Traffic Light Assistance System with Relative Vehicle Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver assistance systems for vehicles do not effectively account for traffic light information, leading to uncomfortable and inefficient driving in urban areas with frequent stop-and-go situations, as they lack integration of current and future signal states relative to the vehicle's position, resulting in inadequate anticipatory driving and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A traffic light assistance system that displays vehicle information relative to traffic light phase information, including switching times, vehicle position, and speed, to provide the driver with clear and anticipatory guidance for smooth navigation through intersections and traffic lights, using a display device integrated into the vehicle's instrument cluster or head-up display, which can automatically adjust speed and braking based on traffic light states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If driver assistance systems do not integrate traffic light phase information, then the system complexity remains low, but driving comfort and fuel efficiency deteriorate due to frequent stop-and-go situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traffic light phase information with vehicle position and speed data in a unified display interface. The control device integrates multiple information sources (traffic light signals, GPS position, velocity data) to generate a comprehensive visual representation that shows current and future traffic light states relative to the vehicle's movement, enabling anticipatory driving without requiring separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by displaying future traffic light phase information before the vehicle actually reaches the intersection. The control device calculates and presents upcoming signal changes in advance, allowing the driver to anticipate required actions (acceleration, deceleration, or stopping) and plan driving maneuvers proactively rather than reactively.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the system provides detailed traffic light phase information and future signal states, then anticipatory driving and fuel efficiency improve, but the information processing and display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments information presentation into distinct visual elements: current traffic light phase, future phase predictions, vehicle position indicators, and speed recommendations. The display device divides complex traffic light assistance information into manageable graphical components that can be processed and understood separately, reducing the cognitive load on the driver while maintaining comprehensive information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses color changes to encode different traffic light phases and their temporal progression. The control device maps traffic signal states (red, yellow, green) and their future transitions to corresponding visual color representations in the display, enabling rapid intuitive comprehension of traffic light status and anticipated changes without requiring detailed numerical data processing.
3Productivity
If the system integrates current and future traffic light states with vehicle position, then driving efficiency improves, but the measurement and display precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the display by showing not only current traffic light phases but also future phase predictions. The control device represents time-based information graphically, displaying anticipated signal changes at different future time points relative to the vehicle's projected position, transforming one-dimensional position data into multi-dimensional spacetime visualization that enhances driving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that processes and reconciles data from multiple sources (GPS position, speed sensors, traffic light detection systems) with inherent measurement uncertainties. It integrates these imprecise measurements into a coherent display representation that shows probable future states, mediating between raw sensor data and the driver's decision-making needs without requiring absolute precision from each individual measurement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Traffic light assistance system for a vehicle (1) with a display device (6) for the driver of the vehicle (1) and a control device (3) which is configured to generate at least one display element (106) depending on traffic light phase information and vehicle information, characterized in that the control device (3) is configured to display the display element (106) relative to a vehicle symbol (101) on the display device (6).