Intermittent Pattern Light Road Surface Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road surface assessment technologies face challenges in effectively detecting changes in road conditions, such as bumps and shape alterations due to landslides or snow, without burdening the driver with continuous pattern light emission, which reduces visibility and illumination performance.
Innovation Solution
A road surface assessment apparatus that intermittently emits pattern light for a short duration, allowing the driver to recognize road conditions without interference, using a system comprising an illumination device, detector, and assessment unit, which includes a brightness sensor, lighting controller, vehicle speed sensor, and camera to assess and adjust the pattern light emission based on environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pattern light is continuously emitted to detect road surface changes, then measurement precision is improved, but illumination intensity deteriorates due to reduced visibility and driver distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device emits pattern light intermittently in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The control unit activates the illumination device for short durations at regular intervals, allowing the road surface detector to capture images during each pulse while providing dark periods that restore normal visibility and prevent driver distraction from continuous pattern light emission.
2Measurement precision
If pattern light emission duration is increased to improve road surface assessment, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to reduced illumination availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed illumination with optimized duty cycles that provide sufficient light emission duration for accurate road surface detection while minimizing the total time that normal illumination is interrupted. The control unit adjusts the timing and duration of pattern light pulses to balance detection needs with maintaining overall illumination availability for driver visibility.
3Measurement precision
If pattern light is emitted to detect road conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device operates in periodic pulse mode rather than continuous operation. The control unit activates the illumination device only during brief intervals when road surface detection is required, then deactivates it during periods when normal illumination suffices. This periodic operation dramatically reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining sufficient detection accuracy through the accumulated data from multiple pulsed measurements.
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
Enables easy detection of road surface changes without bothering the driver, maintaining optimal illumination performance by ensuring the pattern light is not visually distracting and allowing for effective assessment of road conditions, even in low brightness environments.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination device 2 configured to emit pattern light to a road surface 30 on which a vehicle 1 runs, or a surrounding of the vehicle 1; a detector 18 configured to detect the emitted pattern light
Data Source
AI summary
A road surface assessment apparatus for a vehicle includes an illumination device, a detector, and an assessment unit. The illumination device is configured to emit pattern light to a road surface on which the vehicle runs, or a surrounding of the vehicle. The detector is configured to detect the emitted pattern light. The assessment unit is configured to assess a condition of the road surface, on the basis of the detected pattern light. The illumination device intermittently emits the pattern light for a short time in such a manner that a period of time for which the pattern light is not emitted is longer than a period of time for which the pattern light is emitted.