AN EMERGENCY LUMINAIRE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT EMISSION OF AN EMERGENCY LUMINAIRE AND AN EMERGENCY SIGN UNIT

Abstract

The invention relates to an emergency luminaire (1) with a housing (2) accommodating a light source (3) and control means (4) configured to control light emission of the light source (3). The housing (2) is configured for attaching an emergency sign unit (5) to the housing (2) such that the light emitted by the light source (3) lights the emergency sign unit (5) when the emergency sign unit is (5) attached. The control means (4) is configured to determine whether the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) or not; and control the light emission of the light source (3) according to a first operation mode when no emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), and according to a second operation mode when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing. The second operation mode is different from the first operation mode.

Claims

1. An emergency luminaire (1) with a housing (2), the housing (2) accommodating a light source (3) configured to emit light, and control means (4) configured to control light emission of the light source (3); wherein the housing (2) is configured for attaching an emergency sign unit (5) to the housing (2) such that the light emitted by the light source (3) lights the emergency sign unit (5) when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2); the control means (4) is configured to determine whether the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) or not; and the control means (4) is configured to control the light emission of the light source (3) according to a first operation mode when no emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), and according to a second operation mode when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), wherein the second operation mode is different from the first operation mode.

2. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) accommodates detection means for detecting attachment of the emergency sign unit (5) to the housing (2), the control means (4) is configured to determine, using the detection means, whether the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) or not.

3. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 2, wherein the detection means comprises or corresponds to two electrical contacts that are configured to be electrically connected to each other by an electrical conductive element of the emergency sign unit (5), when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), and the control means (4) is configured to determine that the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) when the two electrical contacts are electrically connected to each other.

4. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 2, wherein the detection means is configured to detect using electromagnetic induction a near field communication, NFC, tag, a metal element and/or a magnetic element of the emergency sign unit (5), when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), and the control means (4) is configured to determine that the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) when the detection means detects the NFC tag, the metal element and/or the magnetic element of the emergency sign unit (5).

5. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control means (4) is configured to control the light emission of the light source (3) according to the first operation mode such that in a normal operation state of the first operation mode the light source (3) does not emit light, and in an emergency operation state of the first operation mode the light source (3) emits light having a first light intensity.

6. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control means (4) is configured to control the light emission of the light source (3) according to the second operation mode such that in a normal operation state of the second operation mode the light source (3) emits light having a second light intensity, and in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode the light source (3) emits light having a third light intensity; wherein the second light intensity is greater than the third light intensity.

7. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 6, wherein the third light intensity is equal to ten percent, 10%, of the second light intensity.

8. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first light intensity is different to the second light intensity.

9. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control means (4) is configured to control light emission of a second light source (7) according to the first operation mode such that in the normal operation state and the emergency operation state of the first operation mode the second light source (7) does not emit light; and according to the second operation mode such that in the normal operation state of the second operation mode the second light source (7) does not emit light, and in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode the second light source (7) emits light having a fourth light intensity.

10. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 9, wherein the housing (2) of the emergency luminaire (1) accommodates the second light source (7).

11. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 9, wherein the emergency sign unit (5) comprises the second light source (7), and the housing (2) of the emergency luminaire (1) is configured for attaching the emergency sign unit (5) to the housing (2) such that the control means (4) of the emergency luminaire (1) is configured to control the light emission of the second light source (7) according to the second operation mode, when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2).

12. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 9, wherein the fourth light intensity is equal to the first light intensity.

13. The emergency luminaire (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first light intensity, the third light intensity and the fourth light intensity is equal to the light intensity of the respective undimmed light source.

14. A method for controlling light emission of an emergency luminaire (1), the emergency luminaire (1) comprising a housing (2) that accommodates a light source (3) configured to emit light; wherein the housing (2) is configured for attaching an emergency sign unit (5) to the housing (2) such that the light emitted by the light source (3) lights the emergency sign unit (5) when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2); the method comprises: determining whether the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2) or not; and controlling a light emission of the light source (3) according to a first operation mode when no emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), and according to a second operation mode when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2), wherein the second operation mode is different from the first operation mode.

