Emergency lighting monitoring and reporting system

Abstract

An emergency lighting system with central batteries power remote LED fixtures and exit signs, with all components integrated throughout a single or multiple buildings. Status reports are available on demand and the system will generate written records required by the Life Safety Code. A wide range of fixtures optimized for emergency lighting are available for interior and exterior applications and all can be monitored via internet, with report displays available on any digital device. Easy access to batteries, automated testing, high lumen outputs, efficient optics and long lamp life ensure the lowest possible life cycle costs.

1 . An emergency lighting system having a self-test capability; the system comprising:
 at least one circuit that includes a plurality of emergency LED lighting fixtures;   a central battery system that provides direct current voltage as normal power and direct current voltage backup power to the circuit of emergency LED lighting fixtures;   the normal power being supplied by line power;   the central battery system including at least one battery that is adapted to supply direct current voltage to the circuit when line power to the central battery system is off;   a battery charger connected to the line power; the battery charger maintaining the battery in a charged condition;   a transfer switch configured to connect the battery to the circuit when the line power is off; and   a control board that performs tests of the battery capacity, the operation of the LED lighting fixtures, the operation of the transfer switch; and the battery charger; the control board communicating data related to the tests to software located at a remote location.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data is accessible through the Internet by an authorized user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data is transferred to the software through the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tests performed by the control board meet the requirements of section  101  of the Life Safety Code in the United States. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the software formats the data for a printable report. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the emergency LED lighting fixtures has an individual identifier and is in communication with the control board through power line communication; the communication providing at least the operational status of the emergency LED lighting fixture. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary low voltage direct voltage power supply that provides direct voltage power to a plurality of the emergency LED lighting fixtures allowing these fixtures to be used during normal lighting as well as for emergency lighting. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency LED lighting fixtures are wired such that any one of the emergency LED lighting fixtures can while allowing the others to continue operating. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central battery system reduces the power level of the backup power over a time period to save battery power. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the reduction in power reduces the brightness of the emergency LED lighting fixtures by no more than forty percent. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of emergency LED lighting fixture circuits that are each backed up by the central battery system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control board of the central battery system is connected to a local computer with an Ethernet connection; the local computer having an internet connection; the data related to the tests being communicated to the software located at the remote location through the local computer. 
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring and testing battery backup systems for emergency lighting circuits; the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first central battery system for at least one circuit of a plurality of emergency LED lighting fixtures;   providing a second central battery system for at least one circuit of a plurality of emergency LED lighting fixtures; the second central battery system being located in a different building structure than the first central battery system;   each of the first and second central battery systems including at least one battery that is adapted to supply direct current voltage to the circuit during a power outage, a battery charger maintaining the battery in a charged condition, a transfer switch configured to connect the battery to the circuit, and a control board that performs tests of the battery capacity, the operation of the LED lighting fixtures, the operation of the transfer switch, and the battery charger to create test results;   sending the test results generated by the control board to software located at a remote location; and   allowing authorized users to access to the test results through the software.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of communicating the status of the LED lighting fixtures to the control board through power line communication. 
     
     
         15 . An LED lighting system for use as emergency lighting; the system comprising:
 at least one circuit that includes a plurality of LED lighting fixtures; at least some of the plurality of LED lighting fixtures having a dimming control input;   an addressable control module associated with each of the LED lighting fixtures which are to be used as emergency lighting units; the control module providing a signal through the dimming control input to reduce the light output of the LED lighting fixture during an emergency lighting situation.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a central battery system having a control board and a battery; the battery being used to provide power to the plurality of LED lighting fixtures during a power outage; the control board being in communication with each of the addressable control modules through power line communication. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the circuit includes a first low voltage direct current power line supplied with a direct current voltage over 20 Volts and a second low voltage direct current power line supplied with a direct current voltage less than 21 Volts; the LED lighting fixtures having the dimming control input being connected to the first low voltage direct current power line. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the LED lighting fixtures is an emergency EXIT sign and the emergency EXIT sign being connected to the second low voltage direct current power line.