DUAL POWER SWITCHING SYSTEM

Abstract

A dual power switching system has a power input and a normal driver. The power input is connected to the normal driver and powers the normal driver. A logic circuit is configured to detect an abnormal power state. A secondary driver is connected to the logic circuit. The logic circuit activates the secondary driver in the abnormal power state. A series of lamps is powered by the normal driver in a normal state, and powered by the secondary driver in the abnormal power state. The lamps can be connected to the normal driver and also the secondary driver. The emergency power supply includes a secondary emergency switch and a boost power supply.

Claims

1. A dual power switching system comprising: a. a power input; b. a normal driver, wherein the power input is connected to the normal driver and powers the normal driver; c. a logic circuit, wherein the logic circuit is configured to detect an abnormal power state; d. a secondary driver, wherein the secondary driver is connected to the logic circuit, wherein the logic circuit activates the secondary driver in the abnormal power state; and e. a series of lamps powered by the normal driver in a normal state, and powered by the secondary driver in the abnormal power state.

2. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the lamps are connected to the normal driver and also the secondary driver.

3. The dual power switching system of claim 2, wherein the normal driver provides an AC output, but the emergency driver provides a DC output.

4. The dual power switching system of claim 2, wherein the normal driver provides a normal DC output, and the emergency driver provides a emergency DC output, wherein the emergency DC output is lower than the normal DC output.

5. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the emergency power supply includes a secondary emergency switch and a boost power supply.

6. The dual power switching system of claim 5, wherein the normal driver provides an AC output, but the emergency driver provides a DC output.

7. The dual power switching system of claim 5, wherein the normal driver provides a normal DC output, and the emergency driver provides a emergency DC output, wherein the emergency DC output is lower than the normal DC output.

8. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the emergency power supply is incorporated into the normal driver, wherein the normal driver has a secondary emergency switch.

9. The dual power switching system of claim 8, wherein the normal driver provides an AC output, but the emergency driver provides a DC output.

10. The dual power switching system of claim 8, wherein the normal driver provides a normal DC output, and the emergency driver provides a emergency DC output, wherein the emergency DC output is lower than the normal DC output.

11. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the emergency power supply is incorporated as a DIM input into the normal driver, wherein the DIM input receives a signal from an emergency adapter, wherein the logic circuit is formed on the emergency adapter.

12. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the normal driver provides an AC output, but the emergency driver provides a DC output.

13. The dual power switching system of claim 1, wherein the normal driver provides a normal DC output, and the emergency driver provides a emergency DC output, wherein the emergency DC output is lower than the normal DC output.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the system showing multiple light units.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an emergency switch configuration.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an emergency switch configuration.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an emergency switch configuration.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an emergency switch configuration.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an emergency switch configuration.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing installation of an emergency adapter to a normal driver.

[0020] The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.

