Vehicle UV Lighting Synchronization for Fluorescent Safety Markings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary lighting systems, particularly those using LEDs, lack ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is essential for illuminating safety markings that fluoresce under UV light, leading to reduced visibility in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system that includes a device capable of emitting both visible light and ultraviolet light, with a control mechanism to strobe or flash these lights, ensuring that UV light is emitted when visible light is not, thereby illuminating reflectance materials and enhancing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LED lighting is used for auxiliary illumination, then energy efficiency is improved, but ultraviolet radiation is reduced to near zero which degrades fluorescence of safety markings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines LED visible light sources with separate UV light sources (such as UV-LEDs or other UV-generating elements) into a single integrated lighting assembly. This merging allows the system to deliver both the energy-efficient visible illumination provided by LEDs and the UV radiation needed to excite fluorescent safety markings, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and UV output.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing general visible illumination for visibility and generating UV radiation for fluorescence excitation. By making the lighting system universal in its capabilities, it can address both the energy efficiency requirement (through LED technology) and the UV radiation requirement (through integrated UV sources), eliminating the trade-off between these two functions.
2Illumination intensity
If UV light sources operate continuously to maintain fluorescence illumination, then visibility of safety markings is improved, but power consumption increases and UV light source life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or intermittent operation of the UV light sources rather than continuous operation. The control system activates UV sources only when needed (such as when ambient light levels drop below a threshold or when motion is detected), allowing safety markings to be illuminated periodically while reducing overall power consumption and extending UV source lifespan, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining visibility and managing power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts its operation based on environmental conditions such as ambient light levels, presence of personnel, or safety requirements. By making the UV illumination dynamic rather than static/continuous, the system maintains adequate visibility of safety markings only when necessary, thereby reducing power consumption and preserving UV light source life while still meeting visibility requirements during critical periods.
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 dual emission of UV and visible light improves visibility in low-light conditions by effectively illuminating safety markings and personnel, while also prolonging the life of UV light sources and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the use thereof alters the spectral breadth of the light being produced. The lack of UV light degrades the effectiveness of safety markings placed on equipment, vehicles, and clothing worn by operators or security personnel, in that many of such markings are designed to fluoresce, which requires the presence of UV spectral power.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system includes a lighting device arranged to attach to a vehicle. The lighting device includes at least two ultraviolet lights and at least one sensor. The sensor determines whether any of at least two areas or zones adjacent to the lighting device are poorly visibly illuminated and/or occupied by personnel, and illuminates these areas or zones with ultraviolet light. The lighting system is configured to operate in conjunction with existing emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems by using the sensors to sense visible illumination of each individual area or zone provided by the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems. The lighting system may be configured to synchronize the illumination of each individual area or zone in ultraviolet light with intermittent absence of visible light illumination in each area or zone from the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems.