Vehicle Rear Lighting with Segmented Illumination for Obstacle Detection
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting tools struggle to accurately illuminate areas where obstacles exist, leading to potential late detection and insufficient alerting of drivers. Additionally, these systems often have complex structures with many parts, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting tool for vehicles comprising multiple light emission units, including first and second light sources with reflectors and light guide lenses, respectively. These units are configured to selectively illuminate specific regions behind the vehicle, ensuring strong light is directed where obstacles are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the illumination range is controlled by rotating a shade using an actuator, then the illumination range can be adjusted from near to far, but the structure becomes complex with many parts, increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light emission units, each capable of emitting light in different directions. Instead of using a single adjustable shade mechanism, the patent segments the illumination function across multiple fixed light sources positioned at different angles, eliminating the need for complex rotating shade actuators while maintaining versatile illumination coverage
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single light source with an adjustable shade to control illumination direction, the patent inverts the approach by using multiple fixed light sources emitting in different directions simultaneously. This eliminates the mechanical adjustment mechanism while achieving the same functional result through spatial distribution of light sources
2Device complexity
If a single light source with adjustable shade is used, then the structure is simpler, but it is difficult to accurately illuminate specific regions where obstacles exist with strong light
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into multiple light emission units, each responsible for illuminating a specific angular region. This segmentation allows precise targeting of obstacle locations without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, as each unit is fixed to illuminate its designated sector with optimal intensity
Solution Approach 2:
Different light emission units provide different illumination characteristics tailored to their specific directional requirements. Each unit is optimized to emit light in its specific angular range, ensuring that obstacles in different locations receive appropriately focused and intense illumination without affecting other regions
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple light sources are used to cover different angles, then illumination accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light emission units are merged into a single integrated lighting assembly that functions as one cohesive unit. The multiple LEDs are mounted on a common circuit board within a unified housing, eliminating the need for separate adjustable mechanisms for each light source and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining multi-directional illumination accuracy
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 solution enables early detection of obstacles behind vehicles by selectively illuminating the relevant areas with strong light, thereby enhancing driver alertness and safety while reducing system complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first light emission unit that includes a first light source and a reflector, and that is configured to reflect first light emitted from the first light source using the reflector and emit the first light reflected by the reflector rearward from a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a second light emission unit that includes a second light source and a light guide lens, and that is configured to guide second light emitted from the second light source using the light guide lens and emit the second light guided by the light guide lens rearward from the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting tool for a vehicle includes a first light emission unit that reflects first light emitted from a first light source using a reflector and emit the first light reflected by the reflector to a side behind a vehicle, and a second light emission unit configured to guide second light emitted from a second light source using a light guide lens and emit the second light guided by the light guide lens to a side behind the vehicle, the first light emission unit emits the first light toward the illumination range behind the vehicle, and the second light emission unit is disposed in plural in a vehicle width direction and selectively emits the second light for each of the illumination regions which are divided in the vehicle width direction so as to overlap the illumination range.