Strobed Headlight Reduces Precipitation Streaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adverse weather conditions such as rain and snow significantly reduce visibility due to dispersed light sources causing streaking, which existing solutions like wipers and high beams often fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A system of discrete lights distributed over a surface, powered by a regulation and multiplexing circuit that strobes the lights in accordance with environmental conditions to reduce or eliminate streaking, improving visibility by creating directional light patterns that prevent the perception of streaks from precipitation or debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If continuous light is used in adverse weather conditions, then illumination coverage is improved, but streaking perception increases reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by strobing the light sources at specific frequencies to freeze the perception of moving precipitation particles. The regulation and multiplexing circuit controls the array of discrete lights to flash periodically, creating a stroboscopic effect that prevents the human eye from perceiving streaks while maintaining illumination coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the continuous light source into an array of discrete lights distributed over a surface. This segmentation allows individual lights to be controlled independently through the regulation and multiplexing circuit, enabling selective strobing patterns that reduce streaking while maintaining overall illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If high beams are used to improve visibility, then illumination intensity increases, but streaking and driver distraction worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic strobing action to provide high illumination intensity only during brief intervals, freezing the perception of precipitation and reducing the harmful streaking effect that causes driver distraction, while still achieving high visibility during the strobe periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation and multiplexing circuit changes the temporal parameters of light emission by implementing variable strobe frequencies and duty cycles, allowing the system to optimize between illumination intensity and streaking reduction based on environmental conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wipers are used to clear precipitation, then visibility is improved, but device complexity and reliability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with an optical solution using strobed lighting. Instead of mechanically removing precipitation with moving parts, the system uses controlled light emission to alter the perception of precipitation, eliminating mechanical complexity and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary between the driver and precipitation. Rather than directly interacting with precipitation through mechanical contact, the strobed light acts as a mediator that modifies the visual perception of precipitation, allowing visibility improvement without mechanical intervention.
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 solution effectively improves visibility by 'freezing' the movement of water or precipitation on windshields, allowing drivers to see through dots of snow and rain rather than streaks, enhancing safety and reducing driver distraction.
Implementation Method 1
A regulation and multiplexing circuit is coupled to the array of discrete lights and configured to power discrete lights such that the regulation and multiplexing circuit strobes the discrete lights in accordance with environmental conditions to reduce or eliminate perceived streaking of precipitation or debris
Data Source
AI summary
A light providing improved visibility during adverse conditions includes an array of discrete lights distributed over a surface. The discrete lights are configured to distribute directional light over a three-dimensional space. A regulation and multiplexing circuit is coupled to the array of discrete lights and configured to power discrete lights such that the regulation and multiplexing circuit strobes the discrete lights in accordance with environmental conditions to reduce or eliminate perceived streaking of precipitation or debris to improve operator visibility.