The invention relates to illuminated signs and to illuminated sign systems. The object of the invention is an illuminated sign as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is also an illuminated sign system as defined in the preamble of claim 16.

Background of the invention

Different systems for guiding people in situations of danger and accident, such as in fire situations, to the emergency exits of different buildings, tunnels or vessels are known in the art. These are various visual ways to mark the desired routes, such as lightings of emergency exit routes, or otherwise, e.g. emergency exit routes marked with reflective paint or tape. One prior-art illuminated sign is presented in publication FI108106B. It presents a conductor element, which comprises at least an electrically-conductive elongated conductor part, to which a number of components that are consecutive to each other in the longitudinal direction are fixed, e.g. elements that bring about a lighting function or corresponding. The conductor part and the components are surrounded with an envelope part.

The distinguishing of signs in situations of danger and accident is a problem because the lighting of the signs typically requires electric current and it would be important to distinguish a sign also in situations in which electric current is not available for some reason. Prior-art solutions also include phosphorized signs. The phosphorized surface radiates light also afterwards, when it is not in the light. This phenomenon is known as phosphorescence. In the phenomenon, a phosphorescent material absorbs electromagnet radiation and emits lower-energy radiation. A phosphorized surface thus emits radiation with a delay, i.e. a surface exposed to visible light incandesces light also in the dark.

In prior-art solutions, phosphorized signs absorb light into themselves from sunlight or from lighting that is separate and distant from the sign. This light is often not sufficient to illuminate the phosphorized surface adequately enough for the phosphorized surface to illuminate the sign brightly enough for long enough in dark conditions.

In many applications, such as in hotels, passenger ships or tunnels, there are specified emergency exits in emergency situations, which exits people should follow in evacuation circumstances. On the other hand, in a fire situation a predefined emergency exit may be impossible owing to the location of the fire, in which case prior-art solutions might direct in the wrong direction or even towards the fire. The sign markings known in the art that are coated with a phosphorized substance are only static signs, and a dynamic control that is distinguished from the static sign cannot be connected to them. Prior-art signs coated with a phosphorized substance do not either function in the type of dark places, in which there is no other lighting, such as e.g. in dark tunnels. Another problem in prior-art solutions is that the light-source band formed from light sources does not produce an even light.

The aim of the invention is to achieve a new type of solution, by means of which the problems of prior art can be avoided.

Brief description of the invention The invention is based on a concept wherein an illuminated sign comprises a surface that contains a substance that stores light and/or an essentially mirror-like material, which surface is illuminated with light sources.

The illuminated sign according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is disclosed in claim 1.

The illuminated sign according to the invention is also characterized by what is disclosed in claims 2 - 15.

The illuminated sign system according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is disclosed in claim 16. The illuminated sign system according to the invention is also characterized by what is disclosed in claims 17 - 9.

The solution according to the invention has many important advantages. By means of the surface of the illuminated sign that contains a light-storing substance, the illuminated sign is illuminated also for a certain time after the light sources do not emit light, e.g. owing to an electrical outage, because the surface of the illuminated sign that contains a light-storing substance is illuminated with the light sources that are in connection with the illuminated sign when the electric current is in use. In this case the surface is illuminated better than in prior-art solutions and because of this the illuminated sign can be illuminated more effectively and for longer after the extinguishing of the light sources than in prior- art phosphorized signs or in signs that are illuminated only by means of an electric current. This is of great advantage in the dark, e.g. in emergency exit routes. In the solution according to the invention the light of the light sources is distinguished from the rest of the sign. By means of this an illuminated sign provided with a light-storing substance can be made to guide also dynamically, i.e. an impression of movement can be brought about with it, regardless of the light- storing property of the illuminated sign.

According to one embodiment of the invention there can be a surface comprising an essentially mirror-like material in place of a light-storing surface. By means of this light-reflecting surface the light formed by the light sources, which light reflects onto the mirror-like surface from the inside surface of the envelope part of the illuminated sign by means of total reflection, reflects from the mirror-like surface more strongly into the environment. Thus the impression of the light is more even than in an illuminated sign that does not comprise a mirror-like surface.

Brief description of the figures In the following, the invention will be described in detail by the aid of some examples of its embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 presents a cross-section of an illuminated sign according to the invention. Fig. 2 presents the structure of an illuminated sign according to the invention as viewed from above the illuminated sign.

Fig. 3 presents the structure of an illuminated sign according to the invention as viewed from above the illuminated sign.

