Vehicle Light Camera Mounting Glare Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with modified rear structures, such as truck caps or trailers, often obstruct existing cameras, rendering them useless, and there is a need to relocate or add cameras to accommodate these changes while minimizing glare from LED lights.
Innovation Solution
A light apparatus comprising a retainer bracket connected to a light assembly with a camera housing that securely encloses a digital or analog camera, allowing adjustable placement and reducing glare, which can be attached to a vehicle light housing or existing light fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera is relocated to accommodate vehicle modifications (such as adding a truck cap), then the camera view is unobstructed, but the device complexity increases due to additional mounting components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera housing with the light assembly into a single integrated unit. The camera housing is attached to the light assembly housing, allowing the camera to be relocated to new positions (such as on a truck cap) while using the existing light assembly as the mounting structure, thereby avoiding the need for separate complex mounting brackets
Solution Approach 2:
The light assembly serves multiple functions: it provides illumination and simultaneously serves as a mounting structure for the camera. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated mounting components, simplifying the overall device complexity while enabling camera relocation
2Use of energy by moving object
If LED lights are used for illumination, then energy efficiency is improved, but glare or lens flare is generated that affects camera imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful glare effect from the LED illumination by introducing a separate glare shield component. The shield is positioned between the LED light and the camera lens to block the direct path of light that causes glare, while allowing the illumination function to remain intact
Solution Approach 2:
The glare shield acts as an intermediary element between the LED light source and the camera lens. It selectively blocks harmful direct light paths that cause glare while permitting the necessary illumination to reach the camera's field of view, thus mediating between the illumination requirement and the glare prevention requirement
3Illumination intensity
If a camera is added to a marker light or light fixture on a trailer, then visibility is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is integrated with the existing light fixture structure. The camera housing attaches to the light assembly housing, combining the imaging function with the existing illumination structure. This approach enhances visibility through the added camera view while avoiding the need for completely separate mounting systems
Data Source
AI summary
A light apparatus, system, and method to replace a vehicle light is disclosed which includes a retainer bracket attached to a light assembly and a camera housing attached to the light assembly, wherein the camera housing is configured to secure a digital or analog camera to the light assembly.