Lighting device

Abstract

To provide a lighting device capable of inspecting a battery and a light source while suppressing a sense of incongruity during inspection.SOLUTION: The lighting device 10 includes a light source 13, a battery 15, a dummy load 14, and a switching unit 23. During the inspection, the switching unit 23 switches between an operation of supplying the power of the battery 15 to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time and an operation of supplying the power of the battery 15 to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to a lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] In disaster prevention lighting devices such as emergency lights, the light source is normally turned off and turned on using battery power in emergencies such as power outages. These disaster prevention lighting devices are inspected to check for battery abnormalities or deterioration, as well as abnormalities in the light source. During inspections, the light source is typically turned on for a predetermined period of time using battery power, but if inspections are performed while people are around the lighting device, this may cause discomfort to those around.

[0003] Therefore, there is a method for performing inspections without turning on the light source by supplying battery power to a dummy load instead of the light source during inspection.

[0004] However, when an inspection is performed using a dummy load, it is possible to detect battery life and abnormalities, but it is not possible to inspect the light source, so there is a problem in that the inspection result will show no abnormalities even if there is an abnormality in the light source. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-27706 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a lighting device that can suppress the sense of discomfort during inspection and allows inspection of the battery and light source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The lighting device of this embodiment includes a light source, a battery, a dummy load, and a switching unit. During inspection, the switching unit switches between an operation of supplying battery power to the dummy load for a first predetermined time and an operation of supplying battery power to the light source for a second predetermined time that is shorter than the first predetermined time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a lighting device showing an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a power supply unit of the lighting device. [Figure 3] 10(a) to 10(c) are timing charts showing an example of the operation of the lighting device during inspection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The lighting device of this embodiment is applied to, for example, an emergency light that is turned off under normal circumstances and turned on in an emergency such as a power outage.

[0011] 1 shows a block diagram of a lighting device 10. The lighting device 10 includes a housing 11 to be installed at a predetermined installation location, and a power supply unit 12, a light source 13, a dummy load 14, and a battery 15, which are arranged in the housing 11.

[0012] The power supply unit 12 operates on external power, which is AC power from a commercial AC power supply E, when external power is supplied, and also operates on power from the battery 15 when the external power fails.

[0013] The light source 13 uses a light emitting element such as an LED or organic EL that emits white visible light, and when lit, irradiates light from the housing 11 toward an external illumination area.

[0014] The dummy load 14 is used for inspecting the battery 15, and may be a resistor or an inspection light source such as the same light-emitting element as the light source 13. In the case of an inspection light source, it is placed in a position where light does not leak to the outside when it is turned on in the installed state. The dummy load 14 may be a load with the same power consumption as the light source 13, or may be a load with greater power consumption than the light source 13 in order to shorten the inspection time.

[0015] The battery 15 is a rechargeable secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium-ion battery.

[0016] The power supply unit 12 also includes a power supply section 16 that supplies power to the light source 13 or the dummy load 14 and charges and discharges the battery 15, an operation section 17 such as an inspection switch, a display section 18 such as a monitor lamp, a communication section 19 that communicates with the outside, and a control section 20 that controls the power supply unit 12.

[0017] The power supply unit 16 includes a lighting unit 22, which is a power supply unit that supplies power to the light source 13 or the dummy load 14, a switching unit 23 that switches the supply of power from the lighting unit 22 to the light source 13 and the dummy load 14, and a charging unit 24 that charges the battery 15. The lighting unit 22 keeps the light source 13 in an off state when external power is applied, and supplies lighting power converted from the power of the battery 15 to the light source 13 to turn it on in an emergency such as a power outage. During inspection, the switching unit 23 switches between an operation of supplying power from the lighting unit 22 to the dummy load 14 and an operation of supplying power to the light source 13. Specifically, during inspection, the switching unit 23 switches between an operation of supplying power from the battery 15 to the dummy load 14 and an operation of supplying power from the battery 15 to the light source 13. During inspection, lighting unit 22 may supply less power from battery 15 to light source 13 than power from battery 15 to dummy load 14, or may supply power so that light source 13 is fully lit. Charging unit 24 normally charges battery 15 using external power.

[0018] The operation unit 17 includes an inspection switch for manually issuing an inspection command, and is disposed in a position where it can be operated from outside the housing 11.

[0019] Display unit 18 is a monitor lamp composed of a plurality of, for example, light-emitting elements, and is arranged in a position visible from outside housing 11. The monitor lamp displays the inspection result of battery 15 by lighting color or lighting form such as off, continuous lighting, flashing, etc.

[0020] The communication unit 19 includes an optical signal communication unit that transmits and receives optical signals using infrared rays as a medium. The communication unit 19 may also include a wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates with other lighting devices 10, an external terminal 25, and the like. The external terminal 25 is a remote control or the like that transmits and receives optical signals using an optical medium such as infrared rays, and includes an operation unit and a display unit. The external terminal 25 is capable of bidirectional communication with the communication unit 19, and can issue an instruction to start an inspection, receive inspection results, and display the status of the light source 13 and the battery 15 on the screen of the display unit. The external terminal 25 may also be a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

[0021] The control unit 20 also includes a timing unit 26, an inspection unit 27 that inspects the light source 13 and the battery 15, a detection unit 28 that detects the power supply state of the light source 13 during inspection, and a memory unit 29 that stores various information.

