Lighting device

Abstract

To provide a luminaire capable of suppressing a discharge amount from a secondary battery while functioning as an emergency lighting.SOLUTION: A luminaire 1 includes a light source 11, a secondary battery 12, a charging circuit 13, a lighting circuit 14, a switch 15, a first control unit 171, and a second control unit 172. The charging circuit 13 is configured to charge the secondary battery 12 with regular electricity that is supplied from a regular power supply 2 during the power-on period. The lighting circuit 14 is configured to turn on the light source 11 with non-regular electricity that is discharged from the secondary battery 12 during a power outage. The switch 15 is provided between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14. The first control unit 171 is configured to connect the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 by turning on the switch 15 in response to a power outage of the regular power supply 2. The second control unit 172 is configured to start a series of measurement processing related to the discharge from the secondary battery 12 responding to the first control unit 171 turning on the switch 15, and when the measurement results meet the predetermined conditions, to disconnect the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 by turning off the switch 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting device, and more particularly, to a lighting device that functions as emergency lighting. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the emergency lighting device described in Patent Document 1, a switch between a secondary battery and a lighting circuit is turned on when a commercial power supply fails. The switch is off (in an off state) during a normal operation (power supply period), and is kept on (turned into an on state) throughout a period when a commercial power failure is detected (power failure period). PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT DOCUMENT

[0003] Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-113877 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0004] In the emergency lighting device described in Patent Document 1, the secondary battery may become over-discharged if the power failure period is prolonged.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lighting device that can function as emergency lighting and can suppress the amount of discharge from a secondary battery. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0006] A lighting device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a light source, a secondary battery, a charging circuit, a lighting circuit, a switch, and a control unit. The charging circuit charges the secondary battery with normal power supplied from the normal power source during periods when the normal power source is energized. The lighting circuit lights the light source with emergency power discharged from the secondary battery during periods when the normal power source is not powered. The switch is provided between the secondary battery and the lighting circuit. The control unit controls the state of the switch between an on state and an off state. The control unit includes a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit connects the secondary battery to the lighting circuit by changing the switch from the off state to the on state in response to a power outage of the normal power source. The second control unit starts a measurement process related to the discharge from the secondary battery in response to the first control unit changing the switch to the on state. The second control unit disconnects the secondary battery from the lighting circuit by changing the switch from the ON state to the OFF state when the result of the measurement process satisfies predetermined conditions. The lighting device further includes a display unit that can identify whether the secondary battery is connected to the lighting circuit or disconnected from the lighting circuit. The display unit It has a timer, In accordance with the change in the state of the aforementioned switch The aforementioned timer The timer is started, and if the timer has not reached a predetermined time, an indicator is displayed that identifies whether the switch is connected or disconnected based on whether the switch is in the ON state or the OFF state. When the timer reaches the predetermined time, the indicator is cleared. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The display device described herein has the effect of functioning as emergency lighting while suppressing the amount of discharge from the secondary battery. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control unit that constitutes the lighting device described above. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the display unit that constitutes the lighting device described above. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a timing chart illustrating the overall operation of the lighting device described above. [Figure 5] Figure 5A shows the arrangement of processing units that implement the control unit and the like, and Figure 5B shows a modified example of the arrangement of processing units. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (1) Overview First, an overview of this disclosure will be given with reference to Figure 1. The lighting device 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure is a device that functions as emergency lighting. Emergency lighting in this embodiment is lighting that charges a secondary battery 12 with normal power from the normal power supply 2 during the period when the normal power supply 2 is powered on, and lights up a light source 11 with emergency power from the secondary battery 12 when the normal power supply 2 is powered off.

[0010] Emergency lighting includes, for example, emergency lights as defined by the Building Standards Act, but also exit signs as defined by the Fire Service Act. Emergency lighting is required to remain lit for a certain period of time after a power outage. The required duration of illumination after a power outage (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "illumination time") is, for example, 30 minutes (or 60 minutes) for emergency lights and 20 minutes for exit signs (hereinafter, the illumination time stipulated by law will be referred to as "statutory time").

[0011] In this embodiment, the lighting device 1 includes a charging circuit 13 that charges a secondary battery 12 with normal power from the normal power supply 2 during periods when the normal power supply 2 is energized, and a lighting circuit 14 that lights a light source 11 with emergency power stored in the secondary battery 12 during periods when the normal power supply 2 is not energized. The lighting device 1 is further equipped with a switch 15 interposed in the circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14, and a control unit 17 that controls the switch 15. The control unit 17 connects the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 when the switch 15 is turned on in response to a power outage, starts measuring elapsed time, etc., and disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 when the switch 15 is turned off in response to conditions such as the measurement result reaching a standard time (legal time + predetermined time).

[0012] By automatically controlling the switch 15 in this way, the lighting device 1 can function as emergency lighting while suppressing the discharge amount from the secondary battery 12.

[0013] (2) Main part Next, the main components of the lighting device 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The lighting device 1 comprises a light source 11, a secondary battery 12, a charging circuit 13, a lighting circuit 14, a switch 15, and a control unit 17. Note that the light source 11 does not necessarily have to be included as a component of the lighting device 1.

[0014] (2-1) Light source The light source 11 is illuminated by the lighting circuit 14. In this embodiment, the light source 11 is an emergency light source, which lights up using emergency power from the secondary battery 12 when the normal power supply 2 fails, and turns off when the normal power supply 2 is restored.

[0015] (2-2) Secondary battery The secondary battery 12 is charged by the charging circuit 13 and discharged to the lighting circuit 14. In this embodiment, the secondary battery 12 is charged with normal power and discharged with emergency power. Normal power is the power supplied from the normal power source 2, and emergency power is the power required to light the light source 11 in the event of a power outage at the normal power source 2.

[0016] (2-3)Charging circuit The charging circuit 13 charges the secondary battery 12. The charging circuit 13 in the present embodiment charges the secondary battery 12 with normal power supplied from the normal power source 2 during the energization period of the normal power source 2.

[0017] (2-3-1) Normal Power Source The normal power source 2 supplies (feeds) normal power. The normal power source 2 in the present embodiment feeds normal power to the charging circuit 13. Specifically, the normal power source 2 is, for example, a breaker connected to a commercial power source (such as a branch breaker of a distribution board).

[0018] For example, the breaker automatically enters a tripped state (also referred to as an off state) in response to an overcurrent or the like, or manually (for inspection after construction or the like). The tripped state of the breaker is normally canceled manually after handling the cause of the power outage such as overcurrent, or after completion of the inspection, for example.

