Wireless Smoke Alarm Flashlight with Multi-Mode Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smoke alarm systems often fail to effectively warn occupants of smoke or fire, especially in darkened areas, leading to higher mortality rates in home fires, and there is a need for enhanced warning mechanisms that include light sources and additional alert methods.
Innovation Solution
A smoke alarm system with wireless-signal-send-and-receive functionalities that includes a hand-held flashlight with high-intensity light projection, sound alarms, and vibration capabilities, which can be activated by a smoke or fire detection signal, also transmitting data to offsite devices for monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional smoke alarm systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the warning effectiveness in darkened areas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple warning functions (sound alarm, light source, vibration) into a single integrated flashlight device. The flashlight integrates a wireless receiver, high-intensity light source, sound alarm, and vibration motor, allowing it to serve as both a lighting tool and a comprehensive warning device, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flashlight is designed with multi-functionality to address various warning needs simultaneously. It can provide visual warning through high-intensity light, auditory warning through sound alarm, and tactile warning through vibration, making it a universal warning device that effective in diverse emergency scenarios
2Reliability
If smoke alarm systems provide only sound warnings, then the device complexity is low, but the effectiveness in darkened areas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The warning function is segmented into multiple independent channels: visual warning through light source, auditory warning through sound alarm, and tactile warning through vibration. Each channel can operate independently and can be activated based on the emergency situation, providing comprehensive coverage in darkened areas while maintaining manageable device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The warning system transitions from one-dimensional (sound only) to multi-dimensional warning by adding visual (light) and tactile (vibration) dimensions. This dimensional expansion ensures that occupants can receive warnings through multiple senses simultaneously, significantly improving reliability in darkened areas where sound alone is insufficient
3Reliability
If the flashlight includes multiple warning functions, then the warning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple warning functions (light source, sound alarm, vibration motor) are merged into a single integrated flashlight device with a common wireless receiver and control circuitry. This consolidation allows the device to provide comprehensive warnings while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through shared components and integrated design
Data Source
AI summary
An extended smoke alarm system and related methods are disclosed. In particular, embodiments of an extended smoke alarm system having wireless-signal-send-and-receive functionalities wherein the system includes one or more flashlights having at least wireless-signal-receiving functionality are detailed. Related methods for system use are also disclosed.