Adaptive Puddle Light Color Selection for Surface Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle puddle lighting systems face challenges in maintaining visibility and legibility of projected images due to varying ground surface colors and textures, leading to low contrast and degraded image quality.
Innovation Solution
A puddle light system equipped with a multicolor light source and an image sensor that analyzes the ground surface color to select a complementary color for optimal image projection, ensuring clear and readable messaging by adapting to different surface conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed color light source is used for puddle lighting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image contrast and visibility on varying ground surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic color selection by equipping the puddle light system with multiple LED light sources of different colors (red, green, blue, yellow, white) and using an image sensor to detect ground surface color. The controller dynamically selects the optimal color based on real-time surface analysis, transforming a static single-color system into a dynamic multi-color adaptive system that maintains high contrast across varying surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the color parameter of the light source based on detected ground surface characteristics. By analyzing the ground surface color through an image sensor and selecting complementary colors from multiple LED sources, the system adjusts the illumination parameter (color) to optimize image contrast and visibility on different surface types.
2Manufacturing precision
If the puddle light projects images using a single color, then the manufacturing precision requirements are simplified, but the adaptability to different ground surface colors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the puddle light system universal by incorporating multiple LED light sources of different colors (red, green, blue, yellow, white) that can be selectively activated. This multi-functional approach allows the same lighting system to adapt to various ground surface colors and conditions, eliminating the need for different specialized systems for different surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the color parameter of the light source based on detected ground surface characteristics. By analyzing the ground surface color through an image sensor and selecting complementary colors from multiple LED sources, the system adjusts the illumination parameter (color) to optimize image contrast and visibility on different surface types.
3Ease of operation
If the light source color is fixed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the image readability on various ground surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service operation by automatically detecting ground surface color through an image sensor and selecting the optimal complementary color from multiple LED sources without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously adapts to different surfaces, maintaining high image legibility while keeping the operation simple and automatic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the image sensor that continuously monitors ground surface color characteristics. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts the light source color selection to optimize image contrast and readability, creating a closed-loop adaptive system that maintains performance without manual input.
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 system effectively enhances image contrast and readability on various surfaces, improving the vehicle ownership experience and reliability of puddle light messaging.
Implementation Method 1
the color(s), texture, or other light reflection properties of a ground surface around a vehicle can have many variations
Implementation Method 2
A multicolor light source configured to project the content-bearing images using at least one selected color from a plurality of available colors
Data Source
AI summary
A puddle light system projects content-bearing images onto a ground surface adjacent a vehicle using a puddle light projector unit having a multicolor light source configured to project the content-bearing images using at least one selected color from a plurality of available colors. An image sensor directed at the ground surface and mounted on the vehicle is configured to capture colored images. A controller is configured to (A) construct one of the content-bearing images as an image representation with an illumination region to be projected onto the ground, (B) analyze a first colored image of the ground surface with the light source deactivated to identify a dominant surface color, (C) select a complementary color relative to the dominant surface color, (D) colorize the illumination region using the selected complementary color, and (E) command the puddle light projector unit to project the image representation using the colorized illumination region.