Roadway Marking Device with Directional Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for marking pedestrian crossings on roads are inadequate in ensuring both pedestrians and vehicle drivers can effectively recognize the crossings, with current solutions failing to provide clear visual cues for each group.
Innovation Solution
A marking device comprising pedestrian and vehicle light sources strategically positioned on the roadway, with a control unit that separately controls these sources to provide directed lighting, allowing pedestrians to recognize pedestrian crossings and drivers to recognize vehicle crossings, using detection units and communication interfaces to coordinate lighting based on the presence of pedestrians and vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single lighting system is used for marking pedestrian crossings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the visibility and recognition effectiveness for both pedestrians and drivers cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into two distinct subsystems: pedestrian light sources and vehicle light sources. Each subsystem is independently controlled and optimized for its specific function, allowing the pedestrian crossing to be effectively visible to both pedestrians and drivers without requiring a single complex unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking device achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both pedestrian light sources and vehicle light sources that can operate independently or simultaneously. This allows the same infrastructure to serve dual purposes: enhancing pedestrian visibility and providing clear markings for drivers, thereby resolving the contradiction between system complexity and effectiveness.
2Illumination intensity
If lighting is provided in all directions, then visibility for all users is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system implements local quality by directing light in specific directions tailored to each user group's needs. Pedestrian light sources emit light primarily toward the sidewalk where pedestrians are located, while vehicle light sources direct light toward the roadway where drivers are positioned. This directional specificity ensures effective visibility for each group while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption in other directions.
3Ease of operation
If pedestrian light sources and vehicle light sources are controlled together, then the control system is simpler, but the ability to provide situation-specific lighting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements dynamics by enabling independent and flexible control of pedestrian light sources and vehicle light sources. Each subsystem can be activated, deactivated, or adjusted based on specific situational requirements such as pedestrian presence, traffic conditions, or time of day. This dynamic control capability allows the system to adapt to various scenarios while maintaining reasonable operational simplicity through modular control architecture.
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
Enhances the visibility of pedestrian crossings for pedestrians and vehicle crossings for drivers, improving safety by dynamically controlling the lighting to match the situational awareness of both groups, allowing for flexible marking of crossings based on roadway and sidewalk conditions.
Implementation Method 1
each of a plurality of pedestrian light sources that is provided on a roadway and that emits light in at least one of a first direction and a second direction along a width direction of the roadway
Data Source
AI summary
A marking device includes each of a plurality of pedestrian light sources that is provided on a roadway and that emits light in at least one of a first direction and a second direction along a width direction of the roadway, each of a plurality of vehicle light sources that is provided on the roadway and that emits light in at least one of a third direction and a fourth direction along an extension direction of the roadway, and a control unit that separately controls the pedestrian light sources and the vehicle light sources. The control unit lights the pedestrian light sources, causing them to mark a first pedestrian crossing to be visually recognized by a pedestrian who is going to cross the roadway, and lights the vehicle light sources, causing them to mark a second pedestrian crossing to be visually recognized by a driver of a vehicle.