Taillight LIDAR Integration for Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive systems lack effective external obstacle detection capabilities, which are essential for enhancing driver safety and vehicle maneuverability, particularly in navigating complex driving environments.
Innovation Solution
Integration of at least one optical sensor within automotive lighting devices to emit and process optical signals, providing data on the vehicle's surroundings, including obstacle detection, and communication with control units to adjust lighting and alert drivers of potential hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical sensors are integrated into automotive lighting devices, then external obstacle detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates optical sensors directly into automotive lighting devices, combining obstacle detection functionality with existing lighting components. This merging approach enables external obstacle detection while utilizing the existing housing and mounting structures of the lighting devices, thereby improving detection capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The automotive lighting devices are designed to serve multiple functions: providing illumination and simultaneously detecting external obstacles through integrated optical sensors. This multi-functionality allows a single component to fulfill both lighting and sensing roles, improving obstacle detection capability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated sensing systems
2Measurement precision
If multiple automotive lighting devices with optical sensors are installed surrounding the vehicle, then measurement precision of surrounding environment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle's surrounding detection into multiple zones by installing automotive lighting devices with optical sensors at different locations around the vehicle. Each lighting device independently monitors its specific zone, and the control unit integrates data from all devices to achieve comprehensive surrounding environment detection with high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-point detection to multi-dimensional spatial detection by distributing optical sensors across multiple lighting devices positioned around the vehicle. This spatial distribution enables three-dimensional surrounding environment mapping, significantly improving measurement precision of the external environment
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 safety by providing real-time obstacle detection and alert systems, ensuring safe vehicle operation and pedestrian safety through improved visibility and adaptive lighting adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one optical sensor is configured to emit an optical signal and generating a data signal in response to a received reflected optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive lighting system for a vehicle includes a taillight disposed at a vehicle equipped with an external object detection system. The taillight includes a housing that contains a light source that is operable to illuminate at least rearward of the equipped vehicle. The external object detection system includes a LIDAR sensor that is disposed in the housing of the taillight. The LIDAR sensor is operable to emit optical signals at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, where optical signals reflected back to the LIDAR sensor are processed by an electronic control unit of the external object detection system. Processing of reflected optical signals by the electronic control unit detects an object present exterior of the equipped vehicle. Also, processing by the electronic control unit may include use of 3D imaging techniques to generate a 3D image of the object present exterior of the equipped vehicle.