Emergency lighting system

Abstract

An emergency lighting system initiated by wireless or wired alarm signal of a smoke detector or other alarm device. Once alarm signal is received, the emergency lighting system will cause any light connected to the system to be turned on providing light for any persons present, or will pulse the light as a visual warning indicator to those present. The lighting system causes connected light(s) to pulse during a daytime light condition or when there is sufficient ambient light in the room. At night, or when the room is dark, the lighting system will turn on the light(s) to provide light for any persons present allowing a safer egress out of the building. The emergency lighting system is a device that can be installed in a light bulb socket or built in to a wall plate light switch. Also, the emergency lighting system could be built in to lighting fixtures by a manufacturer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising;
 an R-2 switching component, wherein said R-2 switching component is configured to cut-off or provide current continuity to said lighting element, in which said R-2 switching comprises at least an R-2 switching line side and an R-2 switching load side, and in which said R-2 switching load side is configured to connect to at least one lighting fixture with an attached lighting element;   a switch component, wherein said switch component is configured to be operable to turn said lighting element to on or off, and wherein said switch component comprises at least a switch load side coupled to said R-2 switching line side;   a receiver component, said receiver component is configured to receive at least an emergency or alarm signal from an emergency or alarm alerting device, wherein said system is configured to initiate an alarm state condition upon receiving said emergency or alarm signal;   a holding timer, wherein said holding timer is configured to provide power for a specific amount of time;   a normally open contact component, said normally open contact component is coupled to said receiver component, wherein a receipt of said emergency or alarm signal is configured to close said normally open contact component, which in turn, provide current continuity to said holding timer;   an R-2 switching component configured to pulse said lighting element;   an R-2 energizer component, said R-2 energizer component is configured to energize said R-2 switching component;   a pulse timer component, wherein said pulse timer component is configured to at least intermittently activate and de-activate said R-2 energizer component, in which said activation and de-activation of said R-2 energizer component is configured to pulse said R-2 switching component, thereby, pulsing said lighting element, wherein said pulsed lighting element is operable to provide a visual indicator of said alarm state condition; and   a photo cell component, wherein said photo cell component is configured to detect a predetermined amount of ambient or day light condition, and in which said photo cell is further configured to activate said pulse timer to pulse said lighting element during said photo cell detecting said predetermined amount of ambient or day light condition.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter component, in which said transmitter component is configured to transmit a second emergency or alarm signal upon said system entering said alarm state condition, wherein said system is a first emergency alerting system operable to activate a second emergency alerting system upon said first emergency alerting system entering said alarm state condition. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said holding timer is further configured to provide current continuity to said lighting element for a predetermined amount of time after a termination of said emergency or alarm signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , in which said normally open contact is coupled to said transmitter component, and wherein said receipt of said emergency or alarm signal is configured to close said normally open contact and provide current continuity to said transmitter component. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an R-3 energizer component, wherein said holding timer is configured to provide power to said R-3 energizer component for a predetermined amount of time after said normally open contact reverts back to an open condition. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said transmitter component comprises a wireless transmitter component, in which said wireless transmitter component is configured to transmit a second emergency or alarm signal wirelessly to said second emergency alerting system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said transmitter component comprises a wired transmitter component, in which said wired transmitter component is configured to transmit a second emergency or alarm signal via a wire to said second emergency alerting system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing assembly, said housing assembly being configured to enclose said system, in which said housing assembly is operable to incorporate into said at least one lighting fixture, wherein said at least one lighting fixture is an existing lighting fixture. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing assembly, in which said housing assembly is configured to be operable to connect into an existing wall plate light switch connected to said lighting element and allow a normal on and off light switching to occur unless a state of emergency exists. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , in which said housing assembly is configured to generally screw into a lighting element receptacle of said existing lighting fixture. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion detector, in which said motion detector is configured to activate said lighting element when a motion is detected and no emergency or alert signal is detected. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an occupancy sensor, in which said occupancy sensor is configured to activate said lighting element when a motion is detected and no emergency or alert signal is detected. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising the steps of;
 receiving an alarm condition signal from at least one of a smoke detector, an alarm notification device and an emergency system;   initiating an alarm state condition upon receiving said alarm condition signal;   providing a current continuity path to a lighting element upon initiating an alarm state condition;   detecting an amount of ambient light or daylight condition upon receiving said alarm condition signal;   energizing a pulse timing device upon receiving said alarm condition signal;   supplying a pulsing sequence provided by said energized pulse timing device;   delivering a visual warning indicator of an emergency condition, wherein said delivering step comprises the steps of initiating and providing a pulsing light during said lighting system entering an alarm state and said detecting step has detected a substantially sufficient amount of ambient light or daylight condition, in which said pulsing light is operable to provide said visual warning indicator of said emergency condition upon said lighting system entering an alarm state;   closing a normally open contact to provide current continuity to a holding timer upon receiving said alarm condition signal; and   providing current continuity to said lighting element for a predetermined amount of time after termination of said alarm condition signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , in which said detecting step further comprises the step of determining a quantity of light in a room. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said detecting step further comprises the step of energizing said lighting element if said quantity of light in a room is substantially dark, in which said step of energizing said lighting element is configured to provide a pulse connected light as a visual warning to those in said room or provide light for safe egress from a building upon termination of said alarm condition signal. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising;
 means for providing current continuity to a lighting element of a lighting fixture;   means for energizing said lighting element;   means for receiving an emergency or alarm signal from at least one of an alarm notification device and an emergency system, wherein said system is configured to enter an alarm state upon receiving said emergency or alarm signal and activate said lighting element;   means for pulsing said lighting element, wherein said pulsed lighting element is configured to be operable to provide a visual warning indicator of an emergency condition upon said system entering an alarm state;   means for detecting an amount of ambient light or daylight conditions, in which said detecting means is configured to activate said pulsing means during said lighting system in said alarm state and a sufficient amount of ambient light or daylight condition is present;   means for keeping the system active for a predetermined amount of time after a termination of said alarm state; and   means, coupled to said signal receiving means, for providing current continuity to said means for keeping the emergency lighting system active for a predetermined amount of time, upon receipt of said emergency or alarm signal.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a means for overriding a current lighting condition of said lighting element, where said overriding means is configured to take control of said lighting element to provide light or pulsed lighting element. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein an expiration of said predetermined amount of time is configured to return said connected lights to a pre-alarm condition. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said system is a first emergency alerting system, in which said system further comprising a means for re-transmitting said emergency or alarm signal to at least one nearby second emergency alerting system, wherein said retransmission of said emergency or alarm signal is configured to extend an effective range of said first emergency alerting system, wherein a series of daisy-chained emergency alerting systems are configured to illuminate an entire building to help provide light for a safe exit from said building. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a means for detecting motion, wherein said motion detecting means is configured to activate said lighting element when motion is detected and said alarm state is terminated. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said system is an emergency alerting system, in which emergency alerting system further includes at least one of a motion detector or occupancy sensor configured to turn on said lighting element when a motion is detected, and yet still be subject to override and control by said emergency alerting system should an alarm condition or state of emergency exist.