FI127633B - Luminaire and method in connection with the luminaire - Google Patents

Abstract

Luminaire and method in connection with a luminaire comprising one or more light sources (1) and a component (3) arranged to pass the light. The luminaire further comprises a light sensor (2) arranged in the luminaire to receive light from said one or more light sources (1) reflected from a component (3) arranged to pass light, and control electronics connected to one or more light sources (1) and light sensor (1). 2) and adapted to determine the light emitted by said one or more light sources, which is reflected by the light-transmitting component (3) adapted to pass light to the light sensor, and responsive to the determined light to control the operation of said one or more light sources.

Description

Luminaire and method in connection with the luminaire

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to luminaires and in particular to signaling and emergency lighting.

Background of the Invention

Signaling and emergency lighting are luminaires for buildings that are related to property security, especially in emergency situations. The function of the signal lights is to guide people on the property through the escape route out of the property. Typically opastevalaisimissa of the lamp envelope in the direction of arrow or the signaling with the corresponding pattern attached to exit guide kiin10 apparatus. In turn, emergency lamps are lamps that provide adequate lighting in the event of an emergency. Both signal and emergency lights must meet the criteria set for them in terms of reliability and illumination. These criteria include, for example, operation in the event of a power failure, sufficient surface illumination of the signal light, and sufficiently high illumination produced by the emergency light.

Signal lights and emergency lights have different lighting generating parts for different applications. Emergency luminaires require ambient lighting, while the purpose of the lanterns is to illuminate the lantern's pattern. If the same light output is used in the signpost and emergency light, the surface brightness of the signal light will be unnecessarily high when the illumination produced by the emergency light is sufficient. Similar light output refers herein to a light-generating apparatus, such as an LED card, which produces an equal amount of light from a light source. Similarly, if the luminous flux from the light source is sufficient to achieve the desired illumination of the signal luminaire, the luminous flux of this light source is too low in connection with the emergency light.

Because of the differing requirements for the illumination produced by the light source, signaling and emergency lighting equipment have been used separately to produce light. It would, however, be advantageous if the same light generating equipment, such as an LED board, could be used in several different types of luminaires.

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is thus to provide a luminaire and a method in connection with a luminaire to solve the above problem. Objective of the Invention

2171083FI

20175625 prh 29 -06-2017 is achieved by a luminaire and a method characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are claimed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the fact that the light-producing apparatus is arranged to automatically detect the type of luminaire and to adjust the magnitude of the luminous flux produced to suit the identified luminaire. Based on the identification, the pattern of light produced by the luminaire can also be adjusted. Identification is based on the amount of light reflected from the lamp hood back towards the light producing apparatus. In a known way, the directional lamps incorporate a pattern with the lamp hood, and this pattern reflects the light back to the inside of the lamp significantly more than the hood of the emergency lamp, which is, for example, bright. Once the type of luminaire has been identified, the luminous flux is controlled to the value required for that luminaire. In addition to the luminous flux, depending on the mode of operation, it is possible to illuminate light sources with different optics in order to achieve the intended pattern.

An advantage of the luminaire and the luminaire-related method according to the invention is that the light-generating apparatus can be used in both the signal luminaire and the emergency luminaire, thereby reducing the number of parts to be stored. Furthermore, the installation and commissioning of the luminaire according to the invention is simple, since the installation does not require any separate steps in the configuration of the light-producing equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described in connection with the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in connection with a signpost;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in connection with a emergency light; and

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an embodiment of the invention in connection with a sign light. According to the invention, the luminaire comprises one or more light sources 1, such as an LED light source, and a light-transmitting component 3. A light-transmitting component,

2171083FI

20175625 prh 29 -06-2017 like a lamp hood, it is positioned so that it is at least partially in front of the light source. Typically, the dome is connected to the luminaire body 5 or the like, whereby the light source is completely surrounded by a dome and body.

The luminaire shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a light sensor 2 arranged in the luminaire 5 to receive light from one or more light sources reflected from the light transmission component 3. FIG. 1 illustrates in principle how a portion of the light produced by light source 1 is reflected back into the luminaire. A light sensor is a component or device that changes its electrical properties under the influence of light. Such a component may be, for example, a photodiode or a phototransistor. The light sensor 2 may also be a component configured to receive a particular wavelength or wavelength band to avoid misidentification. The light sensor then receives a wavelength or wavelength of light which is produced by the light source in the luminaire.

The luminaire according to the invention comprises control electronics connected to said one or more light sources and a light sensor. The control electronics is adapted to determine the light emitted by said one or more light sources, which is reflected to pass light from a matched part of the structure to the light sensor. The light sensor is thus electrically part of the control electronics to determine the amount of light reflected. In other words, the control electronics together with the light sensor forms an electrical circuit which produces a signal proportional to the amount of light inside that circuit, and which signal can be further utilized in the control electronics.

