WO1999060302A2

WO1999060302A2 - Illumination assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1999060302A2
Application number: PCT/NL1999/000315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Max Gregor Paping
Original assignee: Budev B.V.
Priority date: 1998-05-20
Filing date: 1999-05-20
Publication date: 1999-11-25
Also published as: WO1999060302A3; EP1078199A2; NL1009811C1

Abstract

The invention generally has for its object to provide a safety illumination assembly which is wholly independent of any external power source and is sufficiently capable of illuminating the immediate vicinity such that a user can easily find the correct path therein. With a view to the above, the invention provides an illumination assembly (1, 21), comprising: a housing (16, 22); at least one electric lamp (11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27, 28) supported in this housing and generating light toward the outside; a space present in this housing for accommodating at least one battery (2, 23); terminals present in this space for the at least one battery; a movement sensor (4) which generates a movement signal when a movement is detected and when the local light intensity has a value below a determined reference value; a switch (5) which is connected between at least one terminal and the lamp and which is controlled by the movement sensor such that when a movement signal is generated by the movement sensor the switch is closed and is held closed for a determined time interval.

Description

ILLUMINATION ASSEMBLY

The invention lies in the field of an illumination assembly for safety purposes . It is often desirable during the night for instance that a light source with low lighting intensity can be activated locally, whereby a human eye accustomed to the dark is sufficiently capable of viewing the surrounding area, whereby wrong movements, collisions with objects and accidents can be prevented. In this respect can be envisaged for instance bedrooms, dark staircases, toilets, pleasure boats with sleeping accommodation, cruise ships, caravans, campers and the like. It is further possible to envisage safety provisions in aircraft, cinemas and the like, where for instance escape routes are generally illuminated to a limited extent by known safety provisions. Lighting is also frequently desirable in a relatively dark meter cupboard in order to replace a blown fuse .

The invention generally has for its object to provide a safety illumination assembly which is wholly independent of any external power source and is sufficiently capable of illuminating the immediate vicinity such that a user can easily find the correct path therein.

With a view to the above, the invention provides an illumination assembly, comprising: a housing; at least one electric lamp supported in this housing and generating light toward the outside; a space present in this housing for accommodating at least one battery; terminals present in this space for the at least one battery; a movement sensor which generates a movement signal when a movement is detected and when the local light intensity has a value below a determined reference value ; a switch which is connected between at least one terminal and the lamp and which is controlled by the movement sensor such that when a movement signal is generated by the movement sensor the switch is closed and is held closed for a determined time interval . The illumination assembly according to the invention can in principle be placed in stand-alone manner. An embodiment is however recommended wherein the housing is provided with positioning means. Such positioning means can be embodied for instance as at least one suspension bracket with which the illumination assembly can be fixed to for instance the edge of a bed or bedside cupboard. Use can further be made of double- sided adhesive tape which is already attached in the factory to the non-active side of the assembly and covered with protective foil. Use can additionally be made of detachable positioning means, for instance comprising a combination of hook and loop pile fastening tape. The illumination assembly will generally be placed by means of these positioning means such that it is situated in the immediate proximity of a potential user. The illumination assembly will not be activated at a light intensity above said reference value. The reference value is chosen such that at this value any user with normal eyesight can in principle discern his surroundings to a sufficient extent at the relevant light intensity. A suitable reference value is 10 lux. As soon as the light intensity in the surrounding area falls below the chosen reference value, the movement sensor will generate a movement signal on detection of a movement, whereby the switch is closed and the battery can generate current to the or each lamp. The lamp or a combination of lamps will only need to generate a very limited amount of light, i.e. just enough to enable an eye accustomed to the dark to discern the surrounding area.

An embodiment is recommended wherein the battery is of the rechargeable type. A battery of rechargeable type is generally environmentally-friendly since it can run through many charging/discharging cycles and does not have to be replaced repeatedly as is the case with a non-rechargeable battery. When for instance the illumination assembly according to the invention is used in a meter cupboard, the use of a rechargeable battery is very practical. Under normal conditions the battery is kept charged by a charging device. In the case of power failure caused by a blown fuse or other malfunction, the battery is in the charged state and can generate current to activate the or each lamp at the moment that someone wishes to replace the fuse or remedy the malfunction. Attention is drawn to the fact that for this kind of application the illumination assembly can be provided with a control button, whereby the time for which the lamp is activated becomes longer than normal, so that the person concerned has plenty of time to replace the fuse .

