SMART EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM AND LIGHT

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an emergency lighting system and to a luminaire for use in building illumination.Background Art

[0002] WO 2010 / 111256 A2 discloses a mains-supplied regular illumination functionality being operable in dependence of a reading of a sensor. US 2018 / 228007 A1 discloses a power over ethernet lighting system includes a plurality of nodes electrically connected to a power / communication bus. GB 2 534 901 A discloses a wireless control and sensing apparatus and method for an emergency luminaire. US 2013 / 334881 A1 discloses a battery powered device that interfaces with the power source of a target device. US 2015 / 296599 A1 discloses a modular coordinated lighting system comprising one or more wireless lighting devices that can communicate over a network and coordinate their operation to provide illumination to an area.

[0003] Being a mandatory requirement in building illumination, exemplary emergency lighting is typically designed for cost-efficiency and as an add-on to regular illumination functionality. This defines an plain role of emergency lighting in lighting systems, and precludes a smarter role thereof.Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is thus to provide an emergency lighting system capable of solving this and other prior art issues.

[0005] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims and in the following description and drawings.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an emergency lighting system is provided. The emergency lighting system comprises an emergency driver module for powering an emergency lighting means connectable to the emergency lighting system from a battery connectable to the emergency lighting system. The emergency lighting system further comprises terminals for supplying the emergency lighting means, and a first communication interface for communicating with at least one sensor module.

[0007] The emergency driver module further comprises a control unit for controlling an operation of the emergency driver module in dependence of a reading of a sensor of the at least one sensor module.

[0008] The emergency lighting system comprises the at least one sensor module, including a test switch and a status indicator; the sensor, and a second communication interface for communicating with the first communication interface of the emergency driver module, wherein the test switch, the status indicator, and the sensor are integrated into the at least one sensor module, and each is configured to be exposed to an ambiance of the emergency lighting system.

[0009] The sensor may be formed by a daylight sensor and the control unit may be designed to adapt the brightness of the emergency lighting means according to the reading of the sensor.

[0010] The first and second communication interfaces may respectively be configured for wire-less communication.

[0011] Alternatively, the first and second communication interfaces may respectively be configured for wire-bound communication.

[0012] The first and second communication interfaces may respectively comprise a Digital Addressable Lighting Interface.

[0013] The control unit may be configured to log the reading of the sensor.

[0014] The control unit may be configured to activate the powering of the emergency lighting means from the battery in dependence of the reading of the sensor.

[0015] The control unit may be configured to activate a charging of the battery in dependence of the reading of the sensor.

[0016] The control unit may be configured to activate an actuator associated with the emergency lighting means in dependence of the reading of the sensor.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a luminaire is provided. The luminaire comprises an emergency lighting system of the first aspect of the present disclosure or any of its embodiments; an emergency lighting means; and a battery.

[0018] The present disclosure provides an emergency lighting system which may integrate sensor(s) in combination with further components such as a test switch and a status indicator, into so-called sensor modules. This makes sense as said integrated components definitely require a respective exposure to an ambiance of the emergency lighting system. This may improve an accuracy of corresponding readings of the sensor(s), and evolve a simple mandatory emergency lighting functionality to an intelligent smart connected system, by controlling a behavior of the emergency lighting system in dependence of its sensor(s) readings.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] Further aspects, advantages and objects of the invention will become evident for the skilled reader by means of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, when taking into conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates an emergency lighting system according to a non-claimed embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 2 illustrates an emergency lighting system according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Descriptions of Embodiments

[0020] The invention will now be described with respect to various embodiments.

[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates an emergency lighting system 1 according to a non-claimed embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] The emergency lighting system 1 has an emergency driver module 101. The emergency driver module 101 is configured for powering an emergency lighting means 102 that is connectable to the emergency lighting system 1 from a battery 103 that is also connectable to the emergency lighting system 1. Fig. 1 suggests the emergency lighting means 102 and the battery 103 by light-emitting diode (LED) and battery symbols, respectively.