In the luminaire of the invention, the control electronics are further adapted in response to a specified light to control the operation of said one or more light sources.

Fig. 1 shows how the light transmission component 3 comprises a pictogram 4, whereby the luminaire is formed as a signal lamp.

In the example of Fig. 1, the pictogram is placed inside the dome 3 of the luminaire. However, the pictogram may also be provided as a separate film outside the dome or may be formed as part of the dome. The pictogram shows, for example, the exit route. The dome may also be provided with pre-mounted holders for attaching the pictogram.

Fig. 2 corresponds to the example of Fig. 1 in other respects except that the pictogram is not placed in connection with the light transmitting component 3.

2171083FI

20175625 prh 29 -06- 2017

The hood 3 is a substantially clear hood, whereby the lamp of Figure 2 is, for example, a safety lamp which serves to illuminate the environment. The pictogram in Figure 1 forms an obstacle to some of the light produced by the light source, whereby the light is reflected more toward the light sensor than in the example of Figure 2, where a pictogram is not fitted to the dome. When the control electronics in the luminaire of the invention are adapted in response to a specified light to control the operation of the light source, the control electronics together with the light sensor can identify the type of luminaire based on light reflected from the matched component.

When the light sensor, together with the associated electronics, detects that the amount of reflected light is above a certain threshold, it can be concluded that the luminaire is provided with a pictogram and thus is a signal lamp. If, on the other hand, the amount of reflected light is below a certain threshold, the luminaire may be concluded to be a safety luminaire, in which the structural part of the structure, which is adapted to transmit light, is without a pictogram.

According to the invention, the control electronics are adapted to control the operation of said one or more light sources in response to a specified light. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control electronics is adapted to increase the luminous flux produced by one or more light sources at a specified amount of reflected light below a certain limit. When the amount of reflected light is small, it is a safety lamp that should provide lighting in its surroundings.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the control electronics are adapted to reduce the luminous flux produced by one or more light sources at a specified amount of reflected light. The type of luminaire can be deduced from the small amount of reflected light. The signpost does not need to provide illumination in its surroundings but only provides the necessary surface brightness to the sign.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of reflected light is determined when the lamp is lit. In other words, when the lamp is lit, it is determined whether it is a signal lamp or a safety lamp based on reflected light. Once the luminaire type has been determined, the luminaire is controlled to operate with the specific illumination of the luminaire type, and then the luminaire is allowed to operate with that illumination. When the luminaire type is determined immediately after the luminaire is turned on, the light sensor may not be used during illumination production. However, using a light sensor is possible

20175625 prh 29 -06-2017 also during operation, and the amount of reflected light measured by this light sensor can be used for control or control purposes.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control electronics are adapted to pulse the light produced by said one or more light sources and adapted to determine the pulsed reflected light and responsive to the determined light to control the operation of said one or more light sources. The embodiment of the luminaire can avoid incorrect detection of the premises caused by an external light source. When the light emitted by the light sources is pulsed, the reflected light must be similarly pulsed. One possible way of performing the pulsing is disclosed in F1116356, according to which the effect of external light in the measurement can be eliminated by calculating the difference between the illumination produced at two different intensities, so that the difference is not affected by the external light. Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, pulsing ensures that the light to be determined comes from one or more light sources of the same luminaire.

The light sources of the luminaire are illuminated with a known light output to allow comparison of the reflected light with a preset threshold. The light sources can also be lit, for example, at full luminous flux, whereby the amount of reflected light reduces the illumination when it is detected that the luminaire is a signal lamp. When the reflected light is found to be a safety lamp, the illumination is allowed to return to its original value.

The known light output of the light sources can also be, for example, 50% of the maximum light output or the luminous flux of the light sources. For example, a suitable threshold value for implementing the type of luminaire identification can be determined experimentally.

The control of the light flux of the light sources may be accomplished by means of an electronic circuit which generates a voltage or current that can be adjusted to supply one or more light sources. When one or more light sources are an LED component, the luminous flux can be varied by changing the current through the LED30 components. The luminous flux produced by the LED components is almost directly proportional to the flow through the component. The control electronics in the luminaire either contain a circuit for controlling the LED components themselves or control such a connection based on the reflected light indicated by the sensor.

As stated above, the amount of reflected light emitted by the light source is preferably determined when the luminaire is lit, i.e. immediately.

20175625 prh 29 -06- 2017 When the light comes on, it will work. To accomplish this, the luminaire control electronics include, for example, a timer circuit, the control of which initially determines the amount of reflected light. After a specified time, the electronic circuit performs a comparison to a preset limit, and enters a continuous mode of operation using the illumination selected on the basis of the comparison.

