License Plate Frame Deceleration Indicator for Pedestrian Safety
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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, as conventional rear brake lights only inform those behind the vehicle, leaving gaps in awareness for those in the vehicle's path, especially with the rise of distracted driving and autonomous technologies.
Innovation Solution
A deceleration indication apparatus integrated into a vehicle's license plate frame, utilizing LEDs and accelerometers to provide visual cues of deceleration or braking to pedestrians and other drivers, potentially with color changes or patterns, powered by the vehicle's electrical system or rear brake light, to indicate the vehicle's state and presence of pedestrians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional rear brake lights are used, then the braking state is communicated to vehicles behind, but the braking state is not communicated to pedestrians and vehicles in front
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rear brake light function with a front-facing indicator system into a single integrated apparatus. The license plate frame housing contains both rearward-facing brake lights and forward-facing indicators, allowing one system to serve multiple communication functions simultaneously, thus resolving the information loss without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: illuminating the license plate, indicating braking state to rearward traffic, and signaling braking state to forward pedestrians and vehicles. This multi-functional design allows a single device to address the information communication gap in multiple directions, reducing the need for separate systems
2Reliability
If drivers pay full attention to the road, then accident risk is reduced, but distracted driving behaviors increase with mobile devices and entertainment systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by providing advance visual warning to pedestrians and forward vehicles about the approaching vehicle's braking state. This allows pedestrians and other road users to take preventive actions (stop, slow down, or move) before the vehicle reaches them, counteracting the harmful effect of distracted driving by creating an additional safety buffer
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus provides visual feedback about the driver's braking actions to the external environment. By displaying the braking state through front-facing indicators, the system creates a feedback loop that informs pedestrians and other road users of the vehicle's intent, compensating for the driver's reduced attention due to distractions
3Ease of operation
If simple brake light systems are used, then device complexity is low, but the ability to indicate deceleration to forward pedestrians is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the license plate illumination function with the deceleration indication function into a single integrated system. The license plate frame housing contains both the rear brake lights and forward-facing LEDs, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and control systems, thus maintaining simplicity while adding forward visibility
Solution Approach 2:
The same braking mechanism that activates rear brake lights also triggers front-facing indicators, creating a universal braking signal system. This multi-directional signaling approach uses the existing brake system's actuation to simultaneously inform both rearward and forward road users, maintaining operational simplicity while dramatically improving information dissemination
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 deceleration or braking status to those in front, reducing the risk of accidents by improving awareness and decision-making for approaching vehicles and pedestrians.
Implementation Method 1
An accelerometer or other sensor on the vehicle detects deceleration of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 3
A signal is sent from the accelerometer or other sensor to the circuitry in the frame. This actuates or illuminates the LEDs upon deceleration
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 on 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.