Patent Description:
Emergency lighting systems enable a quick and safe evacuation of buildings in an emergency situation, for instance during a fire alarm. Such systems usually comprise a plurality of emergency luminaires and associated control gear, e.g. drivers, which are installed in different places in the building.

Typically, such emergency control gear comprises a test switch for initiating a test sequence of the gear. The test switch can be connected to a dedicated port on the gear. A driver for emergency lighting means comprising such a test switch is, for instance, disclosed in document <CIT>.

The document <CIT> discloses an emergency luminaire comprising a housing having a base body and a power management unit arranged in the base body and connected to an emergency power source. The emergency luminaire further comprises a first light source and a second light source with different lighting characteristics compared to the first light source. Furthermore, the power management unit comprises at least one controller programmable between several configurations, each configuration corresponding to a specific distribution of the energy provided by at least the emergency power source between the first and second light sources.

The document <CIT> discloses a method and a device for secure emergency lighting of tunnels, preferably of railway tunnels in case of a danger, wherein all tunnel lights and devices are thereby monitored.

The document <CIT>discloses an emergency operating arrangement for at least one building technical device comprising a power supply unit, and an emergency supply unit.

Often, the emergency control gear comprises further interfaces, for instance, for setting an operating mode of the gear or for exchanging communication data. This leads to a higher complexity of the gear and increases its overall cost.

Thus, it is an objective to provide an improved emergency lighting device and an improved method for operating an emergency lighting device. In particular, it is an object to provide an emergency lighting device that can receive different types of signals while having a low complexity and, thus, low production costs.

According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to an emergency lighting device, comprising: output terminals for electrically supplying an emergency lighting means; a port for receiving communication signals, wherein a test switch is connectable to the port; wherein the port is configured to receive selective test start signals from the test switch and wherein the port is further configured to receive non-test start related communication signals from the test switch; and a controller configured to discriminate the communication signals received at the port in order to correspondingly process the received data as test start signal data or non-test start related communication signal data.

This achieves the advantage that the emergency lighting device can receive different types of signals via its test switch port. Thus, the complexity of the device can be reduced.

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

The emergency lighting device 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 emergency lighting device can further comprise or be connected to 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 emitting diode) 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 emergency lighting device for electrically connecting the emergency lighting means.

The test switch can be a pushbutton or a rocker switch. In particular, the port and/or the controller are configured to register for how long or how often the switch is manually activated, e.g. pressed or closed, by a user.

The port can comprise two pins for connecting the test switch. In particular, the test switch can be configured to short the two pins if the test switch is closed.

The controller can be configured to discriminate operation events at the port in order to determine if they relate to test start signal data or other data, and to further demodulate the data, in particular the other, non-test start related data. For example, the controller can be a microcontroller or an ASIC of the emergency lighting device.

In an embodiment, the port is configured to output communication signals, in particular status signals or black box data.

This achieves the advantage that the port can be used to export data, e.g. to an external device. In particular, a two-way communication with the emergency lighting device can be established via the port.

In particular, the term black box data refers to data comprising parameters, e.g. operating parameters, measurement values, or sensor readings, which were collected by the emergency lighting means over a period of time and which can be stored in an internal memory of the emergency lighting means.

Preferably, an external device can be connected to the port for forwarding non-test start related communication signals to the emergency lighting device and/or for receiving communication signals from the emergency lighting device. The external device is for instance, a laptop, a smartphone, or another dedicated communication device.

Alternatively, a visual status indicator, e.g. an LED, can be connected to the port. The output communication signal can be encoded in a signaling characteristic of the visual status indicator, e.g. a flash rate of the visual status indicator. This encoding is, for instance, performed by the controller. Preferably, the output signal can be read out by an external device, e.g. a smartphone with a dedicated App, which is detecting and decoding the signaling characteristic of the visual status indicator.

In an embodiment, the non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise setting data, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an operation parameter of the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means based on the setting data.

This achieves the advantage that settings of the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means can be adapted via the port.

In an embodiment, the controller is configured to set the emergency lighting device to a maintained mode or a non-maintained mode and/or to set an operation time of the emergency lighting device, in particular an operation time upon a mains failure, based on the setting data.

This achieves the advantage that operation parameters, such as operation mode or operation time of the emergency lighting device can be set via the port.

