Abstract:
A pathway indicating luminaire for use in an auxiliary lighting system contains at least one source of primary light and at least one light emitting diode. A switching system provides energy from a storage cell to the light emitting diode upon certain conditions, generally by time or by lack of ambient light.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/701,255 filed Feb. 1, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/920,007, filed Aug. 17, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,242,313 B2, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/202,746, filed Jul. 25, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,093 B2, which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/307,947 filed Jul. 26, 2001, the disclosures of the above-referenced applications are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an improved system for providing pathway indication through unlit areas. For example, outdoor parking lots are often illuminated by light poles, which for economic reasons, are often designed to be automatically turned off after a set time, for example at midnight. After this shut off time, navigating or exiting the parking lot can be extremely hazardous. In fact, the light poles themselves can be a significant obstacle to safe egress of the parking lot. 
         [0004]    A similar situation can exist in interior areas of residences and buildings, whether for economic or other reasons. After the interior lights of a building are shut off, for whatever reason, navigating of the building&#39;s interior, or exiting the building can be hazardous. 
         [0005]    2. Background Art 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,928 discloses an egress direction indication system utilizing an indicator with at least three electroluminescent lamps in a linear arrangement and circuitry for sequentially illuminating the lamps on a repeating basis, in order, from one end of the linear arrangement to the other. The lamps are mounted on a circuit board with a lens covering the lamps. The circuitry lights in a first direction under one sensed condition and lights in a second direction in a different sensed condition. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,068 discloses a light system with controllable light sources positioned along alternative routes of movement to serve as an optical means for influencing people to follow an indicated route to a selected area. A command system allows a selection to be made controlling the direction of movement to be indicated. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are a preferred light source. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,375 discloses an emergency egress illuminator and marking light strip. This patent teaches a system for the lighting of a floor of an emergency egress passageway during clear air conditions and also marks an emergency escape path. The system utilizes two narrow strings of narrow cone LEDs each in a transparent tubular housing, which is mounted on the passageway wall. 
         [0009]    While these systems are suitable for their intended purposes, they are not ideally designed for applications such as described above. This is because the present invention provides improved energy efficiency over the systems known in the art, and is thus more economical. Additionally, the present invention is optimized to operate in conditions of power failure or other interruptions of main power supply. 
         [0010]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an economical lighting system to allow safe egress from a darkened area, such as a building interior or parking lot, when a primary light system is unavailable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a photocell for converting sunlight into electrical energy and a storage cell for storing that energy for a future time. The photocell and the storage cell may be combined into the same unit, but this is not necessary. The storage device is connected, by way of a switching apparatus, to an LED or series of LEDs, which provide sufficient light to illuminate the darkened area sufficiently to allow safe egress from the darkened area. A control panel may be provided to allow the operator of the facility in which the invention is installed to turn the system on or off, and/or choose between various modes of operation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of an electrical system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of an alternative electrical system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a light pole utilizing the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a light pole utilizing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of a self-contained unit shown in the light pole in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing a construction embodying a further modification of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an elevational, sectional, view of a luminaire, which embodies a further modification of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a view, similar in part to  FIG. 7 , but showing a further modification of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing how a control panel may be used in the construction of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an auxiliary lighting system  10  according to the present invention. The auxiliary lighting system  10  includes a photoelectric collector  12  positioned in such a manner as to receive a maximal amount of sunlight. If the auxiliary lighting system is to be used indoors, the collector could be placed indoors, in a place where it will be exposed to light, or it can be placed outdoors. The photoelectric collector  12  is then connected to an auto-switching energy sensor  14 . The sensor  14  is then connected to one or more electrical storage devices  16 . The storage devices  16  can then be connected to one or more LEDs  18  as the light source of the auxiliary lighting system  10 . The sensor  14  can also provide an additional electric pathway directly from the photoelectric collector  12  to the LEDs  18 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a modification of the present invention, shown as the auxiliary lighting system  20 . In this embodiment, the photoelectric collector  12  is connected to the energy storage device  16 . The energy storage device  16  is then connected to the sensor  14 . The sensor  14  is also connected to a primary power source  22 . Finally, the sensor provides an electrical connection to the LEDs  18 . In this embodiment, the sensor can switch the LEDs  18  between the main source of outside power  22  and the auxiliary source, the storage device  16 . This could be done, for example, after the main power source  22  is switched off for the night, or upon a failure of the main power source  22 . In an alternative not shown in this figure, the main power source  22  could be connected to a different light source, specifically one generating more light than the LEDs  18 . 
