Adaptive Traffic Lane Lighting Control via Surface Reflectivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traffic lane lighting systems struggle to adjust luminous flux reliably and quickly to adapt to changing conditions, such as surface conditions and user types, leading to potential safety risks due to inappropriate lighting adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A lighting management system that measures the optical properties of the traffic lane and controls the lighting installation to optimize luminance characteristics based on reference criteria, using principal component analysis to determine virtual luminance maps and adjust lighting sources accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lighting system uses trial and error adjustments to adapt to traffic lane conditions, then the system can eventually achieve appropriate lighting, but the adjustment time is too long and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting adjustment reliabilityVSAvoidlighting modification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores optimal lighting parameters for different traffic lane conditions (surface types, weather, times of day) before they are needed. When conditions change, the system quickly retrieves pre-computed parameters rather than performing trial-and-error adjustments, significantly reducing adaptation time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors traffic lane conditions using sensors and cameras, compares actual lighting effects against target values, and automatically adjusts lighting parameters in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates manual trial-and-error processes and ensures rapid, reliable adaptation to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the lighting system increases light intensity to ensure safety in all conditions, then safety is improved, but energy consumption and light pollution increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system dynamically adjusts light intensity based on real-time detection of traffic lane conditions, user types, and environmental factors. Rather than maintaining high intensity continuously, the system optimizes illumination levels for each specific scenario, ensuring safety while minimizing energy consumption and light pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different lighting strategies to different zones and conditions within the traffic lane. High intensity is applied only where and when needed (e.g., wet surfaces, pedestrian zones, nighttime), while other areas receive appropriate lower intensity, reducing overall energy waste while maintaining safety where critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the lighting system uses complex adjustments to adapt to different surface conditions, then lighting accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical properties measurement accuracyVSAvoidlighting control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intelligent control unit that acts as an intermediary between simple sensors and the lighting fixtures. This controller uses pre-stored optical properties data and algorithms to interpret sensor information and generate appropriate lighting adjustments, achieving high precision without requiring complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-stores optical properties data for various surface conditions (asphalt, concrete, wet surfaces, different textures) and lighting scenarios. When conditions are detected, the system quickly retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-characterized parameters, achieving accurate adaptation without real-time complex calculations or sophisticated measurement equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures precise and efficient distribution of light intensity, optimizing safety by reducing the risk of accidents through adaptive lighting adjustments that match the traffic lane's optical reflection properties and user types.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a change in optical properties of the traffic lane (110) and controlling the lighting installation (102) to correct the lighting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

control the lighting sources (104) of the lighting installation (102) which correspond to the identified scenario, according to the electrical power supply data used in the identified scenario

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP4145960B1System for managing an adaptive lighting system and corresponding method
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 CENT DETUDES & DEXPERTISE SUR LES RISQUES LENVIRONNEMENT LA MOBILITE & LAMENAGEMENT
  • EP4145960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4145960B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4145960B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a management system for a lighting installation (2) arranged to illuminate a traffic lane (1). An image acquisition device (3) generates a luminance image (Lmes) of an area (11) of the traffic lane. A processing unit (100) includes several photometries (201, 202) of the lighting installation (2). The processing unit includes a module (4) for determining a set of optical reflection characteristics of the traffic lane, and a control module (6) configured to control at least some of the lighting sources of the lighting installation (2), based on determined optical reflection characteristics, at least some of the photometries of the lighting installation (2), and reference luminance characteristics. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.