Vehicle Lighting Strobe Control for Low-Speed Conspicuity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle emergency and hazard lighting systems do not effectively deploy high conspicuity lighting to alert other drivers of potential hazards, especially when vehicles are slowing or stopped due to mechanical failures or inattentive drivers, and may provide misleading information or distractions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a microcontroller and vehicle signal lights that activate in flashing or strobing modes based on vehicle speed and stopping events, using existing wiring and controls, to enhance visibility and safety by deploying high conspicuity emergency lighting when necessary, and integrating with autonomous driving systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If standard emergency or hazard flasher lights are used, then the system is simple and reliable, but the visual distinction compared with non-emergency lighting is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a strobing lighting mode that rapidly cycles between on and off states, creating high-visibility flashes that significantly improve visual distinction compared to continuous or standard flashing lights. The microcontroller controls the lighting elements to strobe at specific frequencies, providing periodic visual alerts that are highly noticeable to other drivers while maintaining system simplicity through software-based control.
2Reliability
If high visibility strobing lighting is deployed, then visual distinction and safety are improved, but the system may provide misleading information or distractions when not prudent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the lighting mode (standard flashing vs. strobing) based on vehicle speed parameters. The system transitions to high-visibility strobing mode only when the vehicle is stopped or moving below a threshold speed, ensuring that enhanced visual alerts are used appropriately without causing confusion or distraction during normal driving conditions. This conditional parameter-based control ensures reliable safety communication only when hazard conditions exist.
3Illumination intensity
If the microcontroller activates strobing mode at any speed, then maximum visibility is achieved, but it may cause distraction or provide misinformation during higher speed operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the lighting mode adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically switches between standard flashing and strobing modes based on real-time vehicle speed conditions detected by the autonomous vehicle system. When the vehicle is stopped or below threshold speed, high-visibility strobing is activated; when speed increases, the system reverts to standard flashing. This dynamic adaptation ensures maximum visibility only when needed while maintaining appropriate driver behavior during higher speed operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system has a microcontroller with operative control of a set of vehicle lights including an ability to flash all of the set of vehicle signal lights simultaneously as hazard flashers and an ability to strobe all of the set of vehicle signal lights as high conspicuity emergency lighting. Upon receipt of an indication from a vehicle data bus that the vehicle is slowing as a result of a stopping event, the microcontroller determines a speed of the vehicle and strobes the set of vehicle signal lights as high conspicuity emergency lighting if the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined threshold.