DK2889848T3 - Lamp - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an escape sign luminaire comprising at least a housing, a pictogram assigned to a light exit opening of the housing, and a light distribution means which has assigned thereto a plurality of first lamps.

Such escape sign luminaires are arranged along escape routes in buildings, or the like. As a rule, the corresponding pictogram comprises an arrow for indicating the escape route, and a running figure. An exit out of the building is to be found in case of emergency by way of the pictogram, and persons concerned are here able to leave the building through the exit for instance in case of fire or at least smoke occurring within the building.

The light distribution means of the luminaire serves to illuminate the pictogram as uniformly as possible, as is for example required in the corresponding standards EN1838, IS030061 or IS03864. The pictogram comprises a static picture which is unchangeable.

In dangerous situations where the escape route indicated by such a luminaire can no longer be used, additional luminaires are needed that e.g. point to a danger along said escape route or also forbid a use of the indicated escape route. This means that additional luminaires are needed, for instance, for canceling the escape route display by the aforementioned luminaire and to inform persons about other escape routes. JPH11 288 234 A describes a traffic sign with different symbols and expressions. There is general illumination by a light source, which is arranged on a backside of a corresponding sign and also along the edges of a light guiding plate. Furthermore, openings are provided in said light guiding plate, in which additional light sources may be arranged. WO 2013/083869 A1 describes an escape sign luminaire made of a number of different plate-like segments, which are held together by a frame rail at the upper end. One segment comprises a number of structures, which altogether result in a “X”. EP 2184628 A2 describes an escape sign luminaire corresponding to the preamble part of claim 1.

It is the object of the present invention to improve a luminaire of the aforementioned type such that an escape route guidance, especially also in the case of a displayed escape route which is no longer useable, can be provided by way of this luminaire alone.

This object is achieved with the features of patent claim 1.

According to the invention the luminaire comprises a plurality of second lamps which are arranged in a predetermined pattern or are controllable, wherein the pattern can be optically perceived through the pictogram from outside of the luminaire in the switched-on state of the second lamps.

This means that by operation of the second lamps, and apart from the standard escape route display by the pictogram, a pattern is produced that cancels or at least changes the escape route guidance by the pictogram.

In a simple embodiment, this can e.g. be accomplished in that the pattern is X-shaped. Such a pattern is normally interpreted such that the previous information, i.e. the display of the escape route, is no longer valid.

The pattern can further be highlighted in that it has a corresponding signal color, wherein the second lamps are e.g. LEDs emitting red light. This red X is clearly visible from outside the luminaire and is understood as a signal indicating that the escape route guidance by the pictogram should no longer be followed. The second lamps may e.g. be operated whenever corresponding messages about the escape route change from fire or smoke detectors are transmitted to a light management system or also directly to the luminaire. In this case the second lamps are switched on and the corresponding pattern is visible from outside the luminaire and signalizes that the indicated escape route should no longer be used.

It should once again be pointed out here that differently colored signal colors are of course also possible as long as these are optically perceivable against the pictogram. It is enough when the corresponding pattern attracts a lot of attention and a corresponding signal effect is achieved by way of the second lamps. LEDs of the RGB type are also possible; these are particularly also suited for a color change.

To be able to arrange the second lamps in a simple manner and in an easily controllable way within the luminaire, it is possible that the second lamps are arranged on a carrier. An example of such a carrier is a printed circuit board. This printed circuit board may have different patterns of second lamps; these patterns may here each be arranged as such or also in combination on the printed circuit board. In this connection it is possible that in response to the requirements one of the patterns is used by switching on the corresponding second lamps forming said pattern.

Further examples of such a carrier are flexible films as LED carriers, so-called MIDs (molded interconnected devices), or also the use of chip-on-glass technology. Moreover, with some of these other carriers it is possible to use housing parts as parts of conductor path and electronic components.

Possibly, in order to highlight the pattern formed by the second lamps to a stronger degree in comparison with the pictogram illuminated by the first lamps, it is possible that the first lamps can be dimmed and/or switched off. This means that when the second lamps are used, the first lamps needed for the illumination of the pictogram are at least dimmed or even switched off. A good way of uniformly illuminating a pictogram may be that the light distribution means is a light guidance plate and the first lamps are arranged along at least one light entry edge of the light guidance plate. The light is introduced into the light guidance plate via said light entry edge or edges and is again emitted by said plate towards the pictogram.

To further improve the illumination of the pictogram, the light guidance plate has a surface structure for coupling out light also at least at a light exit side assigned to the light exit opening. Such a surface structure is e.g. a printed-on pattern, lasered structures, a structure consisting of microlenses, or the like. These serve the purpose that the pictogram has the same brightness at every place.