15. An emergency sign unit (5) for an emergency luminaire (1), the emergency luminaire (1) comprising a housing (2) that accommodates a light source (3) configured to emit light; wherein the emergency sign unit (5) comprises an electrical conductive element, and the emergency sign unit (5) is configured to be attached to the housing (2) of the emergency luminaire (1) such that the light emitted by the light source (3) of the emergency luminaire (1) lights the emergency sign unit (5), and the electrical conductive element of the emergency sign unit (5) electrically connects two electrical contacts of detection means of the emergency luminaire (1) when the emergency sign unit (5) is attached to the housing (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures, in which

[0090] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0091] FIG. 2 schematically shows two states of a light source and an optional second light source of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention in case no emergency sign unit is attached to the housing of the emergency luminaire; and

[0092] FIG. 3 schematically shows two states of a light source and an optional second light source of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention in case an emergency sign unit is attached to the housing of the emergency luminaire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0093] In the figures, corresponding elements have the same reference signs. The proportions and dimensions of the elements shown in the figures do not represent the emergency luminaire and the emergency sign unit to scale, but are merely chosen to describe the structure and function of the emergency luminaire.

[0094] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular, FIG. 1 shows an example of the emergency luminaire according to the first aspect of the invention as described above for the case that an emergency sign unit is attached to the housing of the emergency luminaire.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 1, the emergency luminaire 1 comprises a housing 2, a light source 3 configured to emit light, and control means 4 configured to control light emission of the light source 3. The housing 2 accommodates the light source 3 and the control means 4. In particular, the control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 by controlling the electrical energy supply from an electrical supply circuit of the emergency luminaire 1 to the light source 3 of the emergency luminaire 1 (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0096] The housing 2 is configured for attaching an emergency sign unit 5 to the housing such that the light emitted by the light source 3 lights the emergency sign unit 5 when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2. The housing 2 may be configured for detachably attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2. FIG. 1 shows the case in which the emergency sign unit 5 is already attached to the housing 2. Thus, the emergency luminaire 1 shown in FIG. 1 may be also referred to as emergency sign luminaire.

[0097] The housing 2 may comprise two attachment openings in its surface for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing. In this case, two attachments parts (i.e. corresponding attachment means) of the emergency sign unit 5 may be at least partly arranged in the two attachment openings of the housing 2 (cf. regions indicated by the dashed circles A in FIG. 1) to form at least one of a click connection, snap-in connection and slide-in connection. This allows attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2. This attachment is only by way of example and does not limit the invention. Therefore, the housing 2 may be configured by any other way known in the art for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 1, the emergency sign unit 5 may correspond to an at least partly translucent plate with at least one emergency sign 6 (e.g. escape route sign) on at least one surface 5a of the plate 5. The housing 2 is configured to attach the plate 5 to the housing 2 such that the at least one emergency sign 6 is lighted by the light emitted from the light source 3, when the plate 5 is attached to the housing 2. In particular, the plate 5 may be a light guide plate that is configured to be attached to the housing 2 such that light emitted by the light source 3 of the emergency luminaire 1 is emitted through the light guide plate 5. The light emitted through the light guide plate 5 lights the at least one emergency sign 6 of the at least one surface 5a of the plate 5. The emergency sign unit 5 is not limited to the implementation form shown in FIG. 1 and, thus, may be implemented according to any other way known in the art.

[0099] Optionally, either the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1 may accommodate a second light source or the emergency sign unit 5 may comprise the second light source (not shown in FIG. 1). For example, the second light source may be arranged on a side 5b of the emergency light unit 5, which is opposite to a side of the emergency sign unit 5 that faces the housing 2 when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2. In particular, the side 5b may correspond to a side (underside respectively bottom side) facing the ground, when the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1 is installed at a ceiling of a room such that the light emitted by the light source 3 is emitted in the direction of the ground and when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2. The second light source may be differently arranged at the emergency sign unit 5 as long as the second light source is configured to provide light emission to the environment when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2.

[0100] The control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission by the second light source. In particular, in case the emergency sign unit 5 comprises the second light source, the control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission by the second light source, when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1. The electrical supply circuit of the emergency luminaire 1 may be configured to electrically supply the second light source.

[0101] In the following the control of the light source 3 of the emergency luminaire 1 and the optional second light source (not shown in FIG. 1) by the control means 4 is described.

[0102] The control means 4 is configured to determine whether the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 or not. For this, the housing 2 may accommodate detection means for detecting attachment of the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2 (not shown in FIG. 1). In particular, the detection means may be arranged at an area of the housing at which the emergency sign unit 5 may be attached to the housing 2. The control means 4 may be configured to determine, using the detection means, whether the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 or not.

