Vehicle Lighting System Projection Overlap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

When multiple vehicles equipped with projection light systems alert a target, overlapping patterns can lead to confusion, making it difficult for the target to recognize the information intended for them, potentially increasing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lighting system that includes detection and determination units to identify targets and other vehicles' projection patterns, controlling the projection to avoid overlaps and prioritize information presentation, using a control unit to manage the projection of alert patterns and ensure clear recognition by the target.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple vehicles project alert patterns toward the same target, then the coverage and alert capability are improved, but the pattern recognition accuracy deteriorates due to overlapping projections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealert coverageVSAvoidpattern recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a detection unit to detect other projection patterns in the target area before projecting its own pattern. This feedback mechanism allows the host vehicle to adjust its projection behavior based on the presence of other vehicles' projections, preventing overlapping patterns that would reduce recognition accuracy while maintaining comprehensive alert coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The projection unit dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection results. When another vehicle's projection pattern is detected in the target area, the system switches from projecting to not projecting, creating a dynamic adaptation that prevents pattern overlap and maintains clear pattern recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the projection unit projects alert patterns in all detected target situations, then the alert effectiveness is improved, but the information clarity deteriorates when patterns overlap with other vehicles' projections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidinformation clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit receives feedback from the detection unit about other projection patterns in the area. Based on this feedback, the control unit makes intelligent decisions about whether to project, ensuring that alert information remains clear and unambiguous by avoiding situations where overlapping patterns would cause information loss or misinterpretation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the system adds detection and control units to prevent pattern overlap, then the pattern recognition accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern recognition accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit and control unit are integrated into the existing vehicle lighting system architecture. The detection unit can detect both targets and other projection patterns, while the control unit manages both target detection and projection control functions, reducing overall system complexity through multi-functionality.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the detection function for both targets and other projection patterns into a single detection unit, and combines the control logic for target-based projection and overlap-prevention projection into a unified control unit. This merging approach reduces device complexity while maintaining pattern recognition accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3217377B1Vehicle lighting system
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3217377B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3217377B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3217377B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle lighting system (10) includes a first detection unit (110, 120, 130, 210) that detects a moving body (30) around a host vehicle (20), a first determination unit (220) that determines whether the moving body is a target to which an alert should be sent, a projection unit (300) that can project a first pattern (50a), which indicates first information on the host vehicle, in a predetermined range around the target, a second determination unit (230) that determines whether another vehicle is projecting a second pattern (50b), which indicates second information on the other vehicle, and a control unit (240) that controls the projection unit such that the first pattern is projected at the predetermined range around the target and the first pattern does not overlap with the second pattern or such that the first pattern is not projected, when the other vehicle is projecting the second pattern.