Communications: electrical – Systems – Signal light systems
Patent
1996-06-05
1998-09-29
Hofsass, Jeffrey A.
Communications: electrical
Systems
Signal light systems
340628, 340691, 3408154, 362227, G08B 500
Patent
active
058150684
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
Present invention relates to a guiding light system comprising controllable light sources which can be used as optical means for influencing persons to follow an assigned route of movement to one selected of a plurality of target areas, wherein said light sources are disposed along alternative routes of movement, and the system further comprising operation control means for turning light sources on and off in such a way that light sources located along the assigned route, indicate movement in the direction of the target area selected, in the form of travelling light. The invention also relates a lighting strip adapted to be used as optical means for influencing persons to follow one designated of two opposite directions of a movement along the lighting strip.
BACKGROUND ART
In places open to the public there exists in many situations a need for informing and guiding persons so that they with greater ease are able to find their way and particularly find the way to a desired target area, the location of which being unknown to them, or for various reasons, being difficult to find out. For this purpose it is known to install various types of devices in places where people gather or commute, and which, by means of sound and/or light signals can convey information intended to influence the behaviour of persons, so that they move in the direction of the desired target area.
In this way, it is previously known several devices which use optical means to indicate a path or route of movement which people in a given situation should follow. In particular, such devices are known which are installed on board ships and accommodation platforms as well as in hotels, hospitals, shopping centres, cinemas, theatres or other places where the public or customers are given admission and which provide for a certain permanent escape route meant to be used in an emergency situation.
As an example of such a system for indicating a predetermined escape route which cannot be altered, a system is known from GB Patent No. 1 498 483 which comprises both sound and light sources disposed along the fixed escape route, and where the light sources may be caused to emit light sequentially so that the light is perceived to travel along the fixed, predetermined escape route in one direction only, towards one specific emergency exit, for example. From this GB Patent it appears that the light sources are mounted on the wall approximately at head level above the floor in e.g. corridors, in such a way that there will be long voids between the light sources at door openings and openings to branching corridors as well as in open spaces, such as lobbies. Such discontinuities in the visual marking of the escape route contribute to the necessity of completing the system with sound sources which not only makes the system more expensive, but also the installation and operation of the same.
However, the most important disadvantage by such systems for indicating a predetermined escape route which cannot be altered, is the fact that in a certain, real emergency situations the predetermined escape route in question may be blocked by e.g. fire or gas leakage, which may bring people who follow the indication, into utmost mortal danger. In addition, the marked predetermined escape route may be unsuitable for other reasons, such as those pertaining to the method of evacuation.
With the systems described in GB Patent Application No. 2 215 105 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,499, respectively, attempts are made to overcome this problem by connecting the light sources to a control device linked to sensors disposed to detect possible blocking of corresponding emergency exits and which, if a blocking is detected, automatically provides for control of the travelling light from the light sources in the direction of exits which are not detected as being blocked. With the system described in GB Patent Application No. 2 215 105 it is also possible to inititate evacuation manually by means of trigger devices disposed along the escape routes. However, the escape r
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Hofsass Jeffrey A.
Woods Davetta
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