Patent ID: 6710546
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G01R,H02J

Abstract:
A system for testing the ready status of an emergency exit sign including a lamp, a lamp driver powered by or connected to a power source for providing power the lamp, an emergency driver powered by the power source for charging a battery to supply power to the lamp when normal power is interrupted, wherein the system for testing the ready status of the emergency exit sign is remotely activated by a signal wherein the improvement comprises:a) a remote transmitter for sending a pulse-time coded infrared signal having a carrier frequency which exhibits a wavelength of about 770 nanometers to about 100 000 nanometers for initiating a test routine; b) an infrared detector mounted adjacent the emergency exit sign for receiving said pulse-time coded infrared signal; and c) a remotely controlled test circuit including a microcontroller connected to said infrared detector and to the emergency driver for the lamp, said microcontroller being programmed to initiate said test routine upon recognition of the pulse-time coded infrared signal by providing an output to the emergency driver simulating a failure of normal power; whereby upon actuation of the remote transmitter, the remotely controlled test circuit causes the emergency driver for the lamp to operate the lamp according to the test routine.