Steering Interface Light Notification for Vehicle Object Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle collision avoidance systems require high driver attentiveness, which can lead to distraction from other potential hazards, and are often costly, making them impractical for certain applications such as fleet vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle object notification system utilizing a steering interface with light-emitting elements arranged in elongated patterns to illuminate based on detected objects relative to the vehicle's position, providing location-specific alerts without the need for constant driver attention, and potentially integrating with existing vehicle systems for enhanced safety measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If closed-circuit display technologies are used in collision avoidance systems, then object detection capability is improved, but system cost increases by 10-20%

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive closed-circuit display technologies with inexpensive light-emitting elements (such as LEDs) integrated into the steering interface. These simple, low-cost light elements provide sufficient notification capability without requiring complex display systems, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective object detection notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical/electronic display system with a optical notification system using light-emitting elements. This replacement eliminates the need for complex display hardware, screens, and associated control mechanisms, achieving cost reduction while preserving the essential function of alerting drivers to detected objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If interactive display technologies are used to show full-motion video, then object visibility is improved, but driver distraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject visibilityVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential notification function from the complex display system. Instead of showing full-motion video that requires continuous driver attention, the system uses simple light-emitting elements to provide critical object location information, eliminating the distracting visual content while retaining the safety notification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes different light emission patterns, intensities, and potentially colors from the light-emitting elements to convey object detection information. This allows the system to communicate critical safety information through intuitive optical signals that capture driver attention only when necessary, rather than requiring continuous monitoring of video feeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If light-emitting elements are integrated into the steering interface, then notification effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification effectivenessVSAvoidsteering interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the notification system with the existing steering interface structure. By integrating light-emitting elements directly into the steering wheel or steering column, the system utilizes the existing mechanical structure as the notification medium, avoiding the need for separate display units or additional interface components, thereby minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The steering interface serves multiple functions: it maintains its primary steering control function while simultaneously serving as the notification medium for object detection alerts. The light-emitting elements are incorporated into the existing steering components, allowing the same structure to fulfill both mechanical control and visual notification roles, thus avoiding additional dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system effectively alerts drivers to objects around the vehicle without distracting them from other hazards and reduces costs by eliminating the need for expensive display technologies, enhancing safety and usability in various vehicle contexts.

Implementation Method 1

a steering interface that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements... configured to illuminate based on a detection of an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS9580012B2Vehicle object detection and notification system

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC

AI summary

Disclosed and described herein is a vehicle object notification system comprising a steering interface that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, each of the light-emitting elements arranged in an elongated pattern along a respective portion of the steering interface, wherein a first light emitting element is configured to illuminate based on a detection of an object relative to a first portion of a vehicle and a second light emitting element is configured to illuminate based on a detection of an object relative to a second portion of a vehicle.