System and Methods for an Automated Sun Glare Block Area and Sunshield in a Vehicular Windshield

• US 20100094501A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angela Karen Kwok
• Original Assignee: Angela Karen Kwok
• Inventors: Kwok, Angela Karen
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A system and methods for the automated display of a borderless sun glare block area and sunshield in a windshield, which can be made of electrochromatic glass, in a motor vehicle driven at any time and at any location on earth is presented. The first method, which accurately calculates the precise position of the sun glare block area, is based on the apparent solar position, the direction of travel relative to the true North, the slope of the road, the windshield tilt angle, and the dynamic position of the driver'"'"'s eyes. It uses sets of different formulas depending on the position of the sun glare on the windshield and the slope of the road. The second method calculates the changing opacities of the borderless sun glare block area, whose opacity decreases from its center to its edge and matches that of the sunshield, based on the ambient light intensity.

Claims

1. A system and methods for an accurate calculation of the precise position and the display of a sun glare block area, and the display of a sunshield in a windshield in a transportation vehicle comprised of some or all of the following components, devices or sensors:

a microcontroller, a memory and storage unit, a light sensor, a GPS unit, a digital clock, a digital compass, an inclinometer, a distance sensor, a position sensor, an input and control device, an optional power supply unit, an optional microprocessor, and

wherein the transportation vehicles comprises of automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, airplanes, motor boats and other motor vehicles; and

wherein the GPS unit monitors the absolute location of the motor vehicle on earth in terms of its latitude and longitude; and

wherein the digital clock monitors the current time of day adjusted for daylight savings time, the current day of the year adjusted for leap year, the current year; and

wherein the digital compass measures the compass North direction which is then converted to the true North direction; and

wherein the inclinometer monitors whether the road has an inclination or declination, and measures the slope of the road; and

wherein the input and control device comprises of a touch screen or pad, a joystick, a keyboard, a voice input or control device with a speech recognition system, or any other wired input or control devices on the dashboard, front or driver side panels, or the steering wheel, as well as any other wireless remote input and control devices; and

wherein the components, devices or sensors can be other components, devices or sensors with similar features and providing similar functions; and

wherein the components, devices or sensors are built as part of the motor vehicle, embedded in the motor vehicle, or added in the motor vehicle as standalone components, devices or sensors.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the windshield comprises of transparent materials capable of varying opacities of its elements individually, independently, and reversibly by applying different voltages on its electrodes;

and

wherein the view transparent materials comprise of electrochromics, liquid crystal displays, thermotropics, photochromatics, suspended particle displays, or reflective hydrides in a multilayer composite, or as an attachable or rollable sheet.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light sensor continuously monitors and measures the current ambient light intensity for the comparison of the threshold values for the sun glare block area and the sunshield to trigger the “

on”

or “

off”

for the display of the sun glare block area and/or the sunshield; and

wherein the current ambient light intensity is used to calculate the opacities of the sun glare block area and the sunshield for the comfort of the driver'"'"'s eyes; and

wherein the threshold values for the sun glare block area and the sunshield comprise of default values and/or values selected or entered by the driver using the input and control device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sun glare block area is borderless or with border, of any shape and size, and with its calculated opacities being constant or according to a gradient function;

and

wherein the calculated opacities decrease from the center of the sun glare block area to its edge according to a gradient function such that the opacity at its edge blends with the calculated opacity of the sunshield; and

wherein the shape, size, and gradient function comprise of default values and/or values selected or entered by the driver using the input and control device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller controls, retrieves data from and sends data to, communicates with other components, devices, and sensors by software programs;

and

wherein the software program comprises of machine languages embedded in or built into the microcontroller, other components, devices, and sensors as the device drivers; and

wherein the software program further comprises of any programming language deployed in the optional microprocessor.

6. The system according to claim 1, is further comprised of three modes of operations:

a default automatic mode, a manual mode, and a tuning mode; and

wherein the default automatic mode is operable immediately after the installation of the system without any requirements for the setup, configuration, customization, or input from the driver; and

wherein the manual mode enables the driver to override certain steps or processes of the automatic mode; and

wherein the manual mode further comprises the control and selection of the position of the sun glare block area and its opacities using the input and control device; and

wherein the tuning mode is used to set, calculate, and adjust the customized data or system parameters using the input and control device; and

wherein the tuning mode further comprises the reverse calculation of the actual vertical distance between the driver'"'"'s crown and eyes by adjusting the position of the sun glare block area based on the default or average vertical distance such that the new position of the sun glare block area is in line with the sun glare on the windshield when viewed by the driver.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprises a second sun glare block area in the windshield for the front passenger;

wherein the second sun glare block area is similar to the sun glare block area for the driver in its calculation and display; and

wherein the second sun glare block area comprises of its position being calculated using the position of the passenger'"'"'s eyes instead of the driver'"'"'s eyes; and

wherein the second sun glare block area further comprises of its opacities being much lower than that of the sun glare block area for the driver to avoid creating a distraction for the driver.

8. A method for an accurate calculation of the precise position of the sun glare block area in the windshield comprises of:

calculating the apparent position of the Sun in terms of its solar zenith or altitude angle, and its solar azimuth angle from the following parameters;

the time of day adjusted for daylight savings time;

the date of the year adjusted for leap year;

the year;

the absolute location of the motor vehicle in terms of its latitude and longitude; and

calculating the windshield position in terms of the direction of travel relative to the true North direction adjusted from the compass North direction; and

calculating the slope of the road in terms of the angle of inclination or declination relative to the horizontal sea level; and

calculating the position of the driver'"'"'s eyes in terms of its image position when projected onto the windshield along the horizontal eye level; and

calculating the horizontal perpendicular distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the windshield; and

calculating the windshield tilt angle relative to the horizontal level of the motor vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a set of different formulae or equations for all possible conditions comprises:

whether the sun glare block area is on the left or right side of the direct line of sight perpendicular to the windshield from the eye horizontally to the windshield; and

whether the sun glare block area is on the left or right side of the direct line of sight from the eye towards the true North; and

wherein whether the road is inclined or declined.

10. A method for the continuous monitoring, measuring, and calculating of the image position of the driver'"'"'s eyes on the windshield when the driver'"'"'s eyes are projected onto the windshield along the horizontal eye level, and the horizontal perpendicular distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the windshield during driving;

and

wherein the eye image position is calculated from the vertical position between the driver'"'"'s head and the ceiling, which is measured by a distance sensor mounted on the interior ceiling above the driver'"'"'s seat, and the vertical distance between the driver'"'"'s crown and eyes; and

wherein the horizontal perpendicular distance is calculated from the bottom edge of the windshield and the horizontal position of the driver'"'"'s forehead, which is continuously monitored,

measured, and calculated using a position sensor mounted along the driver'"'"'s door or side panel, or by a distance sensor mounted on the upper edge of the windshield.