Surface light with integrated emergency lighting and interior section

Abstract

Surface lamp (10) for an interior section (2) of a passenger aircraft (4), - with a light guide (12) which extends over a planar area along a projection surface (14), - with at least one operating light source (22) for irradiating operating light (LB) into the light guide (12) in normal operation (BN) of the surface luminaire (10), - wherein the light guide (12) has a coupling structure (24) on at least one of its flat sides (16a,b) for coupling the operating light (LB) out of the light guide (12), characterized in that - the surface luminaire (10) contains at least one emergency light source (26) for illuminating emergency light (LN) into the light guide (12) in an emergency operation (BO) of the surface luminaire (10), wherein the emergency light (LN) is emitted again from the light guide (12), - at least one of the emergency light sources (26) is arranged relative to the light guide (12) in such a way that the emergency light (LN) is irradiated on a flat side (16a,b) of the light guide (12), and - on this flat side (16a,b) a cover element (30a) in the form of a reflector is arranged, covering the flat side (16a,b), which is recessed at least in the area of ​​the emergency light source (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a surface-mounted luminaire and an interior section. Such a surface-mounted luminaire is installed in a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, specifically in an aircraft cabin, particularly a passenger cabin, and especially in the ceiling area or in a ceiling panel. The surface-mounted luminaire is used, in particular, as main or accent lighting in the aircraft. Additionally, emergency lighting is required in the vehicle in question, particularly an aircraft, especially in the passenger cabin. This emergency lighting is generally installed in the ceiling and, for example, ensures the legally required illumination of the floor in the event of an evacuation. A particular electrical requirement is that the emergency lighting and the main lighting should be separate, i.e., they should have separate light sources, e.g., LEDs (hereinafter referred to as EMER LEDs), and separate circuits.

[0002] From TW 201445088 A, a lighting module with an emergency indicator is known, comprising a light guide plate, a lighting LED array, and an emergency indicator LED array. The light guide plate has a multitude of lighting microstructures and a multitude of indicator microstructures formed on its surface. The arrangement density of the indicator microstructures is greater than that of the lighting microstructures. The indicator microstructure unit has an emergency indicator pattern defined by its contour.

[0003] From DE 10 2009 001 170 A1 a luminaire is known which distributes the light of an LED light source over a surface and at the same time largely dissipates the heat generated by the LED light source via the housing of the luminaire.

[0004] US Patent 2010 / 0079975 A1 discloses a lighting device with a fire-fighting function, comprising a transparent hollow housing, extinguishing water, a lighting unit, and a light-guiding unit. The transparent hollow housing has a receiving chamber. The extinguishing water is filled into the receiving chamber of the transparent hollow housing. The lighting unit has a plurality of lighting elements arranged alongside one or more lateral sides of the transparent hollow housing. The light-guiding unit is arranged above the transparent hollow housing.

[0005] German patent DE 10 2008 036 470 A1 discloses a flat light-emitting lighting device for a vehicle and a method for providing emergency power to the lighting device. The use of a flat OLED panel light ensures a shallow installation depth and low power consumption. Due to the low power consumption of the OLED panel light, an independent emergency power supply can be integrated without increasing the installation depth.

[0006] From DE 10 2010 049 408 A1, an interior light for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles, is known, comprising a planar light guide made of a transparent material, one surface of which forms a light-emitting surface facing the vehicle interior and in whose circumferential edge light from at least one light source can be coupled in a coupling area and deflected to the light-emitting surface. The light guide is translucent to the vehicle interior by the light from one or more second light sources perpendicular to the plane of the light-emitting surface.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of proposing an improved solution for the situation described.

[0008] The problem is solved by a surface lamp according to claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention and of other invention categories will become apparent from the further claims, the following description and the accompanying figures.

