Lighting device

Abstract

To obtain a lighting device that can notify the results of battery inspections and the determination of whether or not the battery is usable. [Solution] The lighting device 1 comprises a light source unit 42, a storage battery 51 that supplies power to the light source unit 42 in an emergency when normal power is not supplied, a control device 63 that determines whether the storage battery 51 is usable by comparing storage battery information indicating the usability status of the storage battery 51 with a predetermined threshold, and a notification unit 64 that notifies the result of the determination to the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting device including a storage battery.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a lighting device including a storage battery, a transmission unit that transmits a signal to a terminal, and a control unit that performs an inspection operation such as the life of the storage battery and stores history information including the inspection result and time information, and transmits the history information from the transmission unit to the terminal. (See, for example, Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] The lighting device of this disclosure includes a control device that determines whether or not the battery can be used and a notification unit that notifies the result of the determination to the outside, so that the result of the determination of whether or not the battery can be used can be notified to the outside. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows the configuration of the light source unit 4 in the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates the modes that can be performed in the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart relating to the inspection operation of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart relating to the determination of whether the battery 51 can be used and the operation of notification in the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description will explain the lighting devices and other components related to the embodiments, with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, components with the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent and are common throughout the entire text of the embodiments described below. In addition, the size relationships of the components in the drawings may differ from those in reality. Furthermore, the forms of the constituent elements shown in the entire specification are explained using emergency lighting fixtures as defined by the Building Standards Act as examples, but these are merely examples and may include exit signs as defined by the Fire Service Act or lighting fixtures not defined by the Building Standards Act or the Fire Service Act, and are not limited to the forms described in the specification. In particular, the combinations of constituent elements are not limited to the combinations in each embodiment, and constituent elements described in other embodiments can be applied to other embodiments.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows the external appearance of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a main body 2, a frame 3, a light source unit 4, a battery unit 5, and a control unit 6. The lighting device 1 is described as an emergency lighting fixture that lights up in emergencies when power is not supplied to the lighting device 1 from a commercial power source located outside the lighting device 1, such as a power outage or a broken wire.

[0012] The main body 2 is cylindrical in shape with an opening formed on one side. The main body 2 has a ceiling mounting spring 21. The main body 2 houses the light source unit 4, the battery unit 5, and the control unit 6.

[0013] The ceiling mounting spring 21 is a spring made of sheet metal formed on a curved surface. The ceiling mounting spring 21 is a mounting member for attaching the lighting device 1 to a mounting part, such as a ceiling or wall, which is a structure to which the lighting device 1 is attached.

[0014] The frame 3 is disc-shaped and is attached to the main body 2 so as to close the opening formed in the main body 2. The frame 3 is formed with holes for exposing a part of the light source unit 4 and a part of the control device 5 housed in the main body 2.

[0015] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a light source unit 4, which will be described later, of the lighting device 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source unit 4 includes a mounting substrate 41, a light source part 42, a lens 43, a dummy load 44, and a heat dissipation part 45, and is housed in the main body 2 and is detachable from the control unit 6.

[0016] The mounting substrate 41 has the light source part 42 and the dummy load 44 mounted on one side thereof.

[0017] The light source part 42 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits light when supplied with power. Also, although the light source part 42 is described as an LED, it is not limited thereto, and any light emitting element that emits light when supplied with power, such as an organic EL or a laser diode, may be used.

[0018] The lens 43 is attached to the mounting substrate 41 so as to cover the light source part 42 and is exposed to the outside of the main body 2 through the holes formed in the frame 3. The lens 43 condenses or diffuses the light emitted by the light source part 42.

[0019] The dummy load 44 is composed of an electrical resistance element or the like and converts the supplied power into heat. The dummy load 44 is mounted on the mounting substrate 41. Since the dummy load 44 generates heat when power is supplied, it raises the temperature of the peripheral components of the dummy load. The amount of heat generated by the dummy load 44 is limited by the supplied power, the number of installed dummy loads 44, and the layout. The dummy load 44 can prevent the light source part 42 from lighting up when the automatic inspection of the lighting device 1, which will be described later, is performed, causing the user to feel discomfort or being misrecognized as an emergency. Note that the dummy load 44 is not limited to the mounting substrate 41 and may be mounted on the control unit 6.

