Vehicle Light Adaptive Brake Control via Acceleration Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adaptive brake light systems in vehicles rely on sensors to recognize braking situations, which can lead to false emergency brake displays and rear-end collisions due to incomplete data on distance to obstacles, and are vulnerable to control unit failures and interruptions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an acceleration sensor and control unit in a vehicle light, such as a rear light, to independently evaluate braking deceleration and activate or modify light functions like the brake light, turn signal repeater, or fog light to enhance visibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If adaptive brake light systems use sensors to recognize braking situations, then braking intensity can be signaled, but false emergency brake displays and rear-end collisions occur due to incomplete data on distance to obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brake light signaling into multiple escalation levels (normal brake light, intensified brake light, emergency brake light with additional illuminated areas). This segmentation allows the system to provide differentiated signaling based on braking intensity without requiring complete obstacle distance data, thus maintaining reliability while improving measurement precision for braking situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by progressively intensifying the brake light signal through multiple stages before declaring an emergency braking situation. This preliminary action allows the system to signal braking intensity accurately without immediately triggering false emergency displays, thereby improving both measurement precision and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive brake light function is controlled by vehicle control unit, then brake light can be adjusted, but system is vulnerable to control unit failures and interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adaptive brake light control functionality from the vehicle control unit and relocates it to the light source itself. The light source now contains its own control circuitry that independently evaluates braking situations and adjusts illumination accordingly. This extraction eliminates the vulnerability to control unit failures while maintaining adaptability in brake light control.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source performs self-service by containing its own control unit and sensor evaluation capabilities. It independently determines when to activate different brake light functions without relying on external vehicle control units. This self-service approach ensures continuous reliable operation even when the vehicle control unit fails or is interrupted.
3Illumination intensity
If additional illuminated areas are activated during heavy braking, then visibility to following traffic is increased, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the brake light system by adjusting the illumination intensity and activated areas based on the detected braking situation. During normal braking, only the standard brake light illuminates. During heavy braking or emergency situations, additional illuminated areas are dynamically activated to increase visibility. This dynamic approach optimizes energy consumption by activating additional lighting only when necessary for safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle light (01) with at least one light source (04) for fulfilling at least one lighting function (BL, FRA, NL, SL) and a method for operating a vehicle light (01) are described. The vehicle light (01) is equipped with at least one light source (04) for fulfilling at least one lighting function (BL, FRA, NL, SL), an acceleration sensor (05), and a control unit (06) connected to the acceleration sensor and the light source. The vehicle light (01) comprises at least one acceleration sensor (05) that outputs an acceleration signal proportional to at least one braking deceleration, and at least one control unit (06) connected to the acceleration sensor (05) and at least one light source of the vehicle light (01).The control unit (06) evaluates the acceleration signal, compares the braking deceleration thus obtained with at least one predetermined threshold value of a critical braking deceleration and, depending on the result of this comparison, controls at least one light source connected to it, intended to fulfill at least one light function (BL, FRA, NL, SL) of the vehicle light (01) at least once at least briefly, in order to implement an adaptive brake light function if the threshold value is exceeded.The procedure comprises the following steps: - internal and vehicle-independent detection of a braking deceleration using the acceleration sensor (05) of the vehicle light (01), which outputs an acceleration signal proportional to the acceleration; - comparison of the detected braking deceleration with at least one predetermined threshold value of a critical braking deceleration by means of the control unit (06) of the vehicle light (01), which comparison results in whether a predetermined threshold value of a critical braking deceleration has been exceeded or not; and - at least once, at least briefly, activation of at least one light function (BL, FRA, NL, SL) of the vehicle light (01) to implement an adaptive light function by means of the control unit (06) if at least one threshold value is exceeded as a result of the comparison.