[0022] The timekeeping unit 26 has a clock function that provides time information including the date and time (date and time), and a timer function that counts elapsed time information.

[0023] Inspection unit 27 performs inspection operations for light source 13 and battery 15 based on a set inspection schedule or based on manual inspection instructions from external terminal 25 or operation unit 17. Inspection unit 27 controls switching unit 23 to inspect battery 15 at the first predetermined time described above and inspects light source 13 at the second predetermined time. Inspection unit 27 determines whether light source 13 is normal or abnormal based on detection by detection unit 28, and also determines whether battery 15 is normal, abnormal, or deteriorated by discharging the power of battery 15 for a predetermined time and comparing the voltage of battery 15 with a predetermined threshold.

[0024] During inspection, when the switching unit 23 switches to the operation of supplying power from the lighting unit 22 to the light source 13, the detection unit 28 detects the current or voltage of the power supplied from the lighting unit 22 to the light source 13. Based on the detection result by this detection unit 28, the inspection unit 27 determines whether the light source 13 is normal or abnormal.

[0025] For example, a non-volatile memory that retains stored contents even when power is cut off is used as the storage unit 29. The storage unit 29 stores set inspection schedule information, inspection results by the inspection unit 27, and the like.

[0026] Next, FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the power supply unit 12 of the lighting device 10.

[0027] Both ends of the light source 13, which is an actual load, and both ends of a dummy load 14 for inspection are connected to the output terminal 40 of the lighting unit 22 of the power supply unit 16. Although the dummy load 14 is shown as a resistor, it may also be the same light source for inspection as the light source 13.

[0028] An actual load circuit 43 is formed between a battery power output section 41 of a power conversion circuit such as a boost circuit that boosts the power of a battery 15 and a ground section 42, and is connected to a light source 13, a first switch SW1, and a parallel circuit of a resistor R1 for detecting a current value and a feedback circuit FB1.

[0029] A pseudo load circuit 44 is formed between the battery power output section 41 and the ground section 42, and is connected to a pseudo load 14 for inspection, a second switch SW2, and a parallel circuit of a resistor R2 for detecting the current value and a feedback circuit FB2.

[0030] Switches SW1 and SW2 are, for example, transistors and are controlled by a microcomputer 45 of the control unit 37. During a power outage, the microcomputer 45 forms a real load circuit 53 by turning on the first switch SW1 and controlling the on-duty of the first switch SW1 so that the current flowing through the light source 13 detected by the first feedback circuit FB1 is a predetermined value. During inspection, the microcomputer 45 forms a dummy load circuit 44 by turning on the second switch SW2 and controlling the on-duty of the second switch SW2 so that the current flowing through the second light source 13 detected by the second feedback circuit FB2 is a predetermined value. The switches SW1 and SW2 constitute a switching unit 23 that, during inspection, switches between supplying power from the battery 15 to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time and supplying power from the battery to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time that is shorter than the first predetermined time.

[0031] Next, the operation of the lighting device 10 will be described.

[0032] During normal operation when external power is supplied to the lighting device 10, the power supply unit 12 operates using the external power, and the charging unit 24 charges the battery 15. At this time, the lighting unit 22 does not operate, and the light source 13 is in an off state.

[0033] Furthermore, during a power outage when the supply of external power to the lighting device 10 is stopped, the power supply unit 12 operates using power from the battery 15, and the lighting unit 22 converts the power from the battery 15 into lighting power and supplies it to the light source 13, thereby lighting the light source 13. At this time, the first switch SW1 is turned on and the second switch SW2 is turned off, forming an actual load circuit 43 and lighting the light source 13.

[0034] Furthermore, the inspection unit 27 of the control unit 20 performs an inspection operation for the light source 13 and the battery 15 based on a set inspection schedule or a manual inspection instruction from the external terminal 25 or the operation unit 17 .

[0035] During inspection, inspection unit 27 controls switching unit 23 to switch between an operation of supplying power from battery 15 to dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time and an operation of supplying power from battery 15 to light source 13 for a second predetermined time that is shorter than the first predetermined time, inspecting battery 15 during the first predetermined time and inspecting light source 13 during the second predetermined time. The first predetermined time may be a specified time set by law, such as 30 or 60 minutes, or a specified time during inspection in which the voltage of battery 15 is detected and monitored to see if it falls below a specified voltage threshold within the specified time during the inspection in which the power of battery 15 is discharged. The second predetermined time is approximately several seconds.

[0036] In the operation of supplying power from the battery 15 to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time, the first switch SW1 is turned off and the second switch SW2 is turned on to form a dummy load circuit 44, and power is supplied to the dummy load 14 while the light source 13 remains off.

