Windshield LED Alert Strip for Glare-Free Vehicle Motion Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual alert systems for vehicles often distract drivers and are not effectively integrated into the vehicle's existing motion control circuitry, limiting their ability to provide clear and glare-free notifications to pedestrians and other drivers about the vehicle's movement.
Innovation Solution
A thin strip-shaped display with LEDs, integrated into the vehicle's windshield, uses a flexible PCB and a control box to communicate with the vehicle's motion control circuitry, providing glare-free visual alerts through a darkened coating and wireless or solar power, with optional turn signal functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual alert systems are mounted on the vehicle front, then pedestrians and other drivers can be notified of vehicle movement, but the driver may be distracted by the visual output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a darkened or blacked-out region at the rear of the strip-shaped body that selectively absorbs light. This localized treatment ensures that light from the illuminating elements is directed forward toward pedestrians while preventing glare from reaching the driver's position, thus resolving the contradiction between notification effectiveness and driver distraction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary light-absorbing material (darkened coating or blacked-out region) between the light source and the driver. This intermediary element absorbs excess light and prevents it from reaching the driver's eyes, while still allowing the light to serve its primary function of notifying pedestrians and other drivers of vehicle movement
2Device complexity
If the strip display is integrated into the windshield with outer silicone layers and flex PCB, then the system becomes more compact and integrated, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into a single integrated assembly: the flex PCB is encapsulated within outer silicone layers, the clear adhesive cover is bonded to the assembly, and the entire unit is mounted to the windshield as one component. This merging approach increases integration level while managing manufacturing complexity through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing the flex PCB inside the outer silicone layers, which are themselves enclosed by the clear adhesive cover. This nested structure achieves high integration where smaller components are housed within progressively larger protective and functional layers, creating a compact unified assembly
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a darkened coating is applied to the rear of the strip-shaped body, then glare to the driver is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a darkened or blacked-out coating on the rear portion of the strip-shaped body. This color treatment serves the functional purpose of absorbing light to prevent driver glare while being applied as a surface treatment that can be integrated into the manufacturing process of the housing or mounting structure
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 communicates vehicle acceleration and deceleration to observers without distracting the driver, utilizing wireless or solar power and integrating seamlessly with the vehicle's existing systems for clear and efficient visual alerts.
Implementation Method 1
The forward facing surface of the strip shaped body includes a darkened (typically black) surface coating upon which are arranged the LEDs. In this fashion, glare resulting from the visual output of the LEDs is largely shielded from the driver.
Implementation Method 2
A clear adhesive cover is further provided which covers a forward of the silicone layers, with such as an outer perimeter binding of the clear adhesive cover adhering the VFAS assembly to the inside of the front windshield.
Implementation Method 3
The strip display attaches to an inside surface of the windshield and incorporates outer silicone layers which encapsulate a flex PCB containing SPI LED drivers.
Data Source
AI summary
A visual front alert system attached to an inside surface of a vehicle windshield for instructing observers as to movement of the vehicle. A strip shaped body includes outer layers of a silicone material which incorporates flex PCB containing a plurality of illuminating elements. A clear adhesive is applied over the front silicone layer for securing the strip display bodies to surface locations of the windshield. An accelerometer is connected to the PCB, with a power supply operating the accelerometer and PCBA. In response to a determined acceleration of the structure, the accelerometer inputs a signal to the PCB, representative of the vehicle movement, with the PCB in turn providing an output signal causing the illuminating elements to generate a visual output corresponding to said input signal. The visual output further includes a first output representative of a steady or accelerating motion of the vehicle and a second output further representative of a decelerating or braking condition of the vehicle.