US 12,136,849 B2
Emergency lighting system with battery identification
Ray Altenburger, Oxford, GA (US); Dean W. Mavis, McDonough, GA (US); and Gunjan P. Patel, Alpharetta, GA (US)
Assigned to ABL IP Holding LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by ABL IP Holding LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/307,348.
Application 17/307,348 is a division of application No. 16/009,783, filed on Jun. 15, 2018, granted, now 11,026,311.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/521,588, filed on Jun. 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0273481 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. H02J 9/06 (2006.01); F21V 23/02 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H05B 45/00 (2022.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 45/3725 (2020.01); H05B 47/105 (2020.01); F21S 9/02 (2006.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01); H05B 45/375 (2020.01); H05B 45/38 (2020.01); H05B 45/50 (2022.01)
CPC H02J 9/065 (2013.01) [F21V 23/02 (2013.01); H02J 7/0068 (2013.01); H05B 45/00 (2020.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 45/3725 (2020.01); H05B 47/105 (2020.01); F21S 9/022 (2013.01); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08); H05B 45/375 (2020.01); H05B 45/38 (2020.01); H05B 45/50 (2020.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery pack identification circuit, comprising:
a voltage divider connected between a voltage bus and ground, wherein the voltage divider includes a reference resistor and a battery pack resistor, a first terminal of the reference resistor is connected to the voltage bus and a second terminal of the reference resistor is connected to a first terminal of the battery pack resistor, and the battery pack resistor is installed in a battery pack, wherein different types of battery packs have different values of battery pack resistors;
an A/D converter, wherein an analog voltage between the reference resistor and the battery pack resistor is provided as an input to the A/D converter and the A/D converter outputs a digital value based on the analog voltage; and
a controller, wherein the controller reads the digital value output from the A/D converter and determines a type of battery pack based on the digital value, wherein the controller includes a power supply that powers the voltage bus, wherein the power supply is distinct from the battery pack and the power supply is configured to operate with an AC power source, and wherein the controller determines a battery charge current and a battery charge time for recharging a battery within the battery pack based on the type of battery pack, and during a charging mode controls a battery charger connected to the battery pack to use the battery charge current and the battery charge time for recharging the battery within the battery pack.
 
7. A battery pack identification circuit for an emergency lighting system, comprising:
a reference resistor, a first terminal of the reference resistor connected to a voltage bus and a second terminal of the reference resistor connected to a first connection point for a battery pack resistor, wherein the battery pack resistor is installed in a battery pack and different types of battery packs have different values of battery pack resistors;
an A/D converter, wherein an input of the A/D converter is connected to the second terminal of the reference resistor; and
a controller connected to an output of the A/D converter, wherein the controller is operable to read an output value from the A/D converter, compare the output value to a set of predetermined digital values that correspond to types of battery packs useable in the emergency lighting system, and determine a type of battery pack based on the output value, wherein the controller includes a power supply that powers the voltage bus, the power supply is distinct from the battery pack, and the power supply is configured to operate with an AC power source, and wherein the controller is operable for determining a battery charge current and a battery charge time for recharging a battery within the battery pack based on the type of battery pack and for controlling a battery charger connected to the battery pack to recharge the battery using the battery charge current and the battery charge time.
 
12. A method for controlling an emergency lighting system, comprising:
powering, by a power supply, a voltage bus, wherein the power supply is distinct from a battery pack and is configured to operate with an AC power source;
receiving, by a controller of the emergency lighting system, a battery identification signal from a battery identification circuit, wherein the battery identification circuit includes a voltage divider connected between the voltage bus and ground, the voltage divider includes a reference resistor and a battery pack resistor, a first terminal of the reference resistor is connected to the voltage bus and a second terminal of the reference resistor is connected to a first terminal of the battery pack resistor, and the reference resistor is associated with the emergency lighting system and the battery pack resistor is installed in the battery pack, wherein different types of battery packs have different values of battery pack resistors;
comparing a value associated with the received battery identification signal to a plurality of expected values;
when the value associated with the received battery identification signal corresponds to one of the plurality of expected values, identifying a type of the battery pack installed in the emergency lighting system;
based on the type of the battery pack installed in the emergency lighting system, determining a battery charge current and a battery charge time for the battery pack; and
during a charging mode, controlling a battery charger connected to the battery pack to use the battery charge current and the battery charge time for recharging a battery within the battery pack.