Road Surface Drawing Lamp Sequence for Earlier Pattern Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traffic participants around a vehicle may delay in recognizing sequential light patterns due to the timing of irradiation region changes, which affects the visibility of the light pattern.

Innovation Solution

A road surface drawing lamp system that first forms a sequential light pattern starting from the tip portion of the drawing region, including a nearest and farthest region, allowing early recognition by traffic participants, and a lamp control unit that adjusts the light pattern based on obstacle information detected around the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the sequential light pattern is drawn from the nearest region to the farthest region, then the light pattern is drawn in order, but the recognition timing by traffic participants is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognition timingVSAvoidlight pattern drawing sequence

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional drawing sequence by first illuminating the tip portion (farthest region) of the drawing region and then sequentially illuminating toward the base portion (nearest region). This reversal allows traffic participants to recognize the light pattern earlier since the tip portion is illuminated first, resolving the contradiction between drawing order and recognition timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by first forming the light pattern at the tip portion before completing the entire sequential pattern. This preliminary illumination of the critical tip region enables early recognition by traffic participants while the rest of the pattern continues to form, reducing recognition delay without compromising the completeness of the light pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If the sequential light pattern is drawn in the surrounding region, then the coverage area is increased, but the visibility is reduced when obstacles limit the view angle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawing region coverageVSAvoidobstacle blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the first illumination on the tip portion of the drawing region, which is the farthest and most critical area for early recognition. By prioritizing illumination at this specific location before progressing to other regions, the system ensures that the most important area is visible first, overcoming obstacle blockage effects while maintaining overall coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If the light pattern is drawn at the nearest region first, then the drawing sequence is simple, but the traffic participant recognition is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognition delayVSAvoidlight pattern control sequence

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250020304A1Road surface drawing lamp and road surface drawing lamp system

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 KOITO MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A road surface drawing lamp is configured to be mounted on a vehicle. The road surface drawing lamp is configured to draw a sequential light pattern in which an irradiation region changes in a sequential manner in a drawing region set in a surrounding region of the vehicle. The road surface drawing lamp is configured to first form, as the sequential light pattern, a first light pattern which is drawn at least in a part including a tip portion of the drawing region.