Driver Night Vision Lighting With Pulsed Pupil Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting devices for vehicle drivers fail to maintain a controlled reduction of pupil diameter over time, leading to temporary improvements in night vision that are lost due to visual adaptation, and are not adaptable to individual pupil dynamics influenced by age and ocular pathologies.

Innovation Solution

A device that emits pulsed light with sinusoidal wave emission, diffused to avoid glare and maintain pupil diameter reduction, using user profile adjustment to account for individual factors such as age and ocular health, ensuring continuous pupil diameter control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lighting devices continuously work to reduce pupil diameter, then visual capability is improved, but pupils dilate over time due to visual adaptation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual capabilityVSAvoidpupil diameter reduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device emits light in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The control unit activates the light source at specific intervals, creating a pulsed illumination pattern that maintains pupil constriction while allowing the pupil to partially relax between pulses, preventing complete dilation due to visual adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the illumination pattern based on detected pupil diameter. The control unit monitors pupil size in real-time and modifies the lighting intensity and timing accordingly, creating a dynamic feedback loop that maintains optimal pupil constriction without causing excessive dilation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If lighting devices work occasionally to adapt pupils, then response to abrupt light changes is improved, but visual capability is not maintained over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepupil adaptationVSAvoidvisual capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the driver's pupil diameter and uses this feedback information to adjust the lighting device's operation. This closed-loop control ensures that the lighting device responds appropriately to both gradual and abrupt light changes while maintaining visual capability over extended periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting device performs preliminary pupil constriction before abrupt light changes occur (such as approaching oncoming headlights). By detecting early signs of light changes and activating beforehand, the system prepares the pupil for incoming light, reducing dazzle effects while maintaining overall visual capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If pupil diameter is maximized to capture light, then night vision is improved, but optical aberrations increase causing blurred vision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight captureVSAvoidvision clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the pupil diameter parameter from its natural maximized state to a controlled reduced state during night driving. By maintaining the pupil in a partially constricted state, the system optimizes the balance between light capture and reduction of optical aberrations, improving both illumination intake and vision clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device effectively maintains reduced pupil diameter and improves visual capability by adapting to individual pupil dynamics, preventing glare and night myopia, enhancing visual comfort and clarity during night driving.

Implementation Method 1

emit pulsed light with sinusoidal wave emission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSinusoidal wave emission:

Implementation Method 2

diffused to avoid glare

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP4549252B1Device for improving night vision of vehicle drivers and method for controlling thereof
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 GRP ANTOLIN ING SA
  • EP4549252B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4549252B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4549252B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Device (10) for improving night vision of vehicle drivers comprising a controlled reduction of the driver's pupil diameter and the maintenance of said reduction over time in order to improve the visual capability of the vehicle driver, all of this, moreover, adapted to the pupil dynamics of the vehicle driver (D). It comprises a vehicle interior part (1) comprising a carrier (1.1), a lighting device (1.2) configured to emit pulsed light with an irradiance at an ocular plane of the vehicle driver following a sinusoidal wave varying in regular periods between 10s and 30s, a control means (1.3), a switching means (1.4) and a user profile adjusting means (2).