Fig. 4 presents an illuminated sign according to the invention, in which the pattern of the illuminated sign is formed with light sources.

Fig. 5 presents a cross-section of an illuminated sign according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention Fig. 1 presents a cross-section of an illuminated sign according to the invention. The illuminated sign 100 comprises a circuit board 102, to which light sources 108 are connected. An elastic and thin circuit board can be used as the circuit board 102. The light sources 108 can be semiconductor light sources, e.g. LED light sources. A surface 104 containing a light-storing substance is arranged in connection with the light sources 108. It absorbs the light emitted by the light sources 108 into itself. After this, the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance emits light. The circuit board 102, the light sources 108 and the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance are fitted inside a one-piece envelope part 106. Since the envelope part 106 is one-piece, the structure of the illuminated sign 00 is waterproof. Plastic or some other corresponding material, for example, can be used as the material of the envelope part 106. According to one embodiment of the invention there can be a surface 104 comprising an essentially mirror-like material in place of a light-storing surface 104. A mirror-like surface means a surface that reflects most of the light coming to it. A mirror-like surface can be formed e.g. from a thin metal film, from plastic or from other material that acts like a mirror as a reflecting surface. In this case the light formed by the light sources, which light reflects onto the mirror-like surface from the inside surface of the envelope part of the illuminated sign by means of total reflection, reflects from the mirror-like surface more strongly into the environment. Thus the impression of the light is more even than in an illuminated sign that does not comprise a mirror-like surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention the surface 04 can also be a combination of a light-storing surface and an essentially mirror-like surface. In this case e.g. the areas around the light sources can be coated with a light-storing substance and the other part of the surface fitted in connection with the light sources can be an essentially mirror-like surface. (n one embodiment of the invention the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material can be formed on top of the circuit board 102. It is also possible to form a surface 104 that contains a light- storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material elsewhere in connection with the light sources 108, e.g. on a separate surface or structure arranged on top of the circuit board 102. The surface 104 that contains a light- storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material can also be arranged in connection with the envelope part, e.g. on its interior or on its exterior. In one embodiment of the invention the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance can be formed by painting any of the surfaces of the illuminated sign 100, e.g. the inside surface or outside surface of the envelope part, with paint containing a light-storing substance. The light-storing substance can also be at least partly transparent.

The surface 104 containing a light-storing substance can be phosphorized or treated with some other similar substance that stores within itself the light emitted by the light sources. The light sources 108 of an illuminated sign 100 can be arranged such that they are directed directly towards the top surface of the illuminated sign 100, in which case most of the light is guided directly to above the illuminated sign 100. In this case also some of the light emitted by the light sources 108 is funnelled to the sides of the light sources. In an alternative embodiment the light source can be directed towards a side of the illuminated sign 100. A number of light sources 108 can also be fitted side-by-side onto an illuminated sign 00. The light sources 108 can also be of different colors.

The structure presented by Fig. 1 can be used e.g. as the structure of an elongated light-source band. The light-source band can be formed from light sources placed one after the other, which light sources are arranged e.g. in the manner presented in Fig. 1 inside an elongated envelope part. The structure of the light-source band can be elastic. A light-source band can be installed e.g. on floors and in rooms that people use when exiting from emergency situations. A light- source band can be installed on the horizontal plane, i.e., as is presented in Fig. 1. A light-source band can also be installed vertically, e.g. between the seams of floor tiles.

In one embodiment of the invention a photoconductor can also be used, which photoconductor guides and diffracts light from a light source 108 onto a surface that contains a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material. The envelope part of an illuminated sign 100 or a separate photoconductor part, for example, can function as a photoconductor.

In one embodiment of the invention the surface of an illuminated sign 100 containing a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material can be arranged on the low side of the illuminated sign. In this case e.g. when using a vertical installation of a light-source band the surface containing a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material can be made to be very visible. In this case a photoconductor can also be used to guide and diffract the light emitted by a light source 108 onto a surface that contains a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material.

Fig. 2 presents an illuminated sign 100 according to the invention as viewed from above. The illuminated sign 100 comprises consecutive or adjacent light sources 108 and a circuit board 102 and surfaces 104 containing a light-storing substance arranged in connection with the light sources 108. The surfaces 104 containing a light-storing substance are coated with a light-storing substance only around the light sources 108. When the light of the light sources 108 is on, it illuminates the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance. The light sources 108 of the illuminated sign 100, the circuit board 102 and the surfaces 104 coated with a light-storing substance can be fitted inside the envelope part. According to one embodiment of the invention the areas, in which there is no light-storing surface can be surfaces containing an essentially mirror-like material. The surroundings of the light sources can also be coated only with essentially mirror-like material.

