Movable Simulator Lighting for Realistic Driving Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving simulators are located in dark rooms to avoid washing out the display with competing light, leaving the user environment and driver controls poorly illuminated, which frustrates user interaction and fails to simulate realistic lighting conditions.

Innovation Solution

A driving simulator with a dynamic light system featuring a movable light source that projects light at varying intensities and angles to simulate environmental lighting, including a movable light source that can be controlled by an actuator to simulate real-world lighting conditions such as sunlight, streetlights, and car headlights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the simulator is located in a dark room to avoid washing out the display, then the display quality is improved, but the user environment and driver controls are poorly illuminated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay brightnessVSAvoiduser interaction with controls

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations around the simulator. Each light source can be independently controlled to illuminate specific areas (display area, control area, seating area) with appropriate intensity, allowing the display to remain bright while controls and user environment are also properly lit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the simulator receive different illumination characteristics. The display area receives controlled lighting to prevent washing out, while the control area and user environment receive separate illumination optimized for interaction. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between display quality and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If overhead lighting is used to illuminate the user environment, then user interaction is improved, but realistic lighting conditions cannot be simulated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction with controlsVSAvoidrealistic lighting condition simulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system transitions from static overhead lighting to dynamic, movable light sources that can be repositioned and adjusted. The lights can move to different positions and angles to simulate various environmental lighting conditions (sunlight from different positions, streetlights, headlights) while maintaining adequate illumination for user interaction with controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable light sources serve multiple functions: they illuminate the user environment and controls for interaction, while simultaneously simulating realistic environmental lighting conditions. The same light sources can represent different environmental lights (sun, streetlights, headlights) by changing position and intensity, providing both practical illumination and realistic simulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If fixed lighting is used to illuminate the simulator, then user environment is lit, but different environmental lighting conditions cannot be tested

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser environment brightnessVSAvoidtesting with different lights at different angles

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system uses movable light sources that can be dynamically repositioned to different locations and angles. This allows the system to maintain adequate user environment illumination while simultaneously simulating various environmental lighting conditions (different sun positions, streetlight locations, headlights) by moving the light sources to corresponding positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable light sources create physical copies of environmental light sources by replicating their positions, angles, and intensity characteristics. Multiple light sources can be positioned to copy different environmental conditions, enabling realistic testing of how the vehicle systems respond to various lighting scenarios while maintaining user environment illumination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 system enhances realism by providing illumination that simulates real-world lighting conditions, allowing for realistic user interaction and testing of systems under varying light scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

The movable light source projects light toward the simulated vehicle environment at a varying intensity and at different angles to simulate the environmental light when the environmental light is shown in different positions on the display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight projection: Light

Data Source

PatentUS20260002658A1Dynamic light for a driving simulator

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 FCA US LLC

AI summary

A driving simulator includes a control system including visual content, a display connected to the control system to display the visual content, a simulated vehicle environment, and a dynamic light system including a movable light source arranged to simulate an environmental light of the visual content. The movable light source projects light toward the simulated vehicle environment at a varying intensity and at different angles to simulate the environmental light when the environmental light is shown in different positions on the display.