[0020] The heat dissipation unit 45 is mounted on the opposite side of the mounting substrate 41 from the side on which the light source unit 42 is mounted, and is a heat sink that dissipates the heat generated when the light source unit 42 emits light. Alternatively, the heat dissipation unit 45 is a heat sink that dissipates the heat generated when power is supplied to the simulated load 44. The heat dissipation capacity of the heat dissipation unit 45 is determined according to the amount of heat generated by the light source unit 42 or the amount of heat generated by the simulated load 44.

[0021] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the battery unit 5 has a battery 51 and a storage unit 52. The battery unit 5 is housed in the main body 2 and is detachable from the control unit 6.

[0022] The storage battery 51 is a nickel-metal hydride storage battery (hereinafter referred to as a Ni-MH storage battery). The storage battery 51 is charged by power supplied from the commercial power source. When the battery level is low, the storage battery 51 is charged by rapid charging, and when the battery level is high, it is charged by trickle charging, which is done by supplying a small amount of power. In addition, the storage battery 51 supplies power to the light source unit 42 when the power supply from the commercial power source is stopped. Here, the storage battery 51 has been described as a Ni-MH storage battery, but it is not limited to this, and may also be a secondary battery such as a nickel-cadmium storage battery (may be called a Ni-Cd storage battery) or a lithium-ion battery (may be called a Li-Ion battery).

[0023] The memory unit 52 stores battery information indicating the state of the battery 51. The memory unit 52 is a storage medium such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip or an RFID (Radio Frequency Indenter) tag, and the battery information can be written to or read from the control unit 5 or an external terminal by either a contact or contactless method. The battery unit 5 is provided with a socket, connector, or housing to which the memory unit 52 is connected when it is electrically connected to the control device 63, which will be described later, by a contact method.

[0024] The battery information is information used to determine whether or not the battery 51 can be used continuously. The battery information includes, for example, the continuous lighting time, which is the time from when the light source 42 starts lighting up using power supplied from the battery 51 until it stops lighting up.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the control unit 6 includes a lighting circuit 61, a charging circuit 62, a control device 63, an alert unit 64, an inspection switch 65, and a light receiving unit 66. The control unit 6 is housed in the main body 2.

[0026] The lighting circuit 61 controls the lighting of the light source unit 42, and when the power supply from the commercial power source is interrupted, it supplies power from the storage battery 51 to the light source unit 42 to make the light source unit 42 emit light.

[0027] The charging circuit 62 receives power supplied from the commercial power source and charges the storage battery 51.

[0028] The control device 63 is a device that controls the operation of the lighting device 1, such as turning it on and performing inspections. The control device 61, as hardware, consists of a microcomputer or microcontroller having a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit consisting of non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The control device 63 has an inspection processing unit 63A, a timing unit 63B, a determination unit 63C, a writing unit 63D, an acquisition unit 63E, and a status confirmation unit 63F.

[0029] The inspection processing unit 63A is an inspection function that stops the supply of power from the commercial power source to the battery 51 by the charging circuit 62, supplies power from the battery 51 to the light source unit 42 by the lighting circuit 61 to light up the light source unit 42, and obtains the continuous lighting time, which is the time from when the light source unit 42 starts lighting up with the power supplied from the battery 51 until it stops lighting up. Note that the inspection processing unit 63A is not limited to the continuous lighting time; any inspection function that obtains battery information is acceptable.

[0030] The timing unit 63B functions as a timer that measures the elapsed time since power was supplied from the commercial power source and the time the light source 42 can continue to light up from the time it starts to light up using power supplied from the storage battery 51 until it stops lighting up.

[0031] The determination unit 63C has a function to determine whether the battery 51 can be used. The determination unit 63C stores a threshold value for determining whether the battery 51 can be used. The determination unit 63C compares the battery information stored in the storage unit 52 with the threshold value to determine whether the battery 51 can be used. Here, the threshold value is a predetermined value for determining whether the battery 51 can be used based on the items in the battery information.

