Dynamic Grouping for Motor Vehicle Lighting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle lighting devices with multiple units connected to a communication bus experience time delays when simultaneously changing operating parameters, limiting dynamic light presentations and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dynamically reconfiguring lighting units into groups during operation, allowing each message to specify operating parameters for individual units, and prioritizing messages to ensure quick changes, enabling flexible and dynamic light distributions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If messages are passed to the communication bus at a predefined rate with individual lighting units specified in each message, then each lighting unit can be controlled individually, but a time delay occurs when simultaneously changing operating parameters of multiple lighting units

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndividual lighting unit controlVSAvoidTime delay in simultaneous switching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual lighting unit controls into group-based control. By assigning lighting units to groups and sending a single message to control multiple units simultaneously, the system eliminates the sequential time delay while maintaining individual controllability through group membership assignments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of time

If predefined groups of lighting units are stipulated in the electronic control unit, then time delays during switching are avoided, but the possibilities for producing dynamic light presentations are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTime delay eliminationVSAvoidDynamic light presentation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the group assignments dynamic rather than static. The electronic control unit can assign lighting units to different groups at different times based on desired light presentations, enabling both simultaneous switching (by grouping) and dynamic flexibility (by reassigning groups). This resolves the contradiction between fast switching and presentation versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If lighting units are divided into fixed groups for simultaneous control, then switching speed is improved, but the flexibility of light distribution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSwitching speedVSAvoidLight distribution flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11265995B2Method for operating a lighting device in a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A lighting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, which are connected to a communication bus in the motor vehicle and receive successive messages from an electronic control unit. The light-emitting devices of the plurality of light-emitting devices are divided into a plurality of groups. Each group is formed of one or more light-emitting devices. One group is associated with each message. Each message specifies one or more operating parameters for an individual light-emitting device. A light-emitting device that is in the associated group of a received message performs its operation based on the operating parameter(s). The electronic control unit changes the division of the plurality of light-emitting devices in groups at least once during the operation of the lighting device.