Patent Description:
Emergency lighting systems enable a quick and safe evacuation of buildings in an emergency situation, for instance during a fire alarm.

Such emergency lighting systems usually comprise a plurality of emergency luminaires, which are installed in many different places in the building. These emergency luminaires can be wireless, i.e. they comprise a driver with a wireless communication interface for exchanging communication data.

Such emergency luminaires are usually provided with a test switch for activating various test functions, as well as a status LED for indicating the test functions. The test switch and the status LED are typically arranged on a housing of the driver. An emergency luminaire with such a status LED and test switch is, for instance, disclosed in document <CIT>.

After installing such luminaires, they are usually commissioned. During commissioning a room or group number is, for instance, allocated to each luminaire.

In order to commission a wireless emergency luminaire, it is known to use dedicated hand held instruments. These devices are developed particularly for commissioning and/or provisioning of the luminaires and communicate with the luminaires via Bluetooth, Infrared or NFC interfaces. However, such devices are expensive and can be cumbersome to operate.

It is also known, to commission wireless emergency luminaires via a smartphone, in particular using a wireless communication interface of the smartphone. However, in order to use a smartphone for this purpose a dedicated application (App) needs to be developed, which is expensive.

Furthermore, to commission a wireless emergency luminaires with a dedicated device or smartphone, an additional communication interface is required on the luminaire to communicate with the device, e.g. a NFC interface. A NFC interface can have the further disadvantage that it requires an additional IC at the luminaire to harness energy from an NFC antenna, for storing the commissioning information. This further increases the cost and complexity of the luminaire.

<CIT> discloses a driver for emergency lighting means comprising, inter alia, a user interface (e.g., push button) for starting a routine controlled by a controller of the driver, such as resetting the communication parameters of the light source. A commissioning of said driver is activated responsive to user interaction with a different (i.e., sensor) device. <CIT> discloses a dimmer switch with occupancy sensors for detecting occupancy within a space.

Thus, it is an objective to provide an efficient and cost saving commissioning of emergency lighting means, in particular without using external devices.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a driver for an emergency lighting means, comprising output terminals for electrically supplying at least one emergency lighting means, and a test switch for starting a test routine controlled by a controller of the driver, wherein the driver is configured to start the test routine if the test switch is activated according to a first operation pattern, and is settable to a commissioning mode if the test switch is activated according to a predefined second operation pattern defined by time durations and/or repetition criteria of the second operation pattern. The second operation pattern is different to the first operation pattern. This achieves the advantage that the driver and the connected emergency lighting means can be commissioned efficiently and without using external devices.

The driver can be a converter or can comprise a converter of the emergency lighting means, in particular for providing a DC power supply to the emergency lighting means.

The driver can comprise an AC input, for receiving an AC mains voltage, e.g. <NUM> V and can be configured to detect an emergency situation if the AC mains voltage fails. The driver can comprise an electrical energy storage, e.g. a battery, for providing an energy supply to the emergency lighting means during such an emergency situation.

The emergency lighting means can be an emergency luminaire, in particular an emergency light or an illuminated escape sign. The emergency lighting means can comprise an LED light source, e.g. an LED module or an LED track.

The emergency lighting means can further comprise a sensor, e.g. a motion, a smoke or a light sensor, a control unit or a user interface, e.g. a dimmer or a touchscreen.

The output terminals can be connection pins on the housing of the driver for electrically connecting the emergency lighting means.

The test switch can be a pushbutton on a housing of the driver. In particular, the test switch is configured to register for how long the switch is manually pressed by a user.

The test routine can be a test routine of the driver and/or of the emergency lighting means. During the test routine various functions of the driver and/or the emergency lighting means that are to be executed during an emergency situation can be tested, e.g. providing a power supply to the lighting means via a battery, activating the lighting means etc..

In an embodiment, the driver comprises a visual status indicator, in particular a status LED, wherein the visual status indicator is active during the test routine, and wherein the visual status indicator is configured to furthermore visually signal if the driver is set to the commissioning mode. This provides the advantage that the activation of the commissioning mode can be indicated efficiently to a user.

The visual status indicator can comprise a two-colored or multi-colored status LED. Upon setting the driver to the commissioning mode, the status LED can change color, e.g. from green to red, and/or change from a permanent light to a flashing light.

The visual status indicator can be arranged on a housing of the driver.

