Laser Safety Corridor for Emergency Evacuation Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations, such as fires, people struggle to find their way out due to reduced visibility from smoke and lack of lighting, leading to disorientation and increased risk of injury or death.
Innovation Solution
A safety corridor arrangement using laser light is created to guide people to exits, which can be activated by smoke detectors or other emergency detection systems, and includes audible alarms and visual indicators to assist individuals, regardless of their ability to see.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If floor lighting is used to light the way to exits, then visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases and the system is not suitable for domestic homes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using laser lights that activate only during emergency situations (when smoke is detected) rather than continuous illumination. The laser corridor system remains dormant during normal conditions and activates on-demand, significantly reducing energy consumption while providing illumination when most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses smoke detection to automatically trigger the laser corridor activation. The safety system serves itself by detecting the emergency condition and initiating the guidance mechanism without requiring external intervention or continuous power consumption for monitoring.
2Loss of information
If aisle lights are used to direct people along an aisle, then guidance is provided, but the lights do not extend far enough to reach distant exits in the dark
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal aisle lighting to a three-dimensional laser corridor system. The laser lights create a visible corridor that extends vertically and horizontally, providing guidance over much longer distances by projecting light through the smoke-filled space rather than relying on surface-level illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of light propagation by using laser technology that can penetrate and become visible through smoke. The laser lights operate at intensities and wavelengths that allow them to travel farther through obscured conditions, extending the effective guidance distance beyond what conventional lights can achieve.
3Reliability
If fire alarms are used to detect smoke and alert occupants, then detection is provided, but the alarm may be too late as fire spreads quickly and smoke is already thick
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having laser corridor units pre-positioned and ready to activate throughout the building. When smoke is detected, the corresponding laser corridors immediately activate to provide instant guidance, eliminating any delay in providing evacuation direction while the alarm system alerts occupants to the danger.
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 safety corridor arrangement significantly improves the ability of individuals to find exits quickly and safely, reducing the time taken to evacuate and enhancing overall emergency response effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
laser operation unit which contains parts to create the safety corridor
Implementation Method 2
there are deflectors for deflecting the lasers to create the safety corridor
Implementation Method 3
The smoke detection system can be used to start the safety corridor arrangement, at first detection of smoke
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety corridor arrangement for use in emergency situations, including an activation means, an operation means, associated with an activation centre, and a safety corridor suitable to guide or direct a person on a particular pathway. The activation centre, through activation of the activation means can cause operation of the operation means, and the operation means creates the safety corridor to guide a person along the safety corridor towards an exit. The invention also relates to a point of exit arrangement, and methods of use.