Sequential Electronic Flare Flashing for Driver Clarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roadside flare systems face challenges such as confusion for drivers due to excessive light noise, entanglement of wires, and inefficient deployment, especially in emergency situations, and lack proper directional guidance for aviators and traffic management.

Innovation Solution

The development of electronic flare devices with self-synchronizing capabilities using wireless communication through light, sound, or radiofrequency, featuring dynamic LED orientation and energy-saving mechanisms, allowing for sequential or simultaneous flashing patterns to provide directional information and warnings, and incorporating features like motion-actuated activation and group control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple vehicles with flashing lamps are present at an emergency site, then visibility and warning are enhanced, but driver confusion increases due to light noise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoiddriver confusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different flashing patterns to different positions in the sequence. The first vehicle uses a first flashing pattern while the second vehicle uses a second flashing pattern, creating local differentiation in an otherwise uniform system of multiple flashing vehicles. This allows drivers to distinguish between multiple light sources and understand their relative positions and sequence, reducing confusion while maintaining high visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of time

If electronic flares are deployed quickly at emergency sites, then response time is reduced, but wire entanglement and deployment issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoiddeployment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire connection system with a wireless communication system. Instead of using physical wires to synchronize flashing patterns between vehicles, the system uses wireless signals (such as radio frequency communication) to transmit synchronization data. This eliminates wire entanglement problems while enabling quick deployment, as vehicles can be positioned freely without being constrained by physical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If sequential flashing patterns are used to provide directional guidance, then driver orientation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional guidanceVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through sequential flashing patterns where vehicles flash their lights in a specific sequence rather than continuously. The first vehicle flashes according to a first flashing pattern, and the second vehicle flashes according to a second flashing pattern at a different time. This periodic, sequential activation provides directional guidance information to drivers while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous lighting, as each vehicle's lamps are activated only during its designated flash interval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enhances driver perspective with coordinated light patterns, reduces wire entanglement and deployment issues, and optimizes energy use, providing effective directional guidance and warnings while minimizing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of light emitters positioned within the housing; electronic circuitry connected to the power source and light emitters to drive at least some of the light emitters to emit flashes of light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3218887B1Sequential and coordinated flashing of electronic roadside flares with active energy conservation

Publication Date: 2020.10.14 SELEVAN JAMES R

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AI summary

Electronic light emitting flares and related methods. Flares of the present invention include various features such as self-synchronization, remote control, motion-actuated or percussion-actuated features, dynamic shifting between side-emitting and top-emitting light emitters in response to changes in positional orientation (e.g., vertical vs. horizontal) of the flare; overrides to cause continued emission from side-emitting or top-emitting light emitters irrespective of changes in the flare's positional orientation; use of the flare(s) for illumination of traffic cones and other hazard marking or traffic safety objects or devices, group on/off features, frequency specificity to facilitate use of separate groups of flares in proximity to one another, selection and changing of flashing patterns and others.