[0032] This section describes the case where the battery information is the remaining lighting time confirmed by the inspection processing unit 63A. When the battery information is the remaining lighting time, the threshold is a predetermined arbitrary value. For example, the threshold is set to 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes, which are the times stipulated by the Building Standards Act or the Fire Service Act. The determination unit 63C also obtains the remaining lighting time from the storage unit 52 and determines that the battery 51 is usable if the obtained remaining lighting time is greater than the threshold.

[0033] The writing unit 63D writes the battery information obtained by the inspection processing unit 63A during the inspection of the battery 51 to the storage unit 52. At this time, the writing unit 63D may write the information while in contact with the storage unit 52, or it may transmit and write the information using a contactless method.

[0034] The acquisition unit 63E acquires battery information from the storage unit 52 and sends it to the determination unit 63C. At this time, the acquisition unit 63E may acquire the battery information while in contact with the storage unit 52, or it may receive and acquire the battery information using a non-contact method.

[0035] The status confirmation unit 63F is a function that checks whether the storage battery 51 housed in the main unit 2 is usable or not. The status confirmation unit 63F causes the acquisition unit 63E to acquire storage battery information from the storage unit 52, causes the determination unit 63C to compare the storage battery information with a threshold value to determine whether the storage battery 51 is usable or not, and causes the notification unit 64, which will be described later, to provide notification corresponding to the determination of whether the storage battery 51 is usable or not.

[0036] The notification unit 64 consists of one or more monitoring LEDs, which inform the user of the inspection results and the determination of whether the battery 51 is usable based on the lighting status of the monitoring LEDs. The notification unit 64 notifies the user of the determination of whether the battery 51 is usable, which is obtained using the battery information acquired by the acquisition unit 63E from the storage unit 52 via the status confirmation unit 63F. Although the notification unit 64 has been described as a monitoring LED, it is not limited to this and may also be capable of segment display or liquid crystal display, or it may transmit the battery information or the determination of whether the battery 51 is usable as data to an external device.

[0037] The inspection switch 65 consists of one or more switches and is operated to inspect the battery 51 or to notify whether the battery is usable or not. When the inspection switch 65 is pressed, it operates according to the various inspection modes described later.

[0038] The light-receiving unit 66 receives operation signals wirelessly from a terminal such as a remote controller (not shown). The light-receiving unit 66 may also receive a signal to cause the inspection processing unit 63A to inspect the battery 51. The light-receiving unit 66 may also receive a signal to cause the status confirmation unit 63F of the control device 61 to perform an operation.

[0039] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the modes that can be performed in the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. Next, the four modes of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described: (a) normal lighting mode, (b) emergency lighting mode, (c) manual inspection mode, and (d) automatic inspection mode.

[0040] (a) The normal lighting mode is the mode in which power is supplied from the commercial power supply and is the mode in the normal state. The charging circuit 62 supplies power from the commercial power supply to the storage battery 51 to charge the storage battery 51. At this time, the lighting circuit 61 may also supply power from the commercial power supply to the light source unit 42 to make the light source unit 42 emit light.

[0041] (b) The emergency lighting mode is a mode used in emergency situations where the supply of power from the commercial power source is interrupted, such as a power outage or a broken wire, in which case power is not supplied to the lighting device 1 from a commercial power source located outside the lighting device 1. In the emergency lighting mode, when the supply of power from the commercial power source is interrupted, the charging circuit 62 stops charging the storage battery 51, and the lighting circuit 61 supplies power from the storage battery 51 to the light source unit 42 to light up the light source unit 42. At this time, the storage battery 51 discharges because the light source unit 42 is the load.

[0042] The manual inspection mode in (c) is a mode in which the inspection processing unit 63A inspects the storage battery 51 while the inspection switch 65 is being operated. Here, the manual inspection mode is not limited to the inspection switch 65; the inspection processing unit 63A may also be instructed to perform the inspection by the light receiving unit 66 receiving a signal to start the inspection.