A very high efficiency is achieved with a variant in which the lamp is a LED. It is possible to suffice with a very low lighting intensity with an embodiment in which the LED generates light in the range where the human eye has its greatest sensitivity. This greatest sensitivity lies in the range of yellow-green. A very suitable, commercially available LED generates yellow light. This choice is very appropriate in this respect .

Since different users prefer different colours, a variant can advantageously have the special feature that the colour of the LED is adjustable. Yet another embodiment has a number of LEDs .

It is noted that the colour of a LED is variable in some types by the manner of driving. Depending for instance on the mutual energization of three terminals the colours red, yellow and green or a different combination can be obtained.

The stated dispositions with a plurality of

LEDs can also be embodied such that different LEDs generate different colours. The different LEDs can also be driven selectively to realize different lighting intensities, if desired in combination with the above stated colour choices. It will be apparent that there are many possibilities in this respect. A practical and inexpensive embodiment has the special feature that the movement sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

A preferred embodiment has the special feature that the time interval is adjustable. The time interval can for instance be adjustable between 10s and several minutes . In this respect it should be taken into account that the lifespan of the battery (ies) depends on the time interval of the supplied electric current. In the case a longer time interval is set and with regular use the battery will have a relatively short lifespan compared to the situation where a relatively short time interval is set .

Yet another variant has the special feature that the current through the lamp(s), and thus the light intensity generated thereby, is adjustable. It is also the case here that a lower current setting corresponds to a longer lifespan of the battery (ies) .

Yet another application of the illumination assembly according to the invention is at the top or bottom of stairs in a staircase.

Since the most common, and in particular cheap, lamps generate light without a specific preferred direction, the lighting intensity in the area for illuminating will be relatively low without specific provisions. Substantial improvement can be realized by making use of lens means for directing the light generated by the lamp in the desired manner. An embodiment which is very simple to manufacture has the special feature that the lens means comprise a Fresnel structure .

A Fresnel structure can be manufactured from transparent plastic by injection moulding.

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings. Herein: figure 1 shows a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the invention; figure 2 shows a perspective view of an illumination assembly according to the invention; figure 3 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment ; figure 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment of figure 3; and figure 5 shows a view corresponding with figure

3 from a different angle, wherein the four LEDs are clearly shown.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an illumination assembly 1. The diverse blocks can be specified as follows: a battery 2, an on/off switch 3, an infrared movement sensor 4, an electronic controllable switch 5, an electronic unit 6 for setting the hold time of electronic switch 5, an electronic current setting unit 7 which is controllable via a setting unit 8, a LED driver stage 9 which is adjustable via a control unit 10, with which a user can determine the number of LEDs 11, 12, 13 driven by unit 9 and the colour emitted by these LEDs. Battery 2 is of the rechargeable type and carries current via an on/off switch 3 to movement sensor

4 and electronic switch 5. Only in the case where movement sensor 4 supplies a movement signal to electronic switch 5 is current fed to unit 9 via unit 7. Unit 9 drives LEDs 11, 12, 13 so that they begin to emit light .

The time duration for which electronic switch 5 remains closed, i.e. continues to supply current to unit 7, is determined by adjusting unit 6 which in the manner shown in figure 2 can be set by the user by means of the wheel button likewise designated 6.

The lighting intensity generated by LEDs 11, 12, 13 can be adjusted by means of current setting unit

8 , corresponding with wheel button 8 as according to figure 2, with which the effective current supplied by driver stage 9 to LEDs 11, 12, 13 can be adjusted.

Using unit 10 the number of LEDs (one, two or three) can be adjusted by means of the respective switches 14, 15 collectively designated 10 in figure 2, while the colour generated by the LEDs can be adjusted with the three-position switch 15. In this embodiment a choice can be made between yellow (Y) , green (G) and red (R) . Mixed forms, although in principle electronically realizable without problem, are not in principle deemed useful .

If desired, the use of an on/off switch 3 can be dispensed with, since device 1 is only active in night-time conditions wherein the lighting intensity has fallen below a determined reference value. Omission of this switch 3 also has the advantage that it is never possible to forget to switch on the device.