For example, in non-maintained mode the emergency lighting device only drives the emergency lighting means to light up if a mains power fails, while in maintained mode the emergency lighting device is configured to drive the emergency lighting means to light up continuously.

In an embodiment, the non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise programming data, wherein the controller is configured to program or reprogram the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means based on the programming data.

This achieves the advantage that the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means can be programmed via the port.

The non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise the commissioning data, wherein the controller is configured to commission the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means based on the commissioning data.

This achieves the advantage that the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means can be commissioned via the port.

In particular, commissioning may refer to assigning the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means to a group of likewise devices or means and/or to a location in the environment, e.g. a room.

In an embodiment, the emergency lighting device is configured to initiate a test routine of the emergency lighting device and/or the emergency lighting means upon receiving the test start signal.

Preferably, during the test routine various functions of the emergency lighting device 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 particular, predefined operation patterns of the test switch can comprise time durations and/or repetition criteria, e.g. pressing the test switch for a predefined duration or a predefined number of times. The controller can be configured to process these operation patterns to determine if they relate to input data and, if yes, to demodulate the input data.

This achieves the advantage that also non-test start related signals, e.g. signals comprising settings or operation parameters, can be transferred or entered on the emergency lighting device by means of the test switch. Thus, no external device is required for transiting these signals, which further reduces device complexity and leads to cost savings.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system comprising an emergency lighting means, a test switch and an emergency lighting device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

The system can be an emergency lighting system for an environment such as a building.

According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for operating an emergency lighting device supplying an emergency lighting means, wherein the emergency lighting device comprises a port configured to receive selective test start signals from a test switch connectable to the port and further configured to receive non-test start related communication signals from the test switch, wherein the emergency lighting device further comprises a controller configured to discriminate the communication signals received at the port in order to correspondingly process the received data as test start signal data or non-test start related communication signal data, the method comprising the steps of:.

Preferably, the emergency lighting means comprises a controller, e.g. a microcontroller or ASIC, which is configured to discriminate the communication signal and/or process the received data.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step:.

In an embodiment, the non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise setting data, wherein the method comprises:.

In an embodiment, the non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise programming data, wherein the method comprises:.

The non-test start related communication signals received at the port comprise the commissioning data, wherein the method comprises:.

In particular, the steps of adjusting the operation parameter, programming, reprogramming, or commissioning can all be carried out by the controller of the emergency lighting device.

The above description with regard to the emergency lighting device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is correspondingly valid for the method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.

<FIG> shows an emergency lighting device <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> comprises output terminals 5a, 5b for electrically supplying an emergency lighting means <NUM>; a port <NUM> for receiving communication signals, wherein a test switch <NUM> is connectable to the port <NUM>, wherein the port <NUM> is configured to receive selective test start signals from the test switch <NUM> and is further configured to receive non-test start related communication signals from the test switch <NUM>. The emergency lighting device <NUM> further comprises a controller <NUM> configured to discriminate the communication signals received at the port <NUM> in order to correspondingly process the received data as test start signal data or other data.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> can be a driver or other control gear of the emergency lighting means <NUM>.

The emergency lighting means <NUM> can be an emergency luminaire, in particular 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, 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 5a, 5b can be connection pins on the housing of the emergency lighting device <NUM> for electrically connecting the emergency lighting means <NUM>.

The test switch <NUM> can be a pushbutton as shown in <FIG>. When connected to the port <NUM>, the test switch <NUM> can be arranged directly on a housing of the emergency lighting device <NUM>. Alternatively, the test switch <NUM> can be connected to the port <NUM> via a wire.

The controller <NUM> can be connected to the port <NUM> and can be designed to process a signal coming from the port <NUM> either as a test start signal, i.e. a start signal for a test program / test routine, or as other (input) data. The controller <NUM> can further be configured to demodulate the non-test start related data. For example, the controller <NUM> is an ASIC or a microcontroller.

The emergency lighting device <NUM>, in particular the controller <NUM>, can be configured to initiate a test routine of the device <NUM> or the connected emergency lighting means <NUM> upon receipt of the test start signal.