In an embodiment, activating the test switch according to the predefined operation pattern comprises pressing the test switch for a time interval T, with tmin ≤ T ≤ tmax, wherein tmin and tmax are a minimum and a maximum reference time interval, respectively. This achieves the advantage that the commissioning mode can be activated easily and without requiring external devices. For instance, tmin is <NUM> seconds and tmax is <NUM> seconds.

In an embodiment, the driver is configured to start the test routine if the test switch is pressed for a time interval that is shorter than the minimum reference time interval tmin for setting the driver to the commissioning mode.

In an embodiment, the driver is configured to start the test routine if the test switch is activated according to a first operation pattern, and the driver is configured to be set to the commissioning mode if the test switch is activated according to a second operation pattern different to the first operation pattern. This achieves the advantage that the commissioning mode can be activated easily and without requiring external devices.

The first operation pattern can correspond to manually pressing the test switch for a first time interval, and the second operation pattern can correspond to manually pressing the test switch for a second time interval, different to the first time interval. In particular, the first time interval is shorter than the second time interval.

The visual status indicator can be configured to signal the starting of the test routine, e.g. by changing to another color and/or flashing with a certain frequency.

In an embodiment, the driver in the commissioning mode is configured to receive commissioning data by a subsequent operation of the test switch. This achieves the advantage that the driver and the corresponding lighting means can be commissioned efficiently and without using external devices.

Preferably, the test switch is an interface for inputting commissioning data if the driver is in the commissioning mode.

In an embodiment, the commissioning data refers to a location of the emergency lighting means, in particular a room number, and/or an assignment of the emergency lighting means to a group of lighting means.

In an embodiment, the controller is configured to commission the driver based on the received commissioning data. This achieves the advantage that the driver respectively illumination means can be commissioned efficiently.

Preferably, the controller is configured to store the commissioning data, e.g. room number or associated group of the emergency lighting means, in a memory of the driver.

In an embodiment, the visual status indicator is further configured to visually signal the receipt of the commissioning data and/or the successful commissioning of the driver.

In an embodiment, the driver comprises a communication interface, in particular a wireless communication interface and/or a wire bound communication interface.

The wireless communication interface can be a Bluetooth interface; the wire bound communication interface can be a DALI interface.

The driver can be connected to other drivers for emergency lighting means and/or to a control unit via the wireless or wire bound communication interface.

In an embodiment, the driver is configured to forward commissioning information, in particular the commissioning data, via the communication interface to a central unit, in particular a cloud storage. This achieves the advantage that the commissioning information of the driver can be centrally stored and retrieved.

The commissioning information can comprise the commissioning data, which was entered via the test switch while the driver was in the commissioning mode. The commissioning information can comprise an updated floor plan which contains the location of emergency lighting means.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an emergency lighting system, comprising a plurality of drivers for emergency lighting means according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the drivers are configured to form a mesh network. This achieves the advantage that the drivers and the connected emergency lighting means can be commissioned efficiently and without using external devices.

Preferably, each driver of the system comprises a wireless communication interface, in particular a Bluetooth interface, wherein the drivers are configured to form the mesh network via the communication interfaces.

The system can comprise the emergency lighting means that are supplied by the drivers.

In an embodiment, the system comprises a central unit, in particular a cloud storage, wherein the drivers are configured to forward commissioning information, in particular commissioning data of each driver, to the central unit via the mesh network. This achieves the advantage that the commissioning information of each driver and/or emergency lighting means can be centrally stored and retrieved.

The central unit can be configured to store the commissioning information of each driver and/or emergency lighting means in a look-up-table.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for commissioning a driver for emergency lighting means, wherein the driver has a test switch for starting a test routine controlled by a controller of the driver, the method comprising the steps of: setting the driver to a commissioning mode by activating the test switch according to a predefined second operation pattern defined by time durations and/or repetition criteria of the second operation pattern, the second operation pattern being different to a first operation pattern of the test switch (<NUM>) for starting the test routine, and inputting commissioning data by a subsequent operation of the test switch. This achieves the advantage that the driver and the connected emergency lighting means can be commissioned efficiently and without using external devices.

Preferably, the method comprises the further step of: commissioning the driver according to the commissioning data, e.g. by storing the commissioning data in a memory of the driver.

In an embodiment, the setting of the driver to the commissioning mode, the inputting of commissioning data and/or a successful commissioning of the driver are visually signaled by means of a visual status indicator, in particular a status LED, of the driver. This provides the advantage that the commissioning of the driver can be indicated efficiently to a user.

