Integration of LED lighting control with emergency notification systems

• US 8,653,984 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• 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:
  US12/257,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20100102960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 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 emergency lighting system for a building including at least one LED-based light sized for compatibility with a standard light fixture, the at least one LED-based light comprising:

an emergency detector having a sensor operable to detect an emergency, wherein the emergency detector is operable to produce an emergency signal in response to the emergency;

a controller operable to control the at least one LED-based light in response to the emergency signal; and

a pair of hi-pin connectors, one at each longitudinal end of the LED-based light, for compatibility with a fluorescent fixture.

2. The emergency lighting system of claim 1, further comprising multiple LED-based lights for installation in separate standard light fixtures.

3. The emergency lighting system of claim 2, wherein the emergency detector included in the at least one LED-based light is operable to wirelessly transmit the emergency signal.

4. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein:

the emergency signal is indicative of a location of the emergency.

5. The emergency lighting system of claim 4, wherein the controller is operable to control the at least one LED-based light in a normal mode and an emergency mode.

6. The emergency lighting system of claim 5, wherein the at least one LED-based light produces a different color of light in the emergency mode compared to the normal mode.

7. The emergency lighting system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to vary a brightness of the at least one LED-based light to produce a pattern of light indicating a direction toward or away from an emergency location when operating in the emergency mode.

8. The emergency lighting system of claim 7, wherein one of the at least one LED-based lights includes a first LED and a second LED, and wherein the pattern of light includes operating the first LED at a different brightness than the second LED.

9. An emergency lighting system for a building including at least one LED-based light sized for compatibility with a standard light fixture, the at least one LED-based light comprising:

an emergency detector having a sensor operable to detect an emergency, wherein the emergency detector is operable to produce an emergency signal in response to the emergency; and

a controller operable to control the at least one LED-based light in response to the emergency signal;

wherein the at least one LED-based light is shaped as a fluorescent tube for compatibility with a fluorescent fixture.

10. The emergency lighting system of claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to control the at least one LED-based light in a normal mode and an emergency mode.

11. The emergency lighting, system of claim 10, wherein the at least one LED-based light produces a different color of light in the emergency mode compared to the normal mode.

12. The emergency lighting system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to vary a brightness of the at least one LED-based light to produce a pattern of light indicating a direction toward or away from an emergency location when operating in the emergency mode.

13. The emergency lighting system of claim 12, wherein one of the at least one LED-based lights includes a first LED and a second LED, and wherein the pattern of light includes operating the first LED at a different brightness than the second LED.

14. The emergency lighting system of claim 9, wherein the emergency detector is operable to monitor a power source, and wherein the controller is operable to limit an amount of power provided to the at least one LED-based light in response to a low power signal.

15. The emergency lighting system of claim 9, a pair of bi-pin connectors, one at each longitudinal end of the LED-based light, for compatibility with a fluorescent fixture.

16. The emergency lighting system of claim 9, further comprising multiple LED-based lights for installation in separate standard light fixtures.

17. The emergency lighting system of claim 9, wherein the emergency detector included in the at least one LED-based light is operable to wirelessly transmit the emergency signal.

18. An emergency lighting system for a building including at least one LED-based light sized for compatibility with a standard light fixture, the at least one LED-based light comprising:

an emergency detector having a sensor operable to detect an emergency, wherein the emergency detector is operable to produce an emergency signal in response to the emergency; and

a controller operable to control the at least one LED-based light in response to the emergency signal, wherein the controller is operable to control the at least one LED-based light in a normal mode and an emergency mode and is configured to vary a brightness of the at least one LED-based light to produce a pattern of light indicating a direction toward or away from an emergency location when operating in the emergency mode;

wherein the at least one LED-based light includes a first LED-based light and a second LED-based light, and wherein the pattern includes operating the first LED-based light at a different brightness than the second LED-based light.

19. An LED-based light for replacing a fluorescent tube in a fixture comprising:

a housing including a light transmitting portion;

a circuit board extending longitudinally within the housing;

multiple LEDs mounted on the circuit board and oriented to produce light through the light transmitting portion of the housing;

an emergency detector having a sensor operable to detect an emergency and output an emergency signal in response to an emergency;

a wireless signal transmitter operable to transmit the emergency signal to a controller operable to control at least one other LED-based light in a normal mode and an emergency mode in response to the emergency signal, wherein the controller is a central controller in communication with the other LED-based light; and

a pair of standard sized electrical connectors, one at each longitudinal end of the housing, wherein the LEDs, emergency detector, and transmitter are each electrically coupled to at least one of the electrical connectors to receive power therefrom.

20. The LED-based light of claim 19, wherein the emergency detector and the wireless signal transmitter comprise a single component of the first LED-based light.