Fig. 3 presents an illuminated sign 100 according to the invention as viewed from above. The illuminated sign 100 comprises consecutive or adjacent light sources 108 and around them is arranged a surface 104 completely coated with a light- storing substance, which surface contains a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material. The structure presented by Fig. 2 or 3 can be used e.g. as the structure of a light- source band.

In one embodiment of the invention an illuminated sign 100 can light or extinguish the light sources 108 singly or in groups. An illuminated sign 100 can e.g. "run" light, i.e. an individual light source 108 can be lit when the adjacent light source 108 extinguishes and is extinguished when the adjacent light source 108 on the same or on the other side lights up. An illuminated sign 100 can also light and extinguish all the light sources 108 at one time and repeat this function. Flashing of the illuminated sign 100 is achieved with this, which flashing can fasten people's attention on the illuminated sign 100 better than a sign continuously illuminated with the light sources.

By means of the surface 04 that contains a light-storing substance the illuminated sign 100 or the patterning of the illuminated sign can be made visible also for a set time after the light sources 108 are extinguished or have extinguished, e.g. owing to an electrical outage. The duration of visibility of the illuminated sign 100 after the extinguishing of the light sources depends on the materials used and the efficiency of the light sources of the illuminated sign 100. The duration of when an illuminated sign 100 is visible in the dark can be e.g. approx. 1 - 2 hours.

According to one embodiment of the invention the light sources 108 of an illuminated sign form the pattern of the illuminated sign. The illuminated sign 400 can be arranged to be plate-shaped. Fig. 4 presents the different modes of an illuminated sign 400 according to this type of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4a describes the "Standby" mode, which presents the placement of the light sources 108 that are in the illuminated sign 400. The "Left" mode of Fig. 4b presents the illuminated sign 400 in a mode, in which the illuminated light sources 108 form a pattern, which presents an arrow pointing to the left. Correspondingly, the "Right" mode of Fig. 4c presents the illuminated sign 400 in a mode, in which an arrow pointing to the right is formed with the illuminated light sources 108. If the light sources 108 extinguish, or they are extinguished, the shape of the pattern last illuminated can be seen when the surface that is coated with a light-storing substance emits light from the area 410 of the light sources 108 that were last illuminated, as is presented in Fig. 4d.

In the illuminated sign according to Fig. 4 the light sources 108 can be embedded in the structure of the illuminated sign. Fig. 5 presents a simplified cross-section of the embodiment presented in Fig. 4. Apertures 505 are formed in the frame part 502 of the illuminated sign 400 and the light sources 108 are disposed at the point of these apertures. Thus at least a part of the light emitted by the light sources 108 is funnelled onto the surface 504 of the illuminated sign that contains a light- storing substance, and after the light sources have extinguished the light-storing substance emits light only from the area of the light sources 108 that have been in operation and forms the same type of pattern as the light sources 108 that have been in operation. The apertures 505 do not need to be formed through the frame part 502 but instead it is sufficient if an aperture is made only in one side of the frame part 502, e.g. such that the front surface of the frame part 502 can remain even. A protective plate 500 can be arranged on the front side of the frame part. The surface 504 containing a light-storing substance can be completely or partly coated with a light-storing substance. If the surface 504 is only partly coated with the light-storing substance, it can be coated e.g. only around the light sources or only on the area of the pattern formed by the light sources or the area containing a light-storing substance can be formed into the shape of the desired pattern. The areas that are not coated with a light-storing substance can be coated with e.g. an essentially mirrror-like material.

A photoconductor can also be used in the illuminated sign according to Fig. 4, which photoconductor guides and diffracts light from the light sources onto a surface that contains a light-storing substance and/or an essentially mirror-like material. For example, the frame part 502 can function as a photoconductor. The photoconductor 502 can be implemented such that the light emitted by the light sources 108 mainly diffracts to close to the light sources 108, in which case only the light-storing substance in the proximity of the light sources 08 is exposed to the light of the light sources 108.

