Integrated Emergency Lighting Operating Device for Compact Downlights

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of compact downlights as emergency lights is complicated due to limited space and accessibility issues, as existing solutions do not provide a simple method for integrating emergency lighting control gear without requiring additional housing space or complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A specially configured emergency lighting operating device with a detachable cable connection and a device housing that allows easy battery replacement and angled design for easier insertion into ceiling cavities, enabling both normal and emergency lighting functions to be integrated within a single cable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate emergency lighting control gear is added to provide emergency lighting function, then the reliability of emergency lighting is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency lighting availabilityVSAvoidcontrol gear quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the emergency lighting control gear with the normal operating device into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate control gear while maintaining both normal and emergency lighting functions, thereby reducing device complexity and space requirements while preserving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control gear is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates the luminaire during normal lighting conditions and automatically activates for emergency lighting when needed. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate control gear for normal and emergency operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the luminaire is designed to be compact, then the ease of installation is improved, but the available space for operating devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidhousing space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the emergency lighting control gear with the normal operating device into one integrated unit, the patent reduces the total volume of components that need to be installed. This allows compact luminaire designs to accommodate all necessary operating devices without requiring additional space that would compromise installation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional control gear is installed in or on the luminaire housing, then the emergency lighting function is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency lighting capabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the emergency lighting control gear with the normal operating device into a single manufactured unit. This merging simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to separately assemble multiple control gear components, thereby improving ease of manufacture and assembly while maintaining emergency lighting capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration simplifies the installation of downlights as emergency lights by allowing the emergency lighting control gear to be connected via a single cable, reducing assembly complexity and accommodating compact designs, while ensuring easy battery replacement and reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

This operating device is then able to recognize an emergency independently or on the basis of an external signal and then to activate the lighting means of the light accordingly. As a rule, the control gear also has an independent power supply source in the form of an accumulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentEP3141799B1Operating device for supplying a recessed light fitting
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3141799B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3141799B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3141799B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

An operating device (10) for supplying a recessed ceiling light is designed to be connected to the light via a detachable cable connection (150, 160) and to be arranged in a ceiling cavity, wherein the operating device (10) has a device housing (20) which is designed to hold at least one accumulator (50), and wherein the device housing (20) has an accumulator compartment (21) for storing an accumulator (50), which is accessible from the outside.