The present invention relates to an emergency apparatus and in particular to a lighting apparatus that is capable of being triggered remotely such as by means of a radio frequency (RF) or ultrasound signal. In some embodiments the lighting apparatus may be supplemented and/or replaced with an audible and/or vibrating device.

Reference to an emergency apparatus herein includes reference to a lighting apparatus that is adapted to operate substantially independently of a mains power supply including apparatus that is powered with a battery back-up or a stand alone generator. Emergency lighting has a variety of applications both inside and outside of a building. Such applications include providing security in the event of a mains power failure and/or directing persons out of threatening situations including situations caused by fire or a natural or man made disaster. The emergency apparatus of the present invention may include a fixed lighting installation such as an exit sign or portable lighting equipment such as a battery powered fluorescent or LED lamp and/or torch.

Emergency lights that turn on automatically when there is a power failure are known. However, such lights are usually part of a fixed installation such as in a commercial environment and/or are physically associated with a device plugged into a wall socket. A light that is plugged into a wall socket may not be located optimally to produce light where it is needed most in the event of an emergency situation.

It is desirable to provide an emergency apparatus that may be relatively inexpensive to produce and straightforward to install in a domestic environment. It is also desirable to provide an emergency apparatus that is easily portable and is not restricted to a fixed location of installation, such as when a light is plugged into an existing wall socket.

The apparatus of the present invention may be triggered by a variety of events such as a power blackout and/or activation of a smoke detector or alarm. The apparatus of the present invention is described herein with particular reference to the latter examples although it is not thereby limited to such applications.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus adapted to be triggered by an event, said apparatus including: a circuit adapted to power at least one source of light and/or a warning device; a wireless receiver associated with said circuit; means for sensing said event to generate a trigger signal; means for wirelessly communicating said trigger signal to said receiver; wherein said apparatus is arranged such that receipt of said trigger signal by said wireless receiver causes activation of said circuit. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of activating a remote circuit including at least one source of light and/or a warning device in response to an event, said method including the step of: sensing said event to generate a trigger signal; wirelessly communicating said trigger signal to a wireless receiver associated with said circuit; and activating said circuit in response to receipt of said trigger signal by said wireless receiver.

In one form the apparatus may include a portable fluorescent or LED light and/or torch assembly. The circuit may include a fluorescent or LED light source adapted to be powered by a portable supply of power such as a battery.

The means for sensing an event may include a mains power supply monitor. The power supply monitor may detect an interruption in the supply of mains power. The means for sensing may generate the trigger signal upon detecting an interruption in the mains power supply. The means for sensing may generate a further signal to indicate that the interruption in the mains power supply has ceased. The means for sensing may be incorporated in a plug pack adapted to plug into a standard mains power point socket or outlet.

Alternatively the means for sensing an event may include a smoke detector and/or alarm. The smoke detector/alarm may generate the trigger signal upon detecting smoke and/or heat.

The means for wirelessly communicating the trigger signal may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The RF transmitter may be adapted to transmit a first RF signal upon receipt of the trigger signal. In some embodiments of the present invention the RF transmitter may be adapted to

transmit a second RF signal upon receipt of a further signal indicating that the event that generated the trigger signal has ceased. The first and second RF signals may include carrier signals that occupy different bands in an RF spectrum. Alternatively, the first and second RF signals may occupy the same or a similar bands in the RF spectrum and may be distinguished via first and second signals that modulate the RF carrier signals in a different manner. The means for wirelessly communicating may be incorporated in a common housing with the means for sensing, eg. the plug pack or smoke detector/alarm.

The wireless receiver may be adapted to receive the RF signal(s). The wireless receiver may be adapted to activate the remote circuit upon receipt of the first RF signal. The wireless receiver may be adapted to deactivate the remote circuit upon receipt of the second RF signal. Operation of the means for wirelessly communicating preferably is time limited particularly if it is to be operated by a battery. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows an emergency lighting apparatus that is triggered by an RF signal when AC mains power supply is interrupted;

Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram associated with a wireless transmitter; Fig. 3 show a diagram associated with a remotely located lighting circuit;

Fig. 4 shows a modified smoke detector that uses an RF signal to activate a remotely located light;

Fig. 5 shows a circuit associated with a modified domestic smoke detector/alarm; Fig. 6 shows a circuit associated with a remotely located flashing light/audible alarm/vibrating element; and

Fig. 7 shows a modified smoke detector that uses an RF signal to activate a remotely located flashing light/audible alarm/vibrating element/communication device; Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 1 shows a plug pack 10 adapted to plug into a mains power point socket or outlet via a standard 3 pin (or similar) electrodes assembly 1 1 . Plug pack 10 includes a mains voltage sensor comprising a mains voltage (eg. 240 volt) non-latching relay 20. Relay 20 includes coil 21 connected to the mains power supply electrodes 1 1 and is

actuated when power is available at the mains power point socket or outlet. Relay 20 is unactuated when supply of mains power is interrupted. In the unactuated condition shown in Fig. 2, relay 20 connects a supply of low voltage current from "ON" capacitor 22 to "ON" transmitter 12. In the unactuated condition shown in Fig. 2 relay 20 also connects a 9 volt DC battery 13 to 'OFF' capacitor 23, thereby charging it. It will be noted that 'ON' capacitor 22 was connected to battery 13 and was charged when relay 20 was in the actuated condition. Hence 'ON' capacitor 22 was fully charged at the time that mains power was interrupted. ON capacitor 22 has a capacity of about 10μF and stores sufficient charge to power transmitter 12 for about 5 seconds. Upon being powered up, transmitter 12 transmits an RF signal. Transmitter 12 comprises a short range band selectable RF transmitting device. Transmitter 12 may include a transmitting device available in a wireless door chime model D150 manufactured by ARLEC. The RF signal from transmitter 12 is received at a remote location by

