Emergency Lighting Unit with AC Power Charging and DC/DC Converter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency units fail to maintain operation of building technology devices, especially emergency lighting, when both AC power and DC grid power supplies fail, as they typically rely on AC power availability for battery charging and do not effectively switch to battery power in such scenarios.
Innovation Solution
An emergency unit with a DC/DC converter, a battery charging unit, and a control unit that monitors AC and DC power, activating the DC/DC converter to supply power from the battery when AC power fails and charging the battery when AC power is available, ensuring continuous operation of emergency lighting even if the DC grid power fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the emergency unit relies on AC power availability for battery charging, then the battery charging function is simple and reliable under normal conditions, but the emergency lighting operation fails when both AC power and DC grid power supplies fail
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency unit is designed to accept and process multiple power sources (AC power and DC grid power) through a universal power management system. The control unit can identify and utilize either power source for battery charging, and can switch between them based on availability. This multi-functionality ensures that the emergency lighting operation remains reliable even when one power source fails, as the system can adapt to use the available power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply switching system dynamically adjusts its configuration based on the availability of AC power and DC grid power. The control unit continuously monitors both power sources and automatically switches the battery charging source accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal operation under varying conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by making the system flexible rather than static.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the emergency unit switches to battery power when AC power fails, then continuous emergency lighting operation is maintained, but the battery may deplete if DC grid power also fails and AC power is needed for recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements continuous feedback monitoring of both AC power availability and DC grid power status. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently manages battery charging operations. When DC grid power is available, the system charges the battery from DC grid power. When AC power becomes available, the system switches to AC power for charging. This feedback-based management ensures the battery is continuously recharged when possible, extending emergency lighting duration without risking energy depletion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its power source parameters dynamically based on availability conditions. The battery charging source parameter is adjusted from AC power to DC grid power or vice versa depending on which source is available. This parameter change capability allows the system to optimize energy usage, maintain extended operation duration, and prevent battery depletion by always utilizing available power sources for recharging.
3Measurement precision
If the emergency unit monitors both AC power and DC grid power status, then accurate detection of emergency states is achieved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring functions for AC power status and DC grid power status are merged into a single integrated control unit. This unified controller performs both monitoring tasks simultaneously using shared processing resources and communication interfaces. By combining these monitoring functions rather than using separate independent systems, the patent achieves accurate emergency state detection while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
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 emergency unit ensures reliable operation of emergency lighting by switching to battery power during AC power failures and recharging the battery when AC power is available, maintaining functionality even if the DC grid power supply fails, thus enhancing the reliability of emergency lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
a battery charging unit (40) designed for charging the battery unit (30) by using the AC power
Implementation Method 2
a DC/DC converter (10), supplied by the battery unit (30) and designed to provide DC power to DC power output terminals (01, 02)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An emergency unit (1) is provided, comprising input terminals (I1, I2) for supplying the emergency unit (1) with AC power, a battery charging unit (40) designed for charging a battery unit (30) of the emergency unit (1) by using the AC power, a DC/DC converter (10), supplied by the battery unit (30) and designed to provide DC power to DC power output terminals (O1, O2) designed for supplying power to emergency lighting means (EL), a control unit (20) designed for being supplied with a signal indicating the state of the AC power and for outputting commands to the battery charging unit (30) and to the DC/DC converter (10). The control unit (20) can assume a state (S6) in which it causes the DC/DC converter (10) to provide DC power based on the battery power and at the same time start the operation of the battery charging unit (40).