Adaptive Vehicle Lighting Projection for Curved Roads and Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems struggle to provide clear illumination in challenging driving conditions and effectively integrate navigation information without causing driver distraction, relying on mechanical components and conventional headlamps that fail to address poor visibility on surfaces like snow, dirt, or curvy roads, and navigation systems that require eye aversion or cognitive distraction.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system comprising a signal receiver, sensor, and processor that generates modified light emissions by transforming lighting data based on sensor inputs, such as lane markings and navigation signals, to output precise illumination patterns on the driving surface, using spatial light modulators and arrays of light-emitting diodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional headlamps are made brighter to improve forward illumination, then illumination intensity increases, but visibility on challenging surfaces (snow, dirt, curvy roads) does not improve
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system divides the illumination into multiple independently controllable regions or zones. Each zone can be adjusted in intensity and pattern to match specific road conditions (snow, dirt, curves), allowing localized optimization rather than uniform bright illumination across all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts illumination patterns based on real-time sensor data about road conditions, vehicle orientation, and navigation requirements. This enables the system to adapt to changing environments (curvy roads, snow, dirt) rather than providing static bright illumination.
2Reliability
If mechanical steering-linked headlamps are used to address curved road illumination, then illumination follows road curvature, but mechanical complexity increases and other difficult conditions remain unaddressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical steering-linked headlamp systems with an electronic control system that uses sensors to detect road geometry and digitally adjusts illumination patterns. This eliminates mechanical linkages while achieving the same effect of following road curvature, and additionally addresses other conditions through software-based adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes illumination parameters (intensity, direction, pattern) based on detected road conditions and vehicle state. By using electronic parameter adjustment rather than mechanical movement, the system achieves adaptive illumination for curves, snow, and dirt surfaces without mechanical complexity.
3Loss of information
If navigation information is displayed on a digital screen or HUD, then navigation guidance is provided, but driver attention is diverted from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The system projects navigation information onto the three-dimensional road surface itself rather than displaying it on a two-dimensional screen or HUD. This transforms the display dimension from vertical (screen/HUD in driver's view) to horizontal (on the ground), allowing information to be perceived peripherally without requiring the driver to shift focus from the road.
Solution Approach 2:
The road surface acts as an intermediary medium to convey navigation information. Instead of directly presenting information to the driver's central vision (screen/HUD), the system uses the road surface as a carrier for projected symbols and guidance, allowing indirect information delivery that maintains driver focus on the driving environment.
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
Enhances visibility and safety by providing adaptive illumination that follows the driving surface, reduces eye aversion, and integrates navigation information directly on the road, improving driver focus on the environment.
Implementation Method 1
the lighting system comprises a spatial light modulator configured to impose varying spatial modulation on light emitted from a light source to emit the modified light emission
Implementation Method 2
The at least one lighting system comprises an array of light emitting diodes configured to be selectively controlled based on the modified light emission
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems, methods, and computer program products for generating modified light emissions. The system includes at least one signal receiver arranged on a vehicle, at least one sensor arranged on the vehicle, at least one lighting system arranged on the vehicle, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one signal receiver, the at least one sensor, and the at least one lighting system, the at least one processor configured to: receive a first signal with the at least one signal receiver; receive sensor data from the at least one sensor; determine lighting data based on the first signal; generate a modified light emission by geometrically transforming the lighting pattern based on the sensor data; and control the at least one lighting system to output the modified light emission.