[0019] (2-3-2) Energization Period, Energized State, and Energization (Power Restoration) The energization period is a period in which the normal power source 2 is in an energized state. The energized state is a state where the normal power source 2 is energized. Energization is a change from a power outage state to an energized state. Energization is, for example, power restoration after a power outage. Power restoration is a return from a power outage state to an energized state. However, energization may be the first energization after construction, for example.

[0020] (2-4) Lighting Circuit The lighting circuit 14 lights the light source 11 with emergency power discharged from the secondary battery 12 during a power outage period of the normal power source 2.

[0021] (2-4-1) Power Outage Period, Power Outage State, and Power Outage The power outage period is a period in which the normal power source 2 is in a power outage state. The power outage state is a state where the normal power source is out of power. A power outage is a change from an energized state to a power outage state.

[0022] (2-5) Switch The switch 15 is provided between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14.

[0023] More specifically, the switch 15 is inserted into the circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14, and opens and closes the circuit in accordance with the control of the control unit 17.

[0024] (2-5-1) ON state and OFF state Switch 15 changes between an ON state and an OFF state. The circuit through which switch 15 is inserted opens when switch 15 is ON and closes when switch 15 is OFF. Specifically, switch 15 is, for example, a semiconductor switch (MOSFET), an electromagnetic relay, etc. These matters also apply to the second switch 16 (see "(3) Details").

[0025] (2-6) Control Unit The control unit 17 controls the state of the switch 15 between the ON state and the OFF state. In the following, this type of control will be referred to as "state control".

[0026] (2-6-1) Switch on The control unit 17 controls the state of switch 15 from the off state to the on state, thereby closing the electrical circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14. Hereafter, the control of the state of switch 15 from the off state to the on state may be referred to as "turning on switch 15" or "switch on".

[0027] (2-6-2) Switch off The control unit 17 controls the state of the switch 15 from the ON state to the OFF state, thereby opening the electrical circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the lighting circuit 14. Hereafter, the control of the state of the switch 15 from the ON state to the OFF state may be referred to as "turning off the switch 15" or "switching off".

[0028] (2-7) Implementation means: Processing unit The functions of the control unit 17 can be realized by a processing unit 100 including a processor and memory. Programs and the like are stored in the memory, and the processor operates based on the programs and the like to realize functions such as state control of switches 15 and the like of the control unit 17.

[0029] (2-7-1) Measuring devices The processing unit 100 in this embodiment further includes a measuring device (not shown). The measuring device here is a device that performs measurements related to the discharge from the secondary battery 12. The measuring device is, for example, a timer for measuring (timing) the discharge time (time elapsed since the switch was turned on), a voltage sensor for measuring the discharge voltage (voltage of the secondary battery 12), etc. For example, the measurement processing and condition judgment of the second control unit 172, which will be described later, are realized by the processor, memory and measuring device.

[0030] However, the measuring device does not have to be a dedicated measuring device; for example, the processor's built-in clock may be used. Of the measurement processing and condition judgment of the second control unit 172, the timing process that measures the elapsed time since the switch was turned on, and the judgment of whether the measurement result (elapsed time) satisfies the time condition, can be implemented using the processor, memory, and the processor's built-in clock.

[0031] (2-7-2) Display Devices The processing unit 100 in this embodiment further includes a display device. The display device here is a device for distinguishing whether the secondary battery 12 is connected to the lighting circuit 14 (hereinafter referred to as "connected state") or disconnected from the lighting circuit 14 (hereinafter referred to as "disconnected state"). The display device is, for example, a monitor or an indicator lamp.

[0032] The functions of the display unit 18 (display control), described later, are implemented by the processor, memory, and display device. However, if display control is not performed, a display device is not necessary.

[0033] (2-7-3) Operating power In this embodiment, the processing unit 100 (control unit 17, etc.) operates on emergency power discharged from the secondary battery 12. However, the processing unit 100 may operate on emergency power from the secondary battery 12 only during periods of power outage of the normal power supply 2, and operate on normal power (for example, a portion of the power from the charging circuit 13 to the secondary battery 12) during periods when the normal power supply 2 is energized. Alternatively, the processing unit 100 may operate on a secondary battery or primary battery (neither of which are shown) other than the secondary battery 12.

[0034] (2-8) Details of the control unit The control unit 17 includes, in more detail, a first control unit 171 and a second control unit 172, as shown in Figure 1.

[0035] (2-8-1) First Control Unit The first control unit 171 controls the lighting device 1 to function as emergency lighting (for example, an emergency light). The emergency lighting referred to here is usually an emergency light or exit sign as defined by law, but depending on the application, it may also be a light whose illumination time is less than the legally mandated time.

[0036] More specifically, the first control unit 171 connects the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 by changing the switch 15 from the off state to the on state (i.e., turning on the switch 15) in response to a power outage of the normal power supply 2.

[0037] The state of switch 15 may initially be in the off state (for example, at the time of shipment of the lighting device 1). Alternatively, the state of switch 15 may initially be in the on state, and then be controlled to the off state by the first control unit 171 in response to the supply of power to the normal power supply 2 (for example, the breaker being turned on after installation).

[0038] (2-8-2) Second Control Unit The second control unit 172 works in cooperation with the first control unit 171 to perform control to suppress the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12 (for example, to avoid the secondary battery 12 becoming over-discharged, and consequently shortening the lifespan of the secondary battery 12).

[0039] More specifically, the second control unit 172 starts measurement processing related to the discharge from the secondary battery 12 in response to the first control unit 171 changing the switch 15 from the off state to the on state (switch on) as described above.

[0040] (2-8-2A) Measurement process The measurement process in this embodiment is related to the discharge from the secondary battery 12. The second control unit 172 performs a measurement process to measure physical quantities related to discharge using, for example, a measuring device such as a timer or a voltage sensor.

[0041] (2-8-2Aa) Discharge amount and remaining amount The physical quantities related to discharge are the amount of emergency power discharged from the secondary battery 12 from the time the first control unit 171 switched it on until the present, or the amount of emergency power that can be discharged from the secondary battery 12 at the present time. In the following, the amount of energy discharged from the secondary battery 12 from the time the switch was turned on until the present time may be referred to as "discharge amount," and the amount of energy that can be discharged at the present time may be referred to as "remaining amount."