In an embodiment, the method comprises the further step of: forwarding commissioning information, in particular the commissioning data, to a central unit via a communication interface of the driver. This achieves the advantage that the commissioning information can be centrally stored and retrievable.

The central unit can comprises a memory or can be connected to a memory, e.g. a cloud storage.

Various aspects of a driver for an emergency lighting means will be presented. However, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these aspects may be extended to aspects of drivers and converters for lighting means, in particular luminaires, in general without departing from the invention.

The term "LED luminaire" shall mean a luminaire with a light source comprising one or more LEDs. LEDs are well-known in the art, and therefore, will only briefly be discussed to provide a complete description of the invention.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a driver <NUM> for emergency lighting means <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The driver <NUM> comprises output terminals 111a-b for electrically supplying at least one emergency lighting means <NUM>, and a test switch <NUM> for starting a test routine controlled by a controller <NUM> of the driver <NUM>, wherein the driver <NUM> is settable to a commissioning mode if the test switch <NUM> is activated according to a predefined operation pattern defined by time durations and/or repetition criteria of the operation.

The emergency lighting means <NUM> can be an emergency luminaire, e.g. an emergency light or an illuminated escape sign. The emergency lighting means <NUM> can comprise an LED light source, e.g. an LED module or an LED track.

The emergency lighting means <NUM> can further comprise a sensor, e.g. a motion, a smoke or light sensor, a control unit or a user interface, e.g. a dimmer or a touchscreen.

The emergency lighting means <NUM> can be electrically connected to the output terminals 111a-b of the driver.

The test switch <NUM> can be a pushbutton on a housing of the driver <NUM>. The test switch <NUM> can be configured to register for how long the switch <NUM> is pressed by a user.

Preferably, the test switch <NUM> is configured to active a test routine of the driver <NUM> and/or of the emergency lighting means <NUM> if the test switch <NUM> is activated according to a first operation pattern e.g. manually pressed for a first time interval. In particular, the first operation pattern is different to the predefined operation pattern for setting the driver <NUM> to the commissioning mode.

During the test routine, various functions of the driver <NUM> and/or the emergency lighting means <NUM> can be tested, e.g. providing a DC power supply to the emergency lighting means <NUM> via an internal battery of the driver <NUM> or activating the lighting means <NUM>.

The test switch <NUM> can be configured to set the driver <NUM> to the commissioning mode if it is activated according to a second operation pattern, which is different to the first operation pattern for starting the test routine. In particular, the second operation pattern corresponds to the predefined operation pattern above.

Preferably, the predefined operation pattern, respectively second operation pattern, corresponds to manually pressing the test switch for a time interval T, with tmin ≤ T ≤ tmax, wherein tmin and tmax are a minimum and a maximum reference time interval, respectively. For instance, tmin is <NUM> seconds and tmax is <NUM> seconds.

The driver <NUM> can comprise a visual status indicator <NUM>, in particular a status LED or a plurality of status LEDs. The visual status indicator <NUM> can be arranged on a housing of the driver <NUM>.

The visual status indicator <NUM> can be active during the test routine, i.e. it visually signals if the test routine is executed. The visual status indicator <NUM> can further be configured to visually signal an error of the driver <NUM> or the emergency lighting means <NUM>.

The visual status indicator <NUM> can further be configured to signal if the driver <NUM> is set to the commissioning mode and/or if the test routine is started. Preferably, the visual status indicator <NUM> uses different signaling patterns, e.g. different LED colors, to signal different states and functions of the driver <NUM>.

Preferably, the driver <NUM> in the commissioning mode is configured to receive commissioning data by a subsequent operation of the test switch <NUM>. In particular, the subsequent operation comprises further manual operation patterns of the test switch defined by time durations and/or repetition criteria of the further operation patterns.

In other words: In the commissioning mode, the test switch <NUM> becomes an interface for inputting commissioning data to the driver <NUM>.

The visual status indicator <NUM> can be configured to confirm each input on the test switch <NUM>, e.g. by flashing each time the switch <NUM> is manually pressed.

The commissioning data can refer to a particular room in which the emergency lighting means <NUM> is arranged and/or a group number, wherein the group number represents a group of lighting means to which the emergency lighting means <NUM> is to be assigned.

The controller <NUM> of the driver <NUM> can be a processing unit <NUM>, for instance a microcontroller or an ASIC.