[0103] According to an alternative, the detection means may comprise or correspond to two electrical contacts that are configured to be electrically connected to each other by an electrical conductive element of the emergency sign unit 5, when the emergency sign unit is attached to the housing 2. The electrical conductive element may be a part of the one or more attachment parts (i.e. attachment means) of the emergency sign unit 5 for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1. For example, the one or more attachment parts of the emergency sign unit 5 may be at least partly arranged in one or more attachment openings of the housing 2 for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2. The control means 4 may be configured to determine that the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 when the two electrical contacts are electrically connected by the electrical conductive element of the emergency sign unit 5 to each other.

[0104] According to another alternative, the detection means may be configured to detect using electromagnetic induction a near field communication (NFC) tag, a metal element and/or a magnetic element of the emergency sign unit 5, when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2. The control means 4 may be configured to determine that the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 when the detection means detects the NFC tag, the metal element and/or the magnetic element of the emergency sign unit 5.

[0105] The control means 4 is configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source (not shown in FIG. 1) according to a first operation mode when no emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2, and according to a second operation mode when the emergency sign unit is attached to the housing 2. The second operation mode is different from the first operation mode. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 1, the control means 4 controls the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source according to the second operation mode, because the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1. In case of detaching the emergency sign unit 5 from the housing 2 (not shown in FIG. 1), the control means 4 controls the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source according to the first operation mode.

[0106] Thus, the control means 4 is configured to switch between the first operation mode and the second operation mode for controlling the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source, depending on whether the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 or not. In case the control means determine that no emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2, the control means 4 controls the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source according to the first operation mode. In case the control means 4 determines that the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2, the control means 4 controls the light emission of the light source 3 and optionally the light emission of the optional second light source according to the second operation mode.

[0107] The control means 3 may be configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 according to the first operation mode such that in a normal operation state of the first operation mode the light source 3 does not emit light, and in an emergency operation state of the first operation mode the light source 3 emits light having a first light intensity. In other words, in the first operation mode (i.e. when no emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2), the control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 such that the emergency luminaire behaves as a normal emergency luminaire. As a result, in the first operation mode the light source 3 is controlled to emit light only in the emergency operation state.

[0108] The control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 according to the second operation mode such that in a normal operation state of the second operation mode the light source emits light having a second light intensity, and in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode the light source 3 emits light having a third light intensity. The second light intensity is greater than the third light intensity. In other words, in the second operation mode (i.e. when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2) the control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the light source 3 such that the emergency luminaire behaves as an emergency sign luminaire. As a result, in the second operation mode the light source 3 is controlled to emit light in the normal operation state and the emergency operation state, but with different light intensities for the two operation states for the reasons described already above with respect to the emergency luminaire of the first aspect.

[0109] The third light intensity may be equal to ten percent (10%) of the second light intensity. Optionally, the first light intensity is different to the second light intensity. The first light intensity may be greater than the third light intensity.

[0110] The control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the optional second light source according to the first operation mode such that in the normal operation state and the emergency operation state of the first operation mode the second light source does not emit light. This is the case, when the housing 2 accommodates the second light source. The second light source may be used by the emergency luminaire for providing the initial function of the light source 3 when the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2. This initial function is lighting the environment of the emergency luminaire 2. When the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2, the light emitted by the light source 3 lights the emergency sign unit 5 and, thus, does not light anymore the environment. Therefore, in this case (i.e. the second operation mode) the second light source is to provide the initial function of the light source 3 of the emergency luminaire 1. In the other case (i.e. no emergency sign unit 5 attached to the housing 2 respectively the first operation mode) the light source 3 provides its initial function and, thus, the second light source is controlled to not emit light.

[0111] Further, the control means 4 may be configured to control light emission of the second light source according to the second operation mode such that in the normal operation state of the second operation mode the second light source does not emit light, and in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode the second light source emits light having a fourth light intensity. Thus, the control means 4 may be configured to control the light emission of the second light source according to the second operation mode in the same way as the control of the light source 3 according to the first operation mode. The first light intensity and the fourth light intensity may be equal to each other.

[0112] At least one of the first light intensity, the third light intensity and the fourth light intensity may be equal to the light intensity of the respective undimmed light source.

[0113] For further details of the emergency luminaire 1 and the emergency sign unit 5 of FIG. 1 reference is made to the above description of the emergency luminaire according to the first aspect of the invention and the emergency sign unit according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0114] FIG. 2 schematically shows two states of a light source and an optional second light source of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention in case no emergency sign unit is attached to the housing of the emergency luminaire.

