Vehicle Ambient Lighting for Operating Mode Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems do not effectively inform drivers about how to optimize their operating modes, such as fuel-saving or sporty modes, by solely relying on color changes without providing clear feedback on adjustable parameters that can improve fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting the intensity and color of ambient lighting devices in specific areas of the vehicle's passenger compartment based on settable operating parameters, using a control unit to indicate whether the current settings have a positive or negative effect on the selected general operating mode, allowing drivers to intuitively recognize which parameters to adjust for better fuel efficiency without distracting them from the road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If text or voice messages are provided to inform drivers about operating parameters, then information completeness is improved, but driver distraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded ambient lighting (e.g., green for positive effect, red for negative effect) to convey information about operating parameters. This visual feedback system allows drivers to quickly understand the impact of their settings without processing text or voice messages, thereby maintaining information completeness while minimizing driver distraction through intuitive color recognition.
2Loss of information
If multiple operating parameters are monitored and displayed, then information accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements spatially distributed ambient lighting devices throughout the passenger compartment, each assigned to specific areas near relevant vehicle components. This allows different operating parameters to be indicated at different locations, providing accurate and context-specific information without requiring a centralized complex display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses color variations in ambient lighting to encode information about multiple operating parameters simultaneously. By mapping parameter states to color codes, the system can monitor and communicate numerous parameters through a simple visual interface, reducing the complexity of information processing and presentation.
3Loss of information
If ambient lighting is used to indicate operating mode effects, then driver awareness is improved, but visual distraction may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ambient lighting devices are spatially assigned to specific areas of the passenger compartment near the components they relate to. This localized approach allows drivers to perceive information in the periphery of their vision without requiring direct gaze shifts, maintaining awareness while minimizing visual distraction from the road.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses subtle color changes in ambient lighting to convey information about operating parameter effects. These color variations are integrated into the existing ambient lighting design, providing awareness information that complements rather than competes with the driving environment, thereby reducing visual distraction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for illuminating a passenger compartment of a vehicle with lighting devices which each contain one or more diffuse and/or indirect light sources. The intensity and color of the light emitted by the light sources being set automatically as a function of specific operating parameters which are influenced by a vehicle occupant. The lighting devices which are respectively spatially assigned to an area of the passenger compartment of the vehicle in which there is a vehicle component with an operating parameter which can be set separately by the driver and which can act on a general operating mode selected by the driver, are actuated in such a way that their intensity and color indicate to the driver whether the current setting of the separately settable operating parameter has a positive or negative effect on the general operating mode selected by the driver.