Vehicle Ambient Lighting Notification Sequences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle notification systems often provide loud and startling audio alerts for incoming calls, which can distract drivers and disturb passengers, especially in situations where a more subtle notification is desired.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to configure ambient lighting sequences within the vehicle as notifications for incoming calls, enabling customizable lighting options based on vehicle settings and environmental conditions, thereby providing a visual alert instead of or in conjunction with audio alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If loud audio alerts are used for incoming call notifications, then the notification is clear and noticeable, but driver distraction and passenger disturbance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic notification system with an optical notification system using ambient lighting. Instead of using loud audio alerts that distract drivers, the system activates vehicle ambient lights in customizable sequences to provide clear and noticeable notifications for incoming calls, texts, and other alerts, thereby eliminating driver distraction while maintaining notification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes different colors of ambient lighting to indicate different types of notifications and states. The system can display various colors corresponding to different alert types (incoming call, text message, navigation alert, etc.), providing clear visual differentiation without requiring loud audio signals, thus reducing driver distraction while maintaining notification clarity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ambient lighting sequences are used for notifications, then driver distraction is reduced and notifications become more subtle, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing ambient lighting system multi-functional by enabling it to serve both its original purpose (interior lighting) and notification purposes. The same lighting infrastructure is used for both illuminating the vehicle interior and providing alert notifications, eliminating the need for separate notification hardware and reducing overall system complexity despite the added control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the vehicle's existing ambient lighting infrastructure to provide notification functionality. Instead of requiring a completely new notification system, the patent repurposes the already-present lighting components, allowing them to serve dual functions and reducing the need for additional complex hardware while still providing subtle, distraction-free notifications
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor configured to receive settings for one or more vehicle ambient lighting activation sequences. The processor is further configured to receive a signal relating to a notification for which an audio sound could be played. The processor is additionally configured to recognize that an ambient light activation has been enabled. Also, the processor is configured to output a sequence of activated ambient lights within a vehicle, based on the settings and responsive to the received signal.