Emergency LED Driver Status Indicator Flashing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current emergency lighting systems lack a convenient method for users to confirm if automated regular testing of emergency lighting means drivers has been performed, especially when tests occur at times when no one is present to observe the status indicator, leading to potential unnoticed failures.
Innovation Solution
An entity that controls a status indicator associated with the emergency lighting means driver, causing the light source to flash at regular intervals before a test, ensuring users are aware of an upcoming test and can confirm its completion or failure through visible indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated regular testing is performed without user observation, then productivity is improved, but loss of information occurs as users cannot confirm test completion or failures
Solution Approach 1:
The status indicator performs preliminary action by flashing before the test starts and remains illuminated during the test, providing advance notice to users that a test will occur or is in progress. This allows users to be informed of test status without needing to observe continuously, resolving the contradiction between automated operation and information awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The status indicator provides visual feedback about test status (flashing before test, illuminated during test, different colors for pass/fail). This feedback mechanism ensures users are informed of test completion and results without requiring constant observation, maintaining both automation and information awareness.
2Loss of information
If constant observation of status indicator is required, then loss of information is reduced, but loss of time increases due to continuous monitoring requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The status indicator uses periodic flashing action before the test and sustained illumination during the test, creating distinct temporal patterns that convey different status information. This periodic and sustained action pattern allows users to understand test status at any observation moment without needing continuous monitoring, reducing time loss while maintaining information awareness.
3Ease of operation
If record-keeping is eliminated through automated testing, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information occurs when tests run without observation
Solution Approach 1:
The status indicator serves itself by automatically providing visual information about test status without requiring user intervention for record-keeping. The visual indication system self-documented test occurrence and results, maintaining ease of automated operation while preventing information loss about test completion and outcomes.
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 solution allows users to conveniently determine if a test has been performed, reducing the need for constant observation and record-keeping, ensuring timely and effective maintenance of emergency lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
The status indicator may comprise a light source that emits light for indicating that the emergency is properly working
Implementation Method 2
the light source flashes during a second time period, wherein the second time period occurs at regular time intervals
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
AI summary
The present invention provides an entity for controlling a status indicator, wherein the status indicator is associated with an emergency lighting means driver. Optionally the emergency lighting means driver is an emergency light emitting diode driver (emergency LED driver). The status indicator comprises a light source. The light source is optionally a light emitting diode (LED). The entity is configured to control the status indicator such that, during a first time period directly before a test of the emergency lighting means driver is performed, the light source flashes during a second time period, wherein the second time period occurs at regular time intervals. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling the status indicator, a computer program and a computer-readable medium.