Redundant Emergency Button Processing for Single-Fault Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security systems for securing escape routes with central emergency buttons are not single-fault-proof, lacking redundancy in their design.

Innovation Solution

The security system incorporates a dual-redundant digital processing unit setup for the central emergency button, with two primary and one secondary processing unit, ensuring that the door lock can be unlocked even if one unit fails, utilizing a network of bus systems for communication and feedback loops to maintain system integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single emergency processing unit is used in the central emergency button, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is insufficient because the system is not single-fault-proof

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-fault-proof capabilityVSAvoidnumber of processing units
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency button electronics unit is segmented into multiple independent processing units (first emergency processing unit, second emergency processing unit, and optionally third emergency processing unit). Each processing unit can independently evaluate actuation signals and control the door lock, ensuring that the failure of one unit does not compromise the overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates redundant processing units as a preventive measure against potential failures. By having backup processing units ready before any failure occurs, the system ensures continuous operational capability and maintains single-fault-proof reliability without requiring complex real-time failure detection and switching mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If multiple processing units are implemented for redundancy, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-fault toleranceVSAvoidstructure of emergency button electronics unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple processing units are merged within a single emergency button electronics unit housing. This integration approach allows the system to achieve redundancy and single-fault-proof reliability while maintaining a compact structure. The processing units share common components such as the actuating element, housing, and connection interfaces, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to distributed redundant systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If redundant processing units are added, then the reliability is enhanced, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The processing units are designed with universal functionality to evaluate actuation signals and control the door lock. By using identical or similar processing units that can perform the same functions, the system achieves redundancy without requiring complex custom designs for each unit. This universality simplifies the manufacturing process, as the same components and assembly procedures can be used for all processing units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3267455B1Safety system
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 DORMAKABA DEUT GMBH
  • EP3267455B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3267455B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3267455B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a safety system (1) for unlocking at least one door lock (200), in particular for securing escape routes, with at least one release element (10), in particular an emergency button (10), wherein the release element (10) comprises a manually operable actuating element (11), wherein the actuating element (11) can be actuated to unlock at least one locking mechanism (205) of a door lock (200), with a central escape route control (300), wherein the central escape route control (300) comprises a central emergency button (302), wherein the central emergency button (302) comprises an emergency button actuating element (306), wherein the emergency button actuating element (306) can be actuated to unlock the at least one locking mechanism (205). According to the invention, it is provided that the central emergency button (302) comprises a first digital emergency processing unit (303) and a second digital emergency processing unit. (304) includes.