EMERGENCY LIGHT ADAPTER

The present invention relates to emergency light devices and more particularly to emergency light adapter which can be used on a typical light socket.

BACKGROUND TQ THE INVENTION

Power supply interruption is an unwanted incident. Lights will go off if it does not receive power. Emergency light is used and illuminated when such an event occur. Emergency light is usually powered by a spare power source.

Emergency light is widely used to display exit and direction signs in buildings. The emergency light provides illumination where people can be guided to escape if there is main power supply interruption. Such emergency light has a mechanism to activate the emergency light in the event there is no main power supply. The emergency light is usually powered by a battery or spare power generator. The device which involves wiring, controllers and lights are complex where skills of an electrician are needed in order to install such device on walls. Such device also requires regular maintenance to make sure the emergency light works if the inevitable should occur. The electrician usually has to climb a ladder to access the emergency light to perform maintenance work.

Another emergency light uses a casing with power socket connection to charge the battery of an emergency light. The casing usually encompasses the emergency light, battery, controller and power plug connection to be a small portable device. When there is no power supply, the emergency light may be powered from the battery. It usually comes with a switch so that it can be illuminated only when needed. The device may be removed from the power plug and be used as a portable lighting device. The device may be easily used by typical lay man for any place which has a power outlet. However, the device needs to be plugged to a power outlet connection which may be used for other purposes.

It is not desirable for the emergency light to operate when a particular room has sufficient light, especially day light. The spare power or battery has limited power supply. It may drain the power during daytime emergency light is not needed.

The above mentioned drawbacks are overcome by the present invention. It is desirable to have an emergency light device which is easier to install and use, and does not use a power outlet or additional wiring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is conceived to allow lay persons to install emergency light by fitting the adapter to a typical light socket. The type of adapter to be used is custom made to match typical light socket. The ease of fitting such adapter is as easy as fixing a light bulb.

It is also an object of the present invention to have a light socket so that a main light can be fitted on the adapter.

It is a further object of the present invention to use energy savings light on the adapter, such as light emitting diode (LED), as emergency light on the adapter to allow longer usage of emergency light.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a night light which is used when full illumination by the main light is not required. The night light refers to lights such as LED attached to the adapter. Night light automatically illuminates when there is low light level in a room.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide emergency light when there is main power supply interruption.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means for testing the emergency light. A simple operation is provided so that people don't have to climb to the emergency light to test the light.

It is a further object of the present invention which provides a simpler emergency light which translates into cost savings. The device comprises an adapter with secondary lights, electrical sockets and controller.

It is also an object of the solution to detect light. A light sensor is adapted to an emergency light to stop the emergency light from illuminating when it is not needed

when there is sufficient light in a room. The emergency light shall illuminate when low light level is detected.

It is a further object of the present invention to prolong spare power battery life so that the power is not drained when it is not needed when there is sufficient light. The spare power shall operate only when it is needed when low light is detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an emergency light adapter according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a different perspective of the adapter of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the emergency light;

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of how the emergency light works when there is main supply;

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of how the emergency light works when there is no main supply;

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of another embodiment of how the emergency light with light sensor automatically works if there is no main supply; and

Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of a test mode for emergency light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there is illustrated an embodiment of an emergency light adapter 20. The emergency light adapter 20 comprises a socket 21 , at least an emergency light 22, a controller 24, a fitting 26 and an electrical contact 28, wherein the electrical contact 28 is protruded from the fitting 26 to connect to the base of the socket 20.

The fitting 26 is shaped to be fit into industrially available standard light socket. It is usually constructed with predetermined shape. The fitting 26 comes with the electrical contact 28, which may be situated at the center diameter of the fitting 26. At the other end of the fitting 26 is the socket 21. The socket 21 is shaped to be fitted with industrially available standard light bulbs. The socket 21 may be shaped to correspond to the fitting 26. Typical arrangements of fittings and socket may include screw arrangements, click arrangements of twist arrangements.

The controller compartment 30 houses the necessary control elements to power the emergency light 22. The elements of the controller compartment will be described later. At least an emergency light element 22 is placed on a surface of the controller compartment. An arrangement may have a plurality of emergency light element arranged on the same side of the socket 20. The arrangement can be in a form of ring arrangement. The emergency light element is desirable to have energy saving properties to conserve power usage. LED is a common and energy saving device which is used as the emergency light element 22. A light sensor 51 is incorporated and added within the controller compartment. The light sensor functions to disable the emergency light when sufficient light other than the emergency light is detected in a particular room. The emergency light function is disabled because it is not needed during daytime when there is sufficient light in a room. It is desirable to have the emergency light to function only when there is low light.

