Design of a Lane Marker Lighting System Using Piezoelectric Bimorph Modules

Abstract

The good driver visibility of lane markers on expressway is very important to maintain the driving safety. This paper presents design of a lane marker lighting system using piezoelectric bimorph modules, capacitors, diodes, and super high brightness LEDs and its evaluation in order to avoid the traffic accidents. The LEDs installed as lane markers are lit by the electromotive force, which is generated when an vehicle passes on the piezoelectric bimorph modules which in turn are located on the road surface. The higher the speed of the vehicle is, the larger energy the capacitor will be charged with, making it possible to light the LEDs further down the road. It is shown in the experiment using a model vehicle that the proposed lane marker lighting system is useful in the safety driving. Furthermore, not only external energy source but also storage battery is not required.