Vehicle Lamp Lens Obscurant Detection Using IR Reflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle lamps on commercial vehicles and marine vessels become obscured by dirt, debris, salt, and algae, leading to reduced light output below legal and safe levels, without effective detection systems to alert operators before lamps become unsafe or unusable.
Innovation Solution
A system using infrared (IR) and visible light emitters and detectors, combined with total internal reflection (TIR) modules, to measure light obstruction on vehicle lamps and issue warnings when predefined criteria are met, ensuring safe and legal light output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle lamps are placed at legally mandated locations, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but light output is degraded due to obscurant build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obscurant build-up on the lens surface before light output degrades below safe or legal levels. The optical sensor continuously monitors the lens condition and triggers a warning indication to the operator, enabling preventive maintenance before the lamp becomes unsafe or non-compliant.
2Productivity
If vehicle lamps operate in dirty environments, then vehicle functionality is maintained, but obscurants accumulate on lamps reducing light output
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where an optical sensor continuously monitors the lens surface for obscurant accumulation. When the sensor detects that obscurants have reduced light transmission below a threshold, it sends a signal to a warning indicator, creating a closed-loop system that alerts operators to maintain lamps before productivity is impacted.
3Device complexity
If no detection system is installed, then device complexity is reduced, but operators cannot detect unsafe light obstruction levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an optical sensor as an intermediary detection device that indirectly measures lens cleanliness by detecting changes in light transmission. This intermediary sensor provides safety detection capability without requiring complex direct measurement systems, maintaining relative simplicity while enabling reliable obscurant detection.
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 system effectively detects and alerts operators of unsafe light obstruction on vehicle lamps, maintaining legal and safe light levels by minimizing light scatter and absorption, allowing for timely cleaning or maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared (IR) light emitter-detector module coupled to the support, the IR light emitter-detector module comprising: an IR light emitter configured to emit IR light towards an inner surface of the lens; and an IR light detector configured to measure an intensity of IR light reflected by the obscurants
Implementation Method 2
an IR light detector configured to measure an intensity of IR light reflected by the obscurants
Implementation Method 3
a total internal reflection (TIR) module coupled to the support, the TIR module comprising: a visible light emitter configured to emit visible light through an interior of the lens at a first end of the lens; and a visible light detector configured to measure the visible light emitted through the interior of the lens at a second end of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for detecting obscurants on an outer surface of a lens of a vehicle lamp of a vehicle. The system includes a support, as well as an infrared (IR) light emitter-detector module coupled to the support. The IR light emitter-detector module includes an IR light emitter configured to emit IR light towards an inner surface of the lens, as well as an IR light detector configured to measure an intensity of IR light reflected by the obscurants. A controller is also coupled to the IR light emitter-detector module. The controller is configured to control the IR light emitter-detector module, determine a level of light obstruction based on the measured intensity of reflected IR light, and when the level of light obstruction meets predefined criteria, issue a warning.