Integration of LED lighting control with emergency notification systems

• US 8,830,080 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Simon, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/848,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An emergency lighting system for a building includes at least one LED-based light. An emergency detector is operable to detect an emergency. The emergency detector produces an emergency signal in response to the emergency. A controller is operable to control the at least one LED-based light in response to the emergency signal.

Claims

1. An LED-based light sized for compatibility with a standard light fixture, comprising:

at least a first LED and a second LED;

a controller operable to;

receive an emergency signal indicating a switch from a normal mode to an emergency mode, and

in response to the emergency signal, control the operation of the first LED and the second LED, the operation including operating the first LED at a different brightness than the second LED; and

at least one connector for compatibility with a standard light fixture.

2. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the operation includes operating the first LED at a different brightness than the second LED to produce a pattern of light indicating a direction toward or away from an emergency location.

3. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the operation includes varying a brightness of the first LED and varying a brightness of the second LED.

4. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the operation includes varying a brightness of the first LED from a low level to a predetermined brightness, and varying a brightness of the second LED from the low level to the predetermined brightness, with the brightness of the second LED reaching the predetermined brightness after the first LED.

5. The LED-based light of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing with opposing longitudinal ends and including a light transmitting portion;

a circuit board extending longitudinally within the housing and including the first LED and the second LED, the first LED and the second LED longitudinally spaced on the circuit board and oriented to produce light through the light transmitting portion of the housing; and

a pair of standard sized connectors, one at each longitudinal end of the housing, for compatibility with a standard fluorescent light fixture.

6. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the LED-based light is shaped as a fluorescent tube for compatibility with a fluorescent fixture.