[0023] Solid lines in Fig. 1 indicate the features of the emergency lighting system 1, whereas dashed lines suggest the additional features of a luminaire 2 comprising the emergency lighting system 1, i.e., the emergency lighting means 102 and the battery 103.

[0024] The emergency lighting system 1 further comprises terminals 104 for supplying the emergency lighting means 102, and a first communication interface 105 for communicating with one or more sensor modules 106.

[0025] In other words, the emergency lighting system 1 of Fig. 1 is configured for connectivity with field devices such as sensors and / or actuators, so as to form an intelligent emergency lighting system.

[0026] Fig. 2 illustrates an emergency lighting system 1' according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] The emergency lighting system 1' of Fig. 2 includes all the features of the emergency lighting system 1 of Fig. 1, and further comprises at least one sensor module 106. In turn, the at least one sensor module 106 includes a test switch 107; a status indicator 108; a sensor 109; and a second communication interface 110 for communicating with the first communication interface 105 of the emergency driver module 101, wherein the test switch 107, the status indicator 108, and the sensor 109 are integrated into the at least one sensor module 106, and each is configured to be exposed to an ambiance of the emergency lighting system 1'.

[0028] The sensor 109 may be formed or may comprise a brightness sensor, e.g. a daylight sensor to detect the natural light (e.g. sunlight). In an embodiment the sensor 109 may be also be formed by another type of sensor or a combination of different types of sensors, e.g. by by a motion sensor, a presence sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a fire detector, a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, an audio sensor or an air quality sensor.

[0029] Again, solid lines in Fig. 2 indicate the features of the emergency lighting system 1', whereas dashed lines suggest the additional features of a luminaire 2 comprising the emergency lighting system 1', i.e., the emergency lighting means 102, the battery 103, and optionally an actuator 112.

[0030] The sensor 109 may be integrated with further components such as the test switch 107 and the status indicator 108 into a sensor module 106. This makes particular sense if the concerned system components 107 - 109 require a respective exposure to an ambiance of the emergency lighting system 1'. The test switch 107 needs to be accessible from an outside for functional testing of the emergency lighting system 1', and the status indicator 108 needs to be visible from the outside for indicating operational issues of the emergency lighting system 1'. Thus, the integration may be appropriate for temperature, humidity, or air quality sensors 109, for example.

[0031] This may improve an accuracy of corresponding readings of the sensor(s) due to less shielding of the exposed sensor 109, and evolve a simple mandatory emergency lighting functionality to an intelligent smart connected system by controlling a behavior of the emergency lighting system in dependence of sensor(s) readings.

[0032] By exposing the test switch 107 and the status indicator 108 of the emergency lighting system 1' on the sensor module 106, the emergency driver module 101 may require less terminals, and may be installed without any exposure to the ambiance of the emergency lighting system 1'.

[0033] In an embodiment, the first and second communication interfaces 105, 110 may respectively be configured for wire-less communication. In particular, the first and second communication interfaces 105, 110 may respectively comprise wireless LAN, Bluetooth, or similar radio communication functionality. The deployed radio communication functionality may provide connectivity to further wireless-enabled terminals as well.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, the first and second communication interfaces 105, 110 may respectively be configured for wire-bound communication. In particular, the first and second communication interfaces 105, 110 may respectively comprise a Digital Addressable Lighting Interface DALI. In such case, the first and second communication interfaces 105, 110 may be interconnected by a DALI bus configured to provide connectivity to a plurality of DALI-enabled terminals.

[0035] According to Fig. 2, the emergency driver module 101 further comprises a control unit 111 for controlling an operation of the emergency driver module 101 in dependence of a reading of a sensor 109 of the sensor modules 106.

[0036] In an embodiment, the control unit 111 may be configured to log the reading of the sensor 109, e.g., for event logging and subsequent evaluation.