[0043] The automatic inspection mode in (d) is a mode in which an inspection is automatically performed when the inspection interval time, which is the time measured since the storage battery 51 received power from the commercial power source, has elapsed and the inspection has started. The inspection interval time is a predetermined time. When the time calculated by the timing unit 63B has elapsed the inspection interval time, the lighting device 1 causes the inspection action unit 63A to perform an inspection of the storage battery 51, even if the inspection switch 65 is not pressed. Here, the inspection interval time may be, for example, 6 months or 1 year. The inspection interval time may be any time, not limited to 6 months or 1 year.

[0044] The manual inspection mode allows the administrator to perform an inspection and confirm whether the battery 51 is usable. However, since the frequency of inspections depends on the administrator, there is a concern that the battery 51 may not be replaced at the appropriate time if the inspection interval is long. The automatic inspection mode can mitigate this concern by automatically performing periodic inspections of the battery 51.

[0045] The lighting device 1's continuous illumination time for the light source unit 42, powered by the storage battery 51, varies depending on the charge level and degradation status of the storage battery 51. The storage battery 51 is charged using trickle charging, and is controlled to always remain fully charged. However, as the storage battery 51 degrades, even when fully charged, the continuous illumination time tends to shorten over time. Therefore, the lighting device 1 periodically checks whether the light source unit 42 can illuminate for a specified duration or longer in order to confirm the degradation status of the storage battery 51. The manager of the lighting device 1 replaces the storage battery 51 when degradation is detected, maintaining the light source unit 42 in a state where it can illuminate for a specified duration or longer.

[0046] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the inspection operation of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. Next, the inspection function of the lighting device 1 will be described. As a premise at the start of the flowchart in Figure 6, it is assumed that the user has initiated the operation of the inspection processing unit 63A via the inspection switch 65 or the light receiving unit 66. An operation to initiate the operation of the inspection processing unit 63A may include, for example, pressing the switch among the inspection switches 65 that operates the inspection processing unit 63A, or causing the light receiving unit 66 to receive a signal to operate the inspection processing unit 63A.

[0047] In step S101, the inspection processing unit 63A stops supplying power from the commercial power source to the battery 51 via the charging circuit 62.

[0048] After the processing in step S101 is completed, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the inspection processing unit 63A supplies power from the battery 51 to the light source unit 42 via the lighting circuit 61 to light up the light source unit 42. The battery 51 discharges with the light source unit 42 as the load. At this time, the timing unit 63B starts timing at the same time as the start of lighting up the light source unit 42.

[0049] After the processing in step S102 is completed, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the inspection processing unit 63A obtains the voltage of the battery 51.

[0050] After the processing in step S103 is completed, the process proceeds to step S104. In step 104, the inspection processing unit 63A determines whether the voltage of the storage battery 51 is below the discharge reference voltage, which is the voltage at which the light source unit 42 can be lit. If in step S104 it is determined that the voltage of the storage battery 51 is below the discharge reference voltage (step S104, YES), the process proceeds to step S105. In this case, it is determined that the light source unit 42 cannot be lit. If in step S104 it is determined that the voltage of the storage battery 51 is above the discharge reference voltage (step S104, NO), the process in step S103 is repeated. In this case, it is determined that the light source unit 42 can continue to be lit.

[0051] If, in step S104, it is determined that the voltage value of the storage battery 51 is too low to allow the light source unit 42 to light up (S104, YES), the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the inspection processing unit 63A stops the supply of power from the storage battery 51 to the light source unit 42 via the lighting circuit 61, and terminates the lighting of the light source unit 42. At this time, the timing unit 63B terminates the timing that started when the light source unit 42 lit up and obtains the storage battery information, which is the remaining lighting time.

[0052] After the processing in step S105 is completed, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the inspection processing unit 63A causes the charging circuit 62 to supply power from the commercial power source to the storage battery 51, and starts charging the storage battery 51.

[0053] After the processing in step S106 is completed, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the inspection processing unit 63A causes the writing unit 63D to write the battery information, which is the remaining lighting time, to the storage unit 52.

