DE20313276U1 - Active partial shading of motor vehicle windshields, involves reducing light transmissivity of windshield by transparent liquid crystal foil - Google Patents

Abstract

An active shading or toning-down of motor vehicle windshields for the requirement of preventing dazzle by oncoming and stationary light sources. The light transmissivity of the windshield is reduced via a transparent liquid crystal foil or similar effect technology. Scanners (laser scanners) are used to identify the oncoming light cone and its radiation strength is measured for human eyes so that shading or toning down of the windshield takes place. Reduction of the light transmissivity is undertaken to a measure which no longer leads to unpleasant dazzling of the vehicle driver and the incident light source (n) is detectable by the vehicle driver and classified as a hazardous source. An independent claim is also included for a method of partial toning down or shading of part of the windshield of a motor vehicle.

Description

Technical field

Precision engineering, Micromechanics, technical optics

description

active, partial tinting of windshields on motor vehicles of all kinds

State of the art

in the No similar technologies are known to the applicant at the moment.

The Use of laser scanners to determine the position of objects and Measurement of such as digital image processing is state of the art of the technique. The use of liquid crystal foils in welding safety helmets is also state of the art. however, the entire visual field of the Darkened (adjustable) user. This technology corresponds far from meeting the requirements of the invention “active, partial tinting of windshields on motor vehicles of all kinds ".

problem

The main claim to protection 1 and 2 specified invention is based on the following problem

Especially with the introduction of xenon headlights on motor vehicles, but also due to incorrect set headlights and overloading however also by failing to switch from high beam to low beam when passing oncoming traffic, as a driver it can be one Cars in public Road, for significant impairment the view through "glare". This is mainly in the dark, but also in the day to when the sun is still low in the sky as a source of light because of its position you can look directly into it, or you can see it in the oncoming vehicles (including motorbikes) got to.

by virtue of the light intensity Xenon headlights (short, high-energy light waves in the blue Range of the spectrum), failure to switch from long-distance on the low beam or the misalignment of the headlights of the potential oncoming vehicle Vehicle or one not closer defined, disruptive Light source (e.g. sun during the day, work light of a tractor next to the roadway), the driver is "dazzled". The "glare" sensory perception can be in the area of little distracting to very annoying unsafe Influence on the driver and other road users.

Definition of blinding

Glare is a disturbance of the adaptation state due to the "overdrive" of the retina set to a lower luminance with reduced vision. This hinders current vision.

Possible hazards for a driver in road traffic through glare:

• 1. The switch from dark to light Environment (light adaptation) can still be done with sufficient speed be carried out. Immediately after the irritation, the pupil becomes in the millisecond range activated and made a reduction of the same. Indeed Glare often causes "seconds blindness" in advanced people Age. Furthermore, it can trigger a migraine attack or an epileptic seizure by the driver. Despite the quick changeover there is a security risk.
• 2. The adjustment for the human eye from a bright environment to darkness (dark adaptation) is much more difficult. This is because the eye adapts the dark Slower than the light adaptation and the pupil opens more slowly. The Dark adaptation rises rapidly in the first minutes (immediate adaptation) and a momentary adaptation can reduce short-term light stimuli, however, a significant amount of time of several seconds remains in which your own spotlight is initially not sufficient to sufficiently perceive the surroundings. So as soon as the potential light source (oncoming traffic) from the visual field of the driver has disappeared, an optical "perception vacuum" is created. → Security risk
• 3. If the driver want to avoid the glare, he will look towards the right edge of the road. This results in a shift in the perceptual space and can also cause a collision with oncoming traffic or Lead obstacles. → safety risk

• –dunkel (kein Gegenverkehr oder „blendende" Lichtquelle)
• –hell
• –dunkel

ausgesetzt ist. Bei zusätzlicher Ermüdung des Fahrzeugführers besteht ein nicht zu unterschätzender Einfluss auf die Adaptionszeit des Auges, welche sich somit deutlich verlangsamt.It remains to be added that the eye is constantly changing during night driving

• –Dark (no oncoming traffic or "blinding" light source)
• -bright
• -dark

is exposed. If the driver is additionally fatigued, there is an influence on the adaptation time of the eye that should not be underestimated, which slows down significantly.

solution

All above problems can with the features listed in main protection claims 1 and 2 and their protection claims be solved.

