LED Lighting Fixture Integrating Vehicle Detection Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking management systems face challenges in accurately detecting vehicle presence due to costly and complex installations, requiring separate infrastructure for illumination and detection, and often struggle with maintaining accuracy and efficiency in communicating data about parking space occupancy.
Innovation Solution
Integrating vehicle detection capabilities within LED lighting fixtures, utilizing modulated light signals and sensors to determine occupancy, which shares the same infrastructure for illumination and detection, reducing installation costs and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate sensors and cameras are mounted on walls, pillars, or rails for vehicle detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but installation cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function and vehicle detection function into a single integrated lighting fixture. The lighting fixture includes both light sources for illumination and sensors for detecting vehicle presence, eliminating the need for separate detection devices mounted on walls or pillars. This integration reduces installation complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting fixture is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides illumination for the parking space and detects vehicle presence using integrated sensors. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated detection infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity and installation costs.
2Reliability
If separate infrastructure with own power lines and cable interfaces is used for detection systems, then detection reliability is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system shares the same power supply and communication infrastructure as the illumination system. The lighting fixture is powered by the same power lines that supply the light sources, and both functions communicate through integrated interfaces. This sharing of infrastructure reduces installation costs while maintaining system reliability through unified design.
3Ease of operation
If battery-powered sensors are used for detection, then installation ease is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture provides power to the detection sensors through its own power supply system, eliminating the need for battery-powered sensors. The integrated design allows the fixture to self-power both illumination and detection functions, removing the need for periodic battery replacement or maintenance while maintaining installation ease.
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
This solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method for detecting vehicle presence, enhancing parking management by integrating detection and illumination in a single system, reducing maintenance costs and improving parking efficiency through real-time data communication.
Implementation Method 1
A signal is transmitted from the emitter to the receiver to detect an available space. When the receiver is hidden behind a vehicle, the signal will not be able to reach the receiver
Implementation Method 2
Some systems use optical sensors which read barcodes written on the pavement. When the optical sensor is not able to read the bar code, the system concludes that a vehicle is parked in the parking space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system and a method for detecting availability of a parking space in a parking facility are provided. A first method has the steps of providing a lighting system having at least one visible-light source for illumination of at least part of the parking space. Providing an available space time-of-flight trace. Providing an availability threshold value. Illuminating the at least part of the parking space using the at least one visible-light source. Emitting a status visible-light signal from the visible-light source in the predetermined direction toward the predetermined target in the parking space. Capturing a status reflection trace at the visible-light source. Determining a time-of-flight difference value by comparing the status reflection trace to the available space time-of-flight trace. Comparing the time-of-flight difference value with the availability threshold value and determining a status of the parking space to be one of available and not available. Another method has the steps of providing a lighting system having at least one visible-light source for illumination of at least part of the parking space. Providing a camera. Providing an available space region value. Providing an availability threshold value. Illuminating the at least part of the parking space using the at least one visible-light source. Emitting visible light from the visible-light source in the predetermined direction to the predetermined target in the parking space. Capturing a reflection of the emitted visible light at the camera and determining a status region value. Determining a region difference value by comparing the status region value to the available space region value. Comparing the region difference value with the availability threshold value and determining a status of the parking space to be one of available and not available.