[0054] Figure 7 is a flowchart relating to the operation of determining and notifying whether the battery 51 of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 1 is usable. Next, the determination and notification of whether the battery 51 is usable, which is the continuous lighting time stored in the storage unit 52 of the lighting device 1, will be explained. As a premise at the start of the flowchart in Figure 7, it is assumed that the user has started the operation of the status confirmation unit 63F via the inspection switch 65 or the light receiving unit 66. An operation to start the operation of the status confirmation unit 63F may be, for example, pressing the switch that operates the status confirmation unit 63F among the inspection switches 65 or receiving a signal to operate the status confirmation unit 63F via the light receiving unit 66. Note that the start of the flowchart in Figure 7 is not limited to the operation of the inspection switch 65 or the light receiving unit 66, but may also be based on the completion of the inspection flowchart in Figure 6.

[0055] In step S201, the status confirmation unit 63F instructs the acquisition unit 63E to acquire battery information, namely the remaining illumination time, from the storage unit 52, and transmits it to the determination unit 63C.

[0056] After the processing in step S201 is completed, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the determination unit 63C determines whether the battery information, which is the continuous lighting time, is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the determination unit 63C determines in step S202 that the battery information, which is the continuous lighting time, is equal to or greater than a threshold (S202, YES), the process proceeds to step S203. At this point, the battery 51 is determined to be usable. If the determination unit 63C determines in step S202 that the battery information, which is the continuous lighting time, is below a threshold (S203, NO), the process proceeds to step S204. At this point, the battery 51 is determined to be unusable.

[0057] If, in step S202, it is determined that the battery information, specifically the remaining illumination time, is longer than the threshold (S202, YES), the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, the notification unit 64 provides notification indicating that the battery 51 is usable.

[0058] If, in step S202, it is determined that the battery information, specifically the remaining illumination time, is shorter than the threshold (S202, NO), the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the notification unit 64 issues a notification indicating that the battery 51 is unusable.

[0059] Next, the effects of the lighting device 1 of this embodiment 1 will be described.

[0060] The lighting device 1 of this embodiment 1 comprises a main body 2 that is attached to the mounting part, a battery unit 5 that can be housed in the main body 2 and has a storage battery 51 and a storage unit 52 that stores battery information indicating the state of the battery 51, and a control device 63 that acquires the battery information stored in the storage unit 52. Therefore, when the battery unit 5 is replaced, the lighting device 1 can acquire battery information from the storage unit 52 of the battery unit 5 without having to perform a new inspection.

[0061] Furthermore, the lighting device 1 of this embodiment 1 further includes a determination unit 63C that determines whether the battery 51 is usable by comparing battery information acquired from the storage unit 52 with a threshold for determining whether the battery 51 is usable, and a notification unit 64 that notifies the determination result of the determination unit 63C. Therefore, when the battery unit 5 is replaced, the lighting device 1 can notify the determination result of whether the battery 51 is usable from the notification unit 64 without having to perform a new inspection.

[0062] Furthermore, the control device 63 of the lighting device 1 in this embodiment 1 has a writing unit 63D that inspects the storage battery 51 and writes the inspection results to the storage unit 52 as storage battery information for the storage battery 51. Therefore, the lighting device 1 has storage battery information, which is information for determining whether the storage battery 51 can be used continuously, written to the storage unit 52 attached to the storage battery unit 5, so that the storage battery information for the storage battery 51 can be checked even if the storage battery unit 5 is not attached to the main body 2.

[0063] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 of this embodiment 1, the storage unit 52 of the battery unit 5 is a storage medium such as an IC chip or an RFID tag, and the control device 61 acquires battery information from the storage unit 52 using a contactless method. Therefore, the lighting device 1 can communicate battery information between the storage unit 52 and the control device 61 without performing any work such as wiring connections between the storage unit 52 and the control device 61, making it easy to attach and detach the battery unit 5 to the control unit 6.

[0064] Next, a modified example 1 of this embodiment 1 will be described.

