Vehicle Lighting Device Modulates Light Distribution to Prevent Visibility Misconceptions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems can lead to misconceptions about visibility, causing drivers to increase speed on dark roads without lane marks, as high-reflectance areas like white lines can create the illusion of better visibility, potentially resulting in accidents.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system that adjusts light distribution characteristics by detecting regions that reflect or emit light and controlling the lighting to make these areas appear relatively darker compared to others, using spatial light modulation elements like digital micromirrors or LED sources, to prevent misconceptions about visibility and promote safe speed limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the lighting range is expanded toward regions without lane marks to improve visibility, then the driver's field of view is enhanced, but the driver may misconceive that the entire field is visible and increase vehicle speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color/brightness changes by making detected light regions (such as lane marks) appear darker relative to surrounding areas. This is achieved by controlling the vehicle lighting means to reduce light distribution to regions that are already illuminated by reflected or emitted light, creating a relative darkness effect that prevents driver misconception about visibility while maintaining overall lighting range.
2Illumination intensity
If light is radiated to high-reflectance areas like white lines to improve visibility, then these road features become more visible, but the driver may be deceived into thinking visibility is better than it actually is
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes high-reflectance areas appear relatively darker by reducing light distribution to regions detected as emitting or reflecting light. This creates a visual balance that prevents these areas from standing out excessively, thereby preventing driver deception about true visibility conditions while still allowing road features to be visible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses detection means to detect light regions on the road, then feeds this information back to the control means which adjusts light distribution accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that areas with high reflectance or emission are identified and have their light distribution adjusted to prevent driver misconception.
3Illumination intensity
If the lighting system brightens all regions uniformly to ensure visibility, then the driver can see the road ahead, but the driver cannot distinguish between regions with actual visibility and those that appear visible due to reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different light distribution characteristics to different regions of the road based on local conditions. Regions detected as emitting or reflecting light receive reduced light distribution compared to surrounding areas, creating local variations in brightness that help drivers accurately assess true visibility conditions while maintaining overall road visibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances visibility while preventing drivers from misjudging the extent of their field of view, thereby promoting safe speed and recognizing critical road features like white lines and obstacles, while also considering weather conditions like rain to maintain visibility.
Implementation Method 1
the spatial light modulation element may be a digital micromirror device that includes a plurality of micromirrors, and the control means may control the vehicle lighting means by rotating at least one of the plurality of micromirrors
Data Source
AI summary
The light distribution region of headlights (12) is divided into a plurality of regions, and each of the divided regions can be irradiated or non-irradiated by light, and the light distribution characteristic can be changed separately for each divided region. The radiation or non-radiation of light to each divided region is controlled by a light distribution control ECU (14). Besides, light reflection/emission regions (hatched portions in FIG. 4) are detected by detecting light regions of reflection, such as white lines, reflectors, etc., and light regions of light emission, such as street lights or the like, are detected. Then, divided regions corresponding to light distribution region irradiated by the headlights (12) which correspond to the detected light reflection/emission regions are specifically determined, and the headlights (12) are controlled so that the light radiated to the specifically determined divided regions 22 becomes dark in light distribution relative to other regions.