System for providing pathway indications through unlit areas

• US 7,242,313 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald P. Harwood
• Original Assignee: Ronald P. Harwood
• Inventors: Harwood, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/920,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.1, 340/691.2, 340/693.1, 340/693.5, 340/815.45, 340/332, 340/333, 340/693.2, 362/800, 362/183, 362/157, 362/145, 362/296, 315/149, 307/64, 307 85- 87, 521/733
• US Class Current: 340/693.2
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/023 for pedestrian walkways
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

An auxiliary lighting system contains at least one photoelectric cell to convert ambient light into energy and at least one light emitting diode. The photoelectric cell converts ambient light into energy which is stored in a storage cell. A switching system provides energy from the storage cell to the light emitting diode upon certain conditions, generally by time or by lack of ambient light.

Claims

1. An auxiliary lighting system comprising:

a photoelectric collector to convert light to electric energy;

at least one storage device electrically connected to the photoelectric collector to store energy produced by the photoelectric collector;

at least one light emitting diode to provide illumination to an area; and

at least one switching device electrically connected to the storage device and a source of primary power to selectively control the provision of electricity from the at least one storage device and the source of primary power to said at least one light emitting diode, the light emitting diode being electrically connected to the at least one switching device, wherein the photoelectric collector is mounted to the exterior of a building and electrically connected to the storage device.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is a wall mounted light emitting diode.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the wall mounted light emitting diode is mounted in or to an interior wall of a building.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is a reflector mounted light emitting diode.

5. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein the reflector mounted light emitting diode is mounted in or to the reflector of a luminaire.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is a bezel mounted light emitting diode.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the bezel mounted light emitting diode is mounted in or to a bezel of a luminaire.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is a trim ring mounted light emitting diode.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, comprising a control panel electrically connected to an auto-switching energy sensor, and a remote photocell electrically connected to the auto-switching energy sensor.

10. A building having an auxiliary lighting system comprising:

a) a building structure having at least a roof and interior and exterior walls;

b) a photoelectric collector installed on the roof of the building structure;

c) at least one storage device to store energy from the photoelectric collector;

d) at least one light emitting diode installed in the interior of the building structure; and

e) at least one switching device to selectively control the provision of electricity from the at least one storage device to said at least one light emitting diode, the at least one switching device being electrically connected to the photoelectric collector, the at least one storage device, the at least one light emitting diode, and a source of primary power.

11. The building of claim 10, comprising:

a) at least one remote photocell electrically connected to the at least one switching device.