The controller <NUM> can be configured to commission the driver <NUM> based on the received commissioning data. In particular, the controller <NUM> is configured to store the commissioning data in a memory of the driver <NUM>.

The visual status indicator <NUM> can be configured to confirm a successful commissioning of the driver <NUM> by means of a visual signal.

The driver <NUM> can further comprise a communication interface <NUM>. The communication interface <NUM> can be a wireless communication interface, e.g. a Bluetooth, a NFC or an infrared interface, or a wire bound interface, e.g. a DALI interface.

The communication interface <NUM> can be configured to forward commissioning information to a central unit. The central unit can comprise a memory or can be connected to a memory, in particular a cloud storage.

For instance, if the communication interface <NUM> is a DALI interface, the commissioning information can be forwarded to the central unit via a DALI bus connected to the DALI interface.

The commissioning information can comprise the commissioning data, which was entered via the test switch while the driver <NUM> was set to the commissioning mode.

Preferably, the driver <NUM> comprises an AC input for receiving an AC mains voltage, a converter, in particular an AC/DC converter, and/or an electrical energy storage, e.g. a battery for providing an energy supply to the emergency lighting means <NUM> in an emergency situation.

The driver <NUM> and the emergency lighting means <NUM> are depicted as separate devices in <FIG>. Alternatively, the emergency lighting means <NUM> can comprise the driver <NUM>, i.e. the driver <NUM> can be a component of the emergency lighting means <NUM>.

In particular, the commissioning of the driver <NUM> corresponds to a commissioning of the emergency lighting means <NUM> and vice versa.

Preferably, in addition to the commissioning via the test switch <NUM>, the driver <NUM> can still receive commissioning data from an external device, e.g. a smartphone, via the communication interface <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of an emergency lighting system <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The emergency lighting system <NUM> comprises a plurality of drivers 100a-e for emergency lighting means <NUM>, wherein the drivers 100a-e are configured to form a mesh network.

The drivers 100a-e shown in <FIG> can correspond to the driver <NUM> depicted in <FIG>.

Preferably, each driver 100a-e in the system comprises a wireless communication interface, in particular a Bluetooth interface, which is configured to establish a communication connection to neighboring drivers 100a-e for forming the mesh network. Preferably, the mesh network is a wireless network, in particular a Bluetooth network.

Furthermore, the system can comprise a central unit <NUM>. The central unit <NUM> can be a data processing apparatus. The central unit <NUM> can comprise a memory or can be connected to a memory, in particular a cloud storage. The drivers 100a-e can be configured to forwarding its commissioning information to the central unit <NUM> via the mesh network.

The central unit <NUM> can be configured to store the commissioning information of the drivers 100a-e and/or connected emergency lighting means in the memory, e.g. the room number and assigned group of each of the emergency lighting means connected to the drivers 100a-e.

The system <NUM> can comprise the emergency lighting means that are controlled by the drivers 100a-e.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a method <NUM> for commissioning the driver <NUM> for emergency lighting means <NUM> according to an embodiment.

Subsequently, the commissioning information, in particular the commissioning data, can be forwarded to the central unit <NUM>, in particular via the communication interface <NUM> of the driver <NUM>.

The method <NUM> in <FIG> comprises the further optional steps of visually signaling <NUM> the setting of the driver to the commissioning mode, and visually signaling <NUM> receipt of the commissioning data, in particular by the visual status indicator <NUM> of the driver <NUM>.

The method <NUM> can comprise the further step of commissioning the driver <NUM> according to the commissioning data, for instance by the controller <NUM> of the driver <NUM>.

The visual status indicator <NUM> of the driver <NUM> can further signal the successful commissioning of the driver <NUM>.

The method <NUM> can be performed by the driver <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and/or by the drivers 100a-e shown in <FIG>.

If more than one emergency lighting means <NUM> are connected to the driver, the method <NUM> can be repeated for each emergency lighting means <NUM> connected to the driver.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a method <NUM> for installing and commissioning of an emergency lighting system according to an embodiment.

The method <NUM> as shown in <FIG> can be performed with the emergency lighting system <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In particular, the emergency lighting system <NUM> comprises emergency lighting means <NUM> having drivers 100a-e with Bluetooth communication interfaces.

The method <NUM> comprises the step of installing <NUM> the emergency lighting means <NUM>, i.e. installing the lighting means <NUM> and the drivers 100a-e. The lighting means <NUM> and the drivers 100a-e are typically installed in a room of a building, wherein each drivers 100a-e is connected to an AC mains of the building and is electrically connected to the corresponding emergency lighting means <NUM>.