[0009] The surface-mounted luminaire contains a light guide that extends along a flat surface. The luminaire also contains at least one operating light source for illuminating operating light into the light guide. This illumination occurs during normal operation of the luminaire. The light guide has a coupling structure on at least one of its flat sides for coupling the operating light from the light guide into the surroundings of the luminaire. The luminaire contains at least one emergency light source for illuminating emergency light into the light guide. This emergency light illumination occurs during emergency operation of the luminaire. In emergency operation, the emergency light is emitted from the light guide into the surroundings of the luminaire.

[0010] The operating light source is the light source that, during normal operation, causes the surface-mounted luminaire to emit the operating light, coupled out via the output structure, into the surrounding area as main / accent lighting in the desired manner. The emergency light source is the light source that causes the surface-mounted luminaire to emit emergency light from the light guide into the surrounding area in an emergency operation, also in the desired manner. The emission of operating and emergency light can occur at different locations and / or in different directions. In particular, the operating light and / or the emergency light is emitted from one of the flat sides of the light guide or the luminaire during the respective operation, especially the same side. It thus serves to illuminate the corresponding area surrounding the surface-mounted luminaire, towards which the respective flat side points. The output structure mentioned above is located on that flat side.

[0011] The surface-mounted luminaire includes, in particular, at least one cover element that is arranged parallel to one of the flat sides of the light guide, wherein the cover element is a diffuser or a reflector. Specifically, a diffuser is arranged on the side of the light guide where the light is emitted, and / or a reflector is arranged on the other, opposite flat side. An output coupling structure may also be arranged on the corresponding flat side facing the reflector.

[0012] The output structure on the flat side is, in particular, a laser-generated pattern ("laser marking") and / or a bonded dot matrix. The output structure, in conjunction with the operating light source, is specifically designed to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the operating light across the respective flat side.

[0013] The operating light source and the emergency light source are, in particular, separate from each other; that is, they are independent light sources, especially separate LEDs. Specifically, the operating light source and the emergency light source are supplied with power independently or separately, especially via separate circuits. The operating light source and / or the emergency light source is, in particular, an LED light source.

[0014] The invention offers the advantage that the emergency light source, emergency lighting functionality, or emergency illumination is fully integrated into the surface-mounted luminaire. In particular, this allows the emergency light source to be installed "invisibly" or "concealed." This means that, when installed, an observer viewing the surface-mounted luminaire cannot see the emergency light source as a separate element. For the observer, one and the same illuminated surface provides both operating light and / or emergency light. Specifically, the visible side of the surface-mounted luminaire (the flat side visible to observers when the luminaire is installed, for example, inside an aircraft cabin) thus has no mechanical interruptions (compared to the structural integration of a separate emergency light, see below). According to the invention, a surface-mounted luminaire with "fully" integrated emergency lighting is therefore achieved.The emergency light is emitted by the surface-mounted luminaire in the same way as the operating light.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the operating light sources is arranged relative to the light guide such that, during normal operation, the operating light is irradiated at an end face of the light guide. The end faces are those surface sections of the light guide that separate the flat sides from one another. An end face is typically located between two edges of the light guide; a rectangular light guide thus has four end faces and edges, and a triangular light guide has three. However, the "end faces" can also be sections of a continuous edge surface; for example, in a circular light guide, four 90° segments each form four "end faces." By irradiating at the end faces, a particularly flat design of panel lights can be achieved.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the operating light sources is arranged at the end face next to the light guide. Thus, the entire light source is arranged at the end face and, in other words, extends the light guide or the surface lamp laterally along its footprint. Lateral illumination is then particularly easy. This also facilitates the possibility of a particularly flat design.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the emergency light sources is arranged relative to the light guide such that the emergency light is emitted at one end face of the light guide. This also results in a flat design, as explained above for the operating light source. However, it has the additional benefit that the light guide's output structure can also be used, or is used, for extracting the emergency light from the light guide. Thus, the emergency light is handled in the surface-mounted luminaire in the same way as the operating light. The output structure is generally optimized for the operating light. In the present embodiment, the output structure is alternatively or additionally optimized for the emergency light.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the emergency light sources is arranged at the end face, i.e., laterally next to the end face of the light guide, as already described above for the operating light source. The corresponding advantages result.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the panel light includes a profile component mounted on one end face of the light guide, with the operating light source and / or the emergency light source being housed within the profile component. The profile component thus has a specific profile structure, in particular a U-shape, to accommodate the corresponding light source, especially in the form of a light source strip (particularly an LED strip). This results in a particularly compact and robust design for the panel light, including the light source(s). This embodiment can therefore be applied alternatively or in combination to the operating and / or emergency light source; these can thus be mounted in a profile on the end face of the light guide. The U-profile can then be easily attached laterally to the light guide, so that the two legs of the U rest on their flat sides.The light source located at the bottom of the U-shape is then "automatically" positioned to the side of the end faces.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, at least one end face of the light guide receives only emergency light, but not operating light. This allows the invention to be implemented, in particular, in existing (at least as a type) surface-mounted luminaires where one end face is currently unused with regard to the emission of light sources.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the light guide has at least one end face on which only operating light sources are arranged and / or at least one end face on which only emergency light sources are arranged. Here too, it applies that existing surface-mounted luminaires can be upgraded according to the invention by adding an emergency light source. In particular, the light guide has operating light sources on two end faces – especially opposite ones – and the emergency light source on a third end face. The fourth end face remains free of light sources. For a ceiling light in a passenger cabin (referring to the intended installation state in the aircraft), for example, the side end faces are equipped with operating light sources and the end face in and / or against the direction of flight is equipped with emergency light sources.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the emergency light sources is arranged relative to the light guide such that the emergency light is emitted onto a flat side of the light guide. In this embodiment, the emergency light can also be coupled into the light guide and coupled out via the output structure, acting as a light guide. Alternatively, the emergency light source can simply pass through the light guide in the conventional manner to emit the emergency light onto the opposite flat side of the light guide. In this case, the output structure is not used (at least in the strict sense).

