Infrared LED Moisture Removal for Traffic Signal Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting applications, such as traffic signal lights and beacon lights, face issues with moisture accumulation, which can block light paths and cause malfunctions during severe weather, posing safety hazards due to reduced visibility and potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a combination of visible LEDs and infrared LEDs within the lighting apparatus, where visible LEDs provide necessary light and infrared LEDs emit radiant heat to clear the housing from snow, ice, or other moisture, ensuring energy efficiency and effective moisture removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting applications are used, then the light output is visible, but the light path is blocked by moisture (ice or snow) during severe weather
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting apparatus is divided into separate functional components: visible light LEDs for illumination and infrared LEDs for moisture removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the infrared LEDs targeting the moisture problem while visible LEDs maintain illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Infrared radiation serves as an intermediary mechanism to remove moisture from the housing surface. The infrared LEDs emit radiant heat that evaporates or melts moisture, preventing it from blocking the light path of the visible LEDs.
2Reliability
If infrared LEDs are added to remove moisture, then the light path remains clear, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared LEDs perform multiple functions: they remove moisture from the housing surface and can potentially prevent ice formation. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by addressing multiple weather-related issues with a single component addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrared LEDs are activated based on detected moisture conditions, allowing the system to self-regulate. The moisture sensor triggers the infrared LEDs only when needed, preventing unnecessary energy consumption and reducing the perceived complexity through intelligent control.
3Reliability
If infrared LEDs are activated continuously, then moisture is constantly removed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared LEDs operate periodically rather than continuously, being activated only when moisture is detected by the sensor. This periodic operation maintains effective moisture removal while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture sensor provides feedback to the control system, which then activates the infrared LEDs only when moisture is present. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy is consumed only when necessary, optimizing the balance between moisture removal effectiveness and energy 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
The solution effectively maintains clear light paths and prevents malfunctions by using infrared LEDs to remove moisture, ensuring continuous and safe operation of critical lighting systems, while conserving energy by activating the infrared LEDs only when necessary.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one LED for outputting infrared light may emit radiant heat to keep the outer surface of the device clear from snow, ice or other types of moisture.
Implementation Method 2
the infrared LEDs emit radiant heat to clear the housing from snow, ice, or other moisture
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for removing moisture from a lighting apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for removing moisture from a lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) for outputting visible light and at least one LED for outputting infrared light to remove moisture from the housing.