Achieved advantages

reduction the light intensity / Exposure to potential oncoming traffic or deep traffic Sun on the driver's eye. Consequently becomes a self protection for the driver regarding the Glare in road traffic achieved as it has never been possible in this form and in no civilian way Vehicle was applied. The driver can no longer for reasons glare from artificial Light sources or low sun can be in control Lose vehicle.

Further design of the invention

This Procedure is included with all land vehicles including motorcycles Windshields, helmet visors, boats, aircraft and rotary wing aircraft can be used.

embodiment

The Windshield of the motor vehicle is a transparent Liquid crystal panel (or Liquid crystal film) or a technology similar Effect complements or replaced. This technology enables a microcomputer With the appropriate software, parts of the windshield are partially and continuously darken. When de-energized, the windshield must absolutely be transparent (security in case of power failure). On the motor vehicle The scanners are mounted for monitoring the driver’s eyes (eyesight area) and for monitoring that, potentially in the driver's field of vision on the road disturbing Light sources outside of the vehicle.

The Scanner 1, which monitors the driver's eyes and head, forwards its data continuously to the microcomputer. From these The driver's field of vision and data is displayed in real time in the microcomputer its distance from the windshield is calculated and with the data the scanner 2, which monitors the road. If there is a light source in the surveillance area the scanner 2 is discovered, its beam strength or Irradiance or Radiation energy measured and decided whether there is glare and a partial tint of the Windshield must be made. There is glare (adjustable), so can be from the data from scanner 1 and scanner 2 entrance pupil, solid angle and other important lighting technology Calculate data to provide an appropriate partial tint the area of the windshield. This area will now be as soon as possible controlled by the microcomputer and, depending on the intensity of the light source, darkened to a glare-free dimension.

at moving light sources, independently it depends on whether the light source or the vehicle is moving Adjustment continued continuously and in the event of change the location or size of the light source readjusted.

Claims (2)

Active tinting of windshields only when needed, i.e. in the event of glare from oncoming or stationary light sources, characterized in that the translucency of the windshield is reduced as quickly as possible with the help of transparent liquid crystal window (liquid crystal film) or a technology with a similar effect. - That the oncoming light cone is identified with the help of scanners (laser scanners or other related technologies) and its radiance / radiance (luminance / luminous intensity for the human eye) is measured in order to initiate a tinting of the windshield. - That a microcomputer with appropriate software processes the data of the scanner. - That only a somewhat larger (or exactly the) area of the windshield is covered, from which the dazzling effect for the driver (ie the viewer) results. - that the reduction in light transmission is carried out to an extent which no longer has an unpleasantly blinding effect on the driver, in order to ensure that the light source (s) occurring is / are still recognized by the driver and is classified as a hazard (s) /become. - That total dimming of the dazzling light cone can be provided if this is indicated to the driver by optical / acoustic signals. - That the tinting of the windshield is canceled as soon as possible when leaving the dazzling light cone from the driver's field of vision. Partial tinting of only that part of the windshield which is in the direct "viewing area" of the Driver (the part of the cone of light that falls into the eyes of the driver = entrance pupil) and leads to glare for the driver, characterized in that - only the smallest possible part of the windshield is darkened, which is sensible by a microcomputer and its input device Part is recognized. - That scanners (laser scanners or other related technologies) monitor the eyes and the head, i.e. the field of vision of the vehicle driver and pass on their position to the angle of incidence (solid angle) of the dazzling light cone on the driver's eye to a microcomputer with appropriate software for processing in order to to initiate partial tinting of the windshield (according to main protection claim 1). - That in the case of moving, dazzling light sources (also when moving one's own vehicle), the covering (tinting) of the dazzling light source (according to main protection claim 1) is tracked as far as possible. - That several different blinding light sources, which are in the driver's field of vision, are recognized simultaneously or in short succession by scanner (s). The data are processed in the microcomputer with appropriate software in order (according to main protection claim 1) to initiate several partial tints of the windshield in parallel with one another.