Back-up lighting system

• US 8,029,151 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Butler, Doyle Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind
• Application Number:
  US12/409,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 362/20, 362/147, 362/228, 362/240, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/249.05, 362/249.12, 362/260, 362/276, 362/395, 362/410, 362/413, 362/414, 362/418, 362/431, 362/432, 362/800, 362/802, 315 86- 88, 315/154
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/105 of arenas or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention provide a secondary, or back-up, lighting system for light fixtures having a primary light source. The back-up lighting system is configured to mount onto a support structure of the light fixture. The back-up lighting system includes a light source and a lens with optical properties. A housing retains the light source and lens. The back-up lighting system may include a controller that monitors the main power source for the primary light source of the light fixture. The controller activates the light source of the back-up lighting system upon detecting power restoration after a power loss. In some embodiments of this invention, the back-up lighting system includes a secondary power source that powers the back-up lighting system during a loss of power.

Claims

1. A back-up lighting system for mounting on a support structure of a light fixture comprising a primary light source, the back-up lighting system comprising:

(a) at least two components adapted to extend at least partially around the support structure at a position below the primary light source, each component comprising;

(i) a housing comprising a thermally conductive material;

(ii) a plurality of light emitting diodes retained at least partially within the housing; and

(iii) a lens retained at least partially within the housing; and

(b) a controller adapted to detect a loss of power to the primary light source and activate the plurality of light emitting diodes of at least one of the at least two components upon detecting the loss of power.

2. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to deactivate the plurality of light emitting diodes after the primary light source is reactivated following restoration of power to the primary light source.

3. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are activated after power is restored to the primary light source.

4. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are activated before power is restored to the primary light source.

5. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the primary light source is powered by a primary power source and wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are powered by the primary power source.

6. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the primary light source is powered by a primary power source and wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are powered by a secondary power source.

7. The back-up lighting system of claim 6, wherein the secondary power source comprises at least one battery.

8. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises fins configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of light emitting diodes.

9. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least two components define an aperture in which the support structure is positioned when the at least two components are mounted on the support structure.

10. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a gasket adapted for positioning intermediate the at least two components and the support structure.

11. The back-up lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least two components are adapted to extend entirely around the support structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least two components are identical.

13. A back-up lighting system for mounting on a support structure of a light fixture comprising at least one high intensity discharge lamp, the back-up lighting system comprising:

(a) at least two components adapted to extend at least partially around the support structure at a position below the high intensity discharge lamp, each component comprising;

(i) a housing comprising a thermally conductive material;

(ii) a plurality of light emitting diodes retained at least partially within the housing; and

(iii) a lens retained at least partially within the housing;

(b) at least one mounting gasket for positioning intermediate the at least two components and the support structure; and

(c) a controller adapted to detect a loss of power to the at least one high intensity discharge lamp and activate the plurality of light emitting diodes of at least one of the at least two components after detecting the loss of power.

14. The back-up lighting system of claim 13, wherein the controller is adapted to activate the plurality of light emitting diodes after power is restored to the at least one high intensity discharge lamp.

15. The back-up lighting system of claim 13, wherein the controller is adapted to activate the plurality of light emitting diodes before power is restored to the at least one high intensity discharge lamp.

16. The back-up lighting system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further adapted to deactivate the plurality of light emitting diodes after the at least one high intensity discharge lamp is reactivated following restoration of power to the at least one high intensity discharge lamp.

17. The back-up lighting system of claim 13, wherein the at least two components are adapted to extend entirely around the support structure.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least two components are identical.

19. A method of providing back-up lighting to a light fixture comprising a primary light source and supported by a support structure, the method comprising:

(a) providing a back-up lighting system comprising at least two components, each component comprising;

(i) a housing comprising a thermally conductive material;

(ii) a plurality of light emitting diodes retained at least partially within the housing; and

(iii) a lens retained at least partially within the housing;

(b) mounting the at least two components of the back-up lighting system to the support structure at a location below the primary light source and so that the at least two components extend at least partially around the support structure;

(c) detecting a power loss to the primary light source; and

(d) activating the plurality of light emitting diodes of at least one of the at least two components upon detecting the loss of power.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises activating the plurality of light emitting diodes after power has been restored to the primary light source.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises activating the plurality of light emitting diodes before power has been restored to the primary light source.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising deactivating the plurality of light emitting diodes after power has been restored to the primary light source and the primary light source is reactivated.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein mounting the at least two components of the back-up lighting system comprises mounting the at least two components so that the at least two components extend entirely around the support structure.