Excavator Remote Control Indicator Brightness in Dark Work Areas

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The brightness of indicator lights on construction machinery can be too dazzling in dark environments, hindering operator operations or worker tasks.

Innovation Solution

A remote control system with a controller that adjusts the brightness of indicator lights based on the lighting conditions, using a work light change-over switch to determine surroundings brightness and adjust indicator light intensity accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the brightness of the indicator light is increased to ensure visibility in bright surroundings, then the visibility of the indicator light is improved, but the indicator light becomes too dazzling in dark environments, hindering operator operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness of indicator lightVSAvoiddazzling effect in dark environments
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator light brightness is made dynamic rather than static. The controller automatically adjusts the brightness level based on detected surrounding light conditions, switching between high brightness for daytime visibility and low brightness for nighttime comfort, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility and dazzling effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The brightness parameter of the indicator light is changed based on environmental conditions. The system detects surrounding light levels and adjusts the indicator light brightness parameter accordingly, using high brightness in bright environments and low brightness in dark environments to eliminate the harmful dazzling effect while maintaining visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the brightness of the indicator light is decreased to avoid dazzling in dark environments, then the comfort of operator operations is improved, but the visibility of the indicator light in bright surroundings becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedazzling effectVSAvoidvisibility of indicator light
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator light brightness is made dynamic rather than static. The controller automatically adjusts the brightness level based on detected surrounding light conditions, switching between high brightness for daytime visibility and low brightness for nighttime comfort, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility and dazzling effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The brightness parameter of the indicator light is changed based on environmental conditions. The system detects surrounding light levels and adjusts the indicator light brightness parameter accordingly, using high brightness in bright environments and low brightness in dark environments to eliminate the harmful dazzling effect while maintaining visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4692466A1Remote control system for construction machine
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP4692466A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4692466A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4692466A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a remote control system for construction machinery that can prevent interference with the operator's operation or the worker's work around the construction machinery. The remote control system includes a remote control change-over switch that indicates whether the remote control of the excavator is enabled or disabled, an indicator light that displays the enabled state of the remote control around the excavator, a work light that illuminates the area around the excavator, a work light change-over switch that instructs the lighting or extinguishing of the work light, and a vehicle body controller that controls the brightness of the indicator light. The vehicle body controller reduces the brightness of the indicator light that shows the enabled state of the remote control around the excavator when the remote control change-over switch and the work light change-over switch indicate that the remote control is enabled and the work light is lit, compared to when the remote control change-over switch and the work light change-over switch indicate that the remote control is enabled and the work light is extinguished.