Fibre-Optic Light Guide Illumination for Safety Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temporary safety barriers in unlit or poorly lit areas are not adequately visible to pedestrians, leading to accidents due to the lack of effective illumination, and existing lighting solutions are costly, heavy, and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system comprising a power supply coupled with light-emitting devices and tubular light guides made of light transmissive fibre-optic material, where the light guides have refractive portions to create discrete illuminated areas, and can be mounted on safety barriers with optional sensors and actuators for automatic switching and motion detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a separate lamp is mounted on a temporary safety barrier to improve visibility, then the visibility of the barrier is improved, but the cost, weight, and maintenance requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source, power supply, and control circuitry into an integrated illumination unit that attaches to the barrier. This merging eliminates the need for separate heavy lamps and large battery packs, reducing both cost and maintenance requirements while maintaining visibility improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a reflective panel as an intermediary element that enhances the light from a small LED source. This mediator amplifies the illumination effect without requiring a powerful (and therefore heavy and expensive) light source, solving the contradiction between visibility improvement and device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If a lamp is mounted on a temporary safety barrier to improve visibility, then the visibility is improved, but the weight of the barrier increases due to heavy lamps and large battery packs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs small, lightweight LED light sources with long operational lifetimes and compact rechargeable batteries that can be easily replaced. These lightweight components eliminate the need for heavy traditional lamps and large battery packs, significantly reducing the overall weight of the barrier system.
Solution Approach 2:
By integrating the power supply and control electronics into a compact unit attached to the barrier, the patent eliminates the need for separate heavy components, thereby reducing the total weight of the stationary object while maintaining illumination functionality.
3Illumination intensity
If a lamp is mounted on a temporary safety barrier to improve visibility, then the visibility is improved, but the time overhead for fitting, maintenance and removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination system into modular components that can be independently attached and removed from the barrier. This segmentation allows for quick fitting and maintenance without requiring complex assembly or disassembly procedures, significantly reducing the time overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design allows the illumination unit to be easily attached and detached by the user without requiring specialized tools or expertise. The system is designed for self-service installation and maintenance, eliminating the need for professional intervention and reducing time overhead.
4Device complexity
If LED light sources are used to reduce weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the visibility range is limited to borderline 30 meters and useful 10 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reflective panel as an intermediary that amplifies and directs the light from the small LED source. This mediator extends the effective visibility range of the lightweight LED system, allowing it to achieve adequate illumination distances without requiring powerful (and therefore heavy and expensive) light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates the LED light output onto the reflective panel, which then distributes the light over a wider area. This local concentration followed by broad distribution maximizes the illumination efficiency of the small LED source, extending its effective range without increasing its power consumption or weight.
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 system provides enhanced visibility of safety barriers in low-light conditions with minimal weight and maintenance, using amber LEDs and fibre-optic guides that simulate multiple LEDs, offering borderline visibility up to 30 meters and useful visibility up to 10 meters, with battery life extended through automatic switching and potential solar recharging.
Implementation Method 1
at least one generally tubular light guide formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, an input of said light guide being coupled to said light emitting device such that light emitted from said light emitting device is transmitted through said light guide
Implementation Method 2
a surface of said distal wall is provided with a plurality of refractive portions being arranged in spaced apart relation along its length and configured to converge light incident thereon from the or a respective light emitting device so as to create a plurality of discrete illuminated portions at said distal wall of the or each light guide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~6B
AI summary
An illumination system for a safety barrier (10), the system comprising a power supply coupled to at least one light emitting device, and at least one generally tubular light guide (22a, 22b) formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, an input of said light guide being coupled to said light emitting device such that light emitted from said light emitting device is transmitted through said light guide, in use, at least said light emitting device and said light guide being configured to be mounted on an outer surface of a safety barrier.