[0115] The emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2 is an implementation form of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 1. Therefore, the above description of FIG. 1 is correspondingly valid for the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2 and in the following mainly additional optional features of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2 are described.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2 of the emergency luminaire 1 accommodates the light source 3 and the second light source 7. The light source 3 corresponds to a strip of a plurality of light emitting diodes 3a (LEDs), which may be referred to as LED strip. The second light source 7 also correspond to a strip with a plurality of LEDs 7a. The number of LEDs 3a of the light source 3 is greater than the number of LEDs 7a of the second light source. The implementation form of the light source 3 and the second light source 7 as well as the number of LEDs of the light sources is only by way of example and does not limit the invention. Therefore, the light source 3 and/or the second light source 7 may be differently implemented by any way known in the art. The light source 3 and the second light source 7 may be arranged in a chamber 2a (respectively cavity) of the housing 2. This chamber may be sealed for providing protection, optionally IP protection, against environmental influences, such as water and dust.

[0117] As indicated in FIG. 2A, the housing 2 may comprise two attachment areas 2b for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2. For example, each attachment area 2b may comprise at least one attachment opening, wherein a corresponding attachment part of the emergency sign unit 5 may be at least partly arranged in the at least one attachment opening for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2. This is only by way of example and does not limit the invention. Therefore, the housing 2 may be configured by any other way known in the art for attaching the emergency sign unit 5 to the housing 2.

[0118] The FIGS. 2(A) and (B) show two states of light emission of the light source 3 and the second light source 7 in case no emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing and, thus, the control means 4 controls the light emission of the two light sources according to the first operation mode. As a result, the emergency luminaire 1 behaves as a normal emergency luminaire.

[0119] FIG. 2(A) shows the normal operation state of the first operation mode. Thus, the light source 3 and the second light source 7 are controlled by the control means 4 to not emit light (in the normal operation state of the first operation mode). FIG. 2(B) shows the emergency operation state of the first operation mode. Thus, the light source 3 is controlled by the control means 4 to emit light for lighting the environment of the emergency luminaire 1 (in the emergency operation state of the first operation mode). The light emission is indicated in FIG. 2(B) by the dotted pattern in the circles representing the LEDs 3a of the light source 3. The second light source 7 is controlled by the control means 4 to not emit light (in the emergency operation state of the first operation mode). Thus, in the first operation mode the control means 4 controls the second light source 7 to not emit light.

[0120] For further details of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2 reference is made to the above description of the emergency luminaire according to the first aspect of the invention and the above description of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 1.

[0121] FIG. 3 schematically shows two states of a light source and an optional second light source of an emergency luminaire according to an embodiment of the invention in case an emergency sign unit is attached to the housing of the emergency luminaire.

[0122] The emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2. Therefore, the above description of FIGS. 1 and 2 is correspondingly valid for the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 2 and in the following two additional states of the emergency luminaire 1 are described. The light emission of a respective light source is indicated in FIG. 3 by the dotted pattern in the circles representing the LEDs of the respective light source.

[0123] The FIGS. 3(A) and (B) show two states of light emission of the light source 3 and the second light source 7 in case the emergency sign unit 5 is attached to the housing 2 and, thus, the control means 4 controls the light emission of the two light sources according to the second operation mode. As a result, the emergency luminaire 1 behaves as an emergency sign luminaire, wherein the second light source 7 provides the function of a normal emergency luminaire.

[0124] FIG. 3(A) shows the normal operation state of the second operation mode. Thus, the light source 3 is controlled by the control means 4 to emit light for lighting the emergency sign unit 5 (in the normal operation state of the second operation mode). The second light source 7 is controlled by the control means 4 to not emit light (in the normal operation state of the second operation mode). FIG. 3(B) shows the emergency operation state of the second operation mode. Thus, the light source 3 is controlled by the control means 4 to emit light for lighting the emergency sign unit 5 (in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode). The light intensity of the light emitted by the light source 3 in the normal operation state is greater than the light intensity of the light emitted by the light source 3 in the emergency operation state. The second light source 7 is controlled by the control means 4 to emit light for lighting the environment of the emergency luminaire 1 (in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode). The light intensity of the light emitted by the second light source 7 in the emergency operation state of the second operation mode may be equal to the light intensity of the light emitted by the light source 3 in the emergency operation state of the first operation mode.

[0125] For further details of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIG. 3 reference is made to the above description of the emergency luminaire according to the first aspect of the invention and the above description of the emergency luminaire 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0126] All steps which are performed by the various entities described in the present disclosure as well as the functionalities described to be performed by the various entities are intended to mean that the respective entity is adapted to or configured to perform the respective steps and functionalities. In the claims as well as in the description the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation.