Adaptive Illumination Device for Sensor Target Marking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic assemblies for marking detection areas in motor vehicles, particularly on uneven surfaces, face challenges in being easily recognizable due to the use of white light, which is difficult to perceive against various backgrounds, and are not effectively adaptable to different conditions such as soil structure and brightness.

Innovation Solution

An electronic assembly with a control and evaluation device that controls an illumination device to emit different colors, such as a continuous change between green and red, using multiple color light sources and sensors to detect the subsurface conditions and brightness, ensuring optimal visibility of the target area, and incorporates a self-cleaning coating to prevent dirt accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If white light is used to mark the target area, then the illumination device can provide sufficient brightness, but the target area becomes difficult to recognize on uneven surfaces and various backgrounds

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidrecognizability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device emits light in different color sequences (e.g., green-red-green or blue-green-red) to enhance the recognizability of the target area. The color changes create a distinctive visual pattern that stands out against various backgrounds, solving the problem of poor recognizability while maintaining sufficient brightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination device operates with periodic color changes rather than continuous single-color emission. This periodic action creates a dynamic visual effect that draws user attention and improves target area detection, especially on uneven surfaces where static white light fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If red and blue light are used to mark the target area, then the recognizability improves, but the solution becomes heavily dependent on background conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverecognizabilityVSAvoidbackground independence
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a sensor to detect background conditions (such as grass presence) and dynamically changes the illumination parameters (color sequence, duration, intensity) accordingly. This allows the system to maintain high recognizability across different background conditions by adapting the light parameters to match or contrast with the detected environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor provides feedback about the background conditions to the control unit, which then adjusts the illumination device's color sequence and timing. This feedback loop enables the system to overcome background dependency by continuously optimizing the illumination parameters based on real-time environmental detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light sources with different wavelength ranges are used, then the target area can be marked with different colors, but the radiation intensity of individual light sources is relatively low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor varietyVSAvoidradiation intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device combines multiple light sources with different wavelength ranges (e.g., green LED and red LED) in a single housing. By merging these sources and coordinating their emission through the control unit, the system achieves both color variety and sufficient overall illumination intensity, as the intensities of individual sources are additive when used in sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables clear and adaptive marking of the target area on uneven surfaces, improving user recognition and maintaining visibility under varying conditions, while the self-cleaning feature ensures consistent performance by preventing dirt accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor coupled to the control and evaluation device for detecting the target area (Y) and for determining the condition of the subsurface of the target area (Y)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

an illumination device coupled to the control and evaluation device and controllable by it with which a target area outside the housing characterizing a detection area can be marked on a substrate by means of an optical signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3142898B1Electronic assembly for illuminating a target area marking a detection area of a sensor
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3142898B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3142898B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic assembly for illuminating a target area marking a detection area of a sensor. It is often difficult for the operator to detect the target area by means of conventional electronic assemblies if the underlying surface is uneven. In order to solve this problem, an assembly according to the invention has a housing (2), in which a control and evaluation device (3) is arranged, which can be coupled with a control device of the motor vehicle. The electronic assembly further comprises an illumination device (5a) that is coupled with the control and evaluation device and can be controlled by the latter, by means of which a target area identifying a detection area outside the housing can be marked on the underlying surface by means of an optical signal. According to the invention, the illumination device can be actuated by the control and evaluation device to emit light of different colors.