Colored Laser Hazard Illumination for Driver Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser-powered headlights on vehicles, when used with infrared sensors to detect animals or people near the roadway, can be distracting for drivers due to the need to interpret images on a video screen not in their direct line of sight, potentially leading to dangerous situations or accidents.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a colored laser light from a vehicle-mounted laser to directly illuminate detected objects, such as animals or people, allowing for clear visual indication of their proximity to the driver without distracting from the road, using infrared sensors to differentiate between animate and inanimate objects and selecting appropriate colors for highlighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If infrared sensors and video screens are used to detect and display objects, then detection capability is improved, but driver distraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a colored laser light as an intermediary between the detection system and the driver. Instead of requiring the driver to look at a video screen, the system projects colored laser light directly onto detected objects, making them visible to the driver's naked eye through the rearview mirror. This intermediary approach maintains detection capability while eliminating the distraction of looking away from the road.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of video screens and mirrors with a laser-based illumination system. By using colored laser light to directly illuminate detected objects, the system substitutes the complex video display mechanism with a simpler, more direct optical approach that does not require the driver to shift attention from the road.
2Loss of information
If video screens are used to show object locations, then information provision is improved, but reaction time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using infrared sensors and then immediately provides visual feedback by projecting colored laser light onto the detected objects. This preliminary action of direct illumination ensures that the driver receives information about object locations in real-time, without the delay associated with processing and displaying images on a video screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The colored laser light serves as an intermediary that directly conveys spatial information to the driver's field of view. Rather than requiring the driver to interpret images on a video screen, the laser projection provides intuitive, immediate visual cues about object locations that can be perceived at a glance through the rearview mirror, significantly reducing reaction time.
3Illumination intensity
If white laser light is used for illumination, then visibility is improved, but safety for other road users decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different colored laser lights for different purposes: white laser light for general road illumination and colored laser light (such as green or red) for highlighting detected objects. This localized differentiation allows the system to maintain high visibility for the driver while using colors that are less likely to cause damage or discomfort to other road users and animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes color changes by switching from white laser light for illumination to colored laser light for object highlighting. The colored laser light provides sufficient contrast for the driver to detect objects while being less harmful to other road users and animals compared to intense white light. The color selection is specifically chosen to balance visibility requirements with safety considerations.
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
This approach enhances driver safety by providing a direct, non-distracting visual cue for potential hazards, improving reaction time and reducing the risk of accidents by clearly outlining detected objects with colored laser light, aiding both the driver and other road users.
Implementation Method 1
a laser in the vehicle emits light at a wavelength that is imperceptible to at least one of the animal or the person
Implementation Method 2
Technology, such as infrared sensors, detect animals or people near the roadway
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for identifying, from a moving vehicle, an object proximate to a direction of the moving vehicle. The identified object is illuminated with a colored laser light with the colored laser light emanating from a laser included in the vehicle.