An optional adapter switch 32 is connected to the controller compartment 30. The switch may be in the form of a hanging switch. When the adapter 20 is fitted, the hanging switch 32 shall hang from the adapter 20 allowing a user to access certain functions of the adapter. The hanging switch may be covered with luminous material so that it will glow in the dark. Another form of optional switch 32 may be placed on the side of the controller compartment to access another function of the adapter 20.

A light sensor 51 is incorporated and added within the controller compartment. The light sensor functions to disable the emergency light when sufficient light other than the emergency light is detected in a particular room. The emergency light function is disabled because it is not needed during daytime when there is sufficient light in a room. It is desirable to have the emergency light to function only when there is low light. The operation and control of the adapter may also be used to provide

night light by illuminating main light or emergency light when low light level is detected.

The control elements of the emergency light adapter will now be described.

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the adapter 20 with emergency light elements. Power from the main supply 36 reaches the adapter 20 from electrical connector 28 when main switch 37 is in on position. The power may be used to energize a relay 38 of a main light 40. The main light 40 is provided by a standard bulb fitted on the socket 21. The main supply 36 is also passed to step down 42 and converted from AC to DC 44. The DC power is used to power the controller 24, power charger 46 and spare power 48. The spare power 48 may be in a form of rechargeable battery charged by the power charger 46. The spare power 48 receives instruction from controller 24 to activate emergency light 22 and notifying means 50. The notifying means 50 is used to indicate a condition of the adapter 20. The relay 38, controller 24, step down 42, AC to DC 44, power charger 46, spare power 48, emergency light 22 and notifying means 50 is contained by the controller compartment 30. A light sensor 51 is incorporated to disable the emergency light if sufficient light is detected in a room. Hence spare power battery is not drained when emergency light is not needed.

The operation of the emergency light adapter will now be described.

An embodiment of operation allows the emergency light 22 to be switched from the controller 24, as shown in Fig. 4. The main power switch, which is usually wall mounted, shall always be in on position 52. The main power supply 36 is used to charge the power of spare power 48. The adapter switch 32 is used manually when the main light 40 or emergency light 22 is needed. A trigger from switch 32 will give a different response for the adapter 20. Initially both the main light and switch light may be off 54. A trigger from the switch 32 may on the main light and off the emergency light 56. Another trigger from the switch 32 may off the main light and on the emergency light 58. A further trigger may off both the lights 54. There are three states which the adapter 20 may function. Hence, the adapter 20 may be used for night light for emergency light to give partial illumination even if there is main supply 36.

In the event the main supply is interrupted 60, the adapter switch 32 can be used to trigger the emergency light to illuminate, as shown in Fig. 5. The same three state positions exist. The first state could be both lights off 54. Then, the next trigger will possibly light the main power but since there is no main supply, so the main light can't be illuminated 62. Another trigger may illuminate the emergency light 58. The above mentioned embodiment allows a user to manually trigger the adapter to control power to main light or emergency light.

Another embodiment of automatic operation allows the emergency light 22 to function as night light. When low light level is detected, the main light or emergency light will illuminate even if there is no power interruption.

Another embodiment of operation is shown in Fig. 6. There are two main operations of the adapter. The first operation describes an emergency mode. The controller checks if there is power from main supply 64. If there is main supply, than the second operation, the test mode is activated 63. If there is power interruption, the controller checks if there is low light in a room 65. If there is sufficient light, the function of the emergency light is disabled 66b. If there is low light than the emergency light is illuminated 66a. The emergency light adapter will automatically illuminate the emergency light if there is low light level and no main supply 66a. The test mode work flow is shown in Fig. 7. Next, the position of the main switch is determined 67. If the main switch is in off position, the emergency light is illuminated and notifying means is activated 68. The notifying means serve to indicate that the spare power is working as a test function. The notifying means shall also remind the user to turn on the main switch. If the main switch is in on position than the emergency light is off and the main light could be on or off depending on its previous condition. The power of main Light is determined 70. The main light is controlled in a bistable manner which will toggle either state of on or off. If the previous state is main light on, than the step of turning adapter switch off and on again 72, will turn the main light off 74. If the previous state is main light off, than the step of turning adapter switch off and turning on again 76 will turn the main light on 78. The main switch can also be used instead of adapter switch to trigger the main light. The above mentioned embodiment allows the adapter to automatically illuminate emergency light and allows a test function to determine the state of spare power.

Accordingly, an emergency light adapter 20 is disclosed to act as a companion to main light 40. The adapter 20 can be fitted to light sockets and be fitted with main lights 40. The emergency light on the adapter 22 is controlled to provide illumination when necessary. A light sensor is incorporated to function when emergency light is not desired. At daytime, emergency light is not required. Hence, when the light sensor detects sufficient light 63 it switches off emergency light 65. When the light sensor detects low light level, the function of emergency light is enabled.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope on any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiment thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of various embodiments.