According to one embodiment of the invention the surface of an illuminated sign can be completely covered with light sources 108, e.g. with the structure presented by Fig. 5. By lighting these light sources 108 in a certain way the desired pattern, e.g. an arrow, can be formed.

According to one embodiment of the invention an illuminated sign system can be formed by means of one or more illuminated signs according to the invention, and a control device. By means of the control device of the illuminated sign system the illuminated signs of the system or the individual light sources can be controlled. The control device of the system can be disposed in connection with an illuminated sign or it can be separate from the illuminated sign or the illuminated signs operating via a wireline or wireless connection. One control device can control one or more illuminated signs. A control device can also be connected to just one illuminated sign, which conducts or conveys control information to the other illuminated signs of the system. A light-source band, for example, can be used as an illuminated sign. An illuminated sign and an illuminated sign system can have different modes, e.g. static and dynamic modes. In the static mode all the light sources 108 of an illuminated sign can be on continuously. In the dynamic mode the light sources 108 of an illuminated sign can be extinguished and lit in a predetermined manner. By extinguishing and lighting the light sources 08, an impression of movement can be brought about. In this case people can be guided with light sources 108 to be lit and extinguished in a predefined manner, e.g. in the direction of travel of the "movement" of the light sources. Typically the impression of movement is brought about by controlling the light sources 108 in groups, in which movement is indicated by lighting the next light source and correspondingly extinguishing the previous one. All the light sources 108 of a certain illuminated sign or a number of illuminated signs can also be lit at one time and extinguished after this. When this function is repeated, flashing of the illuminated sign is achieved, which can fasten people's attention on the illuminated sign better than a static mode.

In one embodiment of the invention the system can light or extinguish the individual light sources of an individual illuminated sign. The light sources can also be lit or extinguished in groups.

The illuminated sign system can be used e.g. in connection with a traffic control system, an emergency exit control system, an evacuation system or a fire alarm system and the control system of the systems in question can control the control device or illuminated signs of the illuminated sign system.

The invention thus relates to an illuminated sign, which comprises light-emitting light sources 108 and means for conducting current to the light sources 08. The light sources 108 of an illuminated sign are arranged in connection with the illuminated sign such that at least a part of the light emitted by them is directed onto at least one surface of the illuminated sign, and that at least a part of the surface 104 comprises a light-storing substance, which emits light for at least a certain time after the light sources are not in operation, and/or an essentially mirror-like material.

According to one preferred embodiment the light sources 108 of the illuminated sign are connected to a circuit board 02. According to one preferred embodiment the light sources 108 of the illuminated sign are arranged consecutively and/or adjacently. According to one preferred embodiment the light sources 108 of the illuminated sign are semiconductor light sources, e.g. LED light sources.

According to one preferred embodiment the circuit board (102) of the illuminated sign is elastic.

According to one preferred embodiment the circuit board 102 and the light sources 108 of the illuminated sign are surrounded with an envelope part 106.

According to one preferred embodiment the illuminated sign is an elongated light- source band.

According to one preferred embodiment the envelope part 106 of the illuminated sign is waterproof. According to one preferred embodiment the illuminated sign comprises a photoconductor.

According to one preferred embodiment the envelope part 106 of the illuminated sign functions as a photoconductor.

According to one preferred embodiment the illuminated sign is an information board.

According to one preferred embodiment the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance of the illuminated sign is arranged around at least a part of the light sources 108. According to one preferred embodiment the surface 104 containing a light-storing substance of the illuminated sign is arranged on the circuit board 102, most preferably on the top surface of the circuit board. According to one preferred embodiment the surface 04 containing a light-storing substance of the illuminated sign is phosphorized.

According to one preferred embodiment the light sources 108 of the illuminated sign can be lit and extinguished singly and/or in groups.

According to a second preferred embodiment the invention relates to an illuminated sign system, which comprises at least one illuminated sign and at least one control unit. The illuminated sign of the illuminated sign system is an illuminated sign according to claim 1 and the control unit is fitted to control the light sources of the illuminated signs by lighting and by extinguishing them in a predetermined manner.

According to one preferred embodiment the control unit of the illuminated sign system is fitted to light and extinguish the light sources of one illuminated sign one at a time in a predetermined manner.

According to one preferred embodiment control information is brought to an illuminated sign of the illuminated sign system wirelessly or by wireline. According to one preferred embodiment the illuminated sign system is controlled by a traffic control system, an emergency exit control system, an evacuation system or a fire alarm system.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can also, if necessary, be used separately to each other.