Patent Grant
11149936
National and local building codes mandate the use of egress lighting luminaires in buildings occupied by humans. The egress lighting luminaires conforming to code requirements generate an illuminated “legal path of egress”. This path of egress enables building occupants to find their way out of the building in the event of main building power outage. In such an event, the building egress lighting is turned on, forming a continuous path of egress to the building's “legal exit doors”. Some jurisdictions also require illumination of a path of egress at the exterior side of the legal exit doors.
The egress lighting luminaires are commonly powered by one of the following means: A. Integral battery; B. Remote inverter; C. Fuel cell; and D. Generator. A sensing device continuously monitors the presence of house line power. When the power is interrupted, a transfer switch transfers the power to the emergency back-up power, thus activating the egress lighting luminaires.
Today, the lighting industry in North America can be divided into the following categories as they pertain to egress illumination: A. An emergency lighting manufacturing company; B. A lighting conglomerate with a division that manufactures emergency lighting, also employing emergency lighting components with other divisions' lighting products; and C. A lighting manufacturing company employing egress lighting components manufactured by others. As a result, there are no standards for luminaires and light sources' form other than what is required by code/s. When it comes to lamp source, drivers and batteries, the manufacturers prefer using off the shelf products typically fabricated by others, often having no knowledge of their components' ultimate purpose.
New technologies and production means and methods today will soon render many of the conventional egress lighting embodiments obsolete. The present innovation employs the emergent technologies showing how such technologies can be incorporated into the art of egress lighting technology as well as other non-emergency lighting applications having similar illumination needs.
The present innovation relates to an illumination solution that forms a continuous and uniform illuminated path. The path width, illumination light levels and uniformity ratios can be maintained regardless of the building's ceiling height. The solution light source embodiment's features include:
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:
The present innovation relates to an illumination solution that forms a continuous and uniform illuminated path. The path width, illumination light levels and uniformity ratios can be maintained regardless of the building's ceiling height.
Referring to the drawings, the present innovation addresses the code requirements for illuminated path of egress by developing a novel heatsink light source (HLS) 1 embodiment. The novel embodiment is configured to illuminate a long path uniformly, consuming low energy and eliminating the need for aiming the HLS 1 embodiment regardless of the embodiment's mounting height. This novel design employs mechanical, optical and electronic concepts that differ from today's art.
The mandated code path of egress 50 requires that in the event of a power outage, building occupants should be able to follow an illuminated path to the building exit doors. In addition to the illuminated path, illuminated exit sign 35 chevrons 36 shall point in the direction of the exit door/s. The code also mandates the width of the path and the number of exit doors based on the building's occupancy load designation. The selected light source embodiment is required to illuminate the path for a duration of time (typically 90 minutes) while maintaining the light levels no less than a prescribed minimum with a light level uniformity ratio threshold.
Manufacturers of egress lighting embodiments commonly employ off the shelf lamp source modules, reflectors and lenses. While meeting the code requirement, employing off the shelf devices does not deliver optimal energy and optical results, also leaving an installing contractor with aiming the light source to form a legal path of egress. The conventional art light emitting embodiment can require as many as three light source embodiments to generate a uniform linear path of egress. To generate the same linear path, the present innovation employs fewer light sources embodiments, consuming significantly less power.
Establishing a long, linear path of egress below a light source embodiment demands emitting the light uniformly and efficiently. The light beam spread in a natural form widens as it travels away from the light source. To mitigate this phenomenon, an optical device corrects the beam's pattern. Since the light source embodiment's distance to the pathway's surface below is shorter than the distance to the other end of the pathway, a corrective optics is required to mitigate the beam intensity along the length of the path of egress 50. Such a feature and an efficient way to maintain the egress path width along its full length is absent in today's art.
The present innovation employs lens optics that control the light exit angles, both horizontally and vertically. In so doing, the light levels maintain uniformity along the length of the path of egress, prevent spillover to the sides beyond the pre-determined path width, reduce energy consumption, and extend the length of the path beyond present art capability.
