Variable Brake Light System for Braking Severity Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake light systems do not effectively communicate the severity of a braking event to trailing vehicles, as they only indicate the engagement of the brake pedal without providing information on the force or speed of deceleration, making it difficult for drivers to assess the situation accurately.
Innovation Solution
A variable brake light system that includes both static and multiple variable brake lights, where the control system turns on the static brake light when the pedal is activated and adjusts the display of the variable brake lights based on the amount of brake pedal activation, such as force, speed, or displacement, to indicate the severity of braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional static brake lights are used, then the system is simple and reliable, but the information communicated to trailing drivers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The brake light assembly is segmented into multiple individual brake lights (first through fourth brake lights) that can be independently controlled. Each brake light corresponds to a specific activation level of the brake pedal, allowing the system to communicate different braking intensities by illuminating specific segments rather than all lights uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the brake light assembly have different functions - some brake lights are designed to illuminate at lower activation levels while others require higher activation levels. This local differentiation in illumination thresholds provides nuanced information about braking severity without requiring a completely new system architecture.
2Loss of information
If brake lights only have two states (on/off), then the system is simple to operate, but trailing drivers cannot determine the severity of braking
Solution Approach 1:
The brake light system transitions from a static on/off state to a dynamic multi-level illumination system. The brake lights dynamically adjust which segments are illuminated based on the real-time activation level of the brake pedal, providing continuous information about braking intensity while the driver simply presses the pedal without needing to manage complex controls.
3Measurement precision
If all brake lights illuminate at the same threshold, then the system is easy to control, but it cannot differentiate between light and hard braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes different activation level parameters for different brake lights within the same assembly. Each brake light is calibrated to illuminate at a specific threshold of brake pedal activation, creating a parameter-based differentiation system that precisely measures and communicates braking intensity through the pattern of illuminated lights.
Data Source
AI summary
A variable brake light system that is within a vehicle with a brake pedal and includes a static brake light, multiple variable brake lights, and a control system. The control system is configured to turn on the static brake light when the brake pedal is activated. The control system is configured to change a display of the multiple variable brake lights according to an amount of activation of the brake pedal.