Vehicle Signaling Light Control for Shared-Module Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lighting and signaling systems face issues where failure of one module reduces photometric function, potentially endangering drivers and road users, and may violate regulatory constraints by interrupting all lighting functions.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a lighting and/or signaling system with a first, second, and third light module, where light emission from the first and second modules is deactivated in the event of failure of the third module, allowing compliance with regulatory constraints and ensuring safety by avoiding faulty function performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system continues to perform photometric functions after module failure, then regulatory compliance is maintained, but road user safety is compromised due to reduced photometric performance
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit preemptively deactivates light emission from remaining modules when a module failure is detected, preventing the system from operating in a potentially unsafe state. This preliminary action stops any harmful effect before it can occur by ensuring the system does not perform defective photometric functions that could mislead road users about the vehicle's actual lighting capability
2Reliability
If the system interrupts all lighting functions upon module failure, then road user safety is improved, but regulatory compliance requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on real-time module status. When a module fails, the control unit transitions from a state where remaining modules continue operating to a state where all light emission is deactivated. This dynamic response allows the system to adapt to failure conditions while maintaining safety, and the patent specifies that the system can resume normal operation when the failed module is replaced, thus meeting regulatory requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors module status and receives feedback about module failures. Based on this feedback, the control unit makes informed decisions about whether to deactivate light emission from remaining modules. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system only deactivates lighting when necessary (upon detecting actual module failure), thereby maintaining regulatory compliance during normal operation while ensuring safety when failures occur
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting and/or signaling system (1; 100), said system including at least: a first light module (10; 110) capable of carrying out part of a first regulatory lighting and/or signaling function; a second light module (20; 120) capable of carrying out part of a second regulatory lighting and/or signaling function other than the first function; and a third module (30; 130) capable of selectively carrying out at least one other part of the first function and at least one other part of the second function. The method comprises the following step: deactivating the emission of light by the first and second modules in the event the third module fails.