Wireless Evacuation Slide Lighting via Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft evacuation slide lighting systems face challenges with compact packaging, leading to wiring damage and reliability issues, making it difficult to ensure adequate illumination during emergencies due to inaccessible components and complex deployment conditions.

Innovation Solution

A self-powered, wireless lighting system using piezoelectric sensors to generate electrical energy from vibrations and fluid pressure changes within the evacuation slide, powering independent lighting modules with LEDs, eliminating the need for traditional wiring and enhancing reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wired lighting systems are used in evacuation slides, then illumination can be provided, but wiring damage and reliability issues occur during compact packaging and deployment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting system reliabilityVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the wiring harness from the lighting system, replacing it with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. This eliminates the physical wires that cause damage during packaging and deployment, directly resolving the reliability issue while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based power transmission system. Instead of using physical wires to transmit power and signals, the system uses electromagnetic induction to wirelessly power the LED lights, eliminating the mechanical wiring that causes reliability problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If lighting components are made inaccessible to save space during stowing, then compact packaging is achieved, but component accessibility and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide packaging volumeVSAvoidlighting component accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a lighting system that requires no manual intervention for operation or maintenance. The wireless power system automatically activates upon slide deployment through detection of motion or pressure changes, and the solid-state LED components have long lifespans with no moving parts requiring maintenance, making the system self-sufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses solid-state LED components that are inexpensive, durable, and have long operational lifespans. These components are designed to be replaced as simple units if needed, and their solid-state nature makes them highly resistant to damage from packaging and deployment stresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of moving object

If traditional battery-powered lighting systems are used, then illumination is provided, but energy supply duration and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting durationVSAvoidbattery weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the battery-powered electrical system with a wireless electromagnetic power transmission system. Power is transmitted through electromagnetic fields from a transmitter to receiver coils, eliminating the need for heavy battery packs while providing continuous illumination throughout the evacuation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless power transmission system serves multiple functions: it provides power to the LED lights, detects slide deployment through motion sensing, and can potentially communicate system status. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system weight compared to separate battery, sensor, and communication components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution provides reliable and efficient illumination for aircraft evacuation slides by eliminating wiring damage and single-point failures, ensuring consistent lighting during emergencies and reducing maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric sensor operably connected to the light source and configured to generate electrical energy based upon a change in fluid pressure inside the evacuation slide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11718415B2Energy autonomous aircraft evacuation slide systems and methods

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 GOODRICH CORP

AI summary

A self-powered, wireless lighting system for an aircraft evacuation system. The lighting system includes a piezoelectric sensor configured to generate electrical energy under an aircraft evacuation event when the aircraft evacuation system is deployed, and a first light source disposed on the aircraft evacuation system, the first light source configured to provide illumination to the aircraft evacuation system. The piezoelectric sensor is operably connected to the first light source and configured to supply electrical energy to the light source based on vibrations in the evacuation system during deployment of the evacuation system and during use of the evacuation system as passengers evacuate the aircraft.