It is further noted that the drawings do not show that all electronic units as according to figure 1 are fed via the output of switch 3. It is however self- evident that all necessary control voltages are derived from this point.

The unit can comprise discrete and/or integrated components.

As shown in figure 2, housing 16 of device 1 can be attached for instance by double-sided adhesive tape to a side panel 17 of a bed. As soon as infrared movement sensor 4 detects a movement, in particular when a user steps out of bed, device 1 will be activated and LEDs 11, 12, 13, which are mounted on the underside of device 1, will emit light of a chosen colour and desired intensity in downward direction. Exploratory tests have demonstrated that with the use of four normal 1.5 V pen-light batteries the lifespan of the batteries amounts with average use to more than a year. A specific embodiment has the special feature that the electronic components of the illumination assembly are embodied as one unit . Such a unit can be implemented as an IC. It is even possible to envisage an embodiment wherein the movement sensor and/or the electric lamp, embodied in particular as LED, form part of this unit . In order to increase the light intensity generated by the lamp in the desired direction, use can be made of reflection means. These reflection means can also serve for controlled choice of the directional characteristic of the lamp. It is noted that a white or mirrored local surface of a printed circuit board can also be used as reflector. In order to improve the directional characteristic, or at least obtain a desired directional characteristic, use can further be made of so-called diffusing prisms or other optical assist means based on refraction.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show an illumination assembly 21 comprising a housing 22 which is closed at the rear by a cover 22. A battery 23 is accommodated in the housing. The housing also contains a printed circuit board 24 on which are arranged four LEDs 25, 26, 27, 28. The LEDs are covered by a transparent plastic structure 29, of which upper zone 30 and lower zone 31 have a Fresnel structure. A beaming of the light on the location for illuminating can hereby be realized without substantial loss of useful light.

Figure 3 shows illumination assembly 21 in mounted situation. As can be clearly seen, the upper surface takes a slightly spherical form for aesthetic reasons, while the rear surface is at least more or less flat. Attention is drawn in this respect to the fact that cover 22, which can be coupled to housing 22 by a snap connection, is provided on its rear in the drawn embodiment with an insert 32 which serves as detachable coupling piece. On its surface facing away from cover 22 the coupling plate 32 is provided with double-sided adhesive tape which can be connected to a desired surface by removing pre-arranged protective foil. Plate 32 can be coupled to cover 22 by means of a clamp fitting or snap connection. Since in this embodiment coupling plate 32 consists of magnetic material, the plate can be arranged in magnetic attachment on a ferromagnetic surface without removing the protective foil.

It will be apparent that in the described manner the illumination assembly 21 can be arranged on and removed from a ferromagnetic surface as desired. While leaving behind plate 32, which is adhered by the double-sided adhesive tape to a surface of any suitable material, illumination assembly 22, including cover 22 but without plate 32, can be removed from and re-placed on the relevant location.

*****

Claims

1. Illumination assembly, comprising: a housing; at least one electric lamp supported in this housing and generating light toward the outside; a space present in this housing for accommodating at least one battery; terminals present in this space for the at least one battery; a movement sensor which generates a movement signal when a movement is detected and when the local light intensity has a value below a determined reference value ; a switch which is connected between at least one terminal and the lamp and which is controlled by the movement sensor such that when a movement signal is generated by the movement sensor the switch is closed and is held closed for a determined time interval.

2. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with positioning means.

3. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery is of the rechargeable type.

4. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp is a LED.

5. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the LED generates light in the range where the human eye has its greatest sensitivity.

6. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the colour of the LED is adjustable.

7. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 4, comprising a number of LEDs.

8. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

9. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time interval is adjustable.

10. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim

I, wherein the current through the lamp(s), and thus the light intensity generated thereby, is adjustable.

11. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising lens means for directing the light generated by the lamp in the desired manner.

12. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim

II, wherein the lens means comprise a Fresnel structure.

13. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning means comprise an adhesive layer, for instance forming part of double-sided adhesive tape .

14. Illumination assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning means comprise magnetic means.

15. Illumination assembly as claimed in claims

13 and 14, wherein the magnetic means are coupled detachably to the housing and are provided on a free outer surface with an adhesive layer covered with protective foil.