Electronic Roadside Flare with Coordinated Sequential Flashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roadside flare systems face challenges such as confusion caused by multiple flashing lights during maintenance or emergency events, inefficiencies in energy consumption, and difficulties in coordinating sequential flashing patterns without entangling wires or using complex communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of electronic flare devices with self-synchronization, remote control, motion-actuated, and percussion-actuated features, which utilize wireless communication through radiofrequency, light, or sound waves to coordinate flashing patterns and conserve energy by dynamically adjusting LED orientation based on traffic direction and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple electronic flares are deployed during maintenance or emergency events, then visibility and hazard marking are improved, but light noise from multiple flashing lights causes confusion to approaching drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The flare system is segmented into multiple independent units, each capable of autonomous operation with sequential flashing patterns. This segmentation allows individual flares to operate independently while maintaining coordinated behavior through wireless communication, resolving the contradiction between providing sufficient visibility coverage and avoiding driver confusion from simultaneous flashing
Solution Approach 2:
The flares employ periodic action through sequential flashing patterns where flares activate in a predetermined sequence rather than simultaneously. This periodic activation pattern maintains high visibility while eliminating light noise confusion, as drivers perceive a coordinated wave pattern rather than chaotic simultaneous flashing from multiple sources
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for coordination between flares, then deployment simplicity and ease of operation are improved, but energy consumption increases due to radiofrequency transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system uses periodic action by transmitting coordination signals only during brief intervals when flares are activating or transitioning states, rather than continuous transmission. This approach maintains deployment simplicity through wireless operation while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to constant communication
Solution Approach 2:
The flare system implements self-service through autonomous operation where each flare independently controls its own activation and flashing patterns based on received coordination signals. This eliminates the need for complex external control systems or continuous power supply, simplifying deployment while optimizing energy usage through self-managed operation cycles
3Use of energy by moving object
If LED orientation is dynamically adjusted based on traffic direction, then energy consumption is reduced by optimizing light direction, but device complexity increases due to motion sensing and adaptive control
Solution Approach 1:
The flare employs self-service through autonomous orientation adjustment using motion sensors that automatically detect traffic direction and rotate LEDs accordingly without external intervention. This self-managed adaptive behavior reduces energy consumption by directing light only toward approaching traffic while keeping the system relatively simple through integration of basic sensing and actuation components
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making LED orientation adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. Motion sensors detect traffic flow direction and dynamically reposition LEDs to optimize light direction toward approaching vehicles. This dynamic adaptation reduces energy waste from illuminating areas without traffic while adding only moderate complexity through integrated sensing and positioning mechanisms
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
The electronic flare system enhances driver perspective by coordinating sequential flashing patterns, reduces energy consumption by optimizing LED usage, and simplifies deployment and retrieval through wireless communication and adaptive lighting features.
Implementation Method 1
electronic circuitry connected to the power source and light emitters to drive at least some of the light emitters to emit flashes of light
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic light emitting flares and related methods. Flares of the present invention include various features such as self-synchronization, remote control, motion-actuated or percussion-actuated features, dynamic shifting between side-emitting and top-emitting light emitters in response to changes in positional orientation (e.g., vertical vs. horizontal) of the flare; overrides to cause continued emission from side-emitting or top-emitting light emitters irrespective of changes in the flare's positional orientation; use of the flare(s) for illumination of traffic cones and other hazard marking or traffic safety objects or devices, group on/off features, frequency specificity to facilitate use of separate groups of flares in proximity to one another, selection and changing of flashing patterns and others.