Smoke Security Device Battery Interlock Against Unintended Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing visibility-impairing security devices face the risk of unintended emission of smoke or fog due to transient electrical states during power transitions, which can occur when batteries are not properly installed or removed.

Innovation Solution

The device requires batteries to be installed before the emission unit, with an interference member blocking the battery holder until the emission unit is in place, ensuring a stable electrical connection and preventing unintended emissions by allowing battery replacement only when the emission unit is present.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the emission unit is allowed to be installed without batteries, then the device structure becomes more flexible and easier to assemble, but transient electrical states may trigger unintended emission of smoke or fog

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidrisk of unintended emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device requires batteries to be installed before the emission unit, establishing a predetermined installation sequence. This preliminary action ensures that the electrical connection is stable before the emission unit becomes operational, preventing transient states from triggering unintended emission while maintaining assembly flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If batteries can be removed freely, then battery replacement is convenient, but unintended emission may occur during power transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of battery replacementVSAvoidrisk of unintended emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device requires the emission unit to be installed before batteries can be removed, establishing a predetermined removal sequence. This ensures that the electrical connection remains stable during battery replacement, preventing transient states from causing unintended emission while maintaining operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a dynamic blocking mechanism that adaptively controls battery holder movement based on emission unit presence. When the emission unit is installed, the blocking mechanism dynamically prevents battery removal; when removed, battery replacement becomes enabled. This dynamic control maintains reliability while preserving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a blocking mechanism is added to control installation sequence, then unintended emission is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of unintended emissionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device introduces an interference member as an intermediary element between the battery holder and emission unit. This mediator physically blocks or permits battery installation/removal based on emission unit presence, providing a simple mechanical solution to control the installation sequence and prevent unintended emission without complex electronic control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4348616B1A visibility-impairing security device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 ESSENCE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL LTD (ESI)
  • EP4348616B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4348616B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4348616B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A visibility-impairing security device is disclosed for producing a gathering of air¬ suspended light-obscuring matter to obscure vision. The device comprises an insertable battery holder for holding at least one battery and a body comprising: a battery -holder receiving portion for receiving therein the battery holder; an emission unit receiving portion for holding an emission unit for emitting the matter in response to a delivery of energy derived from the at least one battery; and an interference member held by the body and movable between (i) a blocking position that blocks receipt of the battery holder into the battery-holder receiving portion and (ii) a withdrawn position whereby the battery holder is insertable into the battery-holder receiving portion. When the emission unit is held in the emission unit receiving portion the interference member is in the blocking position.