According to one embodiment of the invention, when the luminaire has been found to be a safety luminaire, the luminaire control electronics also switches on alternative light sources to provide an illumination pattern optimized for emergency light use. Thus, when determining the type of luminaire, not all light sources in the luminaire are necessarily lit, but only if the luminaire is found to be a emergency light. Such illuminated auxiliary light sources may be provided with, for example, application-specific optics.

For example, a lamp according to one embodiment has a housing, a dome and an LED card as a light source. By LED card is meant a circuit board or the like comprising one or more LED light sources and related electronic circuits. The LED card is placed inside the dome and also contains a light beam directed towards the dome. On the inside surface of the bulb there is a place for a pictogram consisting of, for example, a plastic film. In signaling mode, the luminaire is equipped with a pictogram and in emergency lighting mode the pictogram is omitted. Figures 1 and 2 show how an LED light source and a light sensor are placed on the same circuit board.

The flowchart of Fig. 3 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention in connection with a luminaire. According to the method, 31 light is produced by one or more light sources and 32 light sensors receive light from said one or more light sources, which is reflected from a component arranged to pass light. The method further comprises detecting the light emitted by 33 of said one or more light sources reflected from a component adapted to pass light, and directing the operation of 34 of said one or more light sources in response to the specified light. The method can be implemented with a lamp and a lamp according to the invention, and some embodiments thereof have been described above in connection with the lamp.

In addition, information from the light sensor can be used to automatically set the luminaire to operate continuously or intermittently. Typically, the signal lights are continuous, that is, they are continuously on. On the other hand, the security2171083EN devices can be intermittent so that they light up only when backed up by the battery, even when mains power is lost.

The invention has been described above with particular reference to an embodiment in which one or more light sources are an LED component. However, it is clear that the light source used is freely selectable without affecting the implementation of the invention. In connection with the invention, the aspects related to the control of light sources have not been further explained. It is known in the art of luminaires that the luminous flux produced by light sources can be controlled. The control electronics in the luminaire is also shown at a general level. The purpose of the control electronics in the invention is to perform the determination of the reflected light in conjunction with the light sensor, and to control the luminous flux produced by the light sources of the luminaire in a desired manner, taking into account the type of luminaire

With respect to the construction of the luminaire, reference is made above to Figures 1 and 2, which show the structures illustrating the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the design of the luminaire may vary.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims (17)

Luminaire comprising one or more light sources (1) and a component (3) adapted to pass light, characterized in that the luminaire further comprises 5 light sensors (2) arranged in the luminaire to receive light from said one or more light sources (1) reflected from a component (3) arranged to pass light and control electronics connected to one or more light sources (1) and the light sensor (2). and adapted to determine said one Light produced by 10 or more light sources (1), reflected from a component (3) arranged to pass the light to the light sensor (2), and responsive to the determined light to control the operation of said one or more light sources (1). The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the control electronics is adapted to reduce the current of light 15 produced by one or more light sources (1) at a predetermined amount of reflected light. A luminaire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control electronics is adapted to increase the luminous flux produced by one or more light sources (1) at a predetermined amount of reflected light. 20 borders lower. A luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the control electronics is arranged to illuminate at least one other light source (1), the amount of reflected light being less than a predetermined limit. A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control electronics is adapted to set the luminous flux produced by said one or more light sources (1) to a predetermined value in response to a determined amount of reflected light. A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control electronics is adapted to control the operation of said one or more light source (1) in response to a specified light upon illumination of the luminaire, preferably immediately upon ignition. A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the one or more light sources (1J is an LED component disposed on the same circuit board as the light sensor (2J). 35 A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the light transmission component (3J) is a luminaire dome. 20175625 prh 07-05-2018 The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the luminaire dome (3) comprises a pictogram (4) and the luminaire is a signal luminaire. The lamp of claim 8, wherein the lamp is a emergency lamp. 5 The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the luminaire dome (3) is adapted to receive a pictogram (4). A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control electronics is adapted to pulse the light produced by said one or more light sources (1) and adapted to determine the pulsed reflected light and responsive to the determined light to control the operation of said one or more light sources (1). A luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the control electronics is adapted to continuously determine the light emitted by said one or more light sources (1), which is reflected through the light transmitting component (3) to the light sensor (2). A method in connection with a luminaire comprising one or more light sources (1) and a component (3) adapted to pass light, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of producing (31) light with one or more light sources (1), Receiving (32] a light sensor (2) light from said one or more light sources (1) reflected from the light transmission component (3), determining (33) light produced by said one or more light sources (1) reflected from the light transmission structure (3), and Controlling (34) the operation of said one or more light sources (1) in response to a specified light. The method of claim 14, comprising the step of reducing the luminous flux produced by one or more light sources (1), the amount of reflected light being greater than a predetermined limit. A method according to claim 14 or 15, comprising the step of increasing the luminous flux produced by one or more light sources (1), the determined amount of reflected light being less than a predetermined limit. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one second light source (1) is lit, the amount of reflected light being less than a predetermined limit.