Variable Transmission Screen Driving Aid Anti-Phasing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving aid devices for motor vehicles experience issues with antiphasing and phasing phenomena when two vehicles equipped with similar devices intersect, leading to reduced visibility and increased glare, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves modifying the pulsed signal used in these devices by applying a phase shift, which can be pseudo-random, to prevent the perception of antiphasing and phasing phenomena, while maintaining compliance with lighting regulations by ensuring the average power of the pulsed signal remains constant.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If pulsed lighting synchronized with variable transmission screen is used, then driver lighting comfort is improved, but antiphasing and phasing phenomena occur when vehicles intersect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver lighting comfortVSAvoidvisibility stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the pulsed signal frequency variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the frequency of the pulsed signal based on detected conditions, allowing the system to adapt and avoid antiphasing and phasing phenomena when vehicles intersect, while maintaining the benefits of synchronized pulsed lighting for driver comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of pulsed signal frequency from a fixed value to a variable value. By modifying the frequency parameter dynamically, the system prevents synchronization issues between multiple vehicles equipped with similar devices, eliminating the antiphasing and phasing problems that occur with fixed-frequency pulsed signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If fixed frequency pulsed signal is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but antiphasing and phasing phenomena cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidphenomena prevention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static fixed-frequency signal to a dynamic variable-frequency signal controlled by a control unit. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to prevent antiphasing and phasing phenomena while adding only minimal complexity through the control unit and frequency variation logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pulsed lighting is used to reduce dazzle, then other vehicles' visibility is improved, but flickering phenomena occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedazzle reductionVSAvoidluminosity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By dynamically varying the pulsed signal frequency, the system maintains the dazzle-reduction benefits of pulsed lighting while eliminating the flickering phenomenon. The frequency variation ensures that the lighting pattern does not create stable, noticeable flicker effects, thereby improving luminosity stability without sacrificing dazzle protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3049281B1Driving assistance method and device
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP3049281B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3049281B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a driving assistance device for a motor vehicle (20), said vehicle (20) being equipped with at least one lighting device (22) that can emit a beam to light a road scene (SR) in front of the vehicle (20). The assistance device comprises a variable transmission screen (26; 28; F) intended to be disposed between the road scene (SR) and the vehicle driver (24), said assistance device being configured, in the active phase, to control the switching on of at least one light source of the lighting device (22) and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen (26; 28; F), synchronised using a pulsed signal. The assistance device is configured such as to prevent anti-phasing and/or phasing phenomena upon passing a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type.