Wireless Lighting for Aircraft Evacuation Slides

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional emergency evacuation slide lighting systems face challenges such as damaged wiring and components due to compact packaging, making testing and reliability difficult, and resulting in inadequate lighting during emergencies.

Innovation Solution

A wireless lighting system for aircraft evacuation slides, featuring a wireless controller, energy storage device, and light sources, including LEDs, which communicate via RF or optical signals to activate independently, reducing wiring and enhancing reliability and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wired lighting systems are used in compact packaging, then the lighting system can be integrated into the slide, but the wiring and components are damaged due to packing forces and configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting system reliabilityVSAvoidwiring damage from packing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the wiring harness from the lighting system by implementing a wireless communication architecture. The controller and light sources communicate via wireless signals (RF or optical), eliminating the physical wiring that was damaged during compact packaging. This extraction of the disturbing element (wiring) resolves the contradiction between reliability and packing-induced damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical connection system (wiring harness) with a wireless communication system. The controller transmits activation signals wirelessly to the light sources, substituting the mechanical wiring infrastructure with electromagnetic signal transmission. This eliminates the physical vulnerability to packing forces while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If the slide is tightly folded for storage, then the slide fits in the aircraft, but access to the slide and its components for testing is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide storage spaceVSAvoidcomponent accessibility for testing

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless lighting system enables self-testing capability where the controller can activate and monitor light sources without requiring physical access to the slide components. The system performs diagnostic functions autonomously through wireless communication, eliminating the need for manual intervention during testing while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Illumination intensity

If wired lighting systems are used, then illumination can be provided, but single-point failures in wiring can cause complete system failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevacuation slide illuminationVSAvoidlighting system redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting system into independent modular units, each with its own controller and light sources that communicate wirelessly. This segmentation eliminates the single-point failure risk associated with centralized wiring, as each module can operate independently. The wireless architecture allows individual modules to function without being affected by failures in other parts of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 wireless lighting system improves reliability and flexibility by eliminating wiring damage and single-point failures, allowing for independent operation of light modules and energy-efficient illumination, ensuring consistent lighting during emergencies.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRF or optical signals: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

light sources, including LEDs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS10807736B2Wireless lighting system for aircraft evacuation systems

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 GOODRICH CORP

AI summary

A wireless lighting system for an aircraft evacuation system. The wireless lighting system includes a wireless controller disposed in the aircraft having at least a transmitter configured to communicate an activation 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 wireless lighting system also includes a first energy storage device disposed on the aircraft evacuation system and a first wireless receiver disposed on the aircraft evacuation system and configured to receive the activation signal from the wireless controller. The first wireless receiver is operably connected to the first energy storage device and the first light source and configured to activate the first light source based on the activation signal.