Portable LED Signal Evaluation Device for Indistinct Status Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

LED status displays in safety devices, particularly in industrial settings, often lack clear labeling, making it difficult for users to quickly and accurately interpret the device status due to signals that may be imperceptible or indistinguishable to the human eye, especially when emitted in non-visible wavelengths or with short durations.

Innovation Solution

A method using a portable evaluation device equipped with a camera sensor to detect and compare signals from an LED status display with a database, allowing for the assignment and display of device status information, even for signals not clearly visible to humans, and optionally involving a server for further data processing and communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If LED status displays use non-visible wavelengths or short-duration signals to encode device status, then the information capacity and speed of the status display is improved, but the signals become imperceptible or indistinguishable to the human eye

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus display informationVSAvoidsignal detectability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A portable evaluation device with camera sensor acts as an intermediary between the LED status display and the human user. The device captures signals that are imperceptible to humans (non-visible wavelengths or short-duration flashes) and translates them into visible, interpretable information through its display, enabling users to access status information that would otherwise be undetectable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct human visual perception with an electronic camera-based detection system. Instead of relying on human eyes to detect LED signals, the evaluation device uses a camera to capture and process the optical signals, substituting biological detection with electronic sensing and image processing capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If LED status displays emit signals in the visible wavelength range for direct human perception, then the ease of operation is improved, but the speed and information capacity of the status display is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal interpretationVSAvoidstatus evaluation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device creates a visual copy of the LED status signals through its display. The camera captures the LED emissions and the device's display reproduces the status information in a form that is easily interpretable by humans, maintaining ease of operation while enabling detection of signals that would otherwise be imperceptible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If detailed labeling is provided for each LED signal to improve user understanding, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal interpretationVSAvoidlabeling system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device provides self-service by automatically capturing, analyzing, and displaying the meaning of LED status signals. Instead of requiring users to manually interpret complex LED patterns or refer to external documentation, the device autonomously detects the signals and presents the information in an easily understood format through its display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates faster and more accurate evaluation of device status by enabling the detection and interpretation of signals that are not easily perceivable by humans, improving operational efficiency and reducing errors in industrial settings.

Implementation Method 1

Detecting a signal emitted by the status display using a camera (as a sensor) of a portable evaluation device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3012785B1Method and evaluation device for evaluating signals of a LED status display
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 ELESTA AG
  • EP3012785B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for evaluating signals from an LED status indicator (21) of a device (51), in particular a safety device, comprising the steps of: - capturing a signal emitted by the LED status indicator (21) using a camera (33) of a portable evaluation device (31), - comparing the captured signal with signals stored in a database, wherein each stored signal in the database is assigned a state, - displaying information on the state assigned to the captured signal using a display device (35) of the portable evaluation device (31), - wherein the emitted signal, in the form in which it is emitted by the LED status indicator (21), is not distinguishable by the human eye, or not clearly distinguishable, from other signals that can be emitted by the LED status indicator (21).