Front Vehicle Alert Lighting for Visible Braking State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems do not effectively communicate a vehicle's braking state to pedestrians and other vehicles in front of it, leading to potential safety hazards due to distracted driving and the limitations of rear brake lights.
Innovation Solution
A deceleration indication apparatus using a license plate frame with LEDs and accelerometers to provide visual cues about a vehicle's deceleration or braking state, which can be powered by the vehicle's battery or rear brake light system, and can include additional sensors for pedestrian detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If rear brake lights are used to indicate braking state, then the braking state is visible to vehicles behind, but pedestrians and vehicles in front cannot see the braking state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by moving the brake light indication from the rear dimension to the front dimension of the vehicle. Front brake lights are positioned on the front bumper or grille area, allowing pedestrians and vehicles in front to see the braking state, while maintaining connection to the rear brake light system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the front lighting system multi-functional by having it serve both as daytime running lights and as brake indication lights. The same LED array can display different patterns or intensities to indicate various vehicle states including braking, accelerating, and steady cruising, eliminating the need for separate dedicated brake lights.
2Reliability
If drivers pay full attention to the road, then safety is improved, but distracted driving behaviors like using mobile devices are difficult to prevent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing real-time visual information to pedestrians and other drivers about the vehicle's braking state. This external feedback system compensates for the driver's potential lack of attention, allowing others to anticipate the vehicle's actions and react accordingly, thereby improving overall safety even when the driver is distracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by displaying the braking state before the vehicle actually slows down or stops. The front brake lights illuminate in advance of the braking event, giving pedestrians and other drivers time to react and avoid collisions, rather than waiting for the braking action to occur.
3Device complexity
If simple lighting systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to convey multiple vehicle states is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by implementing flashing or pulsing light patterns to convey different vehicle states. The LEDs can flash at different frequencies or patterns to indicate acceleration, deceleration, braking intensity, or autonomous vehicle detection events, allowing a single light source to communicate multiple pieces of information through temporal variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies color changes by using LEDs capable of emitting different colors to indicate various vehicle states. For example, white or amber lights may indicate normal operation, while red lights indicate braking, and different flash patterns or color combinations can convey acceleration, deceleration, or warning states, maximizing information transmission with minimal hardware.
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
Enhances pedestrian and vehicle safety by providing clear visual signals of a vehicle's braking or deceleration state to those in front, improving decision-making and reducing the risk of accidents, especially with the advent of autonomous driving technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a printed circuit board containing an accelerometer, multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and circuitry. It also has an electrical connection to a power source, wherein deceleration of the vehicle causes the accelerometer to send a signal through the circuitry to illuminate the thereby providing a visual indication that the vehicle is decelerating
Implementation Method 2
multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and circuitry. It also has an electrical connection to a power source, wherein deceleration of the vehicle causes the accelerometer to send a signal through the circuitry to illuminate the thereby providing a visual indication
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system enables a lighting pattern to be displayed on a vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. A lighting pattern may include lights that fluctuate (with respect to luminosity) or lights that stay, that is, are solid, at the same luminosity. The length of time that a light, such as an LED lamp, is powered on may vary. Similarly, the amount of time between two adjacent lights are powered off and powered on may also vary. As such, the lighting sequence is flexible and can be customized so that all lights are not on for the same length of time and the time between two lights being powered may vary. A vehicle front alert system allows for improved perception of speed of an approaching vehicle, human, or object.