An upper, lower or also lateral edge of the light guidance plate is used as the corresponding light entry edge, along which the corresponding first lamps are arranged. Of course, the corresponding light from the first lamps can also be supplied via plural light entry edges.

The light guidance plate may be formed of opaque or transparent material.

Furthermore, it may be considered to be of advantage when the pictogram is e.g. assigned to the light exit side of the light guidance plate. The pictogram may here have dimensions corresponding to those of said light exit side.

It should be noted that escape sign luminaires may also be used that are provided at both sides with a corresponding pictogram; in this connection, for instance two light guide plates with corresponding first lamps may be used. It is also possible in this connection that both lateral pictograms are uniformly illuminated by only one light guidance plate with surface structures arranged at the two light exit sides thereof that are assigned to the pictograms.

At least in the case of a pictogram arranged at one side relative to the light guidance plate, it is further of advantage when light which might exit from the light guidance plate in a direction opposite to the pictogram is reflected. To this end a reflection means may be assigned to the light guidance plate on its inside which is oriented away from the pictogram and is oriented towards the second lamps. This reflection means can be arranged directly on the corresponding inside or also in addition to the light guidance plate in the form of e.g. a reflection plate, or the like. As a rule, a white reflection plate is enough, but a reflective coating of such a reflection plate is also possible.

Otherwise, light exiting via the inside of the light guidance plate is directed through the reflection plate forwardly towards the pictogram, whereby the efficiency of the luminaire is improved.

The reflection means is normally arranged directly next to the light guidance plate, i.e. it is e.g. arranged between the light guidance plate and the second lamps. In this connection, in order to ensure that the second lamps for representing the pattern are sufficiently visible from outside of the luminaire, the reflection means may comprise light passage sections assigned to the second lamps. These can e.g. be formed in that at points of the reflection means assigned to the second lamps, said means is not made white, but transparent. A corresponding pictogram can be formed in different ways, the pictogram being directly formed at the light exit side of the light guidance plate, on a film or plate arranged in the direction of the light exit opening upstream of the light exit side of the light guidance plate. As a rule, the pictogram is produced by silk screen printing, or the like; here, it is normally composed of a white and a green color. If the corresponding plate with the pictogram consists for instance of opaque material, it is enough to print the pictogram with a green color. If the corresponding plate or film is transparent, the pictogram is normally applied by way of a white and then a green print.

To allow a corresponding transmittance for the second lamps for representing the corresponding pattern with this way of printing the pictogram, it is conceivable that the pictogram is patterned and/or structured substantially without a pictogram in the portions assigned to the second lamps. This means that in these portions a corresponding pictogram is not printed on, but the light of the second lamps is passed through the fine patterning or fine structures that are without pictogram color. It is here normally enough when the pictogram-free portions are formed with a corresponding patterning or fine structures only at the place where the pattern should really be visible when the second lamps are switched on. The corresponding pictogram-free portions let then pass through e.g. the red light of the second lamps, and the pattern is clearly visible from outside of the luminaire especially also when the first lamps are dimmed or switched off.

To avoid a situation where in the case of a pictogram which is backlit during normal operation an X-shaped structure might become visible through the pictogram-free portions on the pictogram, the complete pictogram may also be patterned and/or structured in a corresponding manner. In the case of such a completely patterned or structured pictogram, the corresponding light of the second lamps can exit everywhere through the unprinted portions that do not have to be provided additionally in a structure resembling the pattern. Owing to the complete patterning or structuring there is no objectionable X-shaped structure as a corresponding pattern in the case of a pictogram that is backlit during normal operation.

It has been pointed out above that a reflection means may additionally be arranged next to the light guidance plate. This means can also be omitted when e.g. a housing rear wall of the housing which is oriented towards the light guidance plate and provided with the second lamps and/or the printed circuit board with the second lamps is/are made reflective. The corresponding reflective configuration can again be implemented by using a white surface.

It should be noted that also in the case of a complete patterning or structuring and thus of pictogram-free portions existing throughout the pictogram region an adequate visibility of the pictogram is ensured during normal operation at any rate owing to the correspondingly fine patterning and structuring of these portions. At the same time it is made possible that in the overall appearance of the pictogram there is no pattern visible that corresponds to the arrangement of the second lamps, but corresponding pictogram-free portions are present over the whole dimension of the pictogram owing to the fine patterning and structuring.