[0042] (2-8-2Ab) Physical quantities related to discharge amount: Discharge time (or the discharge amount itself) A physical quantity related to the discharge amount is, for example, the discharge time. In this embodiment, the discharge time is usually the elapsed time from when the switch is turned on until the present time. However, the discharge time may also be the elapsed time from when the discharge starts in response to the switch being turned on until the present time, or the elapsed time from when the light turns on in response to the discharge start until the present time.

[0043] The elapsed time from the start of discharge to the present may be referred to as "discharge time," and the elapsed time from the start of illumination to the present may be referred to as "illumination time." However, the illumination time referred to here may include the period after the remaining charge falls below the threshold and the light turns off (i.e., it may be longer than the actual illumination time).

[0044] Alternatively, the physical quantity related to the discharge amount may be the discharge amount itself. The discharge amount can be obtained based on the discharge time. For example, a first correspondence information (data table or function) showing the correspondence between the discharge time and the discharge amount may be stored in memory, and the second control unit 172 may use the stored first correspondence information to obtain the discharge amount paired with the measured discharge time.

[0045] (2-8-2Ac) Physical quantities related to remaining capacity: Discharge voltage (or the remaining capacity itself) A physical quantity related to the remaining charge is, for example, the discharge voltage. The discharge voltage is the current voltage of the secondary battery 12 and is obtained from a voltage sensor.

[0046] Alternatively, the physical quantity related to the remaining charge may be the remaining charge itself. The remaining charge can be obtained based on the current voltage of the secondary battery 12. For example, a second correspondence information showing the relationship between voltage and remaining charge may be stored in memory, and the second control unit 172 may use the stored second correspondence information to obtain the remaining charge that corresponds to the measured voltage.

[0047] (2-8-2B) Details of the measurement process The measurement process in this embodiment is a process for measuring a physical quantity (discharge time or the discharge amount itself) related to the discharge amount of the secondary battery 12.

[0048] Alternatively, the measurement process may be a process that measures a physical quantity related to the remaining capacity of the secondary battery 12 (discharge voltage or the remaining capacity itself) (see "Variation Example 1 of Measurement Process").

[0049] Alternatively, the measurement process may be a process that measures physical quantities related to the discharge amount and physical quantities related to the remaining amount (see "Variation of Measurement Process 2").

[0050] In this way, by performing measurements related to the amount of emergency power that has been discharged or is available for discharge (discharge amount and / or remaining amount) (for example, elapsed time related to the discharge amount and / or voltage related to the remaining amount), and switching off the device when the measurement results meet the conditions (for example, the time condition "the elapsed time has reached a reference time" and / or the voltage condition "the voltage has fallen to or below the reference voltage"), the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12 can be accurately suppressed.

[0051] (2-8-2C) Specific example of measurement processing: Timing processing More specifically, the second control unit 172 starts timing processing in response to the switch being turned on. This timing processing involves measuring the discharge time of the secondary battery 12. The discharge time is obtained, for example, by using a timer to measure the elapsed time since the switch was turned on (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "elapsed time").

[0052] (2-8-2D) Modification of measurement process 1: Voltage measurement process Alternatively, the second control unit 172 may perform a voltage measurement process in response to the switch being turned on. This voltage measurement process involves measuring the discharge voltage of the secondary battery 12. The discharge voltage is obtained, for example, by measuring the voltage of the secondary battery 12 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "voltage") with a voltage sensor.

[0053] (2-8-2E) Modification of measurement process 2: Timing process and voltage measurement process Alternatively, the second control unit 172 may perform timing processing and voltage measurement processing in parallel in response to the switch being turned on.

[0054] (2-8-2F) Battery disconnection based on measurement results and specified conditions The second control unit 172 disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 by changing the switch 15 from the ON state to the OFF state (turning off the switch 15) when the results of the measurement process described above (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "measurement results") meet predetermined conditions.

[0055] Normally, the second control unit 172 itself makes the determination of whether or not the predetermined conditions have been met, but the determination may also be made by another component or device of the lighting device 1, and the second control unit 172 may receive the determination result.

[0056] In this embodiment, the second control unit 172 determines whether the measurement result satisfies predetermined conditions, and if it determines that the predetermined conditions are met, it disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 by turning off the switch 15.

[0057] (2-8-2Fa) Specific example of a given condition: Time condition The predetermined condition in this embodiment is a time condition. The time condition is a condition that is paired with the timing process described above, and is a condition relating to the discharge time of the secondary battery 12. The time condition is, for example, that the elapsed time from when the first control unit 171 turns on the switch 15 (or when emergency power is supplied from the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 in response to the switch being turned on, or when the light source 11 is turned on in response to the start of power supply) is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference time.

[0058] Furthermore, the elapsed time being equal to or greater than the standard time means that the elapsed time from the time the switch was turned on had already reached the standard time at the time the disconnection instruction was received.

[0059] (2-8-2Fb) Reference time The reference time is, for example, the time obtained by adding a predetermined time ΔT to the statutory time T, "T+ΔT". However, it may also be the time obtained by multiplying the statutory time T by a predetermined coefficient k (where k>1), "T×k", or "(T+ΔT)×k".

[0060] The statutory time T is, for example, "30 minutes" if the lighting device 1 is an emergency light, and "20 minutes" if it is an exit sign. The predetermined time ΔT may be, for example, a time corresponding to the allowable error ("7 minutes" or "10 minutes," etc.). The predetermined coefficient k may be, for example, a value corresponding to the installation location of the lighting device 1 ("2", "1.5", or "1," etc.).

[0061] If lighting device 1 is an emergency light, the standard time may be determined, for example, by setting T=30 minutes, ΔT=7 minutes, and k=2, resulting in "(30+7)×2=74 minutes". Similarly, if lighting device 1 is an exit sign, the standard time may be determined, for example, by setting T=20 minutes, ΔT=5 minutes, resulting in "(20+5=25 minutes)".

[0062] (2-8-2Fc) Modification 1 of the given conditions: Voltage conditions The specified conditions may also be voltage conditions. Voltage conditions are conditions that correspond to the voltage measurement process described above, and are conditions related to the discharge voltage of the secondary battery 12. For example, the voltage condition is that the voltage of the secondary battery 12 has dropped to or below a predetermined reference voltage. Note that dropping to or below the reference voltage includes cases where the voltage has dropped to the reference voltage and cases where the voltage is below the reference voltage.

[0063] The reference voltage may be, for example, the discharge termination voltage V used to prevent over-discharge, or it may be "discharge termination voltage V + predetermined voltage ΔV".