Preferably, the port <NUM> is configured to receive the non-test start related communication signals from the test switch <NUM>. To forward non-test start related communication signals to the emergency lighting device <NUM> with the test switch <NUM>, the test switch <NUM> can be activated according to a predefined operation pattern, which differs from a pattern of a test start signal. For instance, the predefined operation pattern can be defined by time durations and/or by repetition criteria, e.g. pressing the switch <NUM> for a certain time interval or a certain number of times. The port <NUM> can be configured to receive a communication signal from the test switch <NUM>, which comprises this predefined pattern, and the controller <NUM> can be configured to process, in particular interpret and/or demodulate, such a signal to generate input data.

In particular, the port <NUM> can be configured to receive the non-test start related communication signals from the test switch <NUM> following a power up of the emergency lighting device <NUM>.

In an optional implementation, the port <NUM> is configured to output communication signals. The outputted communication signals can comprise status signals or black box data of the emergency lighting device <NUM>. In particular, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the port <NUM> to output the communication signals. The communication signals can be outputted to an external device connected to the port <NUM>. In this, a two-way communication can be established via the port <NUM>.

The non-test start related communication signals received at the port <NUM> may comprise various types of input data, such as: setting data for setting a mode or operation parameter of the device <NUM>, programming data, or commissioning data.

The controller <NUM> can be configured to demodulate and/or process this data. In particular, the controller <NUM> can be configured to adjust an operation parameter of the emergency lighting device <NUM> and/or the emergency lighting means <NUM> based on the input data. Adjusting an operation parameter can comprise selecting a maintained or non-maintained mode of the device <NUM>, or setting an operation time of the device <NUM> upon a mains failure. The operation time can, for instance, be set to <NUM> or <NUM> hours depending on the requirements.

The controller <NUM> can further be configured to program, reprogram or commission the emergency lighting device <NUM> and/or the emergency lighting means <NUM> based on the input data.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> may comprise a memory for storing the adjusted setting, programming and/or commissioning data.

Optionally, the emergency lighting device <NUM> comprises a visual status indicator (not shown). The visual status indicator can be configured to signal the starting of the test routine or the receipt of non-test start related data, e.g. by changing to another color and/or flashing with a certain frequency. In an optional implementation, the visual status indicator is connected to the port <NUM>.

Preferably, an emergency lighting system comprises the emergency lighting device <NUM>, the emergency lighting means <NUM> and the test switch <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of the emergency lighting device <NUM> according to another embodiment.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a driver which supplies the emergency lighting means <NUM>, in particular an LED module, with a DC output voltage UDC. The LED module is connected to the output terminals <NUM> of the emergency lighting device <NUM>. The LED module can include LEDs for an emergency lighting operation. The port of the emergency lighting device can be formed by a first connection <NUM> and a second connection <NUM>. The test switch <NUM> can be connected between the these connections <NUM>, <NUM> in such a way, that the test switch <NUM> shorts the connections <NUM>, <NUM> if it is closed. For example, the test switch <NUM> is a rocker switch.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> shown in <FIG> further comprises a first LED <NUM> and a second LED <NUM>, wherein first and second LED <NUM> are connected in opposite directions in parallel between the first and the second connection <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> comprises two connectors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM> forming anode and cathode, respectively.

In the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>, the emergency lighting device <NUM> further comprises a constant power source <NUM>, which is configured to generate a constant current with a first or second polarity between the first and second connection <NUM>, <NUM>. Depending on the polarity of the constant current, either the first LED <NUM> or the second LED <NUM> is illuminated. The LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> can form status LEDs of the device <NUM>. For instance, the first LED <NUM> is red and the second LED <NUM> is green. Connecting both LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> and the test switch <NUM> to the same port has the advantage that the overall complexity of the device <NUM> is reduced.

In particular, the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the port connections <NUM>, <NUM> can be used to output communication signals by encoding such signals in a signaling characteristic of the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g. a flash rate of the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>.

The controller <NUM>, in particular a microcontroller, can be configured to detect a short-circuit between the first and the second connection <NUM>, <NUM> of the port, for instance by detecting if for a certain constant current, a voltage between the connections <NUM>, <NUM> falls below a certain threshold. In this way, the controller <NUM> can detect if the test switch <NUM> is opened or closed.