[0023] In particular, the emergency light source is located on the flat side where the emergency light is emitted.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the light guide on the relevant flat surface where the emergency light source is located is covered by a cover element, as described above. At least at the location of the emergency light source, or at the point where the emergency light shines onto the light guide, the cover element is recessed to allow light to shine into or through the light guide. The cover element is, in particular, the reflector mentioned above.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, a mounting device for the emergency light source is attached to this flat side, i.e., where the emergency light source is located. The mounting device is attached to the flat side, in particular by gluing, welding, or integral molding. During the assembly of the surface-mounted luminaire, the emergency light source then only needs to be secured in the mounting device, for example, by snapping it into place ("snap & click"). The aforementioned cover element is also recessed, if present, in the area of ​​the mounting device.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the emergency light is emitted from the light guide via the coupling structure during emergency operation. As explained above, this is particularly suitable for coupling the emergency light into the light guide at the end face, but can also be achieved with coupling the emergency light at the flat face.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the surface-mounted luminaire is designed for an interior section of a passenger aircraft. Particularly in passenger aircraft, such a surface-mounted luminaire with integrated emergency lighting can be used as a lighting concept. This allows for a visually appealing and modern lighting concept in a passenger aircraft without the need for additional, visible, separate emergency lights. Specifically, the surface-mounted luminaire is a ceiling-mounted luminaire. The concept of integrated emergency lighting is particularly advantageous in this case, as the emergency light is then emitted from the ceiling.

[0028] The interior section is specifically a section of a passenger cabin, whereby "section" is to be understood in the broadest sense and can be, for example, a seating area, entrance area, lavatory, lounge area, etc. The aforementioned advantages therefore apply particularly to this section of the passenger cabin.

[0029] The object of the invention is also achieved by an interior section according to claim 11 of a passenger aircraft. The interior section comprises a wall section of the interior wall, wherein a surface-mounted light according to the invention is attached to the wall section. The passenger aircraft is in particular a commercial airliner, private jet, etc.

