UV LED Strobe Synchronization with Emergency Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems fail to effectively illuminate areas or zones with low background illumination, particularly in emergency or work scenarios, due to the lack of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is essential for activating safety markings and improving visibility.
Innovation Solution
A compact, efficient, and easily controlled ultraviolet LED strobe system that can be integrated with vehicle emergency lights, utilizing a microcontroller and constant current power supply to control the frequency and duration of UV light emission, ensuring effective illumination of reflectance materials worn by personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LED lighting is used to illuminate areas, then energy efficiency is improved, but ultraviolet radiation is reduced to near zero which degrades the effectiveness of safety markings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines LED visible light sources with ultraviolet light sources (such as UV LEDs or UV lamps) into a single lighting device. This merging allows the system to maintain the energy efficiency of LED technology while simultaneously providing the ultraviolet radiation needed to activate fluorescent safety markings on personnel and equipment.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional ultraviolet strobe lights are used to provide ultraviolet radiation, then visibility of safety markings is improved, but the device becomes bulky, expensive, and power-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ultraviolet light-generating component from traditional bulky UV strobe systems and integrates it into a compact LED-based lighting device. By using UV LEDs or compact UV lamps combined with LED visible light sources, the system achieves the necessary ultraviolet radiation output while dramatically reducing device size, cost, and power consumption.
3Illumination intensity
If UV light sources are operated continuously to maintain visibility, then illumination effectiveness is improved, but the life of UV LEDs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or intermittent operation of UV light sources, activating them only when needed (such as during low-light conditions or when safety markings need to be enhanced). This periodic action maintains visibility effectiveness when required while significantly extending the operational life of UV LEDs by reducing continuous exposure to stress and heat.
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
The system provides enhanced visibility of personnel and equipment in low-light conditions by emitting UV light that activates reflectance materials, while also being energy-efficient and prolonging the life of UV LEDs.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet LED strobe that is compact, efficient, and easy to control
Implementation Method 2
the lack of UV light degrades the effectiveness of safety markings placed on equipment, vehicles, and clothing worn by operators or security personnel, in that many of such markings are designed to fluoresce
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system includes a lighting device configured to connect to an object. The lighting device includes a body and a control device. One or more ultraviolet light sources are attached to the body and connected to the control device. The ultraviolet light source(s) emit ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from 10 nm to 445 nm. The control device controls the frequency and duration of strobing of the ultraviolet light source(s). The control device cooperates with nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems to designate and protect gaps in time from visible light illumination from the nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems. The control device synchronizes the strobing of the ultraviolet light source(s) with the absence of visible light illumination from the nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems during the designated gaps in time.