Flip-Up Overhead Rack Lighting to Reduce School Bus Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlights cause glare for oncoming drivers and make it difficult for them to see children crossing in front of a school bus, especially when the children are backlit by the headlights.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system that couples to a vehicle, featuring a light source that illuminates a target area from above, and includes a mechanism to turn off the vehicle's headlights when the lighting system is in the extended position, thereby reducing glare and improving visibility of children crossing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If vehicle headlights are used to illuminate the roadway, then the driver can see the road ahead, but oncoming drivers experience glare and cannot see children crossing in front of the bus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third vertical dimension of illumination by deploying a light source from the roof of the bus that shines downward onto children crossing the road. This overhead illumination from above complements the horizontal headlight illumination, creating a multi-dimensional lighting system that illuminates children without directing light into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead light source acts as an intermediary illumination method that indirectly illuminates children crossing the road without requiring direct line-of-sight horizontal lighting. This mediator light source provides the necessary visibility for oncoming drivers to see children without the harmful direct glare effect of traditional headlights.
2Illumination intensity
If headlights illuminate children crossing, then children are visible to the bus driver, but children become silhouettes and disappear to oncoming drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing illumination specifically onto the location where children cross (the road surface in front of the bus) rather than illuminating children directly from the front. The overhead light creates localized illumination zones on the road surface that highlight children's positions without creating backlit silhouettes.
Solution Approach 2:
By adding vertical overhead illumination, the system creates a new dimensional approach to visibility. The top-down lighting perspective allows oncoming drivers to see illuminated zones on the road surface where children are located, rather than relying on front-facing horizontal illumination that creates silhouettes.
3Ease of operation
If headlights are positioned at the same level as children, then children are illuminated for the bus driver, but children become invisible to oncoming traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional horizontal illumination approach by implementing vertical overhead illumination. Instead of lighting children from the front at their level (which creates silhouettes), the system lights down onto the road surface from above, creating illuminated zones that reveal children's positions to oncoming drivers without the silhouette effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead lighting system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it illuminates the road surface for the bus driver to see children approaching, provides visible illumination zones for oncoming drivers to detect children, and can be deployed only when needed (when the bus is stopped and children are crossing) rather than continuously.
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 lighting system effectively reduces glare for oncoming drivers and enhances the visibility of children crossing by providing illumination from above, thereby improving safety and preventing accidents.
Implementation Method 1
the light source comprises a strip of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system configured to be coupled to a vehicle, the lighting system including a light source configured to illuminate a target area in front of the vehicle from above, wherein the lighting system is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Further, A method of preventing accidents, including positioning a light source above a target area by extending a light structure to an extended position outward from a vehicle, turning off headlights of the vehicle, and illuminating the target area from above with the light source.