[0021] D1 first diode

[0022] 21 first lamp

[0023] 22 second lamp

[0024] 23 third lamp

[0025] 24 fourth lamp

[0026] 29 emergency adapter

[0027] 30 normal driver

[0028] 31 normal driver first output

[0029] 32 normal driver second output

[0030] 33 normal driver first input

[0031] 34 normal driver second input

[0032] 40 DC driver

[0033] 41 DC driver first output

[0034] 42 DC driver second output

[0035] 43 DC first input

[0036] 44 DC driver second input

[0037] 50 secondary emergency switch

[0038] 51 emergency switch first output

[0039] 52 emergency switch second output

[0040] 53 emergency switch first input

[0041] 54 emergency switch second input

[0042] 55 second emergency switch logic

[0043] 60 primary emergency switch

[0044] 61 first power input line

[0045] 62 second power input line

[0046] 63 first light unit

[0047] 64 second light unit

[0048] 65 third light unit

[0049] 66 emergency voltage

[0050] 67 normal voltage

[0051] 68 neutral line

[0052] 70 BOOST power supply

[0053] 71 BOOST power supply first output

[0054] 72 BOOST power supply second output

[0055] 73 BOOST power supply first input

[0056] 74 BOOST power supply second input

[0057] 75 signal connection

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0058] As seen in FIG. 1, a general diagram of the present invention has a neutral line 68 that pairs with a normal voltage line 67 and an emergency voltage line 66. The primary emergency switch 60 select between the normal voltage line 67, and the emergency voltage line 66. A number of light units such as first light unit 63, second light unit 64, and a third light unit 65 can be connected in parallel to the primary emergency switch. The first power input line 61 and the second power input line 62 respectively connect to the neutral line 68 and the hot line which is the normal voltage line 67 or the emergency voltage line 66. As seen in FIG. 1, the centralized emergency backup power system allows a first light unit 63, a second light unit 64 and a third light unit 65 to share a single emergency power source.

[0059] The primary emergency switch 60 can be fashioned as a relay, or any electrical switching device. During normal mode, normal voltage is controlled by wall switch to be on and off and emergency voltage is not available. When emergency voltage is available, it will trigger the switch to disconnect normal voltage and connect EM voltage. All lights will respond to EM voltage by turning off or working in emergency mode.

[0060] As seen in FIG. 2, a first lamp 21, a second lamp 22, a third lamp 23, and a fourth lamp 24 can be connected in parallel and driven by a normal driver 30 in a normal alternating current AC operation mode of 120-480V. The normal driver 30 has a normal driver first output 31, and a normal driver second output 32. The normal driver 30 also has a normal driver first output 31 and a normal driver second output 32. The normal driver output are normally connected to the series of lamps. The lamps can be LED chips or arrays of LED chips mounted in lighting fixtures.

[0061] When the normal voltage is switched to the emergency voltage line 66, the emergency voltage line 66 outputs a low-voltage emergency current having 6-60 volts in direct current (DC). The DC driver 40 has a DC driver first output 41 and a DC driver second output 42 connected in series with the lamps. The DC driver has a DC first input 43, and a DC driver second input 44. The secondary emergency switch 50 senses the change in voltage type from alternating current to direct current. The change of voltage type triggers the secondary emergency switch 50 to activate. The secondary emergency switch 50 is connected in parallel or series to the AC driver 30 and has a emergency switch first output 51 connecting to the DC driver first input 43 and a emergency switch second output 52 connecting to the DC driver second input 44. The secondary emergency switch 50 also includes an emergency switch first input 53 connected to the first power input 61 and an emergency switch second input 54 connected to the second power input 62. The secondary emergency switch 50 can be programmed or hardwired with a second emergency switch logic 55 for governing switching activation.

[0062] The normal driver can operate in a normal operation with the lamps in series. In an emergency situation, the secondary emergency switch can power a DC driver 40 which is connected in parallel to the normal driver 30.

[0063] In this type of configuration, the normal input voltage is AC, which could be from 100 VAC to 480 VAC. The emergency input voltage is DC. The logic circuit may have a rule driven logic with a lower emergency voltage than normal voltage. The lower emergency voltage may have partial light which would be a dimming effect. The emergency state may disable the normal driver 30 and enable the enable DC driver 40 to drive the LED array or a portion of the LED array.

[0064] As seen in FIG. 3, a first lamp 21, and a second lamp 22 can be connected in parallel and driven by a normal driver 30 in a normal alternating current AC operation mode of 120-480V. The normal driver 30 has a normal driver first output 31, and a normal driver second output 32. The normal driver 30 also has a normal driver first output 31 and a normal driver second output 32. The normal driver output are normally connected to the series of lamps. The lamps can be LED chips or arrays of LED chips mounted in lighting fixtures.

[0065] The boost power supply 70 supplies an AC current from the BOOST power supply first output 71 and the BOOST power supply second output 72. The boost power supply 70 receives power from the secondary emergency switch 50 at the BOOST power supply first input 73 and the BOOST power supply second input 74. This configuration is more similar to a standard uninterrupted power supply UPS where DC power is converted back to AC power.

