Electrochromic Windshield with Computer Vision Control

• US 20090168185A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Augustine, Bruce A.
• Application Number:
  US11/965,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/613
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency

Abstract

A system [200] includes a first camera system [215, 220] to capture first images of a selected person [100] within a vehicle [105] having a windshield [120] with an electrochromic layer [300] comprised of a plurality of electrochromic pixels [305], and to determine a location of the selected person'"'"'s eyes. A second camera system [205, 210] captures second images of an area in front of the vehicle and detects a glare source. A processing unit [225] is operably coupled to the first and second camera systems and determines (a) a line-of-sight vector between the location of the eyes of the selected person and the location of the glare source; (b) a location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes; and (c) changes an opacity of at least one of the electrochromic pixels within a designated distance of the location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first camera system to capture first images of a selected person within a vehicle having a windshield with an electrochromic layer comprised of a plurality of electrochromic pixels, and to determine a location of the selected person'"'"'s eyes;

a second camera system to capture second images of an area in front of the vehicle and to detect a glare source;

a processing unit operably coupled to the first camera system and the second camera system to

determine a line-of-sight vector between the location of the eyes of the selected person and the location of the glare source;

determine a location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes;

change an opacity of at least one of the electrochromic pixels within a designated distance of the location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to change the opacity of the at least one of the electrochromic pixels by providing a control signal to the at least one of the electrochromic pixels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer is disposed within the windshield.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user-assertable switch to enable the electrochromic pixels.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user-assertable switch to polarize the electrochromic pixels.

8. A system, comprising:

a vehicle having a windshield with an electrochromic layer comprised of a plurality of electrochromic pixels;

a first camera system to capture first images of a selected person within the vehicle and to determine a location of the selected person'"'"'s eyes;

a second camera system to capture second images of an area in front of the vehicle and to detect a glare source;

a processing unit operably coupled to the first camera system and the second camera system to

determine a line-of-sight vector between the location of the eyes of the selected person and the location of the glare source;

determine a location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes;

change an opacity of at least one of the electrochromic pixels within a designated distance of the location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the electrochromic layer is disposed within the windshield.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a user-assertable switch to enable the electrochromic pixels.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a user-assertable switch to polarize all of the electrochromic pixels.

14. A method, comprising:

detecting a location of a selected person'"'"'s eyes in a vehicle having a windshield with an electrochromic layer comprised of a plurality of electrochromic pixels;

detecting a location of a glare source;

determining a line-of-sight vector between the location of the eyes of the selected person and the location of the glare source;

determining a location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes;

changing an opacity of at least one of the electrochromic pixels within a designated distance of the location of the windshield through which the line-of-sight vector passes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected person is a driver of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

18. The method of claim 14, the detecting the location of the eyes of the selected person being performed based on an analysis of images provided by at least two cameras within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14, the detecting the location of the glare source being performed based on an analysis of images provided by at least two cameras facing in a direction toward an exterior of the vehicle.