Stepped Intensity Electric Road Flare for Hazard Location and Alerting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric road flares are ineffective in simultaneously alerting and guiding drivers to hazards due to their light emission patterns, which do not provide a perceived fixed intensity, unlike incendiary road flares, leading to confusion and increased accident risk, especially in short-term hazard scenarios.
Innovation Solution
An electric road flare design featuring a circuit with a microcontroller-powered LED light source that varies intensity to create a waveform with both steady and flickering zones, mimicking the visibility and safety features of incendiary flares, ensuring drivers can establish the exact location of the hazard while being alerted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electric road flares use steady ON light emission, then drivers can establish exact location of hazard, but drivers cannot be effectively alerted to the hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing alternating light emission patterns that switch between steady ON state (for location identification) and flashing OFF state (for driver alert). The controller cycles the LED through these different emission modes, creating a temporal pattern that simultaneously achieves both location precision and driver warning effectiveness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If electric road flares use flashing ON-OFF light emission, then drivers are effectively alerted to hazard, but drivers cannot establish exact location of hazard due to confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action with controlled duty cycles, where the flashing portion occupies a specific time percentage (e.g., 30-70% ON time) within each cycle. This temporal control ensures the flashing is sufficient to alert drivers while the steady portions are sufficient for location identification, resolving the contradiction between alerting effectiveness and location precision.
3Illumination intensity
If electric road flares are positioned 2-4 feet above roadway on barricades, then visibility is improved, but device size becomes too large for emergency vehicle storage and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the essential visual characteristics of traditional high-position warning lights through LED light emission patterns, rather than physically replicating the elevated mounting structure. The LED flame or globe positioned close to the road surface emulates the visibility function of elevated lights through intelligent light emission control, eliminating the need for bulky barricade structures.
4Illumination intensity
If incendiary road flares are used for short term hazards, then visibility and driver respect are achieved, but burn hazards and toxic fumes are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical combustion system of incendiary flares with an electrical LED-based illumination system. The LED, controlled by a microcontroller, replicates the visual intensity and warning effectiveness of incendiary flares without the harmful combustion byproducts, burn hazards, or toxic fumes associated with traditional pyrotechnic devices.
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 design effectively guides drivers past hazards by providing a perceived steady light for location identification and alerts with varying intensity, enhancing safety without the dangers of incendiary flares, and is compact for easy deployment in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
an led light source
Data Source
AI summary
A stepped intensity electric road flare having a housing supporting a circuit. The circuit comprises an led light source, a power controller and a power supply. The power controller energizes the led light source with the power supply such that the led light source emits a varying light having at least one perceived fixed intensity within a range of emitted intensities. The road flare of the present invention provides a perceived steady light having a perceived fixed intensity during a portion or time zone of its waveform thereby communicating its exact location. In addition because its intensity changes during other portions or time zones of its waveform it also demands attention. The present invention is therefore an attention getting safety device communicating its exact location. The present invention both alerts drivers to a hazard and guides them past the hazard. In addition the emitted light of the present invention is of a reddish color and concentrated by an optic into a powerful light beam. An incendiary road flare also emits a powerful light having a reddish color and, at portions of its burn cycle, perceived as a steady light. An incendiary road flare also varies its intensity during its burn cycle. Therefore the electric road flare of the present invention emits light having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the light emitted by an incendiary road flare. The present invention therefore both alerts and guides drivers with an effectiveness similar to that of the incendiary road flare. As a result of the similar light emitting characteristics oncoming drivers give the present invention the respect, attention and reaction afforded the incendiary road flare enhancing its ability to guide drivers safely past hazardous zones.