LED Headlight LIDAR and V2V Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle LIDAR systems are costly and inefficient, relying on lasers that require high power and complex scanning methods, which increases costs and raises eye safety concerns, while existing communication systems between vehicles require cellular networks, limiting their effectiveness in outdoor environments.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle LIDAR system utilizing existing LED light assemblies for distance measurement and a communication system that employs LED light assemblies for direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication without relying on cellular networks, leveraging the modulating capabilities of LEDs and time-of-flight measurements to calculate distances and transmit data through modulated light beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser-based LIDAR techniques are used for distance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes vehicle LED light assemblies serve dual purposes: their primary function as illumination lights and a secondary function as LIDAR transmitters for distance measurement. By modulating the LED intensity at high frequencies and using the vehicle's existing camera to detect reflected light, the system eliminates the need for separate laser sources and scanning mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive laser sources, the patent uses LED light assemblies that already exist in vehicles. The LED's light output is modulated to encode distance information, and the vehicle's existing camera captures the reflected modulated light. This copying approach replaces specialized LIDAR components with readily available vehicle parts, reducing both cost and complexity
2Area of stationary object
If high power lasers are used in flash LIDAR to illuminate entire field of view, then illumination coverage is improved, but eye safety problems and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repurposes the vehicle's existing LED light assemblies (headlights, taillights, brake lights) to serve as LIDAR transmitters. These LEDs naturally illuminate wide areas when activated, and by modulating their intensity, they provide both illumination coverage and distance measurement capability without requiring high-power lasers that pose eye safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive LED light assemblies instead of expensive high-power laser sources. LEDs are already standard equipment in vehicles, making them a cost-effective replacement for specialized LIDAR laser sources, while their lower power output inherently reduces eye safety concerns
3Area of stationary object
If vehicle communication systems rely on cellular networks, then communication coverage is improved, but reliability deteriorates in areas without cellular coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light-based communication as an intermediary method for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. By modulating LED light intensity to encode data and using cameras to detect and decode these modulated signals, vehicles can communicate directly with each other without relying on cellular infrastructure, ensuring reliable communication even in areas without cellular coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes LED light assemblies serve triple purposes: illumination, LIDAR distance measurement, and communication data transmission. This multi-functionality allows vehicles to maintain communication capabilities using existing lighting infrastructure without requiring separate communication hardware, ensuring reliability across different environments
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 solution reduces the cost and complexity of LIDAR systems by using LED light assemblies for distance measurement and enables reliable, low-latency vehicle-to-vehicle communication, even in environments without cellular coverage, enhancing safety and efficiency in autonomous driving.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle light detection and ranging (lidar) system utilizes a vehicle's existing, i.e., native LED light assembly to determine distances
Implementation Method 2
measure a range by pulsed time-of-flight (TOF) measurements—i.e., the time it takes each laser pulse to hit the target and return to a sensor
Implementation Method 3
leveraging the modulating capabilities of LEDs and time-of-flight measurements to calculate distances and transmit data through modulated light beams
Data Source
AI summary
A method of measuring a distance between a vehicle and one or more objects, includes generating a modulation signal; generating a modulated light emitting diode (LED) transmission signal, via a vehicle LED driver assembly; transmitting a plurality of light beams based at least in part on the generated modulated LED transmission signal; capturing a reflection of the plurality of light beams off the one or more objects, utilizing one or more lens assemblies and a camera, the camera including an array of pixel sensors and being positioned on the vehicle; communicating a series of measurements representing the captured plurality of light beam reflections; calculating, utilizing the time-of-flight sensor module, time of flight measurements between the vehicle LED light assembly and the one or more objects and calculating distances, utilizing a depth processor module, between the vehicle LED light assembly and the one or more objects based on the time-of-flight measurements.