[0064] (2-8-2Fd) Modification of the given conditions 2: Time conditions and voltage conditions The specified conditions may include time conditions and voltage conditions. These specified conditions correspond to cases where the measurement process includes timing and voltage measurement processes.

[0065] (2-8-2G) Specific examples of conditional judgments: Judgments based on time conditions In this embodiment, the physical quantity is elapsed time, and the predetermined condition is a time condition. The second control unit 172 determines whether the elapsed time satisfies the time condition, and if the elapsed time satisfies the time condition, it turns off the switch 15, thereby disconnecting the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14.

[0066] By switching off the battery based on such time conditions, it is possible to accurately suppress the discharge amount from the secondary battery 12.

[0067] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the elapsed time may be longer than the actual lighting time of the light source 11, and the light source 11 may be turned off before the time condition is met. Even in this case, it is possible to suppress natural discharge after the light is turned off.

[0068] (2-8-2H) Modification of conditional judgment 1: Judgment based on voltage conditions The physical quantity is the voltage of the secondary battery 12, and the predetermined condition may also be a voltage condition. In that case, the second control unit 172 determines whether the voltage satisfies the voltage condition, and if the voltage satisfies the voltage condition, it turns off the switch 15 to disconnect the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14.

[0069] By switching off the battery based on these voltage conditions, it is possible to accurately suppress the discharge amount from the secondary battery 12.

[0070] (2-8-2I) Modification of conditional judgment 2: Judgment based on time conditions and voltage conditions The physical quantities include elapsed time and voltage, and the predetermined conditions may include time conditions and voltage conditions. In this case, the second control unit 172 determines whether the elapsed time satisfies the time condition and whether the voltage satisfies the voltage condition. If the elapsed time satisfies the time condition and the voltage satisfies the voltage condition, the switch 15 is turned off.

[0071] Specifically, the second control unit 172 may, for example, determine whether the elapsed time satisfies a time condition (e.g., "at or above the legal time T"), and if the elapsed time satisfies the time condition, it may further determine whether the voltage satisfies a voltage condition (e.g., "at or below the discharge stop voltage V"). If the voltage satisfies the voltage condition, the second control unit 172 turns off the switch 15.

[0072] As a result, for example, when the elapsed time reaches the legally defined time T, if the voltage is below the discharge stop voltage V, the switch 15 is turned off and the secondary battery 12 is disconnected from the lighting circuit 14.

[0073] By switching off the battery based on these time and voltage conditions, the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12 can be suppressed more accurately.

[0074] (2-8-3) Advantages of the control unit In this way, the first control unit 171 connects the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 by switching it on in response to a power outage, and the second control unit 172 starts measuring the discharge from the secondary battery 12, and disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 by switching it off when the measurement results meet the conditions (automatic control of switch 15). As a result, the lighting device 1 can function as emergency lighting while suppressing the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12.

[0075] Furthermore, when physically disconnecting by switching off the power, natural discharge from the secondary battery 12 during the power outage is also suppressed. Compared to the case where the light source 11 is turned off by controlling the lighting circuit 14 while the secondary battery 12 remains connected to the lighting circuit 14, this method helps to avoid the secondary battery 12 entering an over-discharge protection state due to natural discharge during a longer power outage period.

[0076] Furthermore, by starting measurement only when the device is switched on, power consumption can be reduced compared to continuous measurement.

[0077] (3) Details Next, the details of the lighting device 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Note that items already explained in the "Main Parts" section will be omitted.

[0078] (3-1)Display section The lighting device 1 further includes a display unit 18. The display unit 18 displays, via a display device such as a monitor or indicator lamp, whether the secondary battery 12 is connected to the lighting circuit 14 or disconnected from the lighting circuit 14.

[0079] The connected state corresponds to the ON state of switch 15, and the disconnected state corresponds to the OFF state of switch 15.

[0080] Displaying whether the device is connected or disconnected (distinguishable display) means, for example, displaying a predetermined symbol (icon, etc.) that suggests the battery unit 200 (described later) on the monitor in different colors. Specifically, the connected state (on state) may be displayed in red (hereinafter referred to as "red display"), and the disconnected state (off state) may be displayed in blue (hereinafter referred to as "blue display").

[0081] However, identifiable indicators may also include, for example, monochrome indicator lights with different brightness levels, continuous and intermittent displays, or displays with different flashing speeds.

[0082] Furthermore, identifiable displays may include, for example, status information (such as the string "ON" or "OFF") indicating whether the device is connected or disconnected, displayed on the monitor. While status information is usually displayed in a single color, the display color of the status information may be changed depending on whether the device is connected or disconnected.

[0083] By displaying the status of the switch 15 in a way that allows for identification of whether it is connected or disconnected, the user can easily recognize the status of the automatically controlled switch 15.

[0084] (3-2) Second switch The aforementioned switch 15 is the first switch 15, and the lighting device 1 further includes a second switch 16, as shown in Figure 1.

[0085] The second switch 16 is provided between the charging circuit 13 and the secondary battery 12. More specifically, the second switch 16 is interposed in the circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the charging circuit 13 and opens and closes the circuit in accordance with the control of the control unit 17.

[0086] (3-3) State control of the second switch The control unit 17 controls the state of the second switch 16 between the ON state and the OFF state.

[0087] The control unit 17 controls the state of the second switch 16 from the off state to the on state, thereby closing the electrical circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the charging circuit 13. Hereinafter, the control of the state of the second switch 16 from the off state to the on state may be referred to as "turning on the second switch 16" or "turning on the second switch."

[0088] The control unit 17 controls the state of the second switch 16 from the ON state to the OFF state, thereby opening the electrical circuit between the secondary battery 12 and the charging circuit 13. Hereinafter, controlling the state of the switch 16 from the ON state to the OFF state may be referred to as "turning off the second switch 16" or "turning off the second switch."

[0089] In addition to controlling the state of the first switch 15 as described above (first switch on / first switch off), the control unit 17 further performs state control of the second switch 16 between the on state and the off state (second switch on / second switch off).

[0090] (3-3-1) Disconnection from the secondary battery charging circuit in response to a power outage. The second control unit 172 disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the charging circuit 13 by changing the second switch 16 from the ON state to the OFF state (by turning off the second switch 16) in response to a power outage of the normal power supply 2.

[0091] By turning off the second switch 16 in response to a power outage, further suppression of natural discharge from the secondary battery 12 during the power outage period can be achieved.

