Commercial Vehicle Side Marker Light Hazard Warning Flashing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle side marker lights do not effectively convey warning signals during hazardous situations, such as loading and unloading processes, which pose risks to nearby individuals.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that regulate side marker lights to display a flashing warning signal when a vehicle is in a warning situation, using a control device that can be activated by the driver or automatically during loading/unloading processes, ensuring enhanced visibility and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If side marker lights are used for permanent marking, then vehicle identification is improved, but warning signal effectiveness during hazardous situations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle identificationVSAvoidwarning signal effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The side marker lights are controlled to switch between a permanent light signal mode for vehicle identification and a flashing warning signal mode for hazardous situations. The control device dynamically changes the lighting behavior based on the operational state, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable identification and providing effective warning signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If hazard warning mode is manually activated, then driver control is improved, but automatic safety during loading/unloading deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidautomatic safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device receives feedback signals from detection devices that monitor loading and unloading operations. When hazardous situations are detected, the system automatically switches to flashing warning mode without requiring manual driver intervention, thereby improving automatic safety while preserving manual control capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects hazardous situations through integrated detection devices and self-activates the hazard warning mode without requiring external manual input. This self-service capability ensures automatic safety during loading and unloading operations while the driver retains the option to manually control the system when desired.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If side marker lights display permanent signal, then vehicle marking is improved, but hazard awareness in vicinity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle markingVSAvoidhazard awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The side marker lights alternate between permanent illumination for vehicle marking and periodic flashing for hazard warning. The control device implements periodic flashing action during hazardous situations such as loading and unloading, thereby maintaining vehicle marking capability while significantly improving hazard awareness in the vicinity through the attention-grabbing flashing pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3050751B1Device and method for supporting a driver of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP3050751B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3050751B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3050751B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to methods for assisting a driver of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, wherein the vehicle (1), viewed in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, has at least one side marker light (11) on each side (12) on the outside, and wherein a control and/or regulating device (13) is provided by means of which the illumination of the side marker lights (11) can be regulated and/or controlled. According to the invention, in a warning situation of the vehicle (1), the control and/or regulating device (11) is switched to a hazard warning flashing mode in which the side marker lights (11) are controlled so that they display a flashing warning signal.