Vehicle Alerting Illumination Device for Pedestrian Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional alerting illumination devices for vehicles struggle to effectively alert both drivers and pedestrians, especially when pedestrians wear dark-colored clothing, and can create a disharmonious sensation by directing light back towards the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
An alerting illumination device equipped with a detecting component, danger degree estimating component, and controlling component that illuminates light on the road surface to indicate the direction and distance of a detected pedestrian in danger, using variable light distribution and movement patterns to avoid directing light back towards the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If illumination light is directed at a person to alert them, then the person can be alerted, but if the person wears black clothes the light is absorbed and the alerting effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the road surface as an intermediary medium. Instead of directing light directly at the person, the system projects light patterns onto the road surface in front of the person, which then reflects to alert them. This mediator approach ensures the alerting signal is visible regardless of the person's clothing color.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the alerting display from a direct 2D projection onto the person to a spatial arrangement on the road surface that creates a directional indicator. By projecting patterns that show direction and distance on the ground plane, the system adds spatial dimensionality to the alerting mechanism, making it effective independent of clothing color.
2Reliability
If a spot is moved reciprocatingly between the person and the own vehicle, then the person can be alerted, but the pattern heads toward the own vehicle on its return path causing a disharmonious sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful return path of the reciprocating spot from the alerting mechanism. By removing the portion of the motion that directs light toward the own vehicle, the system eliminates the disharmonious sensation while retaining the alerting function through unidirectional or selectively directed light patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the spot back and forth between the vehicle and person, the patent inverts the approach by projecting stationary or outward-directed patterns on the road surface that indicate the person's location and direction. This reversal of the motion direction eliminates the harmful effect of light returning to the vehicle.
3Reliability
If light is illuminated to show direction and distance of a person in danger, then both driver and person can be alerted, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the illumination system multi-functional by using the same light projection mechanism to convey multiple pieces of information simultaneously - direction to the person, distance to the person, and alerting signal. This universal approach allows comprehensive alerting without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple alerting functions (direction indication, distance measurement, and attention-grabbing signal) into a single integrated light projection system. By merging these functions into one unified mechanism rather than separate systems, the overall device complexity is managed while achieving comprehensive alerting capability.
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
Effectively alerts both drivers and pedestrians regardless of clothing color and reduces disharmonious sensations by ensuring light does not return towards the vehicle, enhancing safety and awareness.
Implementation Method 1
controls the illuminating component such that light, which shows a direction of the person who is assumed to be in danger and a distance to the person, is illuminated onto a road surface
Data Source
AI summary
An alerting illumination device, which includes a detecting component, a danger degree estimating component, a danger assuming component, an illuminating component and a controlling component, is provided. The danger degree estimating component estimates a degree of danger, with respect to a subject vehicle, of the person detected by the detecting component. The danger assuming component, on the basis of the estimated degree of danger, assumes whether or not the person detected by the detecting component is a danger with respect to the subject vehicle. The illuminating component illuminates light. The controlling component, in a case in which the danger assuming component assumes that the person is a danger, controls the illuminating component such that light, which shows a direction of the person who is assumed to be a danger and a distance to the person, is illuminated onto a road surface.