Fail-safe uninterruptible lighting system

• US 5,646,486 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Patents LLC, Harold Levine
• Original Assignee: Mark Brown
• Inventors: Watson, W. Joe, Edwards, M. Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHINGLETON, MICHAEL B
• Application Number:
  US08/476,673
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 315/86, 315/119, 315/160, 315/161, 315/175, 315/176, 315/219, 315/DIG. 7, 315/208, 307/46, 307/48, 307/66, 320/13, 320/14
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A fail safe power supply system specially adapted for supplying power to devices such as lights. A battery is provided to supply power to the devices, and during normal operation, charge on the battery is maintained within selected levels by a charging control system that is connected to a source of commercial power. During a commercial power outage, the battery continues to supply normal power to the devices for a prolonged period of time, usually until commercial power is restored, thus obviating the necessity for a separate backup power source.

Claims

1. A method of providing uninterrupted lighting comprising steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of lighting elements;

(b) providing a source of alternating current commercial power;

(c) providing a battery of capacity selected to power said plurality of lighting elements during a predetermined interval of time;

(d) providing circuits for changing alternating current from said commercial power to direct current for application to said lighting elements and said battery;

(e) applying said direct current to said lighting elements from both said battery and said commercial power concurrently when said direct current is available from said commercial power;

(f) applying direct current from said battery to said lighting elements when said direct current is not available from said commercial power;

(g) controlling said circuits in a first mode to normally energize said lighting elements from both said battery and said source of commercial power to provide continuing uninterrupted and unswitched power to said lighting elements from said battery when said source of commercial power is disabled;

(h) controlling said circuits in a second mode to disconnect said lighting elements from said source of commercial power and said battery to de-energize said lighting elements and, when said source of commercial power is disabled, to automatically and fully energize said lighting elements from said battery; and

(i) controlling said circuits in a third mode to override said first and second modes to energize said lighting elements irrespective of the condition of said source of commercial power.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein controlling said circuits includes a step of latching said circuits.

3. A method of providing uninterrupted lighting comprising steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of lighting elements;

(b) providing a source of alternating current commercial power;

(c) providing a battery of capacity selected to power said plurality of lighting elements during a predetermined interval of time;

(d) providing conversion circuits for changing alternating current from said commercial power to direct current for application to said lighting elements and said battery;

(e) interconnecting said conversion circuits between said source of alternating current commercial power and said battery;

(g) controlling said circuits in a first mode to normally energize said lighting elements from both said battery and said source of commercial power to provide continuing uninterrupted and unswitched power to said lighting elements from said battery when said source of commercial power is disabled;

(h) controlling said circuits in a second mode to disconnect said lighting elements from said source of commercial power and said battery to de-energize said lighting elements and, when said source of commercial power is disabled, to automatically and fully energize said lighting elements from said battery; and

(i) controlling said circuits in a third mode to override said first and second modes to energize said lighting elements irrespective of the condition of said source of commercial power.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein controlling said circuits includes a step of latching said circuits.