VARIABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING NIGHT VISIBILITY
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing nighttime visibility of objects on a roadway or path, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating at least two variable lighting elements in a synchronized relationship wherein one variable lighting element provides object luminance and a second variable light element provides background luminance;
synchronizing the timing and sequence of intensity of each variable lighting element with the other variable lighting element to optimize the Weber Contrast.
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Abstract
A variable lighting system (“VLS”) for optimizing object visibility at night by setting a base level of lighting, adding a variable light to that base level of lighting, and a synchronizing the timing and sequence of the base level of lighting and the variable lighting. The VLS varies the illumination by intensity, color, direction, or a combination thereof and optionally includes a detector for detecting motion, noise, and other occurrences. The VLS can be implemented as a fixed lighting source, a movable lighting source, or a vehicle mounted lighting source. The VLS improves visibility at night for viewers or motorists thereby reducing accidents and damage costs, saves energy, and improves the environment and enhances quality of life by reducing light pollution and light trespass.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing nighttime visibility of objects on a roadway or path, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating at least two variable lighting elements in a synchronized relationship wherein one variable lighting element provides object luminance and a second variable light element provides background luminance; synchronizing the timing and sequence of intensity of each variable lighting element with the other variable lighting element to optimize the Weber Contrast. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A variable lighting system for optimizing night visibility of objects on a roadway or path comprising:
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at least two variable lighting elements, each lighting element having at least one variable illumination source wherein each variable illumination source is positioned to illuminate a roadway or path and can activated and deactivated in a synchronized frequency cycle or loop to vary the intensity and color of illumination on an object to provide object luminance or on the background to provide background luminance; and synchronizing the timing and sequence of activation and deactivation of each variable lighting element with the other variable lighting element to optimize the Weber Contrast and color contrast metric. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for optimizing nighttime visibility of objects on a roadway or path, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating at least two variable lighting elements wherein each variable lighting element contains at least one variable illumination source and each variable illumination source can vary the intensity, color and direction of illumination; activating each variable illumination source in a synchronized relationship wherein one variable lighting element provides object luminance and a second variable light element provides background luminance; synchronizing the timing and sequence of activation and deactivation of each variable illumination source with the other variable lighting element to optimize the Weber Contrast and color contrast metric; and activating a timing device to synchronizing the timing and sequence of activation and deactivation of each variable illumination source and the timing device generates a synchronization signal that is received by a second variable lighting element and the second variable lighting element uses the synchronization signal to synchronize the activation and deactivation of each variable illumination source. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification