Central test radio frequency system for emergency lighting

• US 7,321,302 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beghelli S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Beghelli S.P.A.
• Inventors: Beghelli, Gian Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/121,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/531, 340/870.03, 340/539.17, 340/539.22
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

A central test radio frequency system for emergency lighting comprising a set of emergency light units or emergency lamps (L1-L13) and a remote control unit (CU) that manages the system'"'"'s functionality, wherein each of said emergency lamps (L1-L13) has a radio transmitter-receiver (MR), which is able to communicate to each of said emergency lamps and to the remote control unit (CU) via radio signals.

Claims

1. Central test system for emergency lighting comprising a set of emergency light units or emergency lamps (L1-L13) and at least one remote control unit (CU) which is provided for sending and receiving signals to/from said emergency light units (L1-L13) for carrying out functionality tests of said light units (L1-L13), said emergency light units (L1-L13) being also able to carry out diagnostic tests either automatically or due to commands sent by said remote control unit (CU),

wherein each of said emergency light units (L1-L13) has a radio frequency transmitter-receiver (MR), which is able to communicate to each other emergency light units (L1-L13) and to the remote control unit (CU) via radio signals, also using said emergency light units (L1-L13) as signal repeaters characterized in that each of said emergency light units (L1-L13), each of said emergency light units having at least one lamp (AI) and a battery (AB) is connected to a retrofit kit, which is connected to the AC mains input energizing the kit and which contains means for implementing the emergency lighting function, the diagnosis function and the radio frequency communication function, said kit being completely programmable via said radio frequency transmitter-receiver (MR) and said kit also being connected via radio means to said remote control unit (CU).

2. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said emergency light units (L1-L13) are installed in at least one building (BA, BB).

3. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said emergency light unit or emergency lamp (L1-L13) is able to exchange data and information with at least one of the emergency light units which are adjacent in the system.

4. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said system includes at least one radio frequency receiver-transmitter or at least one radio frequency repeater (RR) functioning as a signal repeater.

5. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said system comprises at least one power repeater (PRR), which allows for a radio link of buildings (BA, BB) or of distinct zones of the same building.

6. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each emergency light unit (L1-L13) has a metal case (MC), on which a dipole antenna (DA) is placed.

7. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each emergency light unit or emergency lamp (L1-L13) has at least one button for setting the test functions and/or display devices for signaling the lamp status, for displaying the test reports, for displaying the charge status of the battery (AB) placed in the emergency light unit (L1-L13) and/or for carrying out locally the functionality test of the emergency lamp and of the battery (AB).

8. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said remote control unit (CU) is connected to at least one interface device (RI) for connecting via radio said emergency light units (L1-L13).

9. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said emergency light units or emergency lamps (L1-L13) has one single address and has one single setting code.

10. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said remote control unit (Cu) has at least one serial interface for connecting communicating devices and/or telecommunication networks.

11. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said signals sent and/or received via radio to/from said emergency light units (L1-L13) include assembled data, which are transmitted in a prefixed frequency hand and on different frequencies of said band.

12. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said emergency light units (L1-L13) has a radio communication device (MR), which is connected, by means of at least one flat cable (CM), to the processor of the light unit.

13. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said implementing means include a current sensor, a battery charger (BCH) a lamp driver (LPDRV), a diagnostic circuitry (DCH), a radio transceiver (RTRX) enabling the control of each emergency light unit (L1-L13) from said remote control unit (CU) and a microprocessor (MPR), that manages all the functions.

14. Central test system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said emergency light units (L1-L13) includes an exit sign emergency unit (L), wherein a current probe (CCL) is clamped on one battery wire of the emergency light unit (L1-L13) and is connected through a sensor device (CSENS) to said retrofit kit.

15. Central test system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that a light sensor (LSENS) is applied to the luminous part of the exit sign emergency unit (L).

16. Central test system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said retrofit kit includes an AC input (ACCIN) to which AC mains is connected, a controllable AC switch (CTK1, CTK3), an AC output (ACCOUT) to which said exit sign emergency unit (L) is connected, an AC current sensor (CTK8), a power supply for the internal circuits (CTK4), a microprocessor (CTK5), suitable for measuring the AC current supplied via said AC current sensor (CTK8), for measuring the current supplied to the battery (AB), and for controlling said AC switch (CTK1), a current sensor interface (CTK6), a light sensor interface (CTK7), a light sensor (LLSENS), which is installed in such a way to intercept the light emitted by said exit sign emergency unit (L), and a radio transceiver (CTK11), said retrofit kit being set for different duration times at the set points of the emergency test.

17. Central test system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said retrofit kit can be mounted inside or outside the emergency light units (L1-L13) and, in particular, said retrofit kit can be mounted outside the metal enclosure of the emergency light unit (L1-L13) or inside the metal enclosure letting the antenna be outside through a hole in the metal enclosure.