Switchable Optical Shutter for Emergency Exit Sign Adaptability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety and escape sign luminaires require separate devices to illuminate pictograms and arrow symbols, leading to high monitoring costs and potential orientation issues for individuals navigating through smoke or fire, as existing solutions either require complex lighting controls or do not meet safety standards.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electrically or electronically switchable optical shutter areas that allow or block specific spectral ranges of light, enabling the display of different arrow directions without additional lighting or power supplies, and can be integrated with existing light electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate devices are used to illuminate pictograms and arrow symbols, then directional indications can be displayed, but monitoring costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function and the display function into a single integrated device. The luminaire housing contains both the light source for illumination and the arrow symbols for directional indication, eliminating the need for separate lighting devices and display devices. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining the adaptability to show different directional indications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional devices are added to display changeable escape directions, then escape route flexibility improves, but monitoring costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is designed as a multi-functional device that can display multiple different directional indications (arrows pointing in different directions) using a single housing and light source. The housing contains multiple arrow symbols that can be selectively illuminated or displayed, allowing the same device to adapt to different escape route requirements without adding additional devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If LED arrow matrix is used to display arrow directions, then directional indication is achieved, but all LEDs must be switched on/off requiring complex controls and voltage supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control complexity from the system by using a simpler mechanism instead of an LED matrix. Rather than requiring individual control of multiple LEDs to form arrows, the invention uses a single light source with a housing that contains pre-formed arrow symbols, eliminating the need for complex LED switching controls and voltage supplies while maintaining the ability to display different directional indications.
4Ease of operation
If grey-colored semi-transparent film is arranged on arrow symbols, then arrow visibility is controlled, but it negatively affects green and white signs and may not meet safety standards
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing a film on the arrow symbols to control visibility, the patent inverts the approach by placing the arrow symbols in the housing and using the housing structure itself to control visibility. The light source illuminates the housing, and the arrow symbols are displayed through the housing material, eliminating the need for separate films that could compromise safety standard compliance while maintaining visibility control.
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 solution allows for efficient and cost-effective variation of display areas while ensuring compliance with safety standards, maintaining clear directional indications even in poor environmental conditions without the need for additional lighting or power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
the corresponding optical shutter area (5, 6) in the blocking switching state essentially blocks light in the visible range or at least in corresponding spectral ranges of visible light
Data Source
Figure 1~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a luminaire (1), in particular a safety or emergency exit sign luminaire, with at least one backlit viewing surface (2) which has at least one pictogram (3) and a variable display area (4) arranged in or associated with the pictogram. Furthermore, the variable display area (4) is designed as an electrically or electronically switchable optical shutter area which, depending on the switching state, either transmits light or substantially blocks it.