Windshield Wiper Light Signaling Without High-Speed Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems that use light-emitting elements on windshield wipers to display information through the afterimage effect require high-speed operation of the wiper, leading to irritation and noise for occupants.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system that includes a light-emitting part on a windshield wiper, a camera to capture surroundings, a control unit to display patterns by blinking the light-emitting part in sync with wiper operation, and a processing unit to acquire and interpret patterns displayed by other vehicles based on camera images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the windshield wiper is operated at high speed to display patterns using the afterimage effect, then information transmission capability is improved, but occupant comfort deteriorates due to irritation and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transmission capabilityVSAvoidoccupant irritation and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to capture images of patterns displayed by other vehicles' windshield wipers. This allows the system to acquire information about other vehicles' states without requiring high-speed wiper operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between information transmission capability and occupant comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the visual information by using a camera to capture images of patterns displayed by other vehicles. This copying mechanism enables information acquisition without direct high-speed wiper operation, eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining information transmission functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If the windshield wiper operates at high speed to enable afterimage effect display, then communication functionality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera acts as an intermediary that captures visual information from other vehicles' wiper patterns at normal operating speeds. This eliminates the need for high-speed operation to achieve communication, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining communication functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical afterimage effect mechanism with an optical capture mechanism using a camera and image processing system. This substitution allows information acquisition at lower speeds, reducing the energy required for wiper operation while maintaining communication capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12263781B2Vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The vehicle includes a light-emitting part installed in the rear windshield wiper, a front camera that captures an image of the front of the own vehicle, a control unit that causes the light-emitting part to blink in conjunction with the operation of the rear windshield wiper to display the pattern, and a processing unit that acquires the pattern displayed by the blink of the light-emitting part of the preceding vehicle based on the image shot by the front camera.