"ON" receiver 14. Receiver 14 may include a receiving device available in the abovementioned door chime model D150. The output of receiver 14 is connected to latching relay 15. Latching relay 15 includes first and second coils 30, 31 for switching contacts of the relay between two stable or latched states. First coil 30 is associated with 'ON' receiver 14. When 'ON' receiver 14 receives an RF signal from 'ON' transmitter 12 it switches the contacts of latching relay 15 to the 'ON' position shown in Fig. 3. In the 'ON' position shown in Fig. 3 the contacts of relay 15 connect a supply of power from a 6 volt alkaline battery 16 to a low voltage light source 17. Light source 17 may include a fluorescent or LED light source.

When mains power is restored, current flows to coil 21 causing relay 20 to be actuated. In the actuated condition of relay 20 the position of the contacts shown in Fig. 2 are reversed, connecting a supply of low voltage current from 'OFF' capacitor 23 to 'OFF' transmitter 17. OFF capacitor 23 has a capacity of about 10μF and stores sufficient charge to power transmitter 18 for about 5 seconds. Upon being powered up, transmitter 18 transmits an RF signal. Transmitter 18 is similar to transmitter 12 although a different band may be selected to avoid interference with transmitter 12.

The RF signal from transmitter 18 is received at the remote location by 'OFF' receiver 19. The output of receiver 19 is connected to second coil 31 . When receiver 19 receives an RF signal from 'OFF' transmitter 18, it switches the contacts of latching relay 15 to the 'OFF' condition wherein the position of the contacts shown in Fig. 3 are reversed. In the 'OFF' condition the supply of power from battery 16 to light source 17 is interrupted. Light source 17 may additionally be disconnected from battery 16 via a manually operated spring return switch 9. In its normal unactuated condition switch 9 supplies power from a 3 volt alkaline battery 30 to 'ON' receiver 14. When switch 9 is manually operated it connects battery 30 to second coil 31 of relay 15 (effectively simulating a signal from 'OFF' receiver 19) causing relay 15 to switch to the 'OFF' condition wherein supply of power to light source 17 is interrupted.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, Fig. 4 shows a smoke detector 40 including an alarm circuit 41 that is modified by addition of a non-latching relay 42 and an RF transmitter 43. When smoke detector 40 is activated upon sensing heat or smoke, it provides a trigger current to coil 60 of non-latching relay 42. The trigger current is provided from the same 9 volt alkaline battery 44 that operates the smoke detector 40. When the trigger current is received, relay 42 is actuated closing its contacts to the 'ON' position shown in Fig. 5. In the 'ON' condition of relay 42, the contacts serve to connect battery 44 to RF transmitter

43. Upon being powered up, transmitter 43 transmits an RF signal.

The RF signal from transmitter 43 is received at a remote location by 'ON' receiver 45. The output of receiver 45 is connected to latching relay 46. Latching relay 46 includes first and second coils 47, 48 for switching contacts associated with relay 46 between two stable or latched states.

First coil 47 is associated with 'ON' receiver 45. When 'ON' receiver 45 receives an RF signal from 'ON' transmitter 43 it switches the contacts of latching relay 46 to the 'ON' position shown in Fig. 6. In the 'ON' position shown in Fig. 6, relay 46 connects via a first contact a supply of power from a 6 volt alkaline battery 49 to a low voltage light source 50 including a cluster of flashing LED's. Relay 46 also connects via a second contact a supply of power from battery 49 to audible alarm 51. A flashing LED 52 may be connected in parallel with audible alarm 51 to provide a modulated load to the circuit as this may cause the audible alarm to modulate its tone. In some embodiments a

vibrating element 53 may replace audible alarm 51 and LED 52. Alternatively vibrating element 53 may be connected in parallel with audible alarm 51 .

Light source 50 and audible alarm 51 /vibrating element 53 may be disconnected from battery 49 via a manually operated switch 54. In its normal unactuated condition switch 54 supplies power to light source 50 and audible alarm 51 /vibrating element 53. When switch 54 is manually operated it connects battery 49 to second coil 48 causing relay 46 to be switched to the

OFF' condition wherein supply of power to light source 50 and audible alarm

51 /vibrating element 52 is interrupted. The latter condition persists after switch 54 is released to its unactuated condition until relay 46 is again switched to the

'ON' condition when it receives a signal from RF receiver 45.

Figure 7 shows a modified smoke detector that is similar in its operation to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 although light source 50 is replaced with flashing LED's 70 and an audible alarm 71 /vibrating element 72 and/or a connection to a telecommunication device such as a fixed telephone line or mobile phone 73. The telecommunication device may be programmed to dial an emergency service such as 000 or 91 1.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.