EP0209269A2 - Signe d'urgence - Google Patents

Signe d'urgence Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0209269A2
EP0209269A2 EP86304861A EP86304861A EP0209269A2 EP 0209269 A2 EP0209269 A2 EP 0209269A2 EP 86304861 A EP86304861 A EP 86304861A EP 86304861 A EP86304861 A EP 86304861A EP 0209269 A2 EP0209269 A2 EP 0209269A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
battery
comparator
sign according
emergency sign
rectifier
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP86304861A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0209269A3 (fr
Inventor
Norman Earl Bowman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DON GILBERT INDUSTRIES Inc
DON GILBERT IND Inc
Original Assignee
DON GILBERT INDUSTRIES Inc
DON GILBERT IND Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DON GILBERT INDUSTRIES Inc, DON GILBERT IND Inc filed Critical DON GILBERT INDUSTRIES Inc
Publication of EP0209269A2 publication Critical patent/EP0209269A2/fr
Publication of EP0209269A3 publication Critical patent/EP0209269A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B7/00—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00
    • G08B7/06—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
    • G08B7/062—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources indicating emergency exits

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to an illuminated exit sign and, in particular, to a control circuit for supplying AC and DC power to a plurality of series connected light sources in an exit sign.
  • emergency exit signs are known in the art including those that operate on either AC or DC power. Exit signs of this type frequently require two sets of illuminating lamps, one set for AC operation and a second set for DC operation. Many of the known emergency exit signs use incandescent light bulbs as an illuminating source which use a comparatively high amount of power, thus draining a battery rapidly during DC operation. Also, incandescent light bulbs have a tendency to burn out and must be replaced periodically, adding maintenance costs to the overall cost of the exit sign.
  • an emergency exit sign and control circuit having light sources, which are preferably light emitting diodes, connected in a plurality of series combinations each having a predetermined number of light sources.
  • the series combinations are connected in parallel across the output of the control circuit.
  • the control circuit applies continuous power to the light sources during AC operation and charges a battery when required.
  • An indicator on the exit sign shows the charging state of the battery.
  • the control circuit pulses battery power to the light sources causing the illuminated display to flash. Battery power is continued until the battery reaches a predetermined minimum voltage, at which time the control circuit shuts the light sources off, or until AC power is restored, when the sign will again be continuously illuminated and the battery recharged.
  • the present device thus provides an illuminated exit sign preferably using light emitting diodes which provide improved visibility, use low power for longer DC operation, and have a longer life for infrequent replacement.
  • a correct voltage drop may be supplied across each light emitting diode without using series resistors.
  • the elimination of series resistors from the device reduces power consumption and improves visibility of the exit sign.
  • the present invention thus, provides an improved exit sign having many features distinguishable over the prior art.
  • an illuminated emergency exit sign is shown generally at 10 having a housing 12 and a display board 14 with the word "EXIT" marked thereon at 16 and arrows pointing in opposed directions at 18.
  • a second display board 14 substantially identical to the first may be mounted in the other side of the housing 12.
  • FIG 2 shows a rear view of the display board 14 of Figure 1 having connections 20 for a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
  • the connections 20 are arranged to spell the word "EXIT" 16 and to form the arrows 18.
  • an LED 22 is shown in dotted outline connected at connecting points 24 and 26.
  • the display board 14 includes first and second power connections 28 and 30 to which voltage is applied to illuminate the LEDs 22 of the exit sign 10.
  • Figure 3 shows a series combinations 32 of three light emitting diodes 22 for use in the display board 14 of Figure 2.
  • a forward voltage drop of 2.1 volts is required across each of the LEDs 22 for proper operation.
  • the voltage drop required across the combination 32 of Figure 3 is 6.3 volts. Since the display board 14 of Figure 2 includes only the series combinations 32 of three LEDs 22, 6.3 volts must be applied across the power connection points 28 and 30 for proper operation.
  • Figure 4 shows two light emitting diodes 22 connected in a series combination 34 which may be used in place of the three light emitting diodes 22 of Figure 3.
  • the voltage required for application across the combination 34 of Figure 4 is 4.2 volts, therefore, should the display board 14 of Figure 2 be arranged in such a way as to include only LEDs 22 in series combi­nations 34 of two, a 4.2 volt power supply would be required at power connecting points 28 and 30.
  • Figure 5 shows six series connected light emitting diodes 22.
  • a 12.6 volt power supply must be applied across a combination 36 of Figure 5. Therefore, if the display board 14 of Figure 2 were arranged to include only light emitting diodes 22 in series combinations 36 of six, a 12.6 volt power supply must be applied to the leads 28 and 30. It may be seen from the foregoing that any number of series connected LEDs may be used in the present device.
  • FIG. 6 shows a control circuit 40 for apply­ing power to the display board 14 of Figure 2.
  • the control circuit 40 includes a transformer 42, a bridge rectifier 44, a comparator 46, a multi-vibrator 48, a voltage regulator 50, and transistors 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, and 64, as well fas a variety of other circuit elements to insure proper operation.
