School Bus Pedestrian Lighting System Railroad Crossing Override
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The sudden illumination from school bus entrance door lights can cause inconvenience and potential eye damage to drivers and pedestrians, especially at railroad crossings, due to the bright and intense LED lighting, which may lead to temporary vision loss, nausea, or even accidents.
Innovation Solution
A pedestrian lighting system that includes a power cutoff noise suppression switch connected to the bus entrance door lamp circuitry, which overrides the switch logic circuitry to turn off the lights when activated, preventing sudden illumination at railroad crossings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED lamps are installed to provide brighter and more intense entrance door lighting, then illumination intensity is improved, but harmful effects on pedestrians and drivers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the LED lighting system by introducing a controller that adjusts illumination based on environmental conditions (ambient light sensors) and operational context (proximity to railroad crossings). The system transitions from static high-intensity lighting to dynamic adaptive lighting, reducing intensity when sensors detect sufficient ambient light or when approaching railroad crossings, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing adequate illumination and preventing harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through ambient light sensors and controllers that continuously monitor environmental conditions and adjust lighting output accordingly. The system receives feedback from sensors about ambient light levels and automatically modulates LED intensity, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents excessive illumination while maintaining adequate visibility, thus resolving the harmful effects of intense LED lighting.
2Illumination intensity
If entrance door lights illuminate when the bus stops at railroad crossings, then visibility for boarding passengers is improved, but sudden illumination causes inconvenience and potential harm to pedestrians and drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting railroad crossing proximity in advance using sensors before the bus actually stops. The controller receives advance notice of approaching railroad crossings and pre-adjusts the lighting system to prevent sudden illumination. This proactive approach allows the system to prepare for potential harmful situations before they occur, resolving the contradiction between providing visibility and preventing harm to pedestrians.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a control mechanism that anticipates and prevents harmful illumination effects before they can occur. The system detects railroad crossing proximity in advance and actively suppresses or reduces LED lighting output before the bus stops, thereby preventing the sudden bright illumination that would otherwise harm pedestrians and drivers. This preemptive counter-action resolves the contradiction by eliminating the harmful effect before it can manifest.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple LED lamps are installed around the bus entrance door, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing a single integrated controller that manages multiple LED lamps, ambient light sensors, railroad crossing detection, and timing functions. Rather than requiring separate control systems for each lamp, the universal controller handles all lighting functions, sensor inputs, and safety protocols, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining extensive lighting coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple previously separate functions into integrated components. The controller merges lamp control, sensor processing, timing functions, and safety logic into a single unified system. Additionally, the ambient light sensors and railroad crossing detection systems are integrated with the lighting control, creating a consolidated multi-functional system that reduces complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A school bus having a pedestrian lighting system includes bus entrance door lamps that illuminate an area adjacent to the entrance door of the bus. Switch logic circuitry is connected to and controls bus door entrance lamp circuitry that provides power to the bus entrance door lamps. A power cutoff noise suppression switch, which otherwise functions to turn off noise generating devices in the bus when stopping for a railroad crossing, is connected to the switch logic circuitry or to delayed deactivation timer circuitry. The power cutoff noise suppression switch and the switch logic circuitry or the delayed deactivation timer circuitry are configured so that input of the switch logic circuitry to the bus door entrance lamp circuitry is overridden, and the at least one bus entrance door lamp is turned off, when the power cutoff noise suppression switch is activated.