[0065] In this embodiment 1, the inspection of the lighting device 1 is performed by the inspection processing unit 63A, which stops the supply of power from the commercial power source to the storage battery 51 and supplies power from the storage battery 51 to the light source unit 42 to light up the light source unit 42. However, the object to which power is supplied from the storage battery 51 is not limited to the light source unit 42, but may also be the dummy load 44 provided on the light source unit 4.

[0066] Since the simulated load 44 generates heat when power is supplied to it, it prevents users from mistakenly believing there is a power outage or malfunction when the light source unit 42 lights up during the automatic inspection mode of the emergency lighting fixture, which lights up when the power supply from the commercial power source is interrupted.

[0067] The simulated load 44 can be configured to supply more power from the battery 51 than the power consumed in emergency lighting mode. In this case, the battery 51 consumes power faster than when the light source unit 42 is used as the load, thus shortening the inspection time. The power supplied to the simulated load 44 may be set arbitrarily, and the relationship between the supplied power and the inspection time can be such that, for example, if the supplied power is twice the power supplied to the light source unit 42, the inspection time may be set to half the specified lighting time of the light source unit 42.

[0068] Next, a modified example 2 of this embodiment 1 will be described.

[0069] In this embodiment 1, the threshold value of the lighting device 1 is stored in the determination unit 63C of the control device 63, but the items to be stored are not limited to the determination unit 63C; they may also be stored in the storage unit 52. In this case, the acquisition unit 63E acquires the battery information and the threshold value from the storage unit 52, and the determination unit 63C compares the acquired battery information and the threshold value to determine whether the battery is usable.

[0070] In the modified example 2, the lighting device 1 stores battery information and threshold values ​​in the storage unit 52 of the battery unit 5. Therefore, even if the threshold value of the battery unit 5 to be replaced is different, a threshold value suitable for the battery 51 can be set, allowing the determination unit 63C to determine whether the battery 51 is usable or not.

[0071] Next, a modified example 3 of this embodiment 1 will be described.

[0072] In this embodiment 1, the battery information of the lighting device 1 was described as the continuous lighting time. However, it is not limited to the continuous lighting time. It may also be information indicating the state of the battery 51 obtained by the inspection processing unit 63A performing an inspection of the battery 51, such as the voltage change during discharge of the battery 51, the number of times the battery 51 has been inspected, the voltage during charging of the battery 51, or the charging time of the battery 51. In this case, the threshold value stored in the determination unit 63C is arbitrarily determined to correspond to the battery information.

[0073] Furthermore, the battery information of the lighting device 1 in this embodiment 1 is not limited to information obtained by performing an inspection of the battery 51 by the inspection processing unit 63A, but may also be information obtained while the battery 51 is attached to the main unit 2, without performing an inspection, such as the elapsed time since the battery 51 was charged by the commercial power supply, the temperature history of the battery 51, or the number of times the battery 51 has supplied power to the light source unit 42 to light up the light source unit 42.

[0074] Furthermore, the battery information of the lighting device 1 in this embodiment 1 is not limited to information obtained when the battery 51 is attached to the main body 2, but may also be information indicating the specifications of the battery 51, such as the model name or type information of the battery 51. In this case, the battery information is stored in the storage unit 52 before the battery 51 is attached to the main body 2.

[0075] In the lighting device 1 of the modified example 3, the battery information is not only the remaining time that the lights can remain on, but also information obtained by inspecting the battery 51, information when the battery 51 is attached to the main body 2, or information stored in the storage unit 52 before the battery 51 was attached to the main body 2. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the items used by the determination unit C to determine whether the battery 51 is usable is increased.

[0076] Embodiment 2. This second embodiment of the lighting device 1 will be described focusing on the differences in configuration and operation compared to the light source device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0077] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the lighting device 1 according to Embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 8, the light source unit 4 has a light source storage unit 46. The light source unit 4 is housed in the main body 2 and is detachable from the control unit 6.

