Multifunction Vehicle Lighting Unit With Redundant Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle lighting systems lack redundancy, leading to potential failures in lighting functionality, especially when one light unit or controller fails, compromising safety by reducing visibility and functionality, particularly in bidirectional vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-functional lighting system with redundant controllers and light units on each end of the vehicle, allowing each light unit to operate in various modes (headlight, tail light, turn signal, brake light) and switch functions based on direction of travel, ensuring at least one light unit remains operational even if a controller fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional specialized lighting systems are used with separate light units for each function, then each light unit can be optimized for its specific function, but the system lacks redundancy and reliability when controller or light unit failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functional light units that can operate in multiple modes (headlight, tail light, turn signal, brake light, reverse light) within a single integrated unit. Each light unit contains multiple light sources and optical components that can be selectively activated to perform different lighting functions, eliminating the need for separate specialized light units for each function and providing redundancy through functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple light sources, optical components, and control circuitry into integrated multi-functional light units. The controller merges control of all lighting functions into a single control system that can manage different light modes within each unit, reducing the overall number of separate components while maintaining all required lighting functions and adding redundancy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate light units are used for each lighting function, then lighting functionality can be specialized, but the quantity of components increases and redundancy is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Each light unit is designed as a universal unit capable of performing multiple lighting functions through different operational modes. The units contain multiple light sources (e.g., white LEDs, red LEDs, amber LEDs) and optical components that can be selectively activated to provide headlight, tail light, turn signal, brake light, and reverse light functions, reducing the total number of light units required while maintaining full functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The light units are designed with dynamic operational characteristics, where the same physical unit can change its function and light output characteristics based on control signals. The controller dynamically switches between different lighting modes within each unit, allowing adaptability of function without requiring separate static light units for each purpose.
3Device complexity
If conventional lighting systems without redundancy are used, then device complexity is lower, but safety is compromised when controller or light unit failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundancy by providing multiple light units capable of performing the same lighting functions. If one light unit or controller fails, other light units can continue to provide the required lighting functions, cushioning against the harmful effects of failure and maintaining safety. The system is designed with backup capacity built in from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the light units to enable multi-functionality. By adjusting which light sources are activated and how optical components are configured, the same physical unit can provide different lighting functions. This parameter-based flexibility allows redundancy without requiring identical duplicate systems, maintaining relative simplicity while improving safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.