Unobtrusive Power Failure Lighting System

• US 20090284384A1
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Barton
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US12/510,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20090284384A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service

Abstract

An Unobtrusive Power Failure Lighting system is described where a power failure light, is integrated with an electric wiring device and its associated cover plate. An electric wiring device with an electric circuit is described. A cover plate with features for emitting light is also described. The electric wiring device is in communication with the cover plate through a first and second interface. A wireless power system is also described as one implementation of the first and second interface. The cover plate may contain a variety of components allowing the system designer to expand the functionality of the system while keeping manufacturing complexity low. The system is modularly designed to overcome size and space limitations found when combining the multiple safety functions and controls into an electric wiring device that fits into conventional electric work boxes.

Claims

1. ) A system for providing power failure lighting and alerting comprising:

a. An electric wiring device further comprising;

i. A housing having suitable shape and size to fit within a conventional electrical workbox, said housing having a mounting member to affix said housing to said conventional electrical workbox;

ii. A primary power interface for connection to primary power source;

iii. An internal electrical circuit providing at least one signal, said at least one signal including a power failure state signal, said internal electrical circuit in electrical communication with said primary power interface;

iv. A first interface providing a communication path for said at least one signal, said first interface in communication with said internal electric circuit and disposed in such a way as to permit communication with a second interface that is external to said electric wiring device;

b. A cover plate comprising;

i. A housing having sufficient size and shape to cover a rough opening that surrounds said electric wiring device and said conventional electrical workbox;

ii. A mounting means to affix said cover plate over said electrical wiring device;

iii. Said second interface for communicating with said first interface, said second interface disposed in such a way as to permit communication with said first interface;

iv. A safety light source in communication with said second interface through a circuit;

v. A light transmission means to allow light emitted from said safety light source to project away from said cover plate;

Whereby said system provides power failure lighting when said cover plate is installed over said electric wiring device upon receipt of a signal transmitted over said first and second interfaces.

2. ) The system of claim 1 comprising an electric wiring device and a cover plate, said electric wiring device having a first interface removably connected to said second interface of said cover plate.

3. ) The electric wiring device of claim 1 having an electric circuit, said electric circuit further comprising an alarm input circuit.

4. ) The cover plate of claim 1 further comprising an audio alerting device in communication with said second interface, said audio alerting device providing audible sound.

5. ) The electric wiring device of claim 1 further having an audio alerting device in communication with said electric circuit, said audio alerting device providing audible sound.

6. ) The cover plate of claim 1 comprising a housing, said housing having suitable structure to accommodate one or more modules, said modules selected from the group of safety lighting source, audio alarm source, light transmission means, user interface control, ambient light sensor, alternate power source, second interface, inductive power transfer receiver, and clear or translucent area.

7. ) The electrical circuit of claim 1 comprising a user interface input to control the state of said electrical circuit.

8. ) The electrical circuit of claim 1 comprising a communications interface for receiving and transmitting signals, said communications interface selected from the group of wired, wireless, and power line communications.

9. ) The communications interface of claim 8 in communication with a remote sensing circuit, said remote sensing circuit having inputs selected from the group of user, darkness, alarm, smoke, gas, intrusion, and water.

10. ) The electric wiring device of claim 1 comprising a first interface, said first interface selected from the group of wired, wireless, inductive, optical, and mating contacts.

11. ) The electrical wiring device of claim 1 comprising one or more of the following:

switch, receptacle, and dimmer.

12. ) The cover plate of claim 1 further comprising an ambient light sensor in communication with said circuit.

13. ) The cover plate of claim 1 further comprising a user interface control providing manual control over one or more features of said system.

14. ) The electric wiring device of claim 1 comprising a first interface, said first interface providing power to said circuit in said cover plate.

15. ) The electrical wiring device of claim 1 further comprising an inductive power transmission means to provide power wirelessly to said cover plate.

16. ) The safety light source of claim 1 having a direct connection to said first interface, said direct connection performing the function of said second interface.

17. ) A method to emit power failure light from a wall cover plate comprising the steps of:

a. Integrating an electrical circuit internal to an electrical wiring device, said electrical circuit providing a safety signal, said electrical wiring device connected to primary AC power;

b. Affixing a first interface to said electrical wiring device, said first interface communicating said safety signal, said first interface disposed to permit communication with a second interface;

c. Integrating a safety light source with a cover plate, said cover plate revealing at least a portion of said electric wiring device, said cover plate further sealing a rough opening surrounding an installed said electrical wiring device, the state of said safety light source controlled by said safety signal;

d. Mounting said second interface within said cover plate in such a way as to permit communicating with said first interface after installation of said cover plate over said electrical wiring device, said second interface in communication with said safety light source through a cover plate circuit;

e. Providing an alternate power source to be used to supply power to said safety light source when primary power has failed;

f. Arranging a light transmission means to convey light emitted from said safety light source outwardly from said cover plate;

Whereby the installed combination of said electrical wiring device and said cover plate permits said safety light source to emit light into the surrounding area while providing a familiar look and feel of a conventional electric wiring device and cover plate combination;

18. ) The method of claim 17 wherein the step of integrating an electrical circuit into an electrical wiring device, comprises said electrical wiring device selected from the group of switch, receptacle, dimmer, and blank body.

20. ) The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

a. Incorporating said inductive wireless power receiver into a cover plate, said inductive wireless power receiver in communication with a cover plate circuit said cover plate circuit comprising at least one load;

b. Mounting said cover plate proximal to said electrical wiring device such that power transmission occurs from said power supply in said electrical wiring device to said inductive wireless power receiver in said cover plate.

19. ) A method to extend the functionality of an electrical wiring device and increase the area needed to employ additional functions and controls without substantially increasing the size of said electrical wiring device comprising the steps of:

a. integrating an electrical circuit internal to said electrical wiring device to provide a power supply, said electrical wiring device suitably equipped to permit connection to primary AC power;

b. Providing an inductive wireless power transmission interface in said electrical wiring device, said inductive wireless power transmission interface connected to said electrical circuit, said inductive wireless power transmission interface further disposed to communicate with an inductive wireless power receiver mounted at a nominal distance from said inductive wireless power transmission interface;

Whereby said inductive wireless power transmission interface provides isolated power for said additional functions that are not integrated into said electric wiring device, thereby relieving the need to substantially increase the size of said electrical wiring device.