[0078] The light source memory unit 46 stores light source information indicating the state of the light source unit 42. The light source memory unit 46 is a storage medium such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip or an RFID (Radio Frequency Indenter) tag, and the light source information can be written to or read from the control unit 5 or an external terminal by either a contact or contactless method. The light source unit 4 may have the light source memory unit 46 mounted on the mounting board 42, or it may be attached to the heat dissipation unit 45.

[0079] Light source information is information used to determine whether the light source unit 42 can be used continuously. Light source information includes, for example, the continuous lighting time, which is the time from when the light source unit 42 starts lighting up using power supplied from the storage battery 51 until it stops lighting up. Note that light source information is not limited to the continuous lighting time, but may also include the model name of the light source unit 42, the type information of the light source unit 42, the lighting time of the light source unit 42, the luminous flux amount of the light source unit 42, or the temperature history of the light source unit 42. Light source information may include any item used to determine the specifications of the light source unit 42 or whether the light source unit 42 can be used, and is not limited to the items listed in this paragraph.

[0080] The control device 63 includes an inspection processing unit 631A, a timing unit 63B, a determination unit 631C, a writing unit 631D, an acquisition unit 631E, and a status confirmation unit 631F.

[0081] The inspection processing unit 631A is an inspection function that stops the supply of power from the commercial power source to the storage battery 51 by the charging circuit 62, supplies power from the storage battery 51 to the light source unit 42 by the lighting circuit 61 to light up the light source unit 42, and obtains the continuous lighting time, which is the time from when the light source unit 42 starts lighting up with power supplied from the storage battery 51 until it stops lighting up. Note that the inspection processing unit 631A is not limited to the continuous lighting time, but any inspection function that obtains information about the light source unit is acceptable. Here, the lighting time of the light source unit 42 by the storage battery 51 is stipulated by the Building Standards Act and the Fire Service Act, and is 30 minutes or 60 minutes in the case of emergency lighting fixtures, and 20 minutes or 60 minutes in the case of exit signs.

[0082] The determination unit 631C has the function of determining whether the light source unit 42 can be used. The determination unit 631C stores a light source threshold value for determining whether the light source unit 42 can be used. The determination unit 631C determines whether the light source unit 42 can be used by comparing the light source unit information, which is the continuous lighting time, with the light source unit threshold value. Here, the determination unit 633C may determine whether the light source unit 42 is unused or has been used. Here, the light source threshold value is a predetermined value for determining whether the light source unit 42 can be used based on the items in the light source unit information.

[0083] This section describes the case where the light source information is the remaining lighting time confirmed by the inspection processing unit 631A. When the light source information is the remaining lighting time, the threshold is a predetermined arbitrary value. For example, the threshold is set to 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes, which are the times stipulated by the Building Standards Act or the Fire Service Act. The determination unit 63C also obtains the remaining lighting time from the storage unit 52 and determines that the storage battery 51 is usable if the obtained remaining lighting time is greater than the threshold.

[0084] The writing unit 631D writes the light source unit information, which is the continuous illumination time obtained by the inspection processing unit 631A after inspecting the light source unit 42, to the light source unit storage unit. At this time, the writing unit 631D may write the information while in contact with the light source unit storage unit 46, or it may transmit and write the information using a non-contact method.

[0085] The acquisition unit 631E acquires the light source information, which is the continuous lighting time, from the light source storage unit 46 and sends it to the determination unit 631C. At this time, the acquisition unit 631E may acquire the light source information while in contact with the light source storage unit 46, or it may receive and acquire the light source information using a non-contact method.

[0086] The status confirmation unit 631F is a function that checks whether the light source unit 42 attached to the main unit 2 is usable or not. The status confirmation unit 631F causes the acquisition unit 631E to acquire the light source unit information, which is the continuous illumination time, from the light source unit storage unit 46, causes the determination unit 631C to compare the light source unit information, which is the continuous illumination time, with the light source unit threshold to determine whether the light source unit 42 is usable or not, and causes the notification unit 641, which will be described later, to provide notification corresponding to the determination of whether the light source unit 42 is usable or not.

