Distributed emergency lighting system having self-testing and diagnostic capabilities

• US 20010040798A1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Egress Marking Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: E-Lite Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Appelberg, Gustaf T., Fleming, Joseph W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/28 Testing of electronic circuits, e.g. by signal tracer EMC, EMP or similar testing of electronic circuits G01R31/002; testing for short-circuits, discontinuities, leakage or incorrect line connection G01R31/50; checking computers or computer components G06F11/00; checking static stores for correct operation G11C29/00 ; testing receivers or transmitters of transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

A distributed emergency building lighting system senses the presence or absence of AC power at the input of a switch controlling lighting in a designated area or an input stimulus such as an alarm to provide low-level marking for visual delineation of the path of egress or lighting of a predetermined designated area by illuminating an EL panel in accordance with code requirements. Self-diagnostic testing verifies operational conditions of the battery and illumination circuit to ensure code compliance.

Claims

1. A distributed emergency building lighting system comprising:

an electroluminescent (EL) panel;

means for providing electrical power to illuminate said EL panel; and

control means electrically coupled to said electrical power means and said EL panel for illuminating a predetermined designated area within the building in response to an input stimulus.

2. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said predetermined designated area further comprises low-level path marking to provide visual delineation of the path of egress.

3. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said predetermined designated area further comprises floor illumination within a prescribed distance from at least one wall of a room in accordance with code requirements.

4. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 2

, wherein said EL panel is a stripe of indeterminate length located on one or more of a designated area including on a floor and on a wall at or near the floor in accordance with code requirements.

5. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 2

, wherein said EL panel lights an exit sign at or near the floor in accordance with code requirements.

6. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said power means further comprises an EL power supply having an input coupled to the line side of an electrical switch supplying commercial AC power to the conventional lighting located in said designated area and to a DC voltage source in the absence of AC power at the line side of said electrical switch.

7. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 6

, wherein said EL power supply further includes means for adjusting the light intensity of the EL panel to a desired intensity.

8. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said control means further includes self-diagnostic testing means for verifying operational conditions of the lighting system including the detection of an electrical short circuit and an electrical open circuit of an EL panel coupled to said control means.

9. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, wherein said self-diagnostic testing means includes detection of a normal operating circuit of an EL panel coupled to said control means.

10. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, wherein said self-diagnostic testing means includes detection of an inoperative electrical power means.

11. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, wherein said self-diagnostic testing means further comprises testing means for determining the charge capacity of the battery.

12. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 11

, wherein said battery testing means further comprises means for connecting a test electrical load to the battery for a predetermined short time interval;

means for sensing the battery voltage during the short time interval that said test electrical load is connected, and

means for providing an alarm indication in response to the battery voltage falling below a predetermined voltage value during the voltage sensing time interval.

13. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 12

, wherein the test electrical load is in the range of 10 to 20 times the electrical load of the emergency building lighting system.

14. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 13

, wherein said predetermined short time interval is in the range of 10 to 30 seconds.

15. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, further comprising means for activating said self-diagnostic testing means in accordance with a predetermined time schedule.

16. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, further comprising means for manually activating said self-diagnostic testing means.

17. Emergency building lighting system as defined in

claim 8

, further comprising means for activating said self-diagnostic testing means in response to the conventional lighting located in said designated area being turned on and off.