This feat is accomplished by establishing at least two sub-fields of illumination 44 along the path of egress 50—short and long distance linear fields. These fields are configured to join having seamless illuminance light levels. In the present embodiment shown in
A photonic beam is most efficient when it is unobstructed. Optical lens devices reduce the efficiency of the beam. The efficiency of a photonic beam traveling through an optical device at an acute angle is significantly reduced. Therefore, to attain optimal efficiency the light source 21 aiming angle should be approximately perpendicular to a lens 45 aiming for a location within a designated field of the egress pathway 50. The light source 21 employed in this embodiment is planar, coupled to a flat mounting surface 5 formed in the heatsink 2 to facilitate the optimal positioning of the planar light source 21.
In this embodiment, the three fields of illumination (fields “S”, “M”, and “L”) dictate the curved form of the embodiment's light source 21 housing. The heatsink 2 is monolithically fabricated with heat dissipating fins 3. The fins 3 are located at least at one opposite side of a surface onto which a planar light source 21 is coupled. The planar light source 21 retaining surface/s can be exposed across the light source 21 retaining side of the heatsink 2 embodiment or can be recessed inside a formed cavity.
The embodiment's 1 light source lamp 22 orientation is configured in relationship to the path of egress 50 below. The light source 21 is configured to provide output to reach a designated sub-field 44. The optical control device/s 51 are required to shape each sub-field 44 beam pattern and illuminate the fields uniformly as if they were a single field. Each sub-field's 44 optical control device 51 pattern design is configured to: A. Consume minimal energy B. Maintain same or similar width of path C. Maintain same or similar light levels as measured on the center of the path of egress with a meter facing up D. Maintain a min/max uniformity ratio that conforms with code, preferably no greater than 1:5 E. Extend the length of the pathway as far as possible, originating from a point below the HLS 1 embodiment.
To accomplish these tasks, this innovation relies on reduced form common but not exclusive to micro and/or nano optics 40. Reduced form optics lens corresponds to the size of lamp 22 it placed over. For low output embodiment as called for in this innovation, the planar lamp 22 size is equal or less than 5 mm. Each of the surfaces retaining the light sources 21 can have at least one lamp 22. The micro/nano optics 40 is typically positioned over the lamp 22. The micro/nano optics lens 45 is often but not always fabricated with at least one light source 21 dedicated optics. Since the targeted center of the field of illumination is at a different distance, the typically dedicated micro/nano lamp optics 41, 42 are configured to meet the field's required illumination pattern. It may also be assumed that within any field, the micro/nano optics 41, 42 can be configured to optimize the optical performance by having the optics' center beam aim at the specific areas within the designated sub-field 44.
Employing a plurality of micro and/or nano optics 40 over a planar light source 21 is highly efficient for light emittance. The optical control device 51 can be fabricated from transmissive materials such as polymer, borosilicate, and any other material having equal or better performance properties needed, and a combination thereof. The lens material also delivered in planar form is configured to align over the light source 21 center beam. A single lens 45 can be pre-configured to align with a plurality of light sources 21 that are coupled to the HLS 1 embodiment's flat surface 5. A single optical control device 51 can be configured to accommodate different number, sizes and shapes of light sources 21. The lens 45 can cover at least one flat surface 5 of the HLS 1 embodiment.
Until recently the fabrication of micro and/or nano lenses 40 was not widely available for mass commercial use, due to the prohibitive cost of manufacturing. Emergent technology makes the use of such optics economically feasible for use with illumination devices. Fabrication methods today include the older electron beam lithography (EBL) that is becoming more efficient. More recently, the direct serial machining technology with a discharged particle beam is becoming popular through 3D printing. Lamps of small form factor are typically more efficient that their larger counterparts. These lamps' output directed through micro and/or nano optics attain maximum optical efficiency, resulting in reducing the HLS 1 power consumption, and directly contributing to the HLS 1 embodiment's reduced size.