The method <NUM> comprises the further steps of powering on <NUM> the drivers 100a-e, and subsequently performing a Bluetooth provisioning <NUM> of the drivers 100a-e, i.e. generating a mesh network of emergency lighting means <NUM> via the Bluetooth interfaces of their drivers 100a-e.

Subsequently the emergency lighting means <NUM> are commissioned <NUM> using the test switch and the indicator LED on their drivers 100a-e. The commissioning <NUM> of each lighting means <NUM> and its driver 100a-e can be performed according to the method <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Finally, the method <NUM> comprises the step of saving <NUM> an updated floor plan to a cloud. This can be realized by forwarding commissioning information of the emergency lighting means <NUM> via the mesh network to a cloud storage and saving the commissioning information in a floor plan stored in the cloud.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of an activation protocol <NUM> for the test switch <NUM> according to an embodiment.

Preferably, the activation protocol <NUM> determines which action is triggered when the test switch <NUM> is pressed for certain time intervals.

Preferably, as long as the test switch <NUM> is not pressed the driver <NUM> is in a default mode with no lamp or battery fault. The default mode can be a maintained, stand-by and/or normal mode of the driver <NUM>. In this default mode, the visual status indicator <NUM>, for instance, lights up green continuously.

If the test switch <NUM> is pressed for a first time interval <NUM>, the driver <NUM> can initiate a function test. The function test can comprise a test of the basic functions of the driver and can last for <NUM> seconds. The first time interval <NUM> can be between <NUM> and <NUM>. The visual status indicator can signal the function test, e.g. by the status LED quickly flashing in green.

If the test switch <NUM> is pressed for a second time interval <NUM>, the driver <NUM> can initiate an emergency test. The emergency test can comprise a test of the emergency functions of the driver <NUM>, e.g. power supply of the emergency lighting means <NUM> via the energy storage of the driver. The second time interval <NUM> can be between <NUM> and <NUM>. The visual status indicator <NUM> can signal the emergency test, e.g. by the status LED quickly slowly in green.

If the test switch <NUM> is pressed for a third time interval <NUM>, the driver <NUM> can be set to the commissioning mode. The third time interval <NUM> can be between <NUM> and <NUM>. The visual status indicator <NUM> can signal the setting of the driver <NUM> to the commissioning mode, e.g. by signaling a red light with brief double green flashes.

In the commissioning mode, the driver <NUM> can be commissioned by a user. The time out for this mode can be <NUM> mins, i.e. if no commissioning input is registered within <NUM> mins after starting the commissioning mode, the driver returns to the default mode.

In the commissioning mode, the user can input commissioning data by pressing the switch for at least one second for a number of times, wherein the number of times corresponds to a room number or a group number to be assigned to the emergency lighting means <NUM>. Each time the test switch <NUM> is pressed, the status LED <NUM> can flash green for one second to confirm the input.

The commissioning can be done in two phases. After initiating the commissioning mode, the room number is input by pressing the switch for the appropriate number of times. If the correct room number is set, the user can interrupt the input for more than <NUM>. The room number is than allocated to the driver <NUM> and the status LED <NUM> changes its color to red with brief triple green flashes.

Subsequently, the user can input the group number in the same way (by pressing the switch <NUM> for a number of times corresponding to the group number for longer than one second).

After the group number is set, the commissioning can be finished by not pressing the switch for more than <NUM> mins.

The user can repeat the above process for all further emergency lighting means <NUM> that are connected to the driver <NUM>.

If the test switch <NUM> is pressed for a fourth time interval <NUM>, e.g. longer than <NUM>, all timers can be reset.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalence.

Claim 1:
Driver (<NUM>) for emergency lighting means (<NUM>), comprising:
output terminals (111a-b) for electrically supplying at least one emergency lighting means (<NUM>), and
a test switch (<NUM>) for starting a test routine controlled by a controller (<NUM>) of the driver (<NUM>),
wherein the driver (<NUM>) is configured to start the test routine if the test switch (<NUM>) is activated according to a first operation pattern, and is settable to a commissioning mode if the test switch (<NUM>) is activated according to a predefined second operation pattern defined by time durations and/or repetition criteria of the second operation pattern,
the second operation pattern being different to the first operation pattern,
wherein the driver (<NUM>) in the commissioning mode is configured to receive commissioning data by a subsequent operation of the test switch (<NUM>).