As a rule, it is in this connection of further advantage in the representation of a pattern or in the representation of different patterns when optionally the second lamps are each controllable individually. It is e.g. possible in the case of an X-shaped arrangement of the second lamps to switch the lamps on and off in time-clocked fashion along the X-arms, so that a dynamic pattern is generated. This is also applicable to other patterns or combinations of patterns that can be switched on and off for instance at different times or one after the other.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention shall now be explained and described in more detail with reference to the figures attached to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective top view on a first embodiment of a luminaire according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a section of a pictogram according to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 shows a completely patterned or structured pictogram according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the luminaire with individual parts by analogy with the luminaire according to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view by analogy with Fig. 4 for a further embodiment.

Fig. 1 is an oblique top view on a luminaire 1 according to the invention. The luminaire comprises a frame-like housing 2 which surrounds or borders a light exit opening 3 in the area of a pictogram 4. The housing 2 serves to accommodate and arrange corresponding parts of the luminaire, such as pictogram, light distribution means 5, see also Figs. 4 and 5, and corresponding lamps 6, 7. Moreover, an electronic system and control which are assigned to the luminaire may be arranged inside the housing.

The pictogram 4 represents an escape way display which comprises an arrow and a running figure. The arrow is normally of a white color, whereas the figure and border of the arrow are shown in a green color. The figure is here in front of a white background 22. The pictogram 4 comprises a pattern 8 which is formed by a fine patterning or structures and by pictogram-free portions 18 formed in this area. In the illustrated example, the pattern is X-shaped and extends both into the green and white portions; see also Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows a part of the pictogram 4 according to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. The pattern 8 is here also visible through corresponding pictogram-free portions 18. The pictogram-free portions follow from the fine patterning or structuring of the pictogram where approximately circular small portions of this patterning or structuring are free of the corresponding pictogram colors. This is true for both the green and the white area; see e.g. background 22 according to Fig. 1.

Instead of an X-shaped patterning or structuring of the pictogram-free portions 18, it is also possible that the patterning or structuring exists over the whole pictogram; see Fig. 3 with patterning and pictogram-free portions 18. In this case there is no X-shaped pattern according to Figs. 1 and 2 because the corresponding patterning or structuring and pictogram-free portions 18 are formed throughout the area of the pictogram 4.

The corresponding structuring and pictogram-free portions 18 serve to let through the light from second lamps 7, see Figs. 4 and 5, so as to be able to recognize the corresponding pattern 8 from outside of the luminaire. When the pattern 8 is highlighted by switching on the second lamps 6, the real significance of the escape route display of the pictogram is canceled. To this end, first lamps 6, see once again Figs. 4 and 5, can be dimmed or fully switched off; these are used for the uniform illumination of the pictogram 4.

Figs. 4 and 5 show exploded views of the luminaire 1 according to Fig. 1 for two embodiments. The housing consists normally of several parts, with a frame-like structure surrounding the light exit opening 2 and being adapted to be fixed to a housing rear wall 21. Pictogram 4, light distribution means 5, reflection means 16, and printed circuit board 11 are arranged within the housing 2. The pictogram 4 is e.g. formed by printing a film or plate 19 which can be handled separately and is provided with the pictogram 4 at a side oriented towards the light exit opening 3. Whenever the film or plate 19 is transparent, the pictogram 4 is normally applied by printing first a white and then a green color. If the film or plate is opaque, printing of the pictogram by means of a green color is enough. Together with the printing of the corresponding colors the pictogram-free portions 18 are produced for forming the corresponding pattern 8; see also Figs. 1 to 3. If no corresponding pattern 8 is produced directly by way of the pictogram-free portions by way of fine patterning and structuring, complete patterning or structuring may also take place; see Fig. 3 with the pictogram-free portions 18.

The pictogram is assigned to a light exit side 15 of the light distribution means 5. This light distribution means 5 is configured in the form of a light guidance plate 12. Plural first lamps 6 in the form of LEDs 9 are arranged along at least one light entry edge 13; see the lower edge in Fig. 4. These are arranged as LED strips along the light entry edge 13. Light is supplied via said light entry edge 13 in the switched-on state of the first lamps 6. The light guidance plate has surface structures via which light is coupled out in the direction of the pictogram 4 and the corresponding film or plate 19, respectively. The surface structure 14 is arranged over the whole area at the corresponding light exit side 15 to uniformly illuminate the corresponding pictogram 4. The surface structure 14 can be produced by using lasers, by printing patterns, or also by way of microlenses.

To prevent light from exiting on an inside 20 of the light guidance plate 12 which is opposite to the light exit side 15, a reflection means 16 in the form of e.g. a white plate is normally assigned to that side. This reflection means deflects light otherwise exiting towards the housing rear wall 21 towards the pictogram. This increases the degree of efficiency of the luminaire.