         [0024]    Thus when the sensor  14  sees that main power is on, the main lights are turned on, and when main power is turned off, for example by timer or upon an interruption in main power, the stored power  16  is then connected via the switch  14  to the LEDs  18 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as utilized in a light pole  24  for a parking lot. The light pole  24  has a main lighting source  26 , and additionally has LEDs  18 , located near the bottom of the pole. The LEDs  18  can be connected to a photoelectric collector and switch (see  FIG. 2 ) and can be turned on when the main light source  26  is disengaged. The location of the LEDs  18  near the bottom of the light pole  24  is suitable to allow individuals to see the location of the pole  24  in the darkened parking lot. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a variation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4 , the auxiliary lighting unit is maintained as a separate system  28  (see  FIG. 5 ), which is inserted into a recess in the light pole. The system  28  can be originally designed into the light pole  24  or can be retrofitted into it subsequent to the pole&#39;s initial construction. The system includes the photoelectric collector  12  along with a sensor  14  and LEDs  18 . The sensor can work as described above, either by time, lack of main power, or additionally, by sensing the level of ambient light, and turning on the LEDs only when the ambient light is low enough to indicate that the primary light  26  is inactive. This would provide illumination at times when the main light  26  should be engaged but is not, for example upon burnout of the main light bulb. 
         [0027]    While exterior applications of the lighting system are described above, further applications are envisioned, both exterior and interior. The present invention is suitable for use anywhere an auxiliary lighting system is necessary. Because of its use of lower energy using LEDs and stored solar power, the system is extremely economical compared to known auxiliary or emergency lighting systems. 
         [0028]    For example, referring to  FIG. 6 , auxiliary lighting system  20  is shown advantageously being used to light the interior of a building  28 . Photoelectric collector  12  is shown mounted to the roof  30  of the building  28 . Alternately, photoelectric collector  12  could be mounted in the interior of the building  28  anyplace where it would receive sufficient sunlight during daylight hours, such as near a window  32 . 
         [0029]    The photoelectric collector  12  is electrically connected to an energy storage device  16 , such as battery  34 . Battery  34  can be mounted at any convenient location in the building  28 . 
         [0030]    The energy storage device  16  is then electrically connected to the energy sensor  14 . The energy sensor is also connected to a primary power source  22 . Finally, the energy sensor  14  provides an electrical connection to the LEDs  18 , one such LED  18  being shown mounted to reflector  46  of luminaire  48 , having housing  49 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . A control panel  36  ( FIG. 9 ) may be provided on an interior wall  38  of the building  28  to provide for operator selection of various modes of operation of the system  20 , as is explained hereinafter, or to turn the system off completely, if desired. The LEDs  18  are electrically connected to the energy sensor  14  and/or the control panel  36 , depending on the application. 
         [0031]    Remote photocell  37  may be provided on the exterior or interior of the building structure  28  to provide an indication of ambient or exterior or interior lighting conditions when needed for a particular application. 
         [0032]    In this modification of the present invention, the LEDs  18  take the form of wall mounted LEDs  40 , reflector mounted LEDs  42 , or bezel or trim ring mounted LEDs  44 . Some or all of LEDs ( 40 ,  42 ,  44 ) may be combined to form interior auxiliary lighting system  45 . The invention contemplates taking any lighting fixture currently manufactured, or yet to be designed and manufactured, whether recessed, or surface mounted, and adding LEDs to the reflectors, housings, trim rings, or bezels. These LEDs will be powered by the energy storage device  16  and the photoelectric collector, and controlled through various arrangements of switches, photocells and relays of the type well known in the art. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a plurality of reflector mounted LEDs  42  mounted to the reflector  46  of luminaire  48 . While several reflector mounted LEDs  42  are shown mounted to reflector  46 , any practical number could be used, depending on the application. The luminaire  48  is mounted, by ways well known in the lighting and construction arts, to the ceiling  50  of a room  52  in the building  28 . A standard bezel or trim ring  54  is used to close the gap between the ceiling  50  and the reflector  46 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a modification of the invention is shown. While a standard luminaire  48  is provided, a modified bezel or trim ring  56  is utilized. Aperture(s)  44 A are provided for mounting one or more bezel or trim ring mounted LEDs  44  to the modified bezel or trim ring  56 . While the modification shown in  FIG. 7  takes advantage of the reflector  46  of the luminaire  48 , and may require a smaller LED and/or give a softer lighting effect, in applications requiring more distinct or brighter illumination, the modification shown in  FIG. 8  may be preferred. 
         [0035]    While the use of LEDs ( 18 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 ) in recessed lighting has been shown, the use of LEDs in surface or suspended illumination is well within the scope of the present invention. Also, the use of LEDs powered by the invention installed or molded into moldings  58  ( FIG. 6 ), channels  60 , or other linear or non-linear materials for use in defining paths  62 , doors  64 , objects, handrails  66 , etc. is contemplated. Wherever the LEDs are used, they will be electrically connected to the photoelectric collector  12  and the electrical storage device(s)  16 , and will be connected between the two by the energy sensor  14 . By use of the control panel  36 , the operator may choose to have the system on or off, and, if desired, may have the option to have any or all of the LEDs ( 18 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) electrically connected at any desired time. The knowledge to provide and wire such a control panel  36  is well within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and need not be described in detail herein. 
         [0036]    In some applications, wall mounted LEDs  40  may be used ( FIG. 9 ). Wall mounted LED  40  illumination is believed to be particularly advantageous in interior applications such as nighttime illumination for hallways, bathrooms, garages, bedrooms, and all entrances and egresses. 
         [0037]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 
         [0038]    While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.