LIGHTING DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES AND MULTIPLE MODES OF OPERATION

• US 20070211461A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ronald Harwood
• Inventors: Harwood, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/232
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3574 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Lighting device having a number of light sources for illumination an area around the lighting device. The lighting device including capabilities for generating illumination when a primary power source is unavailable. The light device may include a secondary power source for use in powering the lighting device when the primary power source is unavailable. The lighting device may include multiple operating modes, optionally depending on the active power source.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a number of light sources mounted on a common printed circuit board (PCB);

a controller for distributing power from a main power source and a secondary battery power source to a selective one or more of the light sources according to a first mode and second mode of operation, the first mode of operation being associated with non-emergency illumination and the second mode of operation being associated with emergency illumination;

a battery for powering the light sources in the second mode of operation; and

a housing defining a common enclosure for housing the light sources, controller, and battery.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive data messages and to trigger the second mode of operation in response to receipt of an emergency alert data message.

3. The lighting device of claim 2 further comprising a transceiver configured for receiving the data messages for delivery to the controller.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to switch from the second mode to the first mode of operation in response determining an override request.

5. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to receive data messages and to determine the override request in response to receipt of an override data message.

6. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to determine the override request in response to cycling on and off the main power source.

7. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a threadable conductor for electrically connecting the controller to a light socket such that the lighting device is suitable for use as a retro-fit of incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs.

8. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the first mode of operation is characterized by powering the light sources with energy solely from the main power source and the second mode of operation is characterized by powering the light sources with energy solely from the battery.

9. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the second mode of operation flashes the lighting sources so as to display an emergency warning.

10. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the second mode of operation provides illumination having a color different than a color of the first mode of operation.

11. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the second mode of operation illuminates less lights sources than the first mode of operation.

12. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a data transceiver configured to interface data messages with the controller, the controller relying on the data message to select the first or second mode of operation.

13. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the data transceiver is configured to relay the received data message to other remotely located lighting devices.

14. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the battery is rechargeable with power from the main power supply.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the lighting device further includes a transceiver configured to interface data messages with the controller, the controller relying on the data message to select the first or second mode of illumination.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the data transceiver is configured to relay the received data message to other remotely located lighting devices.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the second mode of illumination includes the light sources being powered by the battery included within the lighting device.

15. A lighting system comprising:

a light socket;

a light switch for connecting the light socket to a wireline power supply, the light switch having an on state and an off state, the light switch connecting the light socket to the wireline power supply in the on state and the light switch disconnecting the light socket from the wireline power supply in the off state;

a lighting device received within the light socket and having a number of light sources configured to provide illumination, the lighting device including a controller configured to control illumination of the light sources by controlling power flow to the light sources from the wireline power supply and a battery included within the lighting device, the controller controlling the illumination of the light sources according to at least a first and second mode of illumination, the first mode corresponding with a first illumination level and the second mode corresponding with a second illumination level providing less illumination than the first mode, the controller configured to permit the first mode of illumination only if the light switch is in the on state and to permit the second mode of illumination if the light switch is in either of the on or off states.

19. A method of providing emergency egress lighting, the method comprising:

transmitting data representing an emergency alert to a lighting device having a number of light sources, a controller, and a battery, the light sources configured to provide illumination with power from a wireline power supply connected to a light socket of the lighting device or the battery included within the lighting device;

processing the emergency alert with the controller and controlling the light source to provide emergency illumination of a portion of an emergency egress path with power from the wireline power supply if the wireline power is available or with power from the battery if the wireline power supply is unavailable; and

relaying the emergency alert message to another lighting device for use in providing emergency illumination of another portion of the emergency egress path.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein providing the emergency illumination includes controlling the light source to direct occupants along the emergency egress path.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising controlling the light source to provide less illumination than when the light sources are not providing emergency illumination.