The optical arrangement of the HLS 1 embodiment can be configured for a number of spacing/mounting height ratios. The present embodiment is configured for a ratio of 1:1.5. This ratio translates into a mounting height for the HLS 1 embodiment of 20 feet directly above the path of egress 50 and a 30 feet long path of egress 50 that conforms to the code requirements. When two opposing HLS 1 embodiments are positioned back to back, aligned at the same mounting height, the path of egress below will be no less than 60 feet long. That said, the higher the light source mounting, the longer is the path of egress 50.
To control the light emission spread at various heights, different lenses 45 are used. Table 1 shows lens 45 types to be used at mounting heights from 8 to 40 feet above the path of egress 50. Type A optics used for mounting heights up to 16 feet above finished floor can also use a different optical lens 45 that can generate a mounting height to length of path ratio of 1:5. The optical lens configuration change required for various mounting heights; also accounts for pre-configured suitable lamp source output, lamp quantity and size. Tables 1 and 2 below can be an online designer tool to specify the height compatible HLS 1 embodiment. A link (not shown) can generate the embodiment's predictive photometric layout.
B
C
D
Having the same HLS 1 heatsink embodiment that by changing lens 45 optics and light sources/s 21 can accommodate variability in mounting height is novel. Table 2 is an example for a lighting professional to configure suitable optics and system power input for various HLS 1 embodiment configurations at a range of mounting heights. The HLS 1 embodiment can be mounted as a stand-alone emergency egress luminaire 52, coupled to an exit sign 53, coupled to an ambient lighting luminaire 54 or to an enclosure 9 such as a common J box 8. Both the enclosure 9 and the HLS 1 embodiment sizes can vary to suit the illumination requirements. An enclosure 9 such as the J box 8 can be mounted to a ceiling, suspended from the ceiling with a conduit of pendant, mounted onto a wall, or recessed in a wall.
Electrical devices such as at least one driver 25 can be placed inside the J box 8 or an alternate enclosure 9. A driver 25 can have multi-output tracks providing power to the light source 21 or the light source and other TOT devices 39. Employing an enclosure 9 with HLS 1 embodiments and a dedicated driver 25 has a significantly smaller form factor than present art. The efficient utilization of a light source 21 results in lesser heat generated, that in turn requires a smaller heatsink 2. In an alternate embodiment, an HLS 1 embodiment can have a dedicated lamp driver 25. The driver can be coupled to the light source's 21 substrate, directly to the flat surface 5 of the HLS 1 embodiment, or to the HLS 1 arm 6 (not shown). Having no emergency back-up power supply such as a battery 23 coupled to a ceiling mounted egress lighting luminaire, significantly reduces operational cost.
The batteries 23 at end of life need replacement. Not all batteries 23 age at the same rate. For maintenance staff, keeping all ceiling mounted battery 23 back-up HLS 1 embodiments in good operating condition requires vigilance. Further, having small form HLS 1 embodiment/s coupled to lamps with a driver 25 or coupled to an enclosure 9 with a driver 25 inside receiving remote power reduces the number of elements that can fail with a traditional ceiling mounted egress lighting luminaire. Today, both the lamps' and the driver' life expectancy rating exceed 50,000 hours, effectively requiring next to no servicing over the building's lifetime.
Up to this decade, the cost of inverters 19 has been exceedingly high. Technological developments have given new life for the inverter 19 as a prime back-up power source. These developments include the wide use of back-up power for computers, smaller batteries 23 becoming ever more efficient, having longer life, more efficient power management control, networking and integration with TOT devices. Another important contributor is the lesser load due to more efficient light sources 21. Current LED lamp 22 technology consumes a fraction of what incandescent lamp technology required for the same light level illumination. Lastly, lamp optics today can predictively deliver the right amount of light where needed while curtailing light spillover. The sum of the above attributes bodes well for the use of inverter/s 19 where ceiling mounted egress lighting can also be coupled with present day TOT devices 39.