[0030] The interior section and at least part of its embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in substance in connection with the surface lamp according to the invention.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior section is a section of a passenger cabin, as explained above.

[0032] The invention is based on the following findings, observations, and considerations and includes the following embodiments. These embodiments are sometimes referred to simply as "the invention." The embodiments may also contain parts or combinations of the embodiments mentioned above, correspond to them, and / or may include previously unmentioned embodiments.

[0033] The invention is based on the understanding that a conventional panel light can be constructed as follows: It contains a flat light guide covered on the back with a reflector and on the front (emission side for light) with a diffuser. Operating light is coupled in at one or two opposite sides (end faces), in particular an LED strip is installed in a profile at each of these points, which couples light into the light guide via the edge (end face). The light guide contains an output structure (for example, surface laser engraving or bonded dot matrix) that generates a homogeneous light distribution across the width of the light panel (panel light).

[0034] For design reasons, it is desirable to install emergency lighting in a vehicle, especially an aircraft, in a way that is as invisible as possible (in the sense explained above).

[0035] It would be conceivable to install a separate (e.g., commercially available) emergency light (a light containing an emergency light source) in a different location, for example, on the aircraft ceiling next to the surface-mounted light or in a ceiling panel. It would also be conceivable to provide a cutout in a surface-mounted light and install the separate emergency light in the resulting opening. This would create a kind of spatially integrated double light. However, this does not constitute true "integration" as defined by the present invention.

[0036] According to the invention, in a first embodiment, the emergency lighting, in particular the emergency light source LEDs, is secondarily coupled into the same light guide used for the operating light. The basic idea here is to attach an additional light source (LED board with emergency light source LEDs) to one of the free sides (i.e., not occupied by a light source or exposure to operating light) of the planar light guide. For the main lighting (operating light), light sources (LEDs) are attached to specific sides (e.g., the long sides of a rectangular panel) of the light panel; space is available for the additional emergency light LEDs on a previously free side (e.g., the short sides). This allows the coupling structure—optimized specifically for the main lighting—to also be used secondarily for the emergency lighting. The brightness of the emergency light source (LEDs) must be adjusted to account for the light attenuation in the luminaire (e.g.,The required brightness on the ground (in emergency operation, when illuminated by the emergency light source) is achieved (due to the effect of the output / coupling structure of the light guide and the scattering behavior of the diffuser).

[0037] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the emergency light source (emergency LED light) is integrated on the back of the light panel (facing away from the interior to be illuminated in the intended installation state). The idea here is to use the light guide panel as a "lens" for the emergency LED light. For this purpose, a reflector (present in a conventional light) is cut out on the back of the light panel. A mounting unit is attached to the light panel, for example, by gluing on a plastic frame. The emergency LED light unit is then attached to this mounting unit, for example, using a snap-and-click mechanism. The advantage of this concept is that the emergency light source is replaceable. The light from the emergency light source thus shines through the light guide and diffuser into the cabin.The brightness of the emergency light source must be adjusted so that, as explained above, in particular taking into account the transmission and scattering behavior of the light guide and the diffuser, the required brightness is achieved on the ground.

[0038] According to the invention, a light guide of a panel light is used as the "lens" for emergency lighting. In a first embodiment, emergency light is coupled laterally into the light guide and emitted into the cabin via the output structure of the light guide (responsible for the operating light in normal operation). In a second embodiment, the light guide is illuminated by an emergency lighting unit mounted on the rear.

[0039] Further features, effects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. These figures are shown in a schematic diagram: Fig. 1 a surface-mounted luminaire with an emergency light source at the front, Fig. 2 an alternative surface light with a flat-sided emergency light source.

[0040] Fig. Figure 1 shows an interior section 2 in the form of a section of a passenger aircraft 4 or its passenger cabin 6 (interior). Fig. Figure 1 also shows a wall section 8 of the wall surrounding passenger cabin 6 in the form of interior panels (indicated only by dashed lines). Here, the wall is the cabin ceiling. A surface-mounted light 10 is attached to or integrated into wall section 8. The surface-mounted light 10 is therefore located in Fig. 1 in the intended installed state in the passenger cabin 6.

