Self-illuminating Head for Road Posts with Solar Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional road delineators rely on vehicle headlights to reflectively mark roads at night, which is insufficient for cyclists and pedestrians with weak lighting, compromising safety.
Innovation Solution
A self-illuminating head for road delineators equipped with a solar panel, rechargeable storage, and adjustable light sources that automatically switch on at low brightness, allowing for color-coded marking and remote control for enhanced visibility and warning functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional reflectors are used on road guideposts, then the guideposts are visible to vehicles with headlights, but they are insufficiently effective for cyclists and pedestrians with weak lights
Solution Approach 1:
The road guidepost is equipped with a self-illuminating head that generates its own light using a light-emitting element powered by a battery or solar panel, eliminating dependence on external vehicle headlights for visibility. This self-service capability ensures consistent visibility for all road users including cyclists and pedestrians with weak lighting.
2Reliability
If a self-illuminating head is added to existing road guideposts, then visibility is improved for all users, but the complexity and cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-illuminating head is designed as a separate, modular unit that can be mounted on top of existing road guideposts. This segmentation allows the illumination system to be added independently without replacing the entire guidepost structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity and installation cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-illuminating head is designed as a universal component that can be mounted on various types of existing road guideposts. The standardized mounting interface and power options (battery or solar) make it adaptable to different installation scenarios, reducing the need for custom solutions and simplifying the overall system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the solar panel is fixed in position, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the sunlight absorption efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel is mounted on an adjustable support structure that allows it to be rotated around a vertical axis and tilted to achieve optimal alignment with sunlight. This dynamic adjustability maximizes energy absorption efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different colored lights are used for different marking functions, then the versatility and information transmission is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light-emitting elements of different colors (e.g., white, green, red, blue) are integrated into a single self-illuminating head unit. This merging of multiple functions into one device provides versatile marking capabilities for different road conditions and user needs without requiring separate devices for each function.
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
Improves safety by providing consistent and visible road markings for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians, and allows for remote warning activation during hazardous conditions, without requiring replacement of existing delineator posts.
Implementation Method 1
a solar panel (4) inserted into the upper end of the head housing (31) for converting incident sunlight into electricity
Implementation Method 2
at least one light source (7) that can be switched on and off, for marking the road's course
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a head (3) that can be mounted on or connected to a road guidepost (1), and which has a housing (31) that can be mounted on or connected to the guidepost (1). A solar panel (4) is arranged on the top of the housing, and an electrical storage device (6) is arranged inside the housing (31), which is charged with current from the solar panel (4). The housing (31) also contains an electric light source (7), which is powered by current from the electrical storage device (6), and electronics (51) equipped with a brightness sensor that switches the light source (7) on or off depending on the ambient brightness. A further light source (9) can be provided as an alarm device and activated by a radio signal via the electronics (51).