Back-up lighting system

• US 5,416,384 A
• Filed: 02/23/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Bavaro
• Original Assignee: Joseph Bavaro
• Inventors: Bavaro, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US08/021,197
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 315/33, 315/86, 315/93, 315/120, 315/127, 315/128, 315/129, 315/130, 315/131, 315/132, 315/133, 315/134, 315/135, 315/149, 315/175, 315/158, 315/159, 315/219, 315/224 , 315/240, 315/360, 315/155, 315/DIG. 2, 315/DIG. 5, 307/150, 307/157, 320/2, 320/29, 320/48
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/02 High frequency starting operation for fluorescent lamp

Abstract

This is an emergency lighting system that provides an emergency driving voltage to drive at least one lamp when the AC power input to the lamp is detected as absent. A rechargeable battery pack and recharging circuit are contained in a first modular housing, and driving circuitry is contained in a second modular housing. An easily accessible, manually-operable service switch disables the provision of battery power to the driving circuitry (when the switch is in the open state), thereby allowing substantial reduction in installation time and cost. A test switch is included to emulate power failures. A transmitter and receiver mechanism allow a user to remotely disable the provision of battery power to the driving circuitry, thereby offering battery power conservation, if the emeregency lamplight is not needed. Likewise, a photo-sensing mechanism disables the provision of battery power to the driving circuitry, if there is sufficient ambient light.

Claims

1. A back-up power system for a fixture having at least one lamp that can be driven by AC mains power, said back-up power system comprising:

a battery module, contained in a first modular housing and including a replaceable battery pack, said battery module providing a back-up output;

a power module, contained in a second modular housing, the power module receiving the back-up output and providing a driving voltage to drive said at least one lamp when a DC relay detects the absence of AC mains power; and

a service switch connecting the back-up output to the power module, said service switch disabling the provision of the back-up output to the power module when the service switch is open.

2. A back-up power system for a fixture having at least one lamp that can be driven by AC mains power and by a DC driving voltage, said back-up power system comprising:

a rechargeable battery pack providing a battery voltage;

socket means for receiving the battery pack;

a recharging circuit, receiving AC mains power and providing a recharging current to the battery pack;

relay means for detecting the absence of AC mains power and for connecting the battery voltage to a inverter and for connecting the DC driving voltage to the fixture to drive the at least one lamp, when AC mains power is detected as absent;

said inverter responsively receiving the battery voltage and providing an AC inverter voltage;

a step-up transformer receiving the AC inverter voltage and providing an AC step-up voltage;

rectifier means for receiving the AC step-up voltage and for providing the DC driving voltage; and

further comprising a service switch connecting the battery voltage to the inverter, if the switch is closed, and disconnecting the battery voltage from the inverter, if the switch is open.

3. A back-up power system for a fixture having at least one lamp that can be driven by AC mains power, said back-up power system comprising:

a battery pack providing a battery voltage, said battery pack being rechargeable by a recharging current;

socket means for receiving the battery pack;

a recharging circuit, receiving said AC mains power and providing the recharging current;

first relay means for detecting the absence of AC mains power and for connecting the battery voltage to a inverter and an AC transformer voltage to the at least one lamp in response to the first relay means detecting the absence of AC mains power;

a service switch, connecting the battery voltage to the inverter, if the service switch is closed, and disconnecting the battery voltage from the inverter, if the service switch is open;

said inverter, responsively receiving the battery voltage and providing an AC inverter voltage of a predetermined frequency;

a transformer, receiving the AC inverter voltage and providing the AC transformer voltage to the transformer output; and

time-delay relay means for connecting the transformer output to a means for reducing driving voltage, thereby reducing the voltage that drives the at least one lamp, said time-delay relay means being activated a predetermined time after the first relay means detects AC mains power absence.

4. A back-up power system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a remote transmitter means for transmitting a control signal and a receiver means for detecting the control signal and wherein if said control signal is detected, said receiver means opens a switch to disconnect the battery voltage from the inverter.

5. A back-up power system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising photo-sensing means for disconnecting the battery voltage from the inverter if the photo-sensing means detect a predetermined level of ambient light.

6. A back-up power system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the transmitter and the receiver communicate via radio frequency (RF) communication.

7. A back-up power system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the transmitter and the receiver communicate via infrared communication.

8. A back-up power system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inverter and the transformer are contained in a first modular housing, and the battery pack and the recharging circuit are contained in a second modular housing.