  • a power line such as a110 volt AC power line, is connected across leads 66 and 68 of the transformer 42 producing, in a preferred embodiment, a 10 volt AC signal at outputs 70 and 72 of the transformer 42.
  • the 10 volt AC signal is applied through test switch 74, the importance of which will be discussed hereinafter, to inputs 76 and 78 of the bridge rectifier 44.
  • a full wave rectified signal appears at rectifier outputs 80 and 82 which is applied through resistor 84 to the voltage regulator 50 at an input 88.
  • the voltage regulator 50 of a preferred embodiment is a 5 volt regulator and has a ground connection 90 and an output 92.
  • the ground connection 90 is connected to circuit ground through three series connected diodes 94, 96 and 98. This results in the output voltage of the regulator 50 being raised by 6.3 volts, or the sum of the 2.1 volt drop across each of the diodes 94, 96 and 98.
  • the regulator output is then fed through diode 100 to the power connections 28 and 30, which are the same power connections as on the display board 14 shown in Figure 2.
  • the full wave rectified signal is fed through resistor 102 and filtered by capacitor 104 to produce an essentially DC signal.
  • the DC signal is divided by voltage divider resistors 106 and 108 and applied through resistor 110 to base 112 of the transistor 52.
  • the application of power to the base 112 of transistor 52 causes the transistor 52 to begin conducting, which acts through resistor 114 to pull pin 116 of the comparator 46 below a threshold level.
  • the resistors 118 and 120 had been maintaining the pin 116 above the threshold level, which in a preferred embodiment is 5.85 volts. Pulling the voltage a pin 116 below the threshold level results in a low state being produced at pin 122 of the comparator 46.
  • the low is applied through resistor 124 to base 126 of the transistor 56 to cause the transistor 56 to assume a non-conducting state.
  • the transistor 52 will cease conducting and allow the voltage at the pin 116 of the comparator 46 to rise above the threshold level which will result in a high signal at the pin 122 of the comparator 46.
  • the high signal at the pin 122 is applied through the resistor 124 to the base 126 of the transistor 56, causing the transistor 56 to commence conducting and draw current through resistors 128 and 130.
  • the flow of current through the voltage divider resistors 128 and 130 causes a voltage to be applied to base 132 of the transistor 58 so that transistor 58 is turned on which causes voltage from battery 134 to be applied to pins 136 and 138 of the multi-vibrator, or timer, 48.
  • the application of power to the pins 136 and 138 causes output 140 of the timer 48 to oscillate.
  • the oscillating signal is applied to base 142 of the transistor 60 through resistor 144. Consequently, the transistor 60 switches on and off at the timer oscillation rate.
  • the switching of tran­sistor 60 operates through resistors 146 and 148 to cause the transistor 62 likewise to switch on and off at the timer oscillation rate.
  • Each time the tran­sistor 62 is switched on it applies voltage from the battery 134 to the power leads 28 and 30 of the display board 14, and each time the transistor is switched off, the battery voltage is disconnected from the power leads 28 and 30. Therefore, interruption of AC line power to the circuit results in the LEDs 22 in the exit sign 10 flashing at the oscillation rate of the timer 48.
  • Capacitor 154 is of sufficiently high capacitance value to enable the pin 152 to remain high.
  • the pin 122 will assume a low state, cutting off the transistor 56 and in turn cutting off the transistor 58. This has the effect of disconnecting the battery 134 from the power connections 28 and 30.
  • Pin 156 of the comparator 46 senses the battery voltage during AC power through resistors 158 and 160 and capacitor 162. Hysteresis is built into the comparator 46 by the provision of feedback to the pin 156 so that upper and lower threshold levels are established for sensing battery voltage. When the pin 156 reaches the lower threshold limit, indicating that the battery 134 voltage is low, a low state is produced on pin 164 of the comparator 46, and when the pin 156 reaches the higher threshold limit, indicating that the battery 134 is fully charged, a high signal is produced on the pin 164.
  • a low state at the pin 164 turns on the transis­tor 64 which applies charging current to the battery 134 through diode 166.
  • a low state on the pin 164 also draws current through diode 168, which is a light emitting diode, indicating that the battery is charging.
  • the high state at the pin 164 turns off the transistor 64 and the light emitting diode 168 and applies a high signal to base 170 of the transistor 54, causing it to conduct.
  • the transistor 54 When the transistor 54 is turned on, it draws current through light emitting diode 172 which indicates that the battery 134 is fully charged.
  • the diodes 168 and 172 are preferably of different colors for ease of identification.
  • test switch 74 Operation of the normally closed test switch 74 to an open position disconnects the bridge rectifier 44 from AC power enabling the control circuit 40 to switch to battery power.
  • the test switch thus, tests the circuit operation and the condition of the battery 134.
  • an illuminated exit sign and a control circuit that uses low power and long life light emitting diodes and that functions on AC or DC power. Furthermore, during a power shortage, when an illuminated exit sign is needed most, the light sources within the present sign flash drawing attention to itself.
  • the present invention also provides means for automatically charging a battery so that the lights are illuminated at their brightest for the longest possible time during a power outage.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Stand-By Power Supply Arrangements (AREA)
EP86304861A 1985-06-28 1986-06-24 Signe d'urgence Withdrawn EP0209269A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US74981385A 1985-06-28 1985-06-28
US749813 1985-06-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0209269A2 true EP0209269A2 (fr) 1987-01-21
EP0209269A3 EP0209269A3 (fr) 1989-01-11

