Portable Display for Dynamic Escape Route Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional escape sign luminaires, especially in smoky environments, are often not recognizable, particularly for individuals with poor eyesight, due to their fixed installation height and limited visibility, which hinders effective evacuation routing.

Innovation Solution

A portable display device with means to determine its position and orientation, generating and transmitting continuously updated escape route information via optical and/or acoustic displays, incorporating detection units like smoke and fire detectors, and wireless charging for enhanced mobility and clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If escape sign luminaires are installed at a minimum height of 2 meters on ceiling walls, then they can be mounted in rooms and corridors, but they become unrecognizable in smoky environments and are difficult to see for people with poor eyesight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of escape signVSAvoidrecognizability in smoky conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A portable display device acts as an intermediary between the user and the escape route information. The device receives position data from transmitters installed in the building and displays dynamic escape route information on its screen, providing clear visual guidance that is not affected by smoke conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The static mechanical escape sign luminaires mounted on ceilings are replaced by a portable electronic display device that uses wireless communication (Bluetooth transmitters) and digital display to provide escape route information. This substitution allows the information to be dynamically updated and clearly visible regardless of smoke conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional escape sign luminaires are fixed on ceiling walls, then they provide static escape route information, but the information cannot be continuously updated based on user position and environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed installationVSAvoiddynamic route guidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms the static escape sign luminaires into a dynamic information delivery system. The portable display device continuously receives position data from Bluetooth transmitters and updates the escape route information in real-time, allowing the guidance to adapt dynamically to the user's movement and changing environmental conditions detected by sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of information delivery from static (fixed luminaires) to dynamic (continuous updates). The display device monitors position parameters from transmitters and environmental parameters from detectors, continuously updating the escape route information based on these changing parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If escape sign luminaires are mounted at fixed heights, then installation is straightforward, but the distance between the user's head and the display is large, reducing clarity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidinformation clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of mounting the display device high on the ceiling and having users look up, the system inverts the approach by providing the display device to users personally. Users hold or wear the device at eye level or closer, ensuring clear visibility of the escape route information while the transmitters remain installed in the building structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2620923B1System and method for displaying information relevant to escape routes

Publication Date: 2020.05.27 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a system and a method for displaying escape route-relevant information. The system comprises a portable display device (4) with means for determining the position and orientation of the display device (4), as well as means (8) for generating escape route-relevant information (2), for example, in the form of an escape route indication, depending on the position and orientation of the display device (4) determined by the means for determining its position and orientation. The system is designed such that the escape route-relevant information generated by the means (8) can be transmitted to the portable display device (4), and the portable display device (4) further comprises optical and/or acoustic display means (10) for displaying the escape route-relevant information thus transmitted.In an emergency, a user of the display device (4) can use the displayed escape route-relevant information to determine an escape route in a particularly suitable way.