Rotary Lighting Control System with Memory Reinstatement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive lighting control systems are cumbersome and fail to adapt lighting configurations seamlessly to changing environments, leading to confusion and non-compliance with legal requirements, as they rely on physical switch positions that do not disconnect from previous settings.
Innovation Solution
A lighting control system featuring a freely rotating control member that encodes rotational inputs into signals for a controller to manage multiple lighting configurations, including automatic mode override by a light sensor, allowing independent control of lighting configurations without reference to switch positions, and enabling preset configuration storage and reinstatement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotary switch or stalk switch with physical positions is used to control lighting equipment, then the switch provides clear physical feedback for lighting status, but the lighting configuration becomes frozen to the switch position and cannot adapt to changing environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rotary switch or stalk switch with an electronic control system. The control member rotates freely without mechanical stops, and encoding means convert the rotation into electrical signals. This eliminates the mechanical linkage between switch position and lighting configuration, allowing the lighting system to adapt independently through electronic control while maintaining ease of operation through rotational input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the lighting configuration to change based on environmental conditions detected by sensors, rather than being statically tied to a physical switch position. The controller dynamically adjusts lighting settings based on sensor inputs, enabling the system to adapt to changing environments while the control member remains in a neutral, freely rotating position.
2Loss of information
If the control member has predefined positions corresponding to lighting configurations, then the switch position indicates the lighting status, but the system becomes cumbersome and requires multiple switch positions for different lighting modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical indication system (illuminated pictograms next to switch positions) with an electronic display system. The controller receives rotational input from the control member and displays the current lighting configuration electronically, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical switch positions while maintaining clear visual feedback about the lighting status.
Solution Approach 2:
The control member is designed to rotate freely without predefined positions, serving as a universal input device that can select any lighting configuration through rotational movement. This single, multi-functional control mechanism replaces multiple specialized switch positions, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to indicate and control various lighting modes.
3Device complexity
If conventional lighting switches are used, then the system结构简单 (simple structure), but the driver must go through multiple switch positions (off to parking to low beam) to activate fog lamps, losing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a memory function that stores the last selected lighting configuration. When the vehicle is restarted, the system automatically reinstates the previous lighting setting, eliminating the need for the driver to manually switch through multiple positions again. This preliminary action of storing and recalling settings saves time while maintaining a simple control structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting configuration selection remains active and continuous across vehicle shutdowns and restarts through the memory and reinstatement functions. The useful action of selecting and maintaining lighting preferences continues uninterrupted, allowing the driver to quickly resume the desired lighting mode without repeating the switching process, thus reducing time loss while keeping the control mechanism simple.
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 system provides a user-friendly interface that decouples lighting configuration from switch positions, ensuring fail-safe operation and compliance with environmental changes, allowing easy switching between configurations and automatic adaptation based on vehicle environment.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor that can detect the luminous environment of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a lighting control system for a motor vehicle having a controller (3), an main electrical circuit and external running lights including day running lights, parking lights, low beams and high beams; the system further includes in combination: a manually operable wheel (2) freely rotating bidirectionally about its central axis, encoding means connected to the wheel (2) converting the rotation of the wheel (2) into a signal fed to the controller (3) to activate the vehicle external running lights into a lighting configuration, logic means embedded in the controller (3) for storing the said lighting configuration for a preset period of time when the main electrical circuit is turned OFF and for activating the external running lights with the said lighting configuration when the main electrical circuit is turned ON within the said preset period of time.