Vehicle Exterior Lighting Animation After Locking Interruption

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle exterior lighting control systems disrupt the user's experience by interrupting the first light animation phase when the access control mechanism is locked, resulting in a sequence duration significantly less than chosen, and may omit the terminal sub-phase that enhances the light signature or style effect.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a processor and memory that triggers a third light animation phase of a chosen duration after the second phase, allowing it to compensate or replace the end of the first phase, maintaining the sequence duration and enhancing the light signature or style effect, and optionally adjusts the durations or functions of the second and third phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the access control mechanism is locked during the first light animation phase, then the second light animation phase is triggered, but the sequence duration becomes significantly shorter than the first duration, causing user disturbance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight animation sequence completenessVSAvoidlight animation sequence duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light animation sequence is divided into three distinct phases: first phase (triggered by powertrain stopping), second phase (triggered by access control locking), and third phase (compensatory phase triggered when locking occurs during first phase). This segmentation allows the system to maintain the intended total duration by adding a compensatory third phase when the second phase interrupts the first phase, thereby resolving the contradiction between sequence completeness and duration consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device checks in advance whether the access control mechanism is locked during the first light animation phase. If locking is detected, the system preliminarily determines to trigger a third compensatory phase to make up for the interrupted duration, ensuring the total sequence duration matches the originally intended first duration before the interruption occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the access control mechanism is locked during the first light animation phase, then the first phase is interrupted, but the final sub-phase enhancing light signature or style effect is omitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight signature completenessVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light animation sequence is divided into three distinct phases: first phase (triggered by powertrain stopping), second phase (triggered by access control locking), and third phase (compensatory phase triggered when locking occurs during first phase). This segmentation allows the system to maintain the intended total duration by adding a compensatory third phase when the second phase interrupts the first phase, thereby resolving the contradiction between sequence completeness and duration consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors the state of the access control mechanism during the first light animation phase. When locking is detected, the system provides feedback by triggering a third compensatory phase to restore the intended sequence completeness and light signature effect, while the control logic manages this feedback mechanism efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the first light animation phase duration is chosen from several proposed by configuration menu, then user preference is respected, but interruption causes significant disturbance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser configuration flexibilityVSAvoiduser experience continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The light animation sequence is divided into three distinct phases: first phase (triggered by powertrain stopping), second phase (triggered by access control locking), and third phase (compensatory phase triggered when locking occurs during first phase). This segmentation allows the system to maintain the intended total duration by adding a compensatory third phase when the second phase interrupts the first phase, thereby resolving the contradiction between sequence completeness and duration consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors the state of the access control mechanism during the first light animation phase. When locking is detected, the system provides feedback by triggering a third compensatory phase to restore the intended sequence completeness and light signature effect, while the control logic manages this feedback mechanism efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4284680B1Controlling the external lighting of a vehicle for light animation following the stopping of the propulsion unit

Publication Date: 2024.09.18 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A method for controlling the external lighting, carried out by photometric functions of a vehicle comprising a propulsion unit and a lockable/unlockable access control mechanism. This method comprises a step (10-110) in which a first light animation phase of a first duration chosen by at least one photometric function is triggered if the propulsion unit is stopped and a second light animation phase of a second duration chosen by at least one photometric function is triggered if the access control mechanism is locked. If locking occurs before the end of this first light animation phase, a third light animation phase of a third duration chosen by a photometric function is triggered after the second light animation phase.