Low-voltage lighting apparatus for satisfying after-hours lighting requirements, emergency lighting requirements, and low light requirements

• US 7,086,747 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elisa Sartori
• Original Assignee: Safeexits Incorporated
• Inventors: Nielson, Lyman O., Hess, Norman B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Jason
• Application Number:
  US10/733,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 362/20, 362/228, 362/240, 362/260, 362/545, 362/555, 362/800, 362/249, 362/251
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation

Abstract

An energy-efficient lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus includes a ballast cover. The ballast cover includes a plurality of ballast cover holes. The lighting apparatus also includes a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The circuit board is positioned adjacent the ballast cover so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of ballast cover holes in the ballast cover. The lighting apparatus may also include a battery for supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Claims

1. An energy-efficient lighting apparatus, comprising:

a ballast cover;

a plurality of ballast cover holes in the ballast cover;

a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, wherein the circuit board is positioned adjacent the ballast cover so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of ballast cover holes in the ballast cover, wherein the lighting apparatus is coupled to a wall switch and wherein the illumination of the light-emitting diodes is controllable based upon the position of the wall switch.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery for supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a switching circuit for controlling illumination of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the switching circuit comprises:

a first portion for placing the switching circuit in communication with a wall switch;

a second portion for coupling the switching circuit to the battery; and

a third portion for coupling the switching circuit to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switching circuit couples the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is not receiving AC voltage from an AC voltage source that is coupled to the wall switch, and wherein the switching circuit does not couple the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is receiving the AC voltage from the AC voltage source.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switching circuit further comprises a fourth portion for receiving an alarm signal from an alarm device.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switching circuit couples the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is receiving the alarm signal.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a battery charging circuit for charging the battery.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the battery charging circuit comprises:

a first portion for coupling the battery charging circuit to an AC voltage source; and

a second portion for coupling the battery charging circuit to the battery.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuit board further comprises a battery test light coupled to the battery.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery test light protrudes through one of the plurality of ballast cover holes.

12. An energy-efficient lighting apparatus for retrofit with an existing light fixture having a ballast cover, comprising:

a housing having an attachment surface and an illumination surface;

a plurality of illumination surface holes in the illumination surface;

a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, wherein the circuit board is positioned adjacent the housing so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of illumination surface holes in the illumination surface; and

a fastening mechanism for securing the attachment surface of the lighting apparatus to the illumination surface, wherein the lighting apparatus is coupled to a wall switch and wherein the illumination of the light-emitting diodes is controllable based upon the position of the wall switch.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a battery for supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a switching circuit for controlling illumination of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching circuit comprises:

a first portion for placing the switching circuit in communication with a wall switch;

a second portion for coupling the switching circuit to the battery; and

a third portion for coupling the switching circuit to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 15, wherein the switching circuit couples the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is not receiving AC voltage from an AC voltage source that is coupled to the wall switch, and wherein the switching circuit does not couple the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is receiving the AC voltage from the AC voltage source.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 15, wherein the switching circuit further comprises a fourth portion for receiving an alarm signal from an alarm device.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the switching circuit couples the battery to the plurality of light-emitting diodes if the switching circuit is receiving the alarm signal.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a battery charging circuit for charging the battery.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 19, wherein the battery charging circuit comprises:

a first portion for coupling the battery charging circuit to the AC voltage source; and

a second portion for coupling the battery charging circuit to the battery.

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the circuit board further comprises a battery test light coupled to the battery.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the battery test light protrudes through one of the plurality of illumination surface holes.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a connector in the attachment surface of the housing that snaps into an illumination cover hole in the illumination surface; and

wires connecting the circuit board to the battery through the connector.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises an adhesive strip having a protective cover.

25. A method for providing illumination to an area in an energy-efficient manner, comprising:

providing a ballast cover, the ballast cover having a plurality of ballast cover holes, the ballast cover being attachable to a light fixture;

providing a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes; and

positioning the circuit board adjacent the ballast cover so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of ballast cover holes in the ballast cover, wherein the light fixture is coupled to a wall switch and wherein the illumination of the light-emitting diodes is controllable based upon the position of the wall switch.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes when a light bulb within the light fixture is not illuminated.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising not illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes when a light bulb within the light fixture is illuminated.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an alarm signal from an alarm device; and

in response to receiving the alarm signal, illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

29. A method for retrofitting a light fixture with an energy-efficient lighting apparatus, the light fixture having a ballast cover, the method comprising:

providing a housing having an attachment surface and an illumination surface, wherein the illumination surface comprises a plurality of illumination surface holes;

providing a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes;

positioning the circuit board adjacent the housing so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of illumination surface holes in the illumination surface; and

securing the attachment surface of the housing to the illumination surface, wherein the lighting apparatus is coupled to a wall switch and wherein the illumination of the light-emitting diodes is controllable based upon the position of the wall switch.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes when a light bulb within the light fixture is not illuminated.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising not illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes when a light bulb within the light fixture is illuminated.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving an alarm signal from an alarm device; and

in response to receiving the alarm signal, illuminating the plurality of light-emitting diodes.