Autonomous Aircraft Emergency Light Unit with Capacitor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft emergency lighting systems face inefficiencies due to complex wiring requirements, which can be unreliable and difficult to maintain, especially in emergency situations where redundancy in power paths is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The development of autonomous emergency light units that are rechargeable and self-sufficient, using capacitors as power sources, allowing for reduced wiring and decentralized, efficient emergency lighting. These units can operate independently of the main power system, using a single connection for charging and emergency operation, and can process power and control information through modulation of the power input, eliminating the need for multiple wiring connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional emergency lighting systems use multiple power supplies and redundant wiring to ensure reliability, then the system reliability improves, but the device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the emergency lighting function into autonomous modular units, each capable of independent operation with its own power storage and control circuitry. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex centralized wiring while maintaining system reliability through distributed functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Each emergency light unit incorporates its own rechargeable power source and control logic, enabling it to autonomously detect power failures and activate without relying on external triggering mechanisms or complex inter-unit wiring. The units self-manage their power storage and emission cycles.
2Reliability
If multiple power paths with redundancy are implemented, then the reliability in emergency situations improves, but the installation depth and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (power storage, power management, lighting control, and emission) into a single integrated circuit board assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate redundant power supply units and their associated wiring, reducing installation depth while maintaining reliability through the autonomous capabilities of each unit.
3Ease of repair
If autonomous light units with individual power sources are used, then the wiring requirements are reduced and maintenance becomes easier, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit in each autonomous unit is designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring power availability, managing rechargeable power source charging, detecting emergency conditions, and controlling LED emission. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing while enabling easy replacement and maintenance of individual units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The autonomous emergency light units ensure reliable and efficient emergency lighting by providing sufficient power for extended periods, reducing maintenance needs, and adapting to individual light unit power requirements, while simplifying the emergency lighting system's wiring and enhancing its reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light unit further comprises a rechargeable power source, coupled to the LED and to the light unit control logic. The light unit control logic is configured to sense no power being provided at the power input and, in response thereto, to operate the emergency light unit in a discharge and illumination state, with the rechargeable power source being discharged over the at least one LED
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous emergency light unit (2) for an aircraft has a power input (4) for receiving power from an external power supply, a capacitor (8), at least one LED (10a, 10b, 10n) and a light unit control logic (12) for operating the emergency light unit (2) in a plurality of operating states as a response to external control information. The plurality of operating states includes a discharge and illumination state when no power input is sensed at the power input, a charge and illumination state when power is still sensed at the power input, an armed and charged state, a sensed crash state and a shutdown state. The control unit activates a respective state by controlling switches in the light unit.