[0037] In an embodiment, the control unit 111 may be configured to activate the powering of the emergency lighting means 102 from the battery 103 in dependence of the reading of the sensor 109. For example, the reading of the sensor 109 may be used for adaptive light output. Exemplary applications comprise: increasing a brightness of an exit sign or an escape path illumination, indicating an adaptive escape path, and the like.

[0038] In an embodiment, the control unit 111 may be configured to activate a charging of the battery 103 in dependence of the reading of the sensor 109. For example, a battery lifetime may be predicted and optimized by a charging algorithm. Exemplary applications in connection with a daylight sensor 109 may comprise not draining the battery 103 at all, or adapting a brightness of the emergency lighting means 102, if there is sufficient daylight.

[0039] In an embodiment, the control unit 111 may be configured to adapting a brightness of the emergency lighting means 102 in dependence of the reading of the sensor 109. For example, the sensor may be formed by or may comprise a daylight sensor 109. The control unit 111 may be designed to adapt the brightness of the emergency lighting means 102 according to the reading of the daylight sensor 109. For instance, an escape path illumination may be powered only at low brightness or even may be deactivated if there is sufficient daylight. In case of the illumination of an exit sign the brightness may be increased if daylight is present in order to have the exit sign visible also under bright ambient light, e.g. direct sunlight.

[0040] In an embodiment, the control unit 111 may be configured to activate an actuator 112 associated with the emergency lighting means 102 in dependence of the reading of the sensor 109. Exemplary applications in connection with fire, smoke, carbon monoxide or audio sensors 109 may comprise opening building exits, closing fire doors, starting smoke extractors, triggering sound alarms and the like, by issuing corresponding control signals.

Claims

1. An emergency lighting system (1') having an emergency driver module (101) for powering an emergency lighting means (102) connectable to the emergency lighting system (1) from a battery (103) connectable to the emergency lighting system (1), the emergency lighting system (1') comprising terminals (104) for supplying the emergency lighting means (102); and a first communication interface (105) for communicating with at least one sensor module (106), the emergency driver module (101) further comprising a control unit (111) for controlling an operation of the emergency driver module (101) in dependence of a reading of a sensor (109) of the at least one sensor module (106), and characterized in that the emergency driver module (101) further comprises the at least one sensor module (106), including a test switch (107), a status indicator (108), the sensor (109), and a second communication interface (110) for communicating with the first communication interface (105) of the emergency driver module (101), wherein the test switch (107), the status indicator (108), and the sensor (109) are integrated into the at least one sensor module (106), and each is configured to be exposed to an ambiance of the emergency lighting system (1').

2. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 1, whereby the sensor (109) is formed by a daylight sensor and the control unit (111) is configured to adapt the brightness of the emergency lighting means (102) according to the reading of the sensor (109).

3. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 2, the first and second communication interfaces (105, 110) respectively configured for wire-less communication.

4. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 2, the first and second communication interfaces (105, 110) respectively configured for wire-bound communication.

5. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 4, the first and second communication interfaces (105, 110) respectively comprising a Digital Addressable Lighting Interface.

6. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 1, the control unit (111) configured to log the reading of the sensor (109).

7. The emergency lighting system (1') of claim 1, 2 or claim 6, the control unit (111) configured to activate the powering of the emergency lighting means (102) from the battery (103) in dependence of the reading of the sensor (109).

8. The emergency lighting system (1') of any of the claims 1, 2, 6 or 7, the control unit (111) configured to activate a charging of the battery (103) in dependence of the reading of the sensor (109).

9. The emergency lighting system (1') of any of the claims 1, 2, 6 to 8, the control unit (111) configured to activate an actuator (112) associated with the emergency lighting means (102) in dependence of the reading of the sensor (109).

10. A luminaire (2), comprising an emergency lighting system (1') of any of the preceding claims; an emergency lighting means (102); and a battery (103).