[0037] As examples of inspection operations by the inspection unit 27, a first inspection operation is shown in FIG. 3(a), a second inspection operation is shown in FIG. 3(b), and a third inspection operation is shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0038] In the first inspection operation shown in FIG. 3(a), the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time, and then supplied to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time.

[0039] In the second inspection operation shown in FIG. 3(b), the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time, and then supplied to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time.

[0040] 3(c), the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the dummy load 14 for 1 / 2 of the first predetermined time, then supplied to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time, and then supplied to the dummy load 14 for the remaining 1 / 2 of the first predetermined time. Note that the time before and after the first predetermined time may be allocated to any time.

[0041] Then, after a first predetermined time has passed since power from battery 15 was supplied to dummy load 14, inspection unit 27 compares the voltage of battery 15 with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether battery 15 is normal, abnormal, or deteriorated. Furthermore, after a second predetermined time has passed since power from battery 15 was supplied to light source 13, inspection unit 27 determines, based on detection of the current or voltage to light source 13 by detection unit 28, that light source 13 is normal if current is flowing or voltage is detected, and that light source 13 is abnormal if no current is flowing or voltage is detected.

[0042] The inspection results are stored in the storage unit 29 and displayed by a monitor lamp on the display unit 18. The inspection results stored in the storage unit 29 may be transmitted to the external terminal 25 by the communication unit 19.

[0043] In this way, in the lighting device 10, the switching unit 23 switches between an operation of supplying power from the battery 15 to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time and an operation of supplying power from the battery to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time that is shorter than the first predetermined time.This shortens the lighting time for inspecting the light source 13, thereby reducing any discomfort felt when inspecting the light source 13, and allows inspection of both the light source 13 and the battery 15 to be performed.

[0044] During inspection, when the switching unit 23 switches to the operation of supplying power from the lighting unit 22 to the light source 13, the detection unit 28 detects the current or voltage of the power supplied from the lighting unit 22 to the light source 13, so it is possible to determine whether the light source 13 is normal or abnormal depending on whether a current is flowing to the light source 13 or whether a voltage is being applied to the light source 13. Therefore, an inspector can obtain information on whether the light source 13 is normal or abnormal without having to visually check whether the light source 13 is lit.

[0045] In the case of the first inspection operation (FIG. 3(a)), in which the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time and then supplied to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time, the light source 13 lights up just before the end of the inspection, thereby notifying the user that the inspection has ended. As a result, the inspection of the battery 15 begins when the battery 15 is nearly 100% charged, and the remaining power in the battery 15 can be used to inspect the light source 13.

[0046] In the case of the second inspection operation (Figure 3(b)), in which the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the light source 13 for a second predetermined time and then supplied to the dummy load 14 for a first predetermined time, the light source 13 lights up when lighting begins, thereby notifying that inspection has begun.

[0047] In the case of a third inspection operation (Figure 3(c)), in which the switching unit 23 is switched so that power from the lighting unit 22 is supplied to the dummy load 14 for 1 / 2 of the first specified time, then to the light source 13 for a second specified time, and then to the dummy load 14 for the remaining 1 / 2 of the first specified time, the light source 3 lights up, thereby indicating that half of the inspection time has been completed.

[0048] Furthermore, during inspection, lighting unit 22 may supply less power from battery 15 to light source 13 than power from battery 15 to dummy load 14, and by dimming light source 13, it is possible to further reduce the sense of discomfort felt when inspecting light source 13. Furthermore, lighting unit 22 may supply power so that light source 13 is fully lit during inspection, and in this case, light source 13 is lit for only a few seconds, thereby reducing the sense of discomfort felt by people in the vicinity and making it easier for inspectors to confirm that light source 13 is lit.

[0049] Furthermore, since the inspection of the battery 15 is carried out at the first predetermined time and the inspection of the light source 13 is carried out at the second predetermined time, the inspection of the light source 13 and the battery 15 can be carried out in one inspection.

[0050] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10. Lighting equipment 13 Light source 14 Pseudo load 15 Batteries 23 Switching section 27 Inspection Department 28 Detection unit

Claims

1. a light source; Batteries and; Dummy load and; a switching unit that switches, during inspection, between an operation of supplying the battery's power to the dummy load for a first predetermined time and an operation of supplying the battery's power to the light source for a second predetermined time that is shorter than the first predetermined time; A lighting device comprising:

2. a detection unit that detects the current or voltage supplied to the light source during the second predetermined time period; 2. The lighting device according to claim 1.

3. The switching unit switches to supplying the power to the light source for the second predetermined time after supplying the power to the dummy load for the first predetermined time.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1.

4. The switching unit switches to supplying the power to the dummy load for the first predetermined time after supplying the power to the light source for the second predetermined time.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1.

5. During the inspection, the battery power supplied to the light source is less than the battery power supplied to the dummy load.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1.

6. an inspection unit that inspects the battery at the first predetermined time and inspects the light source at the second predetermined time; 2. The lighting device according to claim 1.

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