[0041] The surface-mounted light luminaire 10 contains a light guide 12 that extends along a surface 14, which is only indicated here. The light guide 12 thus has two flat sides 16a,b. In this example, the light guide 12 is rectangular, which is why it also has four circumferential end faces 18a-d, separated from each other by four edges 20.

[0042] The surface-mounted luminaire 10 also contains an operating light source 22, which is only symbolically indicated here. In normal operation BN of the surface-mounted luminaire 10, this operating light LB emits and radiates it into the light guide 12, specifically into its end face 18a. The light is indicated by arrows. On the flat side 16b, the light guide 12 has an output coupling structure 24, also only symbolically indicated, here a pattern of laser-generated defects in the surface of the light guide 12. At the output coupling structure 24, or rather at the defects, the total internal reflection of the light guide 12 is disrupted, and the emitted operating light LB is coupled out of the light guide 12 there and enters the passenger cabin 6 or the corresponding interior space. Light paths for the operating light LB are symbolically and exemplarily indicated by arrows for three of the defects, although in reality all defects are involved in the light output coupling.

[0043] The defects or the corresponding matrix pattern of the output coupling structure 24 is dimensioned on the light guide 12 and the operating light source 22 such that the operating light LB is coupled out with homogeneous brightness over the entire flat side 16b.

[0044] The surface-mounted luminaire 10 also has an emergency light source 26. In emergency operation (BO) of the surface-mounted luminaire 10, this emergency light source emits LN and directs it into the light guide 12, specifically into its end face 18b. The emergency light LN is also emitted by the light guide 12 via the coupling structure 24 at the flat side 16b. Light paths for the emergency light LN are indicated symbolically and exemplarily by arrows for three of the fault locations, although in reality all fault locations are involved in the light coupling.

[0045] The operating light source 22 and emergency light source 26 are shown in the figure at a distance from the light guide 12 only for the sake of clarity; in practice, they are located closer, usually directly adjacent to the light guide 12. This is indicated by a dashed line for the emergency light source 26.

[0046] Operating light source 22 and emergency light source 26 are concealed behind wall section 8 for an observer located in passenger cabin 6. The observer sees only the light guide 12, specifically its flat side 16b. For this observer, the surface-mounted luminaire 10 is therefore the only luminaire that emits both operating light (LB) and emergency light (LN) in the respective operating modes (normal operation BN, emergency operation BO). This results in a particularly appealing design for the surface-mounted luminaire 10 and, consequently, for passenger cabin 6.

[0047] In the example, both the operating light source 22 and the emergency light source 26 are arranged at the end face next to the light guide and thus also arranged relative to the light guide in such a way that the illumination of the operating light LB and the emergency light LN occurs at the respective end face 18a,b of the light guide 12.

[0048] At end face 18a, only the operating light LB is emitted, and at end face 18b, only the emergency light LN is emitted. Thus, the light guide 12 has end face 18a where only the operating light source 22 is located. At end face 18b, only the emergency light source 26 is located.

[0049] The surface-mounted luminaire 12 also includes a profile component 28 mounted on the front face 18b (the mounting case is shown with a dashed line, see above), which here is a U-profile strip. The emergency light source 26, implemented here as an LED strip, is located in the U-profile strip at its base section, i.e., between the legs of the U.

[0050] Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative surface-mounted luminaire 10. This also features a light guide 12 with a coupling structure 24 on the flat side 16b, which is only symbolically and partially indicated here. In this example, the light guide 12 also has a cover element 30a,b. Cover element 30a covers the flat side 16a and is a reflector; cover element 30b covers the flat side 16b and is a diffuser.

[0051] Here, a total of four operating light sources 22 (not shown) are arranged on all end faces 18a-d, each of which shines operating light LB into the end faces 18a-d during normal operation BN. The operating light LB is then emitted into the passenger cabin 6 via the output structure 24 after passing through the diffuser (deck element 30b).

