Vehicle Exterior Lighting Control for User Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems lack the ability to dynamically control and coordinate exterior lighting to effectively illuminate areas around vehicles, particularly in scenarios like parking garages, to assist users moving between vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising exterior lighting devices, sensors (such as cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors), and a controller that tracks user movement and communicates with other vehicles to selectively illuminate pathways, ensuring user safety and efficient lighting transitions between vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all sensors and lighting devices are activated continuously, then user safety and illumination coverage are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor and lighting activation based on real-time detection of user presence. Sensors transition from idle mode to active scanning mode when a user is detected, and lighting devices adjust their illumination levels and activation based on user position and movement, optimizing the balance between safety and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously receives feedback from sensors detecting user presence and movement, then adjusts lighting activation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures lighting is provided only when and where needed, maintaining safety while minimizing unnecessary power consumption
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are activated to track user movement, then tracking precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is segmented into multiple specialized sensors (cameras for visual tracking, radar for distance and velocity detection, ultrasonic sensors for proximity detection). Each sensor type handles specific aspects of user tracking, allowing the system to achieve high precision through coordinated operation of simpler, specialized components rather than one complex sensor
Solution Approach 2:
The controller integrates multiple sensor inputs and processing functions into a single coordinated system. The same controller that manages lighting also processes sensor data, tracks user movement, and coordinates communication with other vehicles, reducing overall system complexity through multi-functionality
3Area of stationary object
If lighting devices illuminate all areas around the vehicle, then illumination coverage is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system provides localized illumination targeted specifically at the user's position and movement path rather than uniformly illuminating all areas around the vehicle. Different lighting zones are activated based on where the user is located, ensuring adequate coverage of relevant areas while avoiding waste in unoccupied regions
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination coverage dynamically adapts to follow user movement. As the user moves through the parking garage, the active illumination zones shift accordingly, maintaining appropriate coverage of the user's current location and anticipated path while minimizing illumination in areas where the user is not present
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 provides enhanced user safety by dynamically illuminating pathways and reducing power consumption by activating only necessary sensors and lighting devices, ensuring effective illumination and efficient communication between vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of sensors comprises one or more of a camera, a radar, and an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of sensors comprises one or more of a camera, a radar, and an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of lighting devices oriented on the exterior of the vehicle to illuminate areas proximate to the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle having controlled exterior lighting is provided including a plurality of lighting devices oriented on the exterior of the vehicle to illuminate areas proximate to the vehicle, a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing a user relative to the vehicle and generating sensed signals indicative of the sensed user, and a transceiver for communicating with another vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller processing the sensed signals generated by the plurality of sensors, and detecting the user proximate to the vehicle and tracking movement of the user proximate to the vehicle, the controller further activating one or more of the plurality of exterior lighting devices to selectively illuminate areas that track the user and further communicating with the other vehicle to illuminate the user with lighting devices on the other vehicle.