Emergency Lighting System With Improved Monitoring

• US 20080266076A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Barrieau, Johnpaul P., Barrieau, Mark P., Brooks, Jeffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,999,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

An emergency lighting unit includes a lamp, a backup battery, controller, and a network interface. The controller connects the backup battery to the lamp upon detection of an emergency condition and loss of main power. The network interface interfaces with and receives commands from a fire alarm control panel via a fire alarm network. Each emergency lighting unit may have a unique identifier with respect to the fire alarm network.

Claims

1. In a fire alarm system comprising a fire alarm control panel, a fire alarm network connected to the fire alarm control panel, an emergency exit lighting unit in communication with the fire alarm network, the emergency exit lighting unit comprising a lamp for providing illumination of an exit and/or illumination of the exit route, a backup battery, a controller that connects the backup battery to the lamp upon detection of loss of main power, and a network interface which interfaces with and receives commands from the fire alarm control panel via the fire alarm network, the emergency lighting unit having a unique identifier with respect to the fire alarm network, a method for testing the emergency exit lighting unit, comprising:

receiving, by the emergency lighting unit, a message sent from the fire alarm control panel related to the status of the emergency lighting unit; and

generating, by the emergency lighting unit, test data testing at least one aspect related to powering of the emergency lighting unit;

sending, by the emergency lighting unit, at least a part of the test data to the fire alarm control panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message sent from the fire alarm control panel comprises a test command.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the test command comprises a command to immediately test the emergency lighting unit;

and

wherein sending at least a part of the test data to the fire alarm control panel is in direct response to receiving the test command.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the test command comprises a command to test the emergency lighting unit at a predetermined future time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the test data is sent to the fire alarm control panel immediately after generating the test data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the emergency lighting unit comprises at least one of status of the battery, state of the lamp and the state of the primary power.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the status of the battery comprises an indication of at least one of voltage across the battery or current draw from the battery, and a time period.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the state of the lamp comprises an indication of at least one of a defective lamp or a bulb in the lamp being burned out.

9. The method of claim 1, where the fire alarm control panel schedules each emergency lighting unit connected to the fire alarm network for testing, and issues a command to each emergency lighting unit to begin testing its respective battery by discharging it and measuring at least one of current and voltage during the discharge time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein timing of the testing of each of the emergency light units is predetermined.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the timing comprises a periodic schedule.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the period schedule is selectable by a user.