Electronic Brake Light Control via Pedal Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical brake light switches in lightweight utility vehicles are prone to wear, contamination, and failure, leading to unreliable brake light illumination.
Innovation Solution
A brake lighting system that uses a brake pedal position sensor and a controller to transmit a signal to an electronic switching device, such as a relay switch, to control the brake light circuit, ensuring reliable illumination of brake lights through electronic means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical brake light switch is used to control brake lights, then the circuit can be closed to illuminate brake lights, but the switch is prone to wear, contamination, and failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brake light switch with an electronic sensor system. A brake pedal position sensor detects brake pedal depression and sends signals to a controller, which then activates the brake lights through an electronic control system. This eliminates mechanical contact points, preventing wear and contamination issues inherent in mechanical switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the sensor and the brake light circuit. The controller receives signals from the brake pedal position sensor, processes the information, and controls the electronic switching device to complete or break the brake light circuit. This intermediary layer provides intelligent control and eliminates the need for direct mechanical switch operation.
2Device complexity
If a mechanical brake light switch is used, then the system structure is simple, but the switch is susceptible to contamination by liquids and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical switch with non-contact electronic sensing components. The brake pedal position sensor uses electronic fields rather than mechanical contact to detect pedal position, making it immune to contamination by liquids and debris that plague mechanical switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an electronic signal copy of the mechanical action. Instead of mechanically closing a circuit with a switch, the system creates an electrical signal representation of the brake pedal position through the sensor, which then controls the brake light circuit electronically. This copying approach eliminates physical contact points vulnerable to contamination.
3Reliability
If an electronic sensor and controller system is used to replace the mechanical switch, then reliability and contamination resistance improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it receives signals from the brake pedal position sensor, processes the signal to determine brake application, controls the electronic switching device, and can potentially interface with other vehicle systems. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components into a single integrated unit, managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensing, processing, and control functions into an integrated electronic system. The brake pedal position sensor, controller, and electronic switching device work as a unified system rather than separate mechanical components, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability compared to the mechanical switch approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A lightweight utility vehicle brake lighting system comprising a brake pedal position sensor, a controller and a brake light circuit. The brake pedal position sensor senses the position, e.g., amount of depression, of a vehicle brake pedal. The controller of interprets a brake pedal position signal from the brake pedal position sensor to determine the position of the brake pedal. When the controller determines that the brake pedal has been depressed to initiate a braking operation of the vehicle, the controller transmits a brake light signal to an electronic switching device, such as a relay switch, of the brake light circuit. Upon receipt of the brake light signal, the electronic switching closes to complete, or close, the brake light circuit to enable a current flow through the brake light circuit, thereby illuminating at least one brake light of the vehicle.