Anti-dazzle system for vehicles

• US 5,486,938 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Aigrain, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHARLES LELAND
• Application Number:
  US08/419,754
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 359/72, 359/36
• US Class Current: 349/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means

Abstract

In front of the driver there is arranged a screen (20) with a variable transmission coefficient. The headlamps (10, 11) of the vehicle send out periodic pulses of short duration with respect to the period. The transmission coefficient of the screen (20, 23, 24) varies in such a way that it is transparent during the duration of the light pulses and that the screen is substantially less transparent between these pulses.

Claims

1. An anti-dazzle system for a vehicle, comprising:

headlamp control means for controlling at least one headlamp of said vehicle whereby said headlamp outputs periodic light pulses having a duration which is short with regard to their period;

a screen arranged in front of a driver of said vehicle having a variable light transmission coefficient;

means responsive to said period pulses to vary the transmission coefficient of said screen whereby said screen is transparent only during the duration of said light pulses and wherein said transmission coefficient is substantially lower;

but high enough to allow said driver to see headlamps of oncoming vehicles between said pulses.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio between the duration of each pulse (25) and the period is a fiftieth or less.

3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the frequency of the pulses is of at least 200 pulses per second.

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the screen has transparent electrodes on each of its faces.

5. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the material of the screen is a preferably ferro-electric liquid crystal.

6. System according to claim 5, characterised in that, with the liquid crystal screen, there are associated two polarisers adjusted so that, without voltage applied to the screen, the assembly of the screen and of the two polarisers exhibits a nonzero transmission coefficient.

7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the headlamps of the vehicle are equipped with flashlamps.

8. System according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a means for making the screen permanently transparent.

9. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the screen is retractable.

10. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the screen has the shape of a rectangle.

11. The anti-dazzle system according to claim 1, further comprising a detector which is sensitive to sources emitting light in a periodic fashion and a means which is sensitive to a signal output by said detector in order to determine whether the emission period of the sources detected coincide with the light emitted and, in the event of coincidence, to offset the light-pulses emitted with respect to the emission periods.