Flexible Lighting Device with Phosphorescent Cover for Blackout Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flexible lighting devices fail to function as direction indicator lamps during blackouts, as they cease to emit light when power supply is disrupted.

Innovation Solution

A flexible lighting device with a phosphorescent cover made of translucent soft material that is excited by light-emitting elements, allowing continued light emission after power supply cessation, ensuring the device functions as a direction indicator lamp during blackouts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional flexible lighting device is used, then it can provide illumination during normal power supply, but it fails to function during blackouts as power supply ceases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality during blackoutVSAvoidlight emission duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The phosphorescent material is pre-charged with energy from the light emitters during normal operation, storing light energy in advance so that it can emit light autonomously when power supply fails, ensuring continuous illumination during blackouts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the temporary light energy from light emitters into stored potential energy in the phosphorescent material, transforming the limitation of power-dependent operation into a benefit of extended light emission capability that persists after power failure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Illumination intensity

If light-emitting elements are used alone, then they provide immediate illumination, but they cease emission immediately when power is cut off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission continuityVSAvoidpost-blackout visibility time
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The phosphorescent material acts as an intermediary between the light emitters and the external environment, absorbing light energy during power supply and releasing it gradually after power failure, thereby extending the effective illumination time without requiring additional power sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 lighting device maintains functionality as a direction indicator lamp during power outages by emitting light from the phosphorescent material excited during operation, ensuring continuous illumination and efficient use of light sources.

Implementation Method 1

a phosphorescent member (115) containing a phosphorescent material to be excited by light emitted by the light emitters (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Data Source

PatentEP3699482B1Lighting device
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 FKK CORP
  • EP3699482B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP3699482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3699482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lighting device 1 includes a circuit board 21 that is long and flexible, light emitters 22 mounted in a row on the circuit board 21, and an elongated cover 11. The cover 11 includes (i) a translucent member 111 that is made of translucent soft material and that covers the circuit board 21 and the light emitters 22, and (ii) a phosphorescent member 115 containing a phosphorescent material that is to be excited by light emitted by the light emitters 22. The phosphorescent member 115 is arranged on a second area portion A2 of the cover 11 other than a first area portion A1 of the cover 11 that is located in an emission direction of light from each of the light emitters 22 and a luminous intensity is equal to or greater than a standard luminous intensity in the emission direction.