According to the invention the corresponding reflection means 16 comprises light passage sections 17 which are e.g. not white, but transparent. These light passage sections 17 have a shape by analogy with the pattern 8. Specifically, the arrangement of the light passage sections 17 also corresponds to the arrangement of the second lamps 7 on the printed circuit board 11. These second lamps 7 are also LEDs 10 which emit e.g. red light. In the switched-on state of the second lamps 7, said red light is passed to the outside via the light passage sections 17, the light guidance plate 12 and the pictogram-free portions 18 of the pictogram 4, so that the corresponding pattern 8 is visible from outside of the luminaire 1. The pattern 8 is here represented not only by the pictogram-free portions 18 of the pictogram, but also by the light passage sections 17 and the arrangement of the second lamps 7. To be more specific, the pattern according to Fig. 4 is X-shaped.

Other patterns or the arrangement of several patterns are also possible; in the case of several patterns these are separately switchable in that corresponding second lamps 7 assigned to the respective pattern are switched on or off. It is also possible that each individual second lamp 7 is separately controllable, so that e.g. in the case of an X-shaped pattern the second lamps 7 are switched on and off in offset time from the point of intersection of the pattern to the outside, resulting in a dynamic pattern. This is also possible in the case of different patterns, so that in the case of different patterns only individual patterns are represented or also different patterns are selected in combination.

The corresponding controller of the second lamps 7 is contained in the luminaire 1 and is e.g. part of a microcontroller of the luminaire 1.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 the light distribution means 5 consists of an opaque material, whereas it is a transparent material in Fig. 5. Otherwise, the observations regarding Fig. 4 apply by analogy also to Fig. 5, which shows a second embodiment of a corresponding luminaire 1.

Owing to the use of transparent material for the light distribution means 6 in the form of a light guidance plate 12, the whole pattern 8 can be seen on the reflection means 16. A corresponding light passage section 17 is here assigned to at least each of the second lamps 7.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the reflection means 16 can also be omitted. In this case, an inside of the housing rear wall 21 and the corresponding printed circuit board 11 are configured as reflection means. This can be done in that the corresponding parts are made white. It should here also be noted that the second lamps 7 can be configured for the output of red light and also for the output of differently colored light. A corresponding red X-shaped pattern, however, has a corresponding signal effect which cancels the corresponding escape route display by the pictogram 4. If other information is to be signaled, other colors are conceivable for the second lamps 7.

Claims (16)

An escape route marker lamp, having at least one housing (2), an icon (4) associated with a light output aperture (3) in the housing (2) and a light distribution device (5) associated with several first lighting means (6) , characterized in that the escape path marker lamp (1) comprises a plurality of other illumination means (7) arranged or controllable in a predetermined pattern (8), the pattern (8) being optically visible through the pictogram (4) from the outside of the lamp when the other lighting means are switched on. Escape path marker lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern (8) is X-shaped. Escape path marker lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the other lighting means (7) are LEDs (10) which emit light in signal colors. Escape path marker lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other lighting means (7) are arranged on a carrier (11). Escape path marker lamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lighting means (6) can be attenuated and / or extinguished. Escape path marker lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light distribution device (5) is a light routing plate (12) and the first lighting means (6) are arranged along at least one light input edge (13) on the light routing plate (12). Escape path marker lamp according to claim 6, characterized in that the light directing plate (12) also comprises at least one surface structure (14) for light switching off on a light output side (15) facing the light output opening (3). Escape path marker lamp according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the light routing plate (12) is made of opaque or transparent material. Escape path marker lamp according to claim 7, characterized in that the pictogram (4) is associated with the light output side (15) of the light routing plate (12). Escape path marker lamp according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the light directing plate (12), facing away from the pictogram (4) and facing the inner side (20) of the other lighting means (7), is connected to a reflection device (16). ). Escape path marker lamp according to claim 10, characterized in that the reflection device (16) comprises light passage sections (17) attached to the other lighting means (7). Escape path marker lamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pictogram (4) is patterned and / or structured to form substantially pictogram-free areas (18) associated with the other illumination means (7). Escape route marker lamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pictogram (4) is substantially completely patterned and / or structured. Escape path marker lamp according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the rear side (21) of the housing (2) and / or the printed circuit board (11) facing the light-directing plate (2) and in particular with the other lighting means (7) . Escape path marker lamp according to any of claims 6 to 10 or 14, characterized in that the pictogram (4) is formed on a foil or plate (19) arranged in front of the light output side (15) of the light routing plate (12) in the direction of the light output opening ( 3). Escape path marker lamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other lighting means (7) are individually controllable.