Alternating LED Groups in Handrail Sidewalk Lighting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sidewalk lighting systems in tunnels suffer from unlit sections when a light band fails, as they rely on a continuous power supply and lack redundancy, compromising safety and maintenance efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a pavement lighting system with at least two groups of LEDs, each with its own power supply unit, where lamps from different groups alternate along the handrail, ensuring that if one group fails, the other group's lamps remain functional, maintaining uninterrupted lighting with minimal gaps and reduced maintenance effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a continuous strip of light with closely spaced LEDs is used, then the lighting continuity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because a single defect causes a long unlit section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting continuityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The light band is divided into multiple independently powered sections, each with its own power supply unit. When one section fails, others remain operational, preventing complete lighting failure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining lighting continuity through modular sections while improving reliability through independent failure isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Redundant power supply units are pre-installed in each section to cushion against potential failures. Each section has its own power supply capability, so when one fails, the system is already prepared to maintain operation in other sections, preventing complete lighting failure and maintaining continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If multiple power supply units are used for different groups of lamps, then the reliability is improved through redundancy, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidpower supply configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handrail lighting system is segmented into multiple independent sections, each with its own power supply unit. This modular approach distributes the complexity across manageable units rather than requiring a single complex centralized power system, making the overall system easier to install and maintain while providing redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each section of the handrail is equipped with local power supply capability rather than relying on a distant centralized power source. This local quality approach allows each segment to operate independently, improving reliability while keeping each individual section simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If light sources are arranged at short distances to ensure continuous lighting, then the lighting uniformity is improved, but the maintenance effort increases due to more components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting uniformityVSAvoidmaintenance effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The light band is segmented into modular sections with standardized spacing and power supply units. This segmentation allows for easier maintenance as individual sections can be replaced as complete modules rather than dealing with individually spaced LEDs, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining uniform lighting through proper section placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of spacing LEDs at maximum intervals to reduce numbers, the system uses slightly closer spacing within modular sections that can be easily replaced. This partial excess action maintains good lighting uniformity while the modular design simplifies maintenance, as entire sections can be quickly swapped rather than individually adjusting or replacing multiple LEDs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This design provides continuous and reliable lighting with minimal gaps, even if one group fails, reducing maintenance and installation costs while ensuring safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

lights (3), in particular with light-emitting diodes (5a, 5b), which are arranged in the handrail (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

LEDs that form the lighting means of the sidewalk lighting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2400208B1Path lighting
Publication Date: 2015.07.01 NEULICHT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS GMBH
  • EP2400208B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2400208B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2400208B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The sidewalk light has groups of light units (5a,5b) provided with multiple light units. The group of light units supplies electrical energy by a separate power supply unit. The groups of light units follow to each other on a longitudinal direction (8) of a handrail (2) at different light units.