Multiband Adjustable Vehicle Lights for Sensor Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems struggle to provide simultaneous high-quality visible and infrared illumination, especially when switching between high-beam and low-beam modes, which can disrupt oncoming traffic and compromise sensor data collection.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an adjustable light system with an infrared light-emitting diode and a visible light-emitting diode, utilizing an optical combiner and an adjustable light-blocking device to mix and direct light, ensuring consistent infrared illumination while adjusting visible light patterns to avoid disturbing oncoming traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light is emitted in a high-beam pattern, then visible light illumination coverage is improved, but oncoming traffic is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into separate visible light and infrared light components. The visible light is segmented into high-beam and low-beam patterns that can be selectively activated, while infrared illumination operates independently to support sensor functions without causing visible light pollution to oncoming traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of different light sources independently. Visible light-emitting diodes can be switched between high-beam and low-beam modes or turned off, while infrared light-emitting diodes continue to provide illumination for sensors. This parameter control allows the system to maintain sensor functionality while eliminating visible light disturbance to oncoming traffic.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If visible light is reduced to avoid disturbing oncoming traffic, then light disturbance is minimized, but sensor data collection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces infrared light as an intermediary solution. Infrared illumination serves as a mediator that fulfills the sensor data collection function without producing visible light that would disturb oncoming traffic. The infrared light-emitting diodes provide the necessary illumination for infrared sensors and visible light sensors while remaining invisible to human eyes, thus resolving the conflict between avoiding light pollution and maintaining sensor functionality.
3Device complexity
If a single light source is used for both visible and infrared illumination, then device complexity is reduced, but illumination quality for both functions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (visible light-emitting diodes and infrared light-emitting diodes) and their respective control systems into a single integrated lighting assembly. This merging allows independent control of visible and infrared illumination while maintaining high illumination quality for both functions. The visible light and infrared light are directed through separate optical paths but emerge from the same headlight housing, achieving both functional quality and system integration.
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 allows for effective visible and infrared illumination in both high-beam and low-beam modes, ensuring adequate sensor data for autonomous driving systems while minimizing light disturbance to oncoming traffic.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that contains an infrared light-emitting device such as an infrared light-emitting diode
Implementation Method 2
a visible light-emitting device such as a visible light-emitting diode
Implementation Method 3
An optical combiner may be used to mix infrared light from the infrared light-emitting device with visible light from the visible light-emitting device
Implementation Method 4
This mixed infrared and visible light may be reflected towards a lens in the adjustable light using a reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A system may have lights. The lights may emit visible and infrared light. Infrared light may be used to illuminate objects that are monitored using infrared image sensors or other infrared sensors. Visible light may be used to illuminate objects that are viewed by users and which may be monitored using sensors. The lights may be adjustable. An adjustable light may have a light source that contains an infrared light-emitting device such as an infrared light-emitting diode and a visible light-emitting device such as a visible light-emitting diode. A reflector may reflect light from the light source towards a lens. An adjustable light-blocking device may be located between the reflector and the lens. The light-blocking device may allow infrared light to pass unimpeded while adjusting visible light passing to the lens.