Sensor-Mounted LED Messaging for Targeted Vehicle Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack effective means for targeted visual communication with nearby recipients, leading to confusion and potential safety issues, as conventional external displays do not provide targeted information and require additional hardware.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting diode (LED) messaging system is integrated into or mounted on the housing of sensors, allowing for targeted visual communication by rotating LED displays that selectively activate and deactivate LEDs to provide messages directly to intended recipients, avoiding interference with the sensor's operation and reducing the need for additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional external displays are used for visual communication, then information can be displayed to recipients, but the displays cannot provide targeted information and require additional hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The LED messaging system is integrated into the sensor housing, merging the communication function with the existing sensor structure. This eliminates the need for separate display hardware while enabling targeted visual communication with recipients in the vehicle's vicinity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor housing serves dual purposes: it houses the sensor for detecting subjects and simultaneously provides a mounting structure for the LED display. This multi-functional design allows the same structural component to support both sensing and communication functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If LED displays are integrated into sensor housing, then targeted communication is achieved, but the housing must rotate to direct messages
Solution Approach 1:
The LED display is pre-integrated into the sensor housing structure during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures that when the housing rotates to track or communicate with subjects, the display is already positioned and configured to deliver messages in the correct direction without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The display rotation is coupled with the sensor housing rotation, so a single rotational movement accomplishes both sensor orientation and message direction. This merging of rotational functions eliminates the need for separate display positioning mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If conventional displays are used, then general information can be shown, but recipients may experience confusion from non-targeted messages
Solution Approach 1:
The LED display directs messages to specific local areas or recipients based on their position in the vehicle's vicinity. By controlling which LEDs are activated and their directional orientation, the system ensures that each recipient receives only the information intended for them, eliminating confusion from non-targeted messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data about subjects in the vehicle's vicinity to determine which recipients should receive messages. This feedback loop ensures that messages are targeted appropriately to the correct recipients, preventing confusion and ensuring clear communication.
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 LED messaging system enables vehicles to provide clear, targeted notifications to intended recipients without confusing others, enhancing safety by reducing ambiguity and maintaining the sensor's operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to a housing of a sensor
Implementation Method 2
one or more lenses, wherein the one or more lenses are configured to redirect light emitted by the at least one LED
Data Source
AI summary
This technology relates to a display mounted messaging system. The display mounted messaging system may include a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to a housing of a sensor. The housing of the sensor may rotate. The display mounted messaging system may also include an LED controller which is configured to selectively activate and deactivate at least one LED in the LED display, to provide a message in the direction of an intended recipient.