Sealed LED Alert Assembly for Front Vehicle Motion Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual alert systems for vehicles do not effectively inform pedestrians and other drivers about the deceleration or acceleration of a vehicle, particularly when mounted in forward-facing locations.
Innovation Solution
A visual front alert system incorporating LED strips with a flexible housing, a processor, and an accelerometer, which provides dynamic lighting patterns to indicate vehicle deceleration or acceleration through a transparent or translucent cover, powered by the vehicle's battery or a portable battery, and connected via an OBD port, with wireless connectivity options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual alert systems are mounted at forward-facing locations to inform pedestrians and drivers, then the ability to communicate vehicle deceleration/acceleration is improved, but the visibility and effectiveness of the alert are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different colored LED strips (white and amber) to convey different vehicle states. The white LED strip indicates normal operation while the amber LED strip indicates caution or warning conditions. This color-coding system enhances information transmission by providing intuitive visual cues that are easily distinguishable by pedestrians and other drivers, directly addressing the insufficient visibility and effectiveness of prior alert systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic lighting patterns including flashing, pulsing, and sequential illumination sequences to communicate vehicle deceleration and acceleration. These periodic actions create attention-grabbing visual cues that are more effective than static lighting, improving both information transmission and alert reliability by making the vehicle's motion state more noticeable to observers.
2Measurement precision
If LED strips with processor and accelerometer are integrated into flexible housing, then the system's ability to detect and indicate vehicle motion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the processor, accelerometer, and LED strip control into a single unified housing unit. This merging of components simplifies installation and reduces the number of separate parts that need to be mounted and connected. The integrated design maintains precise motion detection capability while reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses the electronic components (processor and accelerometer), protects the LED strips, and acts as the mounting interface for vehicle installation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining precise motion detection and indication capabilities.
3Reliability
If environmentally sealed construction is used to protect components, then the reliability in various environmental conditions is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible housing that can be molded to enclose all electronic components and LED strips in a single sealed unit. This flexible shell approach provides environmental protection against moisture and dust while allowing for simpler manufacturing compared to traditional multi-piece sealed enclosures. The flexible material can be sealed using simpler processes such as adhesive bonding or ultrasonic welding rather than requiring complex gasket systems or multiple fastening operations.
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
Effectively communicates vehicle deceleration or acceleration to observers in front of the vehicle using dynamic lighting patterns, enhancing safety by providing clear visual cues.
Implementation Method 1
a processor incorporating a motion control circuitry/accelerometer component
Implementation Method 2
illuminating elements in a strip configuration and a processor... for signaling the illuminating elements to generate a visual output
Data Source
AI summary
A visual front alert system attached to a vehicle for instructing observers as to movement of the vehicle. A body incorporates a plurality of illuminating elements configured in a strip extending substantially the length thereof and communicating with a processor also integrated into the body and incorporating a motion control circuitry. A power supply operates the processor and illuminating elements. In response to a travel condition of the vehicle, the motion control circuitry outputs a signal to the processor which is representative of the vehicle movement, the processor in turn signals the illuminating elements to generate a visual output corresponding to the signal.