In particular, to set the emergency lighting device <NUM> to maintained or non-maintained mode, the test switch <NUM> can be replaced by a removable jumper link. However, such a jumper link is not needed if the device <NUM> is set to maintained or non-maintained mode by activating the test switch <NUM> according to predefined operation patterns as disclosed above.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> can further comprise a battery connection <NUM> to which an accumulator <NUM> or battery is connected. The accumulator <NUM> can be electrically charged by the device <NUM> via the battery connection <NUM>. In an emergency situation (e.g. failure of the mains voltage UAC), the device <NUM> can supply the connector <NUM> and, thus, the LED module <NUM> with electrical energy from the accumulator <NUM>, e.g. for an operation time of <NUM> or <NUM> hours. The operation time can be preset by a communication signal received via the port <NUM>.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> can be set to non-maintained mode, where the emergency lighting device <NUM> only drives the emergency lighting means <NUM> to light up if a mains power fails, or to maintained mode, where the emergency lighting device <NUM> is configured to drive the emergency lighting means <NUM> to light up continuously.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> can comprise a further connector <NUM> for connecting it to the mains.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a method <NUM> for operating the emergency lighting device <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The emergency lighting device <NUM> can be configured to initiate the test routine of the emergency lighting device <NUM> and/or the emergency lighting means <NUM> upon receiving the test start signal.

Preferably, method <NUM> further comprises the step of: outputting communication signals, in particular status signals or black box data, from the port <NUM>.

The non-test start related communication signals received at the port <NUM> may comprise setting data. In this case, the method can comprise the following further step:.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a method <NUM> for programming and/or commissioning an emergency lighting device <NUM> according to an embodiment. In particular, the method <NUM> for operating the emergency lighting device, as for example shown in <FIG>, comprises the method <NUM> or individual steps of the method <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Preferably, the method <NUM> is performed if the non-test start related communication signals received at the port <NUM> comprise programming data and/or commissioning data.

The method <NUM> comprises: powering-up <NUM> the emergency lighting device <NUM>, and programming <NUM> a test sequence. The test sequence can be programmed by activating the test switch <NUM> according to an operation pattern either to activate <NUM> a normal operating mode of the device <NUM>, or to activate <NUM> a commissioning mode of the device <NUM>. Preferably, the commissioning mode is activated if the switch <NUM> is activated according a predefined operation patter. The predefined operation pattern can comprise a defined sequence, e.g. a long press followed by a number of short presses on the test switch <NUM>. Furthermore, the emergency lighting device <NUM> may comprise a visual status indicator, e.g. an LED, with gives an optical feedback upon entering the commissioning mode.

Following activating <NUM> the commission mode, the method <NUM> can further comprise entering <NUM> further programming modes by activating the test switch <NUM> according to further operation patterns, e.g. defined by pressing the switch <NUM> according to predefined sequences.

The further programming modes can comprise modes for: setting <NUM> a cell count, setting <NUM> an address, in particular of the emergency lighting device <NUM> or the lighting means <NUM>, setting <NUM> a duration, in particular an operation duration of the emergency lighting device or the lighting means <NUM>, setting <NUM> a mode of the emergency lighting device <NUM>, setting <NUM> and EXIT programming mode of the emergency lighting device <NUM>, or transmitting <NUM> black box data.

The visual status indicator can be configured to optically feedback the set mode, for instance by red or green flashes. In addition, data, such as black box data, of the emergency lighting device <NUM> can be read out by reading status indicator flash rates, e.g. via a mobile phone app.

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:
Emergency lighting device (<NUM>), comprising:
output terminals (5a, 5b) for electrically supplying an emergency lighting means (<NUM>);
a port (<NUM>) for receiving communication signals, wherein a test switch (<NUM>) is connectable to the port (<NUM>);
wherein the port (<NUM>) is configured to receive selective test start signals from the test switch (<NUM>) and wherein the port (<NUM>) is further configured to receive non-test start related communication signals from the test switch (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to discriminate the communication signals received at the port (<NUM>) in order to correspondingly process the received data as test start signal data or non-test start related communication signal data;
the emergency lighting device (<NUM>) being
characterized in that
the non-test start related communication signals received at the port (<NUM>) comprise commissioning data; and
the controller (<NUM>) is configured to commission the emergency lighting device (<NUM>) and/or the emergency lighting means (<NUM>) based on the commissioning data.