[0092] (3-3-2) Connection to the charging circuit of the secondary battery in response to the power supply The first control unit 171 connects the secondary battery 12 to the charging circuit 13 by changing the second switch 16 from the off state to the on state (by turning on the second switch 16) in response to the energization of the normal power supply 2.

[0093] As mentioned above, the power being restored is, for example, after a power outage, but it can also be the first time power is restored after construction.

[0094] By turning on the second switch 16 in response to the power supply, natural discharge during power outages can be suppressed while charging can be performed during periods of power supply. This charging helps maintain the function of the emergency lighting.

[0095] (3-4) Operation (3-4-1) Operation of the control unit The control unit 17, which constitutes the lighting device 1, operates according to the flowchart shown in Figure 2. The processing in the flowchart of Figure 2 begins, for example, in response to the initial power supply.

[0096] When processing begins, the first control unit 171, which constitutes the control unit 17, determines whether or not the normal power supply 2 has failed based on whether or not normal power is being input to the charging circuit 13 (step S1). If it is determined that the normal power supply 2 has not failed, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0097] If the first control unit 171 determines in step S1 that the normal power supply 2 has failed, it turns on the first switch 15 (step S2). This connects the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14.

[0098] Next, the second control unit 172 starts the measurement process (step S3). For example, the timing process starts in response to the first switch 15 being turned on in step S2.

[0099] Next, the second control unit 172 turns off the second switch 16 (step S4). This disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the charging circuit 13. The process then returns to step S1.

[0100] If it is determined in step S1 that the normal power supply 2 has not failed, the second control unit 172 determines whether the measurement result of the measurement process started in step S3 satisfies predetermined conditions (step S5). For example, it is determined whether the result of the timing process (elapsed time since the first switch was turned on) satisfies the time condition. If it is determined that the measurement result satisfies the condition (for example, the elapsed time satisfies the time condition), the process proceeds to step S9 (described later).

[0101] If the measurement result in step S5 is determined to not yet meet the conditions (for example, the elapsed time does not yet meet the time condition), the second control unit 172 determines whether or not the normal power supply 2 has been restored (step S6). If it is determined that the normal power supply 2 has not yet been restored, the process returns to step S1.

[0102] If the second control unit 172 determines in step S6 that the normal power supply 2 has been restored, it turns on the second switch 16 (step S7). As a result, the secondary battery 12 is connected to the charging circuit 13.

[0103] Next, the second control unit 172 terminates the measurement process that was started in step S3 (step S8).

[0104] Subsequently (or if the measurement result in step S5 determines that the conditions are met), the second control unit 172 turns off the first switch 15 (step S9). This disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14. The process then returns to step S1.

[0105] In the flowchart of Figure 2, the order of the three steps S2 to S4 may be changed as appropriate, and the order of the two steps S7 and S8 may also be swapped.

[0106] (3-4-2) Operation of the display unit The display unit 18 operates according to the flowchart shown in Figure 3. The processing in the flowchart in Figure 3 begins, for example, in response to the initial power-on.

[0107] When processing begins, the display unit 18 determines whether the state of the first switch 15 has changed (step S21). If it is determined that the state of the first switch 15 has not changed, the process returns to step S21.

[0108] If the display unit 18 determines that the state of the first switch 15 has changed, it starts timing (step S22).

[0109] Next, the display unit 18 determines whether the first switch 15 is in the ON state or not (step S23). If it determines that the first switch 15 is in the ON state, the display unit 18 displays to the monitor (for example, a red display) an indication that the secondary battery 12 is connected to the lighting circuit 14 (connected state) (step S24). If it determines that the first switch 15 is not in the ON state (i.e., in the OFF state), the display unit 18 displays to the monitor (for example, a blue display) an indication that the secondary battery 12 is disconnected from the lighting circuit 14 (disconnected state) (step S25).

[0110] After the display (red or blue display), the display unit 18 determines whether the result of the timing started in step S22 (timing result: elapsed time since the state change of the first switch 15) has reached a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) (step S26). If it is determined that the timing result has not reached the predetermined time, the process returns to step S23.

[0111] If the display unit 18 determines in step S26 that the timing result has reached a predetermined time, it clears the display on the monitor (step S27). Next, the display unit 18 stops timing (step S28). After that, the process returns to step S21.

[0112] Note that in the flowchart of Figure 3, the order of the two steps S27 and S28 may be reversed.

[0113] (3-5) Examples of lighting device operation The state of each component of the lighting device 1 changes, for example, as shown in the timing chart in Figure 4. Note that the following is merely an example and may be modified as appropriate. For example, in this example, the display unit 18 does not control the display period (start of display in response to a change in the state of the first switch 15, and erasure of the display after a predetermined time from the state change, as explained in the flowchart in Figure 3). However, control of the display period may be performed, as shown in the "Modified Operation Example" described later.

[0114] In this example, lighting device 1 is an emergency light, and normal power supply 2 is a circuit breaker. The measurement process is a time measurement process that measures the elapsed time from when the first switch 15 is turned on (lighting of light source 11), and the condition judgment is a determination of whether the measurement result (elapsed time) satisfies the time condition "the elapsed time has reached the standard time". The standard time is 37 minutes, which is the sum of the legal time of 30 minutes and the prescribed time of 7 minutes.

[0115] Power is restored when the first power is turned on after construction (the work of installing lighting device 1 in the dwelling unit, etc.) (the contractor turns on the circuit breaker), and power outage is when power is turned off for the inspection of lighting device 1 (the contractor turns off the circuit breaker). Power is restored when power is turned on after completion of construction (the inspector or resident turns on the circuit breaker).

[0116] The regular power supply 2 is energized from the time of power-on (time 0) until the time of power-out (time t1), then remains unpowered from the time of power-out until power-back (time t2), and then becomes energized again after power-back. In other words, the period from power-on to power-out (time 0 to time t1) and the period from power-back until the next power-out (not shown) (time t2 onwards) constitute the energized period, and the period from power-out to power-back (time t1 to time t2) constitutes the unpowered period.

[0117] The initial power supply period from power-on to power-out (time 0 to time t1) is, for example, a few seconds, and the power-out period from power-out to power-restore (time t1 to time t2) is, for example, a few days. The power supply period after power-restore (time t2 onwards) will be a period of appropriate length, such as until power outages occur due to re-inspection or circuit breaker operation in response to overcurrent.

