Rotating Vehicle Signaling Modules for Continuous Beam Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing daytime running lights (DRL) on vehicles lack dynamic rotational movement, which limits their visibility to other road users outside the longitudinal axis and creates shadow spots during turns, failing to maintain continuous and uniform signaling lighting as per regulatory photometric grids.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lighting system with three rotating modules, each controlled to adjust intensity and position based on the steering wheel angle, ensuring continuous and uniform light distribution without shadow spots, while adhering to regulatory light intensity levels, by using a control unit to manage the rotation and intensity of secondary light sources in conjunction with a static main light source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional static DRL components are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the visibility to other road users outside the longitudinal axis is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming static DRL components into dynamic rotating modules. The lighting device includes multiple modules that can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, allowing the light distribution to adapt dynamically to different steering angles and viewing directions, thereby significantly improving visibility to road users outside the longitudinal axis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the traditional single static DRL into multiple independent rotating modules. Each module can be controlled separately and rotated to different positions, allowing the system to create dynamic light patterns and maintain visibility across a wider angular range without requiring a single complex static structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If static lighting modules are used, then the manufacturing is simpler, but shadow spots appear during vehicle turns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of light distributionVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamic rotation of multiple lighting modules to eliminate shadow spots that would appear with static modules during vehicle turns. The modules rotate to maintain continuous and uniform light distribution across the required angular range, adapting to the vehicle's steering angle in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If rotating modules with different angular stops are used, then the regulatory photometric grid compliance is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with photometric gridVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different angular stops and rotation ranges to different modules based on their specific positions and functions. The first module has a first angular stop, the second module has a second angular stop, and the third module has a third angular stop, allowing each module to optimize its light distribution for its specific location while collectively complying with the regulatory photometric grid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3197717B1Motor vehicle comprising a signalling device with moving assembly
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3197717B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3197717B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3197717B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A vehicle comprising at least one main light source (6) and at least second (52) and third (53) adjacent secondary light sources, capable of generating, respectively, beams in predefined main directions, and a control member capable of controlling the brightness of each of the second (52) and third (53) secondary light sources depending on the the steering angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle (1), characterised in that each of the second (52) and third (53) secondary light sources is rotatably mounted about an axis perpendicular to the main direction of emission of the beam of same, and in that they emit, respectively, light beams in adjustable main directions respecting control laws determined by the control member (OC) with respect to both the respective brightnesses of same and the respective ranges of rotation (β and γ) of same in order to form a homogeneous and continuous overall beam obtained by complementarity of the beams of same when the vehicle (1) turns.