[0087] The notification unit 641 notifies the user of the inspection results and the determination of whether the light source unit 42 is usable based on the lighting status of the monitor LED. The notification unit 641 notifies the user of the determination of whether the light source unit 42 is usable, which is obtained using the light source unit information acquired by the acquisition unit 631E from the light source unit storage unit 46 by the status confirmation unit 631F.

[0088] The inspection switch 651 is operated when inspecting the light source unit 42.

[0089] Next, the effects of the lighting device 1 of this second embodiment will be described.

[0090] The lighting device 1 of this second embodiment includes a main body 2 that is attached to the mounting part, a light source unit 4 that is housed in the main body 2 and can be attached to the control unit 6, having a light source unit 42 and a light source unit storage unit 46 that stores light source unit information indicating the state of the light source unit 42, and a control device 63 that acquires the light source unit information stored in the light source unit storage unit 46. Therefore, when the light source unit 4 is replaced, the lighting device 1 can acquire the light source unit information from the light source unit storage unit 46 of the light source unit 4 without having to perform a new inspection.

[0091] Furthermore, the lighting device 1 of this second embodiment further includes a determination unit 631C that determines whether the light source unit 42 can be used by comparing light source unit information acquired from the light source unit storage unit 46 with a light source unit threshold for determining whether the light source unit 42 can be used, and a notification unit 641 that notifies the determination result of the determination unit 631C. Therefore, when the light source unit 4 is replaced, the lighting device 1 can notify the determination result of whether the light source unit 42 can be used from the notification unit 641 without having to perform a new inspection.

[0092] Furthermore, the control device 63 of the lighting device 1 in this second embodiment has an inspection processing unit 63A that inspects the light source unit 42 and writes information indicating whether the light source unit 42 can be used continuously as light source unit information to the light source unit storage unit 46 based on the inspection results. Therefore, since the lighting device 1 writes information indicating whether the light source unit 42 can be used continuously to the light source unit storage unit 46 attached to the light source unit 4, the light source unit information of the light source unit 42 can be checked even if the light source unit 4 is not attached to the main body 2.

[0093] In this embodiment 2, the lighting device 1 may be configured such that a light source memory unit 46 is attached to the light source unit 4 and a memory unit 52 is attached to the battery unit 5. In this case, the control device 63 writes and reads information from the light source memory unit 46 and the memory unit 52, respectively, and determines whether they are usable or not. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 1 Lighting device, 2 Main unit, 21 Ceiling mounting spring, 3 Frame, 4 Light source unit, 41 Mounting board, 42 Light source section, 43 Lens, 44 Simulated load, 45 Heat dissipation section, 46 Light source section memory section, 5 Battery unit, 51 Battery, 52 Memory section, 6 Control unit, 61 Lighting circuit, 62 Charging circuit, 63 Control device, 63A, 631A Inspection processing section, 63B Timing section, 63C, 631C Judgment section, 63D, 631D Writing section, 63E, 631E Acquisition section, 63F, 631F Status confirmation section, 64, 641 Notification section, 65, 651 Inspection switch, 66 Light receiving section.

Claims

1. Light source section, A storage battery that supplies power to the light source unit in an emergency when normal power is not supplied, A control device that determines whether the storage battery is usable by comparing storage battery information indicating the usability status of the storage battery with a predetermined threshold, A notification unit that notifies the result of the aforementioned determination to an external party, A lighting device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned battery information includes: The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time includes the time from when the light source unit starts lighting up using power supplied from the storage battery until when it stops lighting up.

3. The control device is The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein battery information is acquired by performing an inspection of the battery using an operation outside the control device or a predetermined inspection interval as the inspection start condition.

4. The control device is In the aforementioned inspection, The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the determination is made based on whether the continuous lighting time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time.

5. The control device is In the aforementioned inspection, The lighting device according to claim 3, which compares the voltage of the storage battery with a discharge reference voltage which is a voltage capable of lighting the light source, and determines whether the voltage of the storage battery is equal to or less than the discharge reference voltage.

6. The control device is The lighting device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the battery is inspected when the time measured from the time the battery receives power from an external source of the control device has elapsed since the inspection interval time.

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