Family

ID=25015306

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86304861A Withdrawn EP0209269A3 (fr) 1985-06-28 1986-06-24 Signe d'urgence

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0209269A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH07114151B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1250972A (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2201558A (en) * 1987-02-24 1988-09-01 Polynesie Francaise Generator for the production of electrical energy particularly from solar energy
WO1990014647A1 (fr) * 1989-05-24 1990-11-29 Bay Industrial & Mine Tech Inc. Dispositif de securite portatif pouvant attirer l'attention visuelle
US5220739A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-06-22 Dci Marketing, Inc. Merchandise accentuator
GB2271228A (en) * 1992-10-01 1994-04-06 Fps Power Systems Oy Ab Controlling charging of a battery in an uninterruptible power supply
GB2318001A (en) * 1996-10-07 1998-04-08 Nec Corp Power supply switching circuit; battery protection
FR2831979A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-09 Airbus France Dispositif d'information lumineuse concernant l'etat de fonctionnement d'un systeme et procede de gestion d'un tel dispositif, notamment dans le domaine avionique
FR2831980A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-09 Airbus France Procede de gestion d'un dispositif d'information lumineuse et dispositif mettant en oeuvre ce procede, notamment dans le domaine avionique
US6859145B2 (en) 2003-04-03 2005-02-22 Scott Wilker Safety system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2078839A1 (fr) * 1991-09-25 1993-03-26 Marc Hoffman Lentille solide a double refraction et a reflexion totale ne produisant par d'image
US6570505B1 (en) 1997-12-30 2003-05-27 Gelcore Llc LED lamp with a fault-indicating impedance-changing circuit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4283657A (en) * 1976-03-25 1981-08-11 Lampiridae Associates Exit illuminating system
US4298869A (en) * 1978-06-29 1981-11-03 Zaidan Hojin Handotai Kenkyu Shinkokai Light-emitting diode display
WO1982001436A1 (fr) * 1980-10-17 1982-04-29 Karl L Edstroem Systeme d'indication d'une sortie de secours
US4384317A (en) * 1979-11-01 1983-05-17 John R. Hart Solar powered lighting system

