An emergency lighting element includes a planar, electrically operable radiation source for planar emission of electromagnetic radiation at a front side of the radiation source; and a long-afterglow layer over a whole area on the front side of the radiation source. A penetration depth into the long-afterglow layer for radiation emitted by the radiation source corresponds at least to a thickness of the long-afterglow layer. The long-afterglow layer comprises phosphorescent material, an absorption spectrum of the long-afterglow layer at least partly overlaps an emission spectrum of the radiation source and an emission spectrum of the long-afterglow layer lies substantially in a visible range.

A photoluminescent guide for an emergency lighting system includes a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal slot extending between the first end and the second end. A one-piece composite insert is disposed within the longitudinal slot. The one-piece composite insert includes a photoluminescent layer and a light-transmitting layer integrally secured to the photoluminescent layer. The one-piece composite insert is configured to receive light at the photoluminescent layer through the light-transmitting layer and to emit light from the photoluminescent layer through the light-transmitting layer.

A photoluminescent guide for an emergency lighting system includes a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal slot extending between the first end and the second end. A one-piece composite insert is disposed within the longitudinal slot. The one-piece composite insert includes a photoluminescent layer and a light-transmitting layer integrally secured to the photoluminescent layer. The one-piece composite insert is configured to receive light at the photoluminescent layer through the light-transmitting layer and to emit light from the photoluminescent layer through the light-transmitting layer.

A method for producing an escape route marking in a heatable and malleable support mold is described. The escape route marking has a transparent covering, a supporting element and a photoluminescent material. The method includes procuring the heatable and malleable support mold, inserting a supporting element into the support mold, arranging the photoluminescent material on the supporting element, arranging the transparent covering on the supporting element, heating and deforming the escape route marking in the support mold and solidifying the escape route marking in the support mold in a predetermined position. The resulting escape route marking is also described.

A method for producing an escape route marking in a heatable and malleable support mold is described. The escape route marking has a transparent covering, a supporting element and a photoluminescent material. The method includes procuring the heatable and malleable support mold, inserting a supporting element into the support mold, arranging the photoluminescent material on the supporting element, arranging the transparent covering on the supporting element, heating and deforming the escape route marking in the support mold and solidifying the escape route marking in the support mold in a predetermined position. The resulting escape route marking is also described.

An emergency lighting system for an aircraft includes an emergency light control unit, having an external power input and at least one external control input for receiving external control commands from at least one of a cockpit crew, a cabin crew, a board computer and an autopilot, and a plurality of autonomous emergency light units, each of the plurality of autonomous emergency light units comprising at least one LED and a rechargeable capacitor. The emergency light control unit is configured to process the external control commands and to communicate emergency light control commands to the plurality of autonomous emergency light units as a response to the external control commands.

A lighting system for an aircraft cabin includes an electrical light source and a photoluminescent light source. The electrical light source is provided at or near a ceiling of the aircraft cabin and the photoluminescent light source is arranged at or near floor level. The photoluminescent light source defines a path along which passengers can move to an exit and is located in an area that receives a light output from the electrical light source to charge the photoluminescent light source. The electrical light source is adjustable to alter the orientation of the light source to concentrate the light output in the area of the photoluminescent light source to enhance charging of the photoluminescent light source by the electrical light source.

A light unit executes up to three different functions (cabin area illumination, individual/dedicated/decorative illumination and emergency illumination) and an emergency illuminated sign unit, each one with an internal controller and a rechargeable capacitor. An example non-limiting embodiment also provides a cabin light system and an emergency lighting system, where each illumination unit (light source or illuminated sign) is as described above.