[0118] (3-5-1) Changes in state when power is applied and operation during the power-on period When power is supplied, the first switch 15 is turned off and the second switch 16 is turned on. When the first switch 15 is turned off, the light source 11 is turned off and the display unit 18 is turned blue. When the second switch 16 is turned on, the charging circuit 13 starts charging the secondary battery 12. Throughout the power supply period from when power is supplied until the power is cut off, the first switch 15 remains off, the second switch 16 remains on, the light source 11 is turned off, and the display unit 18 is turned blue, and the secondary battery 12 is charged. During the power supply period, no conditional judgments are made by the second control unit 172.

[0119] (3-5-2) Changes in state during a power outage and operations during the power outage period In response to a power outage, the first switch 15 turns ON, the second switch 16 turns OFF, and the second control unit 172 starts measurement processing and condition determination. When the first switch 15 turns ON, the light source 11 lights up and the display unit 18 displays red. When the second switch 16 turns OFF, charging of the secondary battery 12 stops.

[0120] During the power outage period from the outage to the restoration of power, the second switch 16 remains in the ON state, and the secondary battery 12 is charged. Measurement processing and condition judgment also continue throughout the power outage period.

[0121] (3-5-2A) Actions in response to changes in the judgment result In this example, after a reference time (for example, 37 minutes) from the time the first switch 15 is turned on (time t1), the result of the condition judgment changes from a state where it is judged as "not met" to a state where it is judged as "met". In response to this change in judgment, the first switch 15 turns off.

[0122] When the first switch 15 is turned off, the light source 11 turns off and the display unit 18 turns blue. The off state of the first switch 15, the off state of the light source 11, and the blue state of the display unit 18 are maintained even after power is restored (time t2).

[0123] (3-5-3) Changes in state upon power restoration and operation during the power-on period Upon restoration of power, the second switch 16 turns ON, and the measurement processing and condition determination by the second control unit 172 are stopped. Charging of the secondary battery 12 resumes in response to the second switch 16 turning ON.

[0124] (3-5-4) Advantages of the Operation Example Thus, the lighting device 1 in this example connects the secondary battery 12 to the lighting circuit 14 by turning on the first switch 15 in response to a power outage, starts measuring the elapsed time, and disconnects the secondary battery 12 from the lighting circuit 14 by turning off the first switch 15 when the measurement result (elapsed time) satisfies the time condition (the elapsed time is equal to or greater than the reference time) (automatic control of the first switch 15). In this way, it can function as an emergency light while suppressing the discharge amount from the secondary battery 12.

[0125] Furthermore, by starting measurement in response to the first switch 15 being turned on, power consumption can be reduced, and consequently, the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12 can be further reduced compared to when measurement is performed continuously.

[0126] Furthermore, by turning on the second switch 16 in response to power being restored, the secondary battery 12 is connected to the charging circuit 13, and the secondary battery 12 is charged during the power-on period, thereby maintaining its function as an emergency light.

[0127] Furthermore, by turning off the second switch 16 in response to a power outage, it is possible to further suppress natural discharge from the secondary battery 12 during the power outage period.

[0128] Furthermore, the blue display on the display unit 18 corresponding to the OFF state of the first switch 15, and the red display on the display unit 18 corresponding to the ON state of the first switch, allow the user to easily recognize the state of the automatically controlled switch 15 (and by extension, whether the secondary battery 12 is connected to the lighting circuit 14 or disconnected from the lighting circuit 14).

[0129] (3-5-4A) Advantages over conventional emergency lights In conventional emergency lighting, to avoid the light source 11 remaining lit after inspection during construction, the battery unit 200 (described later) had to be removed from the main unit 1A of the lighting device 1, and then reattached to the main unit 1A before power was restored upon completion of construction. In contrast, with the lighting device 1 in this example, the state control of the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 eliminates the need to attach and detach the battery unit 200. Specifically, since the first switch 15 is automatically turned off after inspection, it is no longer necessary to remove the battery unit 200 after inspection and reattach it upon completion of construction, as was done in the past.

[0130] (3-5-5) Modified examples of operation In this modified example, display control is performed as described in the flowchart of Figure 3. Specifically, the display unit 18 starts displaying in response to a change in the state of the first switch 15, and erases the display after a predetermined time has elapsed since the state change. As a result, the red display corresponding to the first switch 15 being turned ON during a power outage is erased after a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed. Similarly, the blue display corresponding to the first switch 15 being turned OFF during a change in judgment is also erased after a predetermined time.

[0131] According to this modified example, by shortening the display period of the display unit 18, it is possible to further suppress the amount of discharge from the secondary battery 12.

[0132] (3-5-6) Switch layout In this embodiment, the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 are provided in the battery unit 200, as shown in Figure 1. However, the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 may also be provided in positions described in, for example, "Modified Switch Arrangement".

[0133] (3-5-7) Battery Unit The battery unit 200 includes a secondary battery 12 and is detachable from the device body 1A. In this modified example, the battery unit 200 includes a secondary battery 12, as well as a first switch 15 and a second switch 16. The battery unit 200 is interchangeably connected to the device body 1A. That is, the battery unit 200 connected to the device body 1A can be replaced with another battery unit 200 having the same configuration.

[0134] Generally, secondary batteries 12 need to be replaced every few years due to deterioration over time, but by providing the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 on the battery unit 200 including the secondary battery 12, the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 can be replaced together with the secondary battery 12.

[0135] As a result, when the secondary battery 12 is replaced due to deterioration over time, the first switch 15 and the second switch 16 are also replaced. This helps to avoid situations where, for example, it becomes difficult to disconnect the secondary battery 12 from the circuit due to deterioration of the first switch 15 and / or the second switch 16.

[0136] (3-5-8) Arrangement of processing units, etc. As shown in Figure 5A, the lighting device 1 in this embodiment further comprises a substrate 301. The substrate 301 is provided on the device body 1A.

[0137] The circuit board 301 is equipped with a charging circuit 13, a lighting circuit 14, and a processing unit 100. By mounting the charging circuit 13, the lighting circuit 14, and the processing unit 100 on a single circuit board 301, the configuration can be simplified.

[0138] Furthermore, by mounting the charging circuit 13, the lighting circuit 14, and the processing unit 100 on a single circuit board 301 provided on the main body 1A of the device, the functions of the control unit 17 can remain in the main body 1A even when the battery unit 200 is replaced (described later).

[0139] However, as shown in the "Modified Circuit Board" described below, the main body 1A of the device may be provided with multiple circuit boards, and the charging circuit 13 and the lighting circuit 14 and the processing unit 100 may be mounted on separate circuit boards.

[0140] (3-5-9) Modified arrangement of processing units, etc. In this modified example, the lighting device 1 further comprises a first substrate 301 and a second substrate 302, as shown in Figure 5B. The first substrate 301 and the second substrate 302 are mounted on the device body 1A. A charging circuit 13 and a lighting circuit 14 are mounted on the first substrate 301. A processing unit 100 is mounted on the second substrate 302.

[0141] In this way, by mounting the charging circuit 13 and the lighting circuit 14 and the processing unit 100 on separate circuit boards, the functions of the control unit 17 can be retrofitted to the main unit 1A of the device.

[0142] (3-5-10) Modified Switch Arrangement The first switch 15 and the second switch 16 may be provided on the substrate 301 (see Figure 5A) or on the first substrate 301 (see Figure 5B).

[0143] (4) Other variations (4-1) Variations of light sources The lighting device 1 may have two light sources (not shown) for normal use and emergency use. The normal light source lights up using the normal power supply 2 when the normal power supply 2 is powered on, and turns off during a power outage. The emergency light source lights up using the emergency power supply 12 when the normal power supply 2 is powered off, and turns off when the normal power supply 2 is powered on.

[0144] Alternatively, the lighting device 1 may have only one light source (not shown), and this single light source may be illuminated with normal power when power is supplied and with emergency power when there is a power outage.

[0145] (4-2) Modified examples regarding the timing of stopping measurement processing and condition judgment In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the measurement process and condition determination were continued throughout the power outage period (time t1 to time t2). However, for example, they may be continued from the power outage (time t1) until the change in the determination result (time tx), and stopped after the change (for example, immediately after time tx, or after a predetermined time has elapsed). By shortening the period during which the measurement process and condition determination are performed, it is possible to further suppress the discharge amount from the secondary battery 12.

[0146] (5) Summary A lighting device (1) according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a light source (11), a secondary battery (12), a charging circuit (13), a lighting circuit (14), a switch (15), and a control unit (17). The charging circuit (13) charges the secondary battery (12) with normal power supplied from the normal power source (2) during periods when the normal power source (2) is energized. The lighting circuit (14) lights the light source (11) with emergency power discharged from the secondary battery (12) during periods when the normal power source (2) is not energized. The switch (15) is provided between the secondary battery (12) and the lighting circuit (14). The control unit (17) controls the state of the switch (15) between an ON state and an OFF state. The control unit (17) includes a first control unit (171) and a second control unit (172). The first control unit (171) connects the secondary battery (12) to the lighting circuit (14) by changing the switch (15) from the off state to the on state in response to a power outage of the normal power supply (2). The second control unit (172) starts a measurement process related to the discharge from the secondary battery (12) in response to the first control unit (171) changing the switch (15) to the on state. If the result of the measurement process satisfies predetermined conditions, the second control unit (172) disconnects the secondary battery (12) from the lighting circuit (14) by changing the switch (15) from the on state to the off state.

[0147] In this configuration, the first control unit (171) connects the secondary battery (12) to the lighting circuit (14) by switching it on in response to a power outage, and the second control unit (172) starts measuring the discharge from the secondary battery (12). When the measurement results meet the conditions, the system disconnects the secondary battery (12) from the lighting circuit (14) by switching it off (automatic control). This allows the system to function as emergency lighting while suppressing the amount of discharge from the secondary battery (12). Furthermore, when physical disconnection is performed by switching it off, natural discharge from the secondary battery (12) during the power outage is also suppressed. Compared to the case where the light source (11) is turned off by controlling the lighting circuit (14) while the secondary battery (12) remains connected, this prevents the secondary battery (12) from entering an over-discharge state due to natural discharge during prolonged power outages. In addition, by starting measurement in response to switching it on, power consumption can be reduced compared to the case where measurements are performed continuously.

[0148] In the lighting device (1) according to the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the measurement process is a process of measuring the amount of energy and related physical quantities of emergency power discharged or available for discharge from the secondary battery (12).

[0149] According to this embodiment, by performing measurements related to the amount of emergency power that has been discharged or is available for discharge (i.e., the amount discharged from the secondary battery (12), or the remaining amount of the secondary battery (12)), and switching off the device when the measurement results meet certain conditions (for example, the time condition "the elapsed time has reached a reference time", the voltage condition "the voltage has dropped to or below a reference voltage"), the amount of discharge from the secondary battery (12) can be accurately suppressed.

[0150] In the lighting device (1) according to the third embodiment, in the second embodiment, the physical quantity is elapsed time. The elapsed time is the time elapsed since the state change of the switch (15) to the ON state by the first control unit (171). The predetermined condition is a time condition. The time condition is the condition that the elapsed time has reached or exceeded a predetermined reference time.

[0151] According to this embodiment, the amount of discharge from the secondary battery (12) can be accurately suppressed by switching it off based on time conditions.

[0152] In the lighting device (1) according to the fourth embodiment, in the second embodiment, the physical quantity is the voltage of the secondary battery (12). The predetermined condition is a voltage condition in which the voltage has decreased to a predetermined reference voltage or is below the reference voltage.

[0153] According to this embodiment, the amount of discharge from the secondary battery (12) can be accurately suppressed by switching it off based on voltage conditions.

[0154] In the lighting device (1) according to the fifth embodiment, in the second embodiment, the physical quantity includes the elapsed time since the first control unit (171) changed the state of the switch (15) to the ON state, and the voltage of the secondary battery (12). The predetermined conditions include a time condition in which the elapsed time has reached or exceeded a predetermined reference time, and a voltage condition in which the voltage has decreased to or fallen below a predetermined reference voltage. The second control unit (172) changes the switch (15) from the ON state to the OFF state when the elapsed time satisfies the time condition and the voltage satisfies the voltage condition.

[0155] According to this embodiment, the amount of discharge from the secondary battery (12) can be more accurately suppressed by switching it off based on time and voltage conditions.

[0156] The lighting device (1) according to the sixth embodiment further comprises a display unit (18) in any of the first to fifth embodiments. The display unit (18) displays in an identifiable manner whether the secondary battery (12) is connected to the lighting circuit (14) or disconnected from the lighting circuit (14).

[0157] According to this embodiment, the state of the automatically controlled switch (15) can be easily recognized by the user.

