Vehicle Lighting System for Inter-Vehicle Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a future where automated and manual driving vehicles coexist, there is a need for effective communication between vehicles and between vehicles and pedestrians to ensure safe and smooth travel, particularly in situations where wireless communication functions may not be available or effective.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system that includes a lighting unit and a control unit to visually present information to oncoming vehicles and objects, such as pedestrians, based on vehicle width, road width, and current position, using light patterns and messages that can be understood in multiple languages, and also incorporates a light transmission unit to emit specific wavelengths associated with auditory messages for vehicles equipped with light reception units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless communication function is used for inter-vehicle communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but compatibility with vehicles without wireless communication function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light signals as an intermediary medium to transmit communication information between vehicles. The lighting control unit converts communication data into visual light patterns that can be perceived by both automated vehicles (which can process the visual information) and manual vehicles (which can see the light patterns directly), thereby enabling universal inter-vehicle communication without requiring wireless communication hardware in all vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic wireless communication system with an optical communication system using vehicle lighting. By substituting the mechanical/electronic wireless transmission with optical light signal transmission, the system achieves broader compatibility since all vehicles have lighting systems and visual perception capabilities, eliminating the need for specialized wireless communication hardware in receiving vehicles.
2Reliability
If visual message is presented to pedestrian, then pedestrian safety is improved, but message recognition reliability deteriorates when pedestrian does not notice or cannot determine the message
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different light colors (such as blue light patterns) to convey specific communication meanings to pedestrians. By assigning semantic meaning to different colors and light patterns, the system enhances message recognition reliability - pedestrians can understand vehicle intentions (e.g., turning, stopping, warning) through color-coded visual signals even from a distance or in peripheral vision, reducing the likelihood of message being missed or misinterpreted.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting control unit can make light patterns blink or flash periodically to attract pedestrian attention. This periodic action ensures that pedestrians notice the communication messages, especially in environments with high visual noise. The rhythmic nature of blinking lights creates a more noticeable signal that pedestrians are more likely to detect and process, thereby improving message recognition reliability.
3Loss of information
If light pattern is emitted to convey message, then communication richness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides communication information into segmented light patterns displayed at different positions on the vehicle (front, rear, sides). By segmenting the communication content across multiple lighting zones, the system conveys rich information (different messages, directions, intensities) using controlled illumination of specific segments rather than requiring continuous full-vehicle lighting, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining communication richness.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting control unit activates only the specific light patterns and regions necessary to convey the current communication message, rather than illuminating the entire vehicle uniformly. This partial action approach emits sufficient light information for effective communication only where and when needed, optimizing the balance between communication richness and energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary excessive illumination.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lighting system provided in a vehicle includes: a lighting unit configured to emit light toward outside of a vehicle; and a lighting control unit configured to control the lighting unit such that the lighting unit visually presents, to an oncoming vehicle present ahead of the vehicle, predetermined information on traveling support of the oncoming vehicle, based on a vehicle width of the oncoming vehicle and a road width in a lateral region of the vehicle.