Vehicle Notification Unit Using Dynamic Light Spot

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conveyance light systems fail to accurately notify occupants of the approaching direction and status of objects, such as vehicles or pedestrians, which is crucial for safe navigation, especially when objects are approaching from the rear or front during travel or when reversing.

Innovation Solution

A conveyance light emitting unit with sensors and light emitters that emit light in a specific pattern and color to indicate the approaching direction and status of objects, using a control device to adjust the light's movement speed and color based on detected distances and speeds, ensuring the occupant can easily recognize the movement direction and status of approaching objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a light emitter is used to notify the presence of an approaching object, then the occupant can be alerted to the object's presence, but the movement direction and approaching status of the object cannot be accurately conveyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation on movement direction and approaching statusVSAvoidlight emission control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the light emitting spot move dynamically across the light emitter surface rather than remaining stationary. The movement speed and direction of the light spot are controlled to correspond to the approaching direction and status of the detected object, enabling the occupant to visually perceive motion information and accurately grasp the object's movement direction and approaching state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color changes by varying the emission color of the light spot to indicate different statuses of the approaching object. The control device adjusts the light spot's color based on the object's status, providing visual differentiation that helps the occupant understand the nature and urgency of the approaching object.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If the light emitter emits light in a fixed pattern, then the structure is simple, but the occupant cannot accurately grasp the movement direction of the approaching object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of movement direction notificationVSAvoidlight control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by controlling the light emitting spot to move across the light emitter surface in a direction that corresponds to the approaching direction of the detected object. This dynamic light emission pattern enables the occupant to visually track the light spot's movement and accurately determine the object's approach direction, significantly improving measurement precision without requiring complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If the light emission pattern is simplified, then the device is easier to control, but the occupant cannot distinguish different statuses of the approaching object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation on object statusVSAvoidlight control operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by controlling the light spot to emit different colors based on the status of the approaching object. The control device receives object status information and adjusts the light spot's emission color accordingly, providing intuitive visual cues that enable the occupant to distinguish different object statuses without requiring complex control operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes dynamics by varying the movement speed of the light spot to reflect the approaching speed of the object. Faster light spot movement indicates faster approaching objects, while slower movement indicates slower approaching objects. This dynamic speed variation provides an intuitive visual mechanism for the occupant to assess object status without complex control interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively notifies the occupant of the approaching direction and status of objects, enhancing safety by providing clear visual cues through controlled light emission patterns and colors, improving awareness during travel and reversing maneuvers.

Implementation Method 1

A conveyance light emitting unit with sensors and light emitters that emit light in a specific pattern and color to indicate the approaching direction and status of objects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3712014B1Vehicle notification unit
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 TS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3712014B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3712014B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3712014B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A conveyance notification unit (1 L) comprising: light emitters (5) provided in a conveyance (V) and configured to emit light as illumination in the conveyance; vibrators (14) provided in a seat (S) of the conveyance and configured to vibrate the seat (S); a detector (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) configured to detect an object approaching the conveyance; and a controller (2) configured to control the light emitters (5) and the vibrators (14) when the detector (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) has detected the object, wherein the light emitters (5) and the vibrators (14) are respectively arranged on right and left sides relative to a traveling direction of the conveyance, the controller (2) is configured to identify a current position of the conveyance and determine whether or not the conveyance is traveling in an urban area, and when the controller (2) has determined that the conveyance is traveling in the urban area and when the detector (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) has detected the object, the controller (2) controls the light emitters (5) and the vibrators (14) to cause at least one of the light emitters (5) arranged on one of the right and left sides to emit light and to cause at least one of the vibrators (14) arranged on the one of the right and left sides to vibrate according to a detection result detected by the detector (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d).