[0158] In the lighting device (1) according to the seventh embodiment, in any of the first to sixth embodiments, the switch (15) is the first switch (15). The lighting device (1) further comprises a second switch (16). The second switch (16) is provided between the charging circuit (13) and the secondary battery (12). The control unit (17) further controls the state of the second switch (16) between an on state and an off state. The second control unit (172) disconnects the secondary battery (12) from the charging circuit (13) by changing the second switch (16) from the on state to the off state in response to a power outage of the normal power supply (2).

[0159] According to this embodiment, by turning off the second switch (16) in response to a power outage, it is possible to further suppress natural discharge from the secondary battery (12) during the power outage period.

[0160] In the lighting device (1) according to the eighth embodiment, in the seventh embodiment, the second control unit (172) connects the secondary battery (12) to the charging circuit (13) by changing the second switch (16) from the off state to the on state in response to the energization of the normal power supply (2).

[0161] According to this embodiment, charging can be performed during periods of power supply while suppressing natural discharge during periods of power outage.

[0162] The lighting device (1) according to the ninth embodiment further comprises a device body (1A) and a circuit board (301) in any of the first to eighth embodiments. The circuit board (301) is provided on the device body (1A). A charging circuit (13) and a lighting circuit (14) and a processing unit (100) that realizes a control unit (17) are mounted on the circuit board (301).

[0163] According to this embodiment, the configuration can be simplified by mounting the charging circuit (13), the lighting circuit (14), and the processing unit (100) on a single circuit board (301). Furthermore, by providing the circuit board (301) on which the charging circuit (13), the lighting circuit (14), and the processing unit (100) are mounted on the main body of the device (1A), the functions of the control unit (17) can remain in the main body of the device (1A) even if the battery unit (200) is replaced.

[0164] In the lighting device (1) according to the tenth embodiment, in any of the first to eighth embodiments, the device further comprises a main body (1A), a first circuit board (301), and a second circuit board (302). The first circuit board (301) is provided on the main body (1A). A charging circuit (13) and a lighting circuit (14) are mounted on the first circuit board (301). The second circuit board (302) can be retrofitted to the main body (1A). A processing unit (100) that realizes a control unit (17) is mounted on the second circuit board (302).

[0165] According to this embodiment, by mounting the charging circuit (13) and the lighting circuit (14) and the processing unit (100) on separate circuit boards, the functions of the control unit (17) can be retrofitted to the main unit (1A).

[0166] In the 11th embodiment of the lighting device (1), in the 9th or 10th embodiment, a battery unit (200) including a secondary battery (12) is further provided. The battery unit (200) is removably connected to the main body of the device (1A). A switch (15) is provided on the battery unit (200).

[0167] According to this embodiment, by providing the switch (15) in the battery unit (200), the switch (15) can be replaced together with the secondary battery (12). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0168] 1. Lighting device 1A Main unit of the device 11 Light source 12 Secondary battery 13 Charging circuit 14 Lighting Circuit 15 Switch (First Switch) 16. Second switch 17 Control Unit 171 First Control Unit 172 Second Control Unit 18 Display 2 Regular power supply 100 processing units 200 Battery Units 301 Circuit board (First circuit board) 302 Second board

Claims

1. Light source and Rechargeable batteries and A charging circuit that charges the secondary battery with the normal power supplied from the normal power supply during the period when the normal power supply is powered on, A lighting circuit that uses emergency power discharged from the secondary battery to light the light source during a power outage of the normal power supply, A switch is provided between the secondary battery and the lighting circuit, The system includes a control unit that controls the state of the switch between an on state and an off state, The control unit, A first control unit connects the secondary battery to the lighting circuit by changing the switch from the off state to the on state in response to a power outage of the normal power supply, The system includes a second control unit which, in response to the first control unit changing the switch to the ON state, starts a measurement process related to the discharge from the secondary battery, and, if the result of the measurement process satisfies predetermined conditions, changes the switch from the ON state to the OFF state to disconnect the secondary battery from the lighting circuit, The system further includes a display unit that can identify whether the secondary battery is connected to the lighting circuit or disconnected from the lighting circuit. The aforementioned display unit is It has a timer, and the timer starts counting time in response to a change in the state of the switch. If the result of the aforementioned timing has not reached a predetermined time, an indicator is displayed that allows identification of whether the switch is connected or disconnected, based on whether the switch is in the ON state or the OFF state. When the result of the aforementioned timing reaches the predetermined time, the display is cleared. Lighting device.

2. The measurement process is a process of measuring the amount of energy and related physical quantities of emergency power discharged or available for discharge from the secondary battery. The lighting device according to claim 1.

3. The physical quantity is the elapsed time since the state change of the switch to the ON state by the first control unit, The aforementioned predetermined condition is a time condition in which the elapsed time has reached or exceeded a predetermined reference time. The lighting device according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned physical quantity is the voltage of the secondary battery, The aforementioned predetermined condition is a voltage condition in which the voltage has decreased to a predetermined reference voltage or is below the reference voltage. The lighting device according to claim 2.

5. The physical quantities include the elapsed time since the state change of the switch to the ON state by the first control unit, and the voltage of the secondary battery. The aforementioned predetermined conditions include a time condition in which the elapsed time has reached or exceeded a predetermined reference time, and a voltage condition in which the voltage has decreased to or fallen below a predetermined reference voltage. The second control unit changes the switch from the ON state to the OFF state when the elapsed time satisfies the time condition and the voltage satisfies the voltage condition. The lighting device according to claim 2.

6. The aforementioned switch is the first switch, The charging circuit and the secondary battery are further provided with a second switch, The control unit further controls the state of the second switch between the on state and the off state. The second control unit disconnects the secondary battery from the charging circuit by changing the second switch from the ON state to the OFF state in response to a power outage of the normal power supply. A lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The second control unit connects the secondary battery to the charging circuit by changing the second switch from the off state to the on state in response to the energization of the normal power supply. The lighting device according to claim 6.

8. The main body of the device, The device further comprises a substrate provided on the main body of the device, The charging circuit, the lighting circuit, and the processing unit that implements the control unit are mounted on the aforementioned substrate. The lighting device according to claim 1.

9. The main body of the device, The first substrate provided on the main body of the device, The device further comprises a second circuit board that can be retrofitted to the main body of the device, The charging circuit and the lighting circuit are mounted on the first substrate. A processing unit that implements the control unit is mounted on the second substrate. The lighting device according to claim 1.

10. The device further comprises a battery unit including the aforementioned secondary battery, which is removably connected to the main body of the device, The switch is provided in the battery unit, The lighting device according to claim 8 or 9.

Images