[0066] The DC driver 40 is connected in series to the driver. The secondary emergency switch logic 55 is built into the secondary emergency switch 50 and can switch to the boost power supply 70 when in emergency use. The secondary emergency switch 50 can be wired in parallel to the normal driver 30 because the normal driver 30 will not operate in an emergency condition.

[0067] The secondary emergency switch logic 55 may provide a normal alternating current voltage and a lower direct current voltage in an emergency state. The logic circuit can judge if the circuit is in an emergency mode. In an emergency mode, the logic circuit can boost the emergency voltage to keep the normal driver working at emergency level. For example, the emergency voltage can be set at a percentage of the normal light output, such as 10% of normal light output. The secondary emergency switch logic 55 may also disable any controls on the normal driver.

[0068] As seen in FIG. 4, a D1 first diode allows for a connection of the normal driver 30 in a DC mode. The lamps are DC lamps including a first lamp 21 and a second lamp 22 at a normal driver first output 31 and a normal driver second output 32. The normal driver first input 33 and normal driver second input 34 are both connected to the BOOST power supply 70. When the secondary emergency switch 50 senses a drop in voltage to an emergency level such as when the second emergency switch logic 55 is indicated for operation in emergency state, the secondary emergency switch 50 provides a first emergency switch first output 51.

[0069] The secondary emergency switch senses voltage on a secondary emergency switch first input 53 and compares the voltage with the secondary emergency switch logic 55 to determine if an emergency condition exists. The secondary emergency switch 50 is connected to the first power input line 61 and the second power input line 62. The BOOST power supply 70 has a BOOST power supply first output 71 and a BOOST power supply second output 72.

[0070] The second emergency switch 50, lamps 21 and normal driver 30 can be implemented as a second light unit 64 of the overall system. In this configuration, the nominal voltage is a high disease voltage and the emergency voltage is a low DC voltage. A Diode D1 prevents high voltage flowing back to low voltage. The logic circuit judges if the system is in emergency mode. If the system is in not in emergency mode, then the emergency voltage is boosted back to a normal voltage range. If the system is in emergency mode, then the logic circuit controls the driver to work at an emergency level.

[0071] As seen in FIG. 5, the secondary emergency switch 50 uses a second emergency switch logic 55 and in the event of an emergency provides a emergency signal to the normal driver 30 through a signal connection 75 so that the normal driver 30 is configured to dim or otherwise control both the 61 first power input line and the 62 second power input line.

[0072] The normal voltage and input voltage are different, but the driver voltage range can cover both ranges. The logic circuit 55 judges if it is emergency mode. If in an emergency mode, the logic circuit 55 controls the driver to operate in the emergency mode and also disables any controls.

[0073] As seen in FIG. 6, the secondary driver and emergency driver are wired in parallel to the normal driver so that they replace the operation of the normal driver when the power condition changes from the normal state to the emergency state.

[0074] As seen in FIG. 7, an emergency adapter 29 can be connected to the normal driver 30 in a retrofit layout where the emergency adapter 29 has a power plug and dimming plug that can plug to the normal driver 30 input sockets and dimming sockets. In this way, the emergency adapter can be inserted in series to the normal driver 30. The emergency adapter 29 can output an emergency voltage and dimming signal that allows for an emergency mode of the normal driver 30 so that the normal driver 30 continues to operate even under the constraints of the emergency voltage and possible change between alternating current and direct current.

[0075] Again, the logic circuit senses if the present power state is in an emergency mode. If the power state is in an emergency mode, the logic circuit disables the normal driver, and enables the emergency driver to output at emergency levels for all or part of the LED lamps. This add-on goal power switching system can be formed as an emergency adapter which allows easy conversion of regular drivers to add an emergency function. When the emergency adapter logic circuit judges the power state to be in an emergency mode, the logic circuit disables the outside dim signal, buck or boost EM voltage to a normal voltage range and sends a dim signal to control the normal driver to drive the LED at an emergency level.