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS492273U (fr) * 1972-04-06 1974-01-10
JPS50154096A (fr) * 1974-05-31 1975-12-11
JPS52138634A (en) * 1976-05-15 1977-11-18 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Battery checker for emergency lamp
JPS5820270B2 (ja) * 1977-07-25 1983-04-22 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 クルカンの製造方法
JPS5653551A (en) * 1979-10-03 1981-05-13 Toshiba Electric Equip Battery charger
JPS57112405U (fr) * 1980-12-29 1982-07-12

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4283657A (en) * 1976-03-25 1981-08-11 Lampiridae Associates Exit illuminating system
US4298869A (en) * 1978-06-29 1981-11-03 Zaidan Hojin Handotai Kenkyu Shinkokai Light-emitting diode display
US4384317A (en) * 1979-11-01 1983-05-17 John R. Hart Solar powered lighting system
US4384317B1 (en) * 1979-11-01 1999-07-13 Flex O Lite Inc Solar powered lighting system
WO1982001436A1 (fr) * 1980-10-17 1982-04-29 Karl L Edstroem Systeme d'indication d'une sortie de secours

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2201558A (en) * 1987-02-24 1988-09-01 Polynesie Francaise Generator for the production of electrical energy particularly from solar energy
GB2201558B (en) * 1987-02-24 1991-07-03 Polynesie Francaise Generator for the production of electrical energy particularly from solar energy
WO1990014647A1 (fr) * 1989-05-24 1990-11-29 Bay Industrial & Mine Tech Inc. Dispositif de securite portatif pouvant attirer l'attention visuelle
US5220739A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-06-22 Dci Marketing, Inc. Merchandise accentuator
GB2271228A (en) * 1992-10-01 1994-04-06 Fps Power Systems Oy Ab Controlling charging of a battery in an uninterruptible power supply
GB2318001B (en) * 1996-10-07 2000-10-11 Nec Corp Power supply switching circuit with protection function
GB2318001A (en) * 1996-10-07 1998-04-08 Nec Corp Power supply switching circuit; battery protection
FR2831979A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-09 Airbus France Dispositif d'information lumineuse concernant l'etat de fonctionnement d'un systeme et procede de gestion d'un tel dispositif, notamment dans le domaine avionique
FR2831980A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-09 Airbus France Procede de gestion d'un dispositif d'information lumineuse et dispositif mettant en oeuvre ce procede, notamment dans le domaine avionique
EP1315404A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-28 Airbus France Dispositif d'information lumineuse concernant l'état de fonctionnement d'un système et procédé de gestion d'un tel dispositif, notamment dans le domaine avionique
EP1315405A1 (fr) * 2001-11-08 2003-05-28 Airbus France Procédé de gestion d'un dispositif d'information lumineuse et dispositif mettant en oeuvre ce procédé, notamment dans le domaine avionique
US6885297B2 (en) 2001-11-08 2005-04-26 Airbus France Process for management of a light signaling device, and a device using this process, particularly for avionics
US6917164B2 (en) 2001-11-08 2005-07-12 Airbus France Light signaling device related to the operating state of a system
US6859145B2 (en) 2003-04-03 2005-02-22 Scott Wilker Safety system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0209269A3 (fr) 1989-01-11
CA1250972A (fr) 1989-03-07
JPH07114151B2 (ja) 1995-12-06
JPS6210899A (ja) 1987-01-19

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Inventor name: BOWMAN, NORMAN EARL