By employing a remote power source the present innovation can also eliminate some or all egress lighting batteries in a building. The egress lighting luminaire network in a building includes existing signage which is required to be on continuously and egress lighting pathway luminaires that turn on only during house power interruption. The latter luminaire's driver can be coupled to microprocessor and a microswitch that are communicatively coupled to at least one of a communication device and/or a power interruption sensing device. When power interruption is communicated and/or sensed, the microswitch switch to the on position. The entire building emergency lighting, in one example, can operate as follows:
The HLS 1 embodiment can be used indoors and outdoors, illuminating as many as four paths of egress 50 from above, three building paths over the building egress exit doors, and a single path extending out from the building exterior exit door. The HLS 1 embodiment employs a short arm 6 that couples to a reciprocating receptacle 13, 20 in an enclosure 9 cover 10, exit sign luminaire 35, ambient lighting luminaire 55, or wall/ceiling mounted receptacle 13, 20.
The arm 6 is configured to rotate about at least two axes providing at least horizontal rotation about a vertical axis when the HLS 1 arm 6 is coupled to a receptacle 13, 20 above. It also enables horizontal rotation when the HLS 1 embodiment's arm 6 is coupled to a receptacle 13, 20 such as a J box 8 mounted to a wall or an exit sign 35 hung from a conduit 24. The arm 6 can also be adapted to retain the HLS 1 embodiment's driver 25. The driver can be placed inside or coupled to the arm's exterior. Having an HLS 1 embodiment that includes a driver enables coupling the HLS 1 to any receptacle that provides compatible power. The versatility of employing a single HLS 1 embodiment in various configurations, on different device types, in different orientations, indoors and outdoors, at various mounting heights is novel.
The HLS 1 embodiment's arm 6 can be configured to enable vertical, horizontal, and/or horizontal and vertical embodiment rotation in relation to the exterior face/s of the enclosure 9 embodiment.
The alignment feature adds versatility to the HLS 1 embodiment wherein one embodiment can be suitable for use with several types of light emitting embodiments, where varied orientation is needed.
Arrows designate the embodiments' horizontal rotational ability about their respective mounting arms 6.
Similarly, angle A2's flat surface 5 area covers the “M” field and angle A3 covers the farthest field “L” within the Tf 46 requiring more surface area to accommodate a sufficient number of lamps 22, and power input to provide the same light levels as in field “S”, while maintaining illumination uniformity and light pattern form.
The heatsink 2 embodiment can be fabricated of metallic or non-metallic material. The embodiment can be painted and made to conform to indoor and outdoor conditions. In addition, the embodiment can be made to endure special harsh environments designated as hazardous and/or submerged.
The flat surfaces 5 retaining the lamps 22 are a key element of the monolithically fabricated heatsink 2. The number of flat surfaces 5 can vary between types of heatsinks 2 contingent on the application. Regardless of the application, the flat surfaces' 5 angle in relation to the horizon line vary from one flat surface 5 to the next when each surface is tasked with illuminating different sub-fields 44. The center beams of the lamps 22 coupled to the flat surfaces 5 are pre-configured to aim in the direction of their respective sub-fields to be illuminated 22.
In addition to the size and quantity of any lamp coupled to a flat surface 5, the lamps 22 coupled can also differ by at least one feature including CRI, color temperature, lamp voltage, lamp wattage and/or lamp retaining sub-strut material and/or color.
Any and all of the HLS 1 embodiments are capable of rotating laterally and vertically to illuminate orthogonal and/or non-orthogonal paths of egress 50.
Power to the enclosure 9 can be provided continuously with a microswitch turning on at least one HLS 1 embodiment, or off, only turning on in the event of house power interruption with power arriving at the enclosure 9 from at least one remote source.
Returning to the present figure, the HLS 1 embodiment of the four HLS 1 assembly forms an illuminated path of egress 50 resembling a cross pattern below the embodiment. This pendant, conduit or ceiling-mounted enclosure with a single or plurality of HLS 1 embodiments will have extensive use in buildings with medium or high mounting surfaces where an egress path of illumination 50 is code required. This innovation can eliminate the need for backup batteries 23 in locations difficult to reach, also mitigating legal battery disposal concerns. With minimal power input required, this innovation can rely on remote power, providing improved code compliant illumination at reduced construction and maintenance costs.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “EGRESS LIGHT,” Ser. No. 62/977,994, filed Feb. 18, 2020, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
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