Integration of LED Lighting Control with Emergency Notification Systems

• US 20190139387A1
• Filed: 01/03/2019
• Published: 05/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated), Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Simon, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,713,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. (canceled)

2. An LED-based light, comprising:

a tubular housing configured to be installable in a standard light fixture;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the housing;

a controller disposed within the housing, wherein the controller is configured to operate the LEDs in a normal mode, wherein at least some of the LEDs are operated to produce white light for general illumination, and in an emergency mode, wherein in the emergency mode;

during a first time span, a first LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a first brightness level,

during a second time span, a second LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a second brightness level greater than the first brightness level, and

during a third time span, a third LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a third brightness level greater than the second brightness level,

wherein the first time span partially overlaps the second time span, and wherein the second time span partially overlaps the third time span;

an emergency detector disposed within the housing, the emergency detector having a sensor configured to detect an emergency and configured to produce an emergency signal in response to the emergency;

a wireless signal transmitter disposed within the housing, the wireless signal transmitter configured to transmit an alarm notification to a response system in response to the emergency signal; and

a connector arranged at an end of the housing, the connector configured for physical connection to one or more sockets of the standard light fixture such that, when the connector is physically connected to the one or more sockets, the housing, the plurality of LEDs, the controller, the emergency detector, and the wireless signal transmitter are secured in the standard light fixture.

3. The LED-based light of claim 2, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprise white light emitting LEDs and colored light emitting LEDs, the white light emitting LEDs being configured for operation in the normal mode to produce the white light for general illumination, and the colored light emitting LEDs being configured for operation in the emergency mode to at least partially produce a different color of light compared to the normal mode.

4. The LED-based light of claim 2, wherein the emergency detector'"'"'s sensor is operable to detect at least one of smoke or a fire.

5. The LED-based light of claim 2, wherein the emergency detector'"'"'s sensor is operable to detect at least one of a trespasser or a door ajar.

6. The LED-based light of claim 2, wherein the connector is one of a pair of connectors disposed at opposing ends of the housing and configured for physical connection to the one or more sockets of the standard light fixture.

7. The LED-based light of claim 2, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed within the housing, the wireless receiver being configured to receive an emergency broadcast indicative of a weather-related emergency from a remote weather service,

wherein the controller is configured to operate the LEDs according to the emergency mode responsive to the wireless receive receiving the emergency broadcast.

8. The LED-based light of claim 2, wherein the response system is one of a security office or an automatic door locking system.

9. A lighting system, comprising:

an LED-based light comprising;

a tubular housing configured to be installable in a standard light fixture;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the housing, the plurality of LEDs subject to operation in a normal mode, wherein at least some of the LEDs are operated to produce white light for general illumination, and in an emergency mode, wherein in the emergency mode;

during a first time span, a first LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a first brightness level,

during a second time span, a second LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a second brightness level greater than the first brightness level, and

during a third time span, a third LED of the plurality of LEDs emits light according to a third brightness level greater than the second brightness level,

wherein the first time span partially overlaps the second time span, and

wherein the second time span partially overlaps the third time span;

an emergency detector disposed within the housing, the emergency detector having a sensor configured to detect an emergency and configured to produce an emergency signal in response to the emergency;

a wireless signal transmitter disposed within the housing, the wireless signal transmitter configured to transmit an alarm notification to a response system in response to the emergency signal; and

a connector arranged at an end of the housing, the connector configured for physical connection to one or more sockets of the standard light fixture such that, when the connector is physically connected to the one or more sockets, the housing, the plurality of LEDs, the emergency detector, and the wireless signal transmitter are secured in the standard light fixture; and

a controller configured to;

receive the emergency signal; and

in response to the emergency signal, switch the operation of the LEDs from the normal mode to the emergency mode.

10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the controller is housed by the housing as a component of the LED-based light.

11. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the controller is remote from the LED-based light.

12. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprise white light emitting LEDs and colored light emitting LEDs, the white light emitting LEDs being configured for operation in the normal mode to produce the white light for general illumination, and the colored light emitting LEDs being configured for operation in the emergency mode to at least partially produce a different color of light compared to the normal mode.

13. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the emergency detector'"'"'s sensor is operable to detect at least one of smoke or a fire.

14. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the emergency detector'"'"'s sensor is operable to detect at least one of a trespasser or a door ajar.

15. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the connector is one of a pair of connectors disposed at opposing ends of the housing and configured for physical connection to the one or more sockets of the standard light fixture.

16. The lighting system of claim 9, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed within the housing, the wireless receiver being configured to receive an emergency broadcast indicative of a weather-related emergency from a remote weather service,

wherein the controller is configured to operate the LEDs according to the emergency mode responsive to the wireless receive receiving the emergency broadcast.

17. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the response system is one of a security office or an automatic door locking system.