Intelligent Emergency Lighting with Sensor-Based Failure Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Emergency lighting units in buildings often fail during emergencies, posing hazards to occupants and first responders, and existing systems lack efficient monitoring and maintenance capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent emergency evacuation system that includes emergency lighting units equipped with processors, communication circuitry, load sensors, visual sensors, and audio indicators. These units can detect failures, monitor occupancy, and transmit maintenance notifications and occupancy data to a system operator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If emergency lighting units are equipped with monitoring components (load sensors, visual sensors), then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency lighting unit reliabilityVSAvoidlighting unit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency lighting unit is divided into functional modules: light indicator module, load sensor module, visual sensor module, processor module, and communication module. Each module performs a specific function, making the complex system manageable and maintainable while improving reliability through specialized component design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processor serves multiple functions: it processes light indicator failure detection from load sensor data, evaluates motion data from visual sensors, updates occupancy counters, and manages communication with the system operator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of repair

If load sensors and processors are added to detect failures, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency lighting unit automatically monitors its own status through load sensors that detect light indicator failures and communicate this information to the system operator without requiring manual inspection. The unit self-diagnoses and reports its condition, eliminating the need for costly manual maintenance checks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual inspection methods are replaced with electronic sensing and communication systems. Load sensors electronically detect failures instead of requiring visual inspection, and automated communication transmits status information, replacing manual maintenance procedures with automated electronic monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If visual sensors and occupancy tracking are implemented, then safety monitoring is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupancy monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidlighting unit energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The visual sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, capturing motion data at intervals to detect occupant movement. The processor evaluates motion data periodically to update occupancy counters, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective safety monitoring throughout the building

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12322277B2Intelligent emergency evacuation system

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

Technologies for an emergency evacuation system include a system operator and one or more emergency lighting units located in a building. Each emergency lighting unit further includes a processor, communication circuitry configured to communicate with the system operator, and a light indicator configured to be illuminated to indicate an exit of the building.