Non-rotating LED Warning Light Bar for Off-Axis Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional warning light systems on emergency vehicles, particularly those with lights arranged in a straight row on the roof, fail to provide adequate off-axis lighting, limiting visibility around the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

The use of non-rotating LED light sources arranged in a configuration that includes center off-axis, take-down, and alley illumination portions, providing 360° visibility without the need for moving light or reflector arrangements, with LED units positioned along the leading and trailing faces of a housing to emit light in specific directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If lights are arranged in a straight row on the roof, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but off-axis lighting performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoff-axis lightingVSAvoidlight arrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light bar is divided into multiple independent light modules, each with specific orientation and function. The housing is segmented into multiple faces (leading, trailing, left side, right side) with lights positioned on each face to provide directional illumination coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the light bar are assigned different lighting functions and orientations. Lights on the leading face provide forward illumination, trailing face lights provide rearward illumination, and side face lights provide off-axis illumination, creating localized lighting quality optimized for each direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If rotating light or reflector arrangements are used to provide 360° visibility, then off-axis lighting is improved, but the system becomes more complex and less reliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improve360° visibilityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single light source that rotates to achieve 360° coverage, the invention inverts the approach by using multiple fixed light sources positioned around the housing, each pointing in a different direction. This eliminates the need for rotation mechanisms while achieving the same coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves dynamic 360° lighting coverage through the coordinated operation of multiple static light sources that can be independently controlled, rather than through physical rotation of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If rotating mechanisms are used to change light direction, then multi-directional visibility is achieved, but the system complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight direction controlVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the rotating mechanism entirely, replacing it with fixed light sources positioned to provide the necessary directional coverage. This removes the mechanical complexity and associated maintenance requirements while preserving the adaptability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical rotation system is replaced with a static optical arrangement using multiple fixed LED light sources positioned on different faces of the housing, eliminating moving parts while maintaining light direction control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Illumination intensity

If more light sources are added to improve 360° visibility, then illumination coverage is improved, but power consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility coverageVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple light sources positioned to provide coverage, but not all light sources need to operate at full intensity or simultaneously. The arrangement provides adequate coverage with a reasonable number of LEDs, avoiding excessive power consumption while achieving the visibility goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 configuration enhances visibility around the vehicle by providing effective off-axis lighting without rotating parts, resulting in a robust and low-profile system that improves safety and visibility from all directions.

Implementation Method 1

The warning light arrangement includes a first plurality of LED units positioned in the housing and oriented so that each selected one of the plurality of LED units can be actuated to emit light in a selected direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS8742916B2Warning light arrangements; components; and, methods

Publication Date: 2014.06.03 FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an LED light bar that provides off axis lighting. The warning light system includes lights that do not need reflectors that rotate to provide good light effects.