Vehicle Exterior Projection Lighting for Pedestrian Tracking
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems fail to effectively provide illumination and projections that enhance driver awareness of surrounding objects and pedestrians, communicate information, and ensure visibility of projections in varying lighting conditions, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system incorporating one or more light sources, detectors, processors, and controllers that provide spot illumination and projections to follow moving objects, project images on the ground, and adapt to lighting conditions, using LED and laser arrays for exterior illumination and projection, integrated with detectors like sensors and cameras to enhance visibility and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vehicle lighting systems are used, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the driver awareness of surrounding objects and pedestrians is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light sources (first light source, second light source, third light source) positioned at different locations on the vehicle. Each light source can be independently controlled to illuminate specific areas, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive coverage while maintaining modular simplicity in each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces projection functionality that casts images onto the ground surface, adding a vertical dimension to traditional horizontal lighting. This projection capability enhances driver awareness by displaying information about surrounding objects and pedestrians in a new spatial dimension, transforming 2D lighting into 3D spatial illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If spot illumination follows moving objects, then visibility of pedestrians is enhanced, but the system complexity increases due to tracking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses detectors to continuously monitor the positions of moving objects and pedestrians, providing real-time feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the light sources to dynamically adjust their illumination patterns, following moving objects and maintaining optimal visibility without requiring complex manual tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system performs multiple functions: it provides general vehicle illumination, tracks and follows moving objects, projects information onto the ground, and communicates with other vehicles. By integrating these diverse functions into a single unified system controlled by one control unit, the patent reduces overall complexity compared to implementing separate systems for each function.
3Loss of information
If projections are provided in varying lighting conditions, then information communication is improved, but the contrast and visibility of projections may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the illumination parameters of the light sources based on detected lighting conditions. When ambient light levels change, the system modifies the intensity, color temperature, and duration of projections to maintain optimal contrast. This adaptive parameter adjustment ensures that information projections remain visible and legible across varying environmental lighting conditions.
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 improves driver awareness by providing adaptive illumination and projections that enhance visibility of pedestrians and objects, communicates information to drivers and pedestrians, and reduces the risk of accidents by ensuring adequate contrast and reducing glare.
Implementation Method 1
using LED and laser arrays for exterior illumination and projection
Implementation Method 2
using LED and laser arrays for exterior illumination and projection
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in which one or more light sources, a detector, a processor and a controller are configured such that light from the one or more light sources can provide illumination or projections that can reduce accidents while the vehicle is in motion and when parked and may also provide information and illumination to the driver and vehicle occupants when entering or exiting the vehicle. These systems may, for example, provide spot illumination to moving objects or pedestrians on the road surface, with the spot illumination following the moving object. Alternatively or in addition these systems may project images on the ground, for example to communicate information to occupants of the vehicle, to occupants of another vehicle, or to pedestrians.