Commercial Vehicle Interior Lighting Control Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for controlling interior lighting in commercial vehicles lack flexibility and adaptability, failing to effectively respond to various commercial vehicle states and conditions, such as door openings, load weights, and battery states, which limits their functionality and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A control device with sensor signal receiving and wireless communication capabilities that activates or deactivates specific lighting functions based on commercial vehicle states, allowing for programmable configurations via a remote device, utilizing a distributed control system with hardware and software components to manage interior lighting functions like permanent, flashing, color, and dimming signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing control solutions are used, then the control system is simple, but the flexibility and adaptability to various commercial vehicle states are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to commercial vehicle statesVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various commercial vehicle states (door openings, load weights, battery states) through a single integrated system. The control means can execute different lighting functions (permanent, flashing, color, dimming) based on received sensor signals, making the system universally applicable to multiple vehicle conditions without requiring separate control systems for each state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device incorporates dynamic adaptability through programmable configuration that can be modified via wireless communication. The control means can dynamically adjust lighting functions based on real-time sensor inputs and configurable parameters, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different operational conditions without physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple lighting functions are implemented, then the functionality is enhanced, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting function versatilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device implements periodic action through flashing lighting functions that can be configured to operate intermittently rather than continuously. This allows the system to provide necessary lighting information while reducing overall energy consumption compared to permanent illumination, particularly for indicator and warning functions where continuous light is not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts lighting output based on battery state of charge levels. When battery charge is low, the control means can automatically reduce lighting intensity or deactivate non-essential lighting functions to conserve energy, while still maintaining essential lighting operations. This dynamic energy management allows versatile lighting functionality while adapting power consumption to available energy reserves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If sensor-based automatic control is implemented, then the responsiveness to vehicle states is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device processes sensor information in a segmented manner, with the control means evaluating sensor signals against configurable criteria to determine appropriate lighting responses. This segmentation of the control process allows the system to handle multiple sensor inputs (door sensors, load sensors, battery sensors) through a structured decision-making framework, improving response efficiency while managing complexity through organized signal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensor signals about vehicle states (door openings, load weights, battery levels) continuously inform the control means, which adjusts lighting functions accordingly. This feedback loop enables automatic responsive control without requiring complex manual intervention, as the system self-regulates based on real-time vehicle condition monitoring and configurable response parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4064795A1Control of the interior lighting of a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 SCHMITZ CARGOBULL AG
  • EP4064795A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4064795A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4064795A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure includes, among other things, a control device (1) for interior lighting (29) of a commercial vehicle (2, 3), wherein the interior lighting has a plurality of lighting functions, comprising: - sensor signal receiving means (114) configured to receive a plurality of sensor signals, wherein each of the sensor signals of the plurality of sensor signals originates from a respective sensor of a plurality of sensors (25, 26) of the commercial vehicle, and wherein each of the sensor signals of the plurality of sensor signals represents a respective commercial vehicle state detected by the respective sensor of the plurality of sensors of the commercial vehicle; - communication means (10, 103) configured to communicate with a remote device (4) via a wireless communication link;- Control means (110, 111, 112, 113) configured to control the interior lighting depending on a configuration of the control means in order to activate or deactivate at least one respective lighting function of the plurality of lighting functions, wherein the configuration of the control means determines, at least partially depending on the commercial vehicle states represented by the plurality of sensor signals, which lighting function of the plurality of lighting functions is to be activated or deactivated, and wherein the configuration of the control means is programmable via the wireless communication link by the remote device.