Emergency Lighting Data Transfer Using Indicator LEDs as Photodiodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency lighting devices require costly additional hardware or significant manual intervention for firmware updates and parameter adjustments, which undermines their cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing visible light communication between a data transmission device and an emergency lighting device, where an indicator LED operates in reverse mode as a photodiode to receive modulated light for data transfer, enabling updates without additional hardware and minimal operator effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional hardware interfaces (bus system, Bluetooth, WLAN) are provided for data transfer, then data transfer capability is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator LED is designed to perform dual functions: its primary function for indicating battery charging status and a secondary function for receiving data through reverse operation as a photodiode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated data reception hardware, thereby maintaining data transfer capability while avoiding additional hardware costs
Solution Approach 2:
The existing indicator LED component serves itself by being repurposed to perform both its original indication function and the additional data reception function. The system utilizes the LED's inherent photodiode capability when operated in reverse mode, allowing the component to serve multiple purposes without requiring external additional hardware
2Adaptability or versatility
If NFC modules are used for data transfer, then data transfer capability is improved, but maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator LED performs self-service by automatically switching to reverse operation mode when data transfer is required, eliminating the need for operators to manually open the device or handle complex NFC pairing procedures. The system autonomously enables data reception through the LED's reverse operation without requiring disassembly or specialized maintenance intervention
3Adaptability or versatility
If operator manually opens device and driver for firmware update, then data transfer is enabled, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service firmware updates by allowing the indicator LED to automatically switch to reverse operation mode when update data is transmitted. This eliminates the manual intervention required to open the device and driver, permitting operators to perform updates remotely without physical access to the device internals, thereby significantly improving update efficiency
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
Enables cost-effective data transfer to emergency lighting devices by leveraging existing components, reducing maintenance workload and maintaining device affordability while ensuring reliable firmware updates and parameter adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
an indicator LED, which is provided in emergency lighting device in order to indicate charging of a battery of a self-contained emergency lighting device is operated in the reverse mode... The data is encoded in a modulated light signal generated by a light source of the data transmission device. This modulated light is received by the emergency lighting device using the indicator LED being operated in reverse mode and, thus, acting as the photodiode
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The proposed system comprises a data transmission device (6) and an emergency device (2). According to the invention, in the emergency device (2), an indicator LED (5) is switched into its reverse mode, in which incident light can be measured. Using a light source of the data transmission device (6), modulated light is emitted which is received in the indicator LED (5) operated as a photodiode. The incident light is then analysed in order to retrieve the transmitted data. Thus, by modulating emitted light from the light source (12), it is possible to transfer data from the data transmission device (6) to an emergency device (2).