Self-diagnostic fault identification system for emergency lighting unit

• US 10,775,009 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Issued: 09/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Lighting Incorporated (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Cyr, Allen George, Bowers, Jonathan Erik, Fernandes, Steven Dominic, Papstein, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/664,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20180073696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/024 using a supplementary light source for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/28 Circuit arrangements for protecting against abnormal temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/29 Circuits providing for substitution of the light source in case of its failure

Abstract

An emergency lighting device includes a housing, a light emitter positioned in the housing, a control circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the light emitter, an indicator light positioned in the housing, and a fault indicator circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the indicator light. The fault indicator circuit is configured to monitor the light emitter, analyze activation of the light emitter, and activate the indicator light based on the analysis of the activation of the light emitter.

Claims

1. An emergency lighting device comprising:

a housing;

a light emitter positioned in the housing;

a control circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the light emitter;

a fault indicator circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the control circuit;

a first indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit;

a second indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit; and

a third indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit,

wherein the fault indicator circuit is configured to activate the first indicator light to indicate a plurality of faults, to activate the second indicator light to indicate a first fault, and to activate the third indicator light to indicate a second fault, and

wherein the first fault is different from the second fault, and at least one of the plurality of faults is different from the first fault and the second fault.

2. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first fault is a replace battery fault.

3. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second fault is a replace unit fault.

4. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser positioned over the second and third indicator lights.

5. The emergency lighting device of claim 4, wherein the diffuser includes a first symbol indicating the first fault and a second symbol indicating the second fault.

6. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first indicator is a bi-color LED.

7. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, wherein the fault indicator circuit includes a first controller and a second controller.

8. The emergency lighting device of claim 1, wherein

the fault indicator circuit is configured to

monitor the light emitter,

analyze activation of the light emitter, and

activate at least one of the indicator lights based on the analysis of the activation of the light emitter.

9. The emergency lighting device of claim 8, wherein activation of the light emitter includes a flash rate.

10. The emergency lighting device of claim 9, wherein the flash rate includes one or more flashes per predetermined time period.

11. The emergency lighting device of claim 8, wherein the light emitter is activated based on a characteristic monitored by the control circuit.

12. The emergency lighting device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit determines a fault based on the characteristic monitored by the control circuit.

13. The emergency lighting device of claim 12, wherein the fault is a battery fault.

14. The emergency lighting device of claim 12, wherein the fault is a unit fault.

15. An emergency lighting device comprising:

a housing;

a light emitter rotatably connected to the housing;

a control circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the light emitter;

a fault indicator circuit positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the control circuit;

a backup battery positioned in the housing and operatively connected to the control circuit and the light emitter;

a first indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit;

a second indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit; and

a third indicator light connected to the fault indicator circuit,

wherein the fault indicator circuit is configured to activate the first indicator light to indicate a plurality of faults, to activate the second indicator light to indicate a first fault, and to activate the third indicator light to indicate a second fault, and

wherein the first fault is different from the second fault, and at least one of the plurality of faults is different from the first fault and the second fault.

16. The emergency lighting device of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured discharge the battery to power the light emitter.

17. The emergency lighting device of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured to charge the battery.

18. The emergency lighting device of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a tapered opening aligned with one of the indicator lights.

19. The emergency lighting device of claim 15, further comprising a diffuser positioned over at least one of the indicator lights, wherein the diffuser includes a symbol indicating a fault.

20. The emergency lighting device of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a front wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the light emitter extends through the front wall and at least one of the indicator lights extends through the bottom wall.