further comprising configuring the start timer is configured to expire at the test start time.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising, following a loss of building power, delaying the test until one of (i) the battery is recharged or (ii) a maximum delay has been reached.