Vehicle Light Notification for Multi-Pedestrian Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pedestrians around automatic driving vehicles struggle to predict the vehicle's behavior, leading to anxiety due to the unpredictability of its actions, as existing systems can only direct a single movable light source towards one person at a time.
Innovation Solution
A notifying device mounted in the vehicle, comprising a controller and a light emitter, which detects multiple objects in the vehicle's periphery and directs light emissions towards each pedestrian, using a detection system and a light emitting pattern generator to create sectorial or icon-based patterns on the road surface, allowing multiple pedestrians to confirm the vehicle's recognition of their presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single movable light source is used to notify pedestrians, then the device can be simple in structure, but it can only direct light towards one person at a time, failing to notify multiple pedestrians simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitter is divided into multiple independent light sources (first light source and second light source) positioned at different locations on the vehicle. Each light source can independently illuminate different pedestrians, allowing simultaneous notification of multiple pedestrians without requiring a single light source to mechanically rotate or move.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single movable light source that rotates in one dimension, the patent positions multiple light sources at different spatial locations on the vehicle (different dimensions/positions). This spatial distribution allows simultaneous coverage of multiple pedestrians without mechanical movement, resolving the contradiction between notification capability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a movable device performs pan and tilt actions toward each pedestrian, then individual notification is achieved, but the device cannot be directed toward two or more persons simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The notification function is segmented across multiple fixed light sources positioned at different locations on the vehicle. Each light source is responsible for notifying pedestrians in its specific direction or zone, eliminating the need for a single device to perform complex pan and tilt actions while achieving multi-directional notification simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple light sources work together as a unified notification system, where each light source serves a specific directional function. Collectively, they provide universal coverage for multiple pedestrians simultaneously, achieving multi-functionality without requiring any single component to be mechanically reconfigurable.
3Reliability
If light is emitted in directions of multiple notification objects, then multiple pedestrians can confirm vehicle recognition, but the system requires multiple light emitters instead of one
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple fixed light sources positioned at different locations on the vehicle (e.g., front, side, rear). Each light source independently emits light toward detected pedestrians, providing reliable recognition confirmation for multiple pedestrians simultaneously without requiring a single complex movable light emitter.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using one complex movable light emitter, the patent uses multiple simpler fixed light sources that replicate the notification function. Each light source is a simplified copy of the notification capability, positioned to cover different directions, achieving the same reliability with greater simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A notifying method includes detecting an object existing in a periphery of a vehicle and determining a type of the object existing in the periphery of the vehicle. The notifying method further includes emitting a visible light to irradiate at least a part of the periphery of the vehicle with an irradiation pattern. The irradiation pattern includes an icon pattern indicating the type of the object.