Method of Controlling an Electrochromic Mirror and an Electrochromic System for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20080165422A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Person Millaruelo, Carles, Porqueras Orea, Isidre
• Application Number:
  US11/665,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

A method and system for controlling an electrochromic mirror and an electrochromic system which are applicable to a motor vehicle are provided. The invention relates to a method of controlling an electrochromic mirror and to an electrochromic system which are intended for a motor vehicle. The inventive method comprises the following steps: a) detecting the incidence on the mirror of a light signal with a light intensity above a pre-determined threshold; b) upon detection of said signal, the electrochromic mirror darkens to a pre-fixed maximum level of darkness; c) when the light signal is no longer incident on the electrochromic mirror, the mirror lightens to a minimum level of darkness, thereby improving the driver'"'"'s view of the exterior of the vehicle; d) the electrochromic mirror is lightened or darkened to an intermediate level; e) detection of the incidence on the mirror of a subsequent light signal with a light intensity above a pre-determined threshold; f) upon detection of said signal, the electrochromic mirror is darkened from the intermediate level to a maximum level of darkness; f) upon detection of said signal, the electrochromic mirror is darkened from the intermediate level to a maximum level of darkness; and g) when the subsequent light signal is no longer incident on the electrochromic mirror, the mirror returns to the intermediate level of darkness.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electrochromic mirror, applicable to a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a) detecting an incidence on said mirror of a light signal with a light intensity above a certain predetermined threshold,

b) darkening the electrochromic mirror to a pre-fixed maximum level of darkness, upon at least one of said detections, and

c) lightening the electrochromic mirror to a minimum level of darkness, after an end of said light signal incidence on said electrochromic mirror, thereby viewing of the exterior of the vehicle through the electrochromic mirror is facilitated,

wherein when at least steps a) and b) have occurred a certain number of times in a defined time period, the method further comprises carrying out the following steps in order to prevent a repetitive glare;

d) one of lightening or darkening said electrochromic mirror to an intermediate level,

e) detecting the incidence on said mirror of a subsequent light signal with a light intensity above a certain predetermined threshold,

f) darkening said electrochromic mirror from said intermediate level to said maximum level of darkness, upon said detection of step e), and

g) returning said electrochromic mirror to said intermediate level of darkness, after an end of said subsequent light signal incidence on the electrochromic mirror.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

h) returning said electrochromic mirror to said minimum level of darkness after a first predetermined time period without incidence of a light signal on the electrochromic mirror, said sequential linked steps d) to g) concluding.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step c) occurs after a second predetermined time period after said end of the incidence of the light signal on the electrochromic mirror.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step g) occurs after a third predetermined time period after said end of the incidence of the subsequent light signal on the electrochromic mirror.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said second and third predetermined time periods are equal.

6. The A method according to claim 4, wherein said second and third predetermined time periods are different.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said maximum level of darkness depends on the light intensity and the duration of said incident light signal causing said glare, and on the outside environmental light.

8. (canceled)

9. An electrochromic system for use with a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising at least one electrochromic mirror as said rearview mirror, at least one first light sensor to monitor the environmental light surrounding the rearview mirror, at least one second light sensor to monitor the incident light on the electrochromic rearview mirror, and at least one control unit for controlling said electrochromic rearview mirror, associated to said first and second light sensors, said control unit adapted to control the electrochromic mirror in accordance with the following steps:

a) detecting an incidence on said mirror of a light signal with a light intensity above a certain predetermined threshold;

b) adjusting the electrochromic mirror to a pre-fixed maximum level of darkness, based upon at least one of said detections;

c) adjusting the electrochromic mirror to a minimum level of darkness, after an end of said light signal incidence on said electrochromic mirror;

d) determining if steps a) and b) have occurred a predetermined number of times in a predetermined time period and based on said determination continuing with the following steps;

e) adjusting said electrochromic mirror to an intermediate level;

f) detecting the incidence on said mirror of a subsequent light signal with a light intensity above a certain predetermined threshold;

g) darkening said electrochromic mirror from said intermediate level to said maximum level of darkness, based upon said detection of step f); and

h) returning said electrochromic mirror to said intermediate level of darkness, after an end of said subsequent light signal incidence on the electrochromic mirror.