[0052] The emergency light source 26 is arranged relative to the light guide in such a way that, in emergency operation BO, the emergency light LN is directed into the light guide 12 at its flat side 16a. The light guide 12 is simply illuminated by the emergency light LN without the specific use of the output coupling structure 24. The emergency light LN then exits at the flat side 16b, passes through the diffuser, and shines into the passenger cabin 6.

[0053] On the flat side 16a where the emergency light source 26 is located, the cover element 30a is recessed in the corresponding area. This allows direct illumination of the emergency light LN into the light guide 12. A mounting device 32, in this case a plastic frame attached to the light guide 12, is also located in the corresponding recess. The emergency light source 26 is held in the mounting device 32, or rather, mounted on the light guide 12 and thus on the surface-mounted luminaire 10. Reference symbol list 2 Interior section 4 passenger aircraft 6 passenger cabin 8 wall section 10 surface-mounted light 12 optical fibers 14 Area 16a,b Flat side 18a-d Front 20 edge 22 Operating light source 24 Decoupling structure 26 Emergency light source 28 Profile component 30a,b Cover element 32 Recording device BN Normal operation LB Operating Light BO Emergency operation LN emergency light

Claims

[1] Surface light (10) for an interior section (2) of a passenger aircraft (4), - with a light guide (12) which extends over a planar area along a projection surface (14), - with at least one operating light source (22) for irradiating operating light (LB) into the light guide (12) in normal operation (BN) of the surface luminaire (10), - wherein the light guide (12) has a coupling structure (24) on at least one of its flat sides (16a,b) for coupling the operating light (LB) out of the light guide (12), characterized by , that - the surface luminaire (10) contains at least one emergency light source (26) for radiating emergency light (LN) into the light guide (12) in an emergency operation (BO) of the surface luminaire (10), wherein the emergency light (LN) is emitted again from the light guide (12), - at least one of the emergency light sources (26) is arranged relative to the light guide (12) in such a way that the emergency light (LN) is irradiated on a flat side (16a,b) of the light guide (12), and - on this flat side (16a,b) a cover element (30a) in the form of a reflector is arranged, covering the flat side (16a,b), which is recessed at least in the area of ​​the emergency light source (26). [2] Surface lamp (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one of the operating light sources (22) is arranged relative to the light guide (12) such that the illumination of the operating light (LB) occurs on an end face (18a-d) of the light guide (12). [3] Surface lamp (10) according to claim 2, characterized by , that at least one of the operating light sources (22) is arranged at the end face next to the light guide (12). [4] Surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least one of the emergency light sources (26) is arranged relative to the light guide (12) such that the emergency light (LN) is emitted at an end face (18a-d) of the light guide (12). [5] Surface lamp (10) according to claim 4, characterized by , that at least one of the emergency light sources (26) is arranged at the end face next to the light guide (12). [6] Surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the surface lamp (10) includes a profile component (28) mounted on an end face (18a-d) of the light guide (12), wherein the operating light source (22) and / or the emergency light source (26) is located in the profile component (28). [7] Surface lamp (10) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by , that at least one of the end faces (18a-d) of the light guide (12) is illuminated only by emergency light (LN), but not by operating light (LB). [8] Surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the light guide (12) has at least one end face (18a-d) on which only operating light sources (22) are arranged and / or has at least one end face (18a-d) on which only emergency light sources (26) are arranged. [9] Surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a receiving device (32) for the emergency light source (26) is attached to this flat side (16,b). [10] Surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency light (LN) in emergency operation (BO) is emitted from the light guide (12) via the coupling structure (24). [11] Interior section (2) of a passenger aircraft (4), comprising a wall section (8), wherein a surface lamp (10) according to one of the preceding claims is attached to the wall section (8). [12] Interior section (2) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the interior section (2) is a section of a passenger cabin (6).

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