Lighting Apparatus End-of-Life Indication via Timing Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting fixtures struggle to indicate the end of life of both the light source and the lighting apparatus simultaneously, leading to safety issues and unexpected loss of lighting, as they often deteriorate without clear indication, causing simultaneous failure and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus with a lighting circuit unit, timer unit, life judgment unit, timing adjustment unit, and indication unit that measures accumulated operation time and outputs signals for multi-level end-of-life indications, varying the timing of these signals to prevent simultaneous failure and provide prior notice of impending failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a counting circuit measures accumulated lighting time to determine end of life, then safety is improved by preventing abnormal heat generation and breakage, but simultaneous failure of multiple lighting fixtures occurs causing loss of lighting and user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing advance notice of impending end-of-life conditions through indication operations before actual failure occurs. The timing adjustment unit staggers the timing of these preliminary actions across multiple fixtures, allowing gradual replacement while maintaining lighting coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamics by making the end-of-life determination timing variable rather than fixed. The timing adjustment unit dynamically adjusts when each lighting fixture performs its indication operation, preventing simultaneous failures while maintaining safety monitoring.
2Loss of information
If the lighting apparatus provides clear indication of end of life, then user awareness is improved, but the lighting apparatus itself deteriorates due to long time use
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides preliminary indication of end-of-life conditions through the indication unit before the lighting apparatus actually fails. This allows users to replace the apparatus proactively while it is still functional, extending the useful life and preventing complete failure.
3Measurement precision
If multiple lighting fixtures determine end of life at the same time based on predetermined accumulated lighting time, then consistency in replacement timing is achieved, but simultaneous failure occurs causing loss of lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamics by making the end-of-life determination timing variable rather than fixed. The timing adjustment unit dynamically adjusts when each lighting fixture performs its indication operation, preventing simultaneous failures while maintaining accurate monitoring of accumulated lighting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing advance notice of impending end-of-life conditions through indication operations before actual failure occurs. The timing adjustment unit staggers these preliminary actions across multiple fixtures, allowing gradual replacement while maintaining lighting coverage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lighting apparatus includes a lighting circuit unit, a timer unit, a life judgment unit, a timing adjustment unit, and an indication unit. The lighting circuit unit is configured to activate a light source. The timer unit is configured to measure accumulated operation time of the lighting circuit unit. The life judgment unit is configured to store a first judgment time and a second judgment time longer than the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the first judgment time and output a first judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the second judgment time and output a second judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the second judgment time. The timing adjustment unit is configured to vary timing at which the life judgment unit outputs the first judgment signal. The timing adjustment unit is configured to vary timing at which the life judgment unit outputs the second judgment signal. The indication unit is configured to indicate, upon receiving the first judgment signal from the life judgment unit, a first level of the end of life with the light source kept turned on. The indication unit is configured to indicate, upon receiving the second judgment signal from the life judgment unit, a second level of the end of life. The second level of the end of life is later than the first level of the end of life.