Individual mirror control system
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling an inside electrochromic (IEC) element and one or more outside electrochromic (OEC) elements, the control system comprising:
- receiving means for receiving one or more glare control signals; and
a control circuit for individually controlling each of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements, said control circuit coupled to said receiving means for controlling the reflectance of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements such that light from a light source to the rear of the vehicle that is reflected from said IEC and OEC elements is perceived by the driver to have the same level of brightness in the reflected images from each of said IEC and OEC elements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a plurality of electrochromic elements, for example, used in automobiles, to control the glare of the IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). The IEC element and each of the OEC elements is provided with an individual drive circuit (21, 22). The drive circuits for the OEC'"'"'s elements may be customized to account for various factors such as the type of curvature as well as the size and shape. Since individual drive circuitry is provided for the IEC elements and each of the OEC elements, the reflectance of each of the electrochromic elements (20, 24, 26) can be relatively accurately controlled by way of glare signal from inside the automobile.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling an inside electrochromic (IEC) element and one or more outside electrochromic (OEC) elements, the control system comprising:
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receiving means for receiving one or more glare control signals; and
a control circuit for individually controlling each of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements, said control circuit coupled to said receiving means for controlling the reflectance of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements such that light from a light source to the rear of the vehicle that is reflected from said IEC and OEC elements is perceived by the driver to have the same level of brightness in the reflected images from each of said IEC and OEC elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control system for controlling an inside electrochromic (IEC) element and one or more outside electrochromic (OEC) elements, the control system comprising:
a control circuit for individually controlling each of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements, said control circuit controlling said IEC element and said one or more of said OEC elements such that the light from a light source to the rear of the vehicle that is reflected from said IEC and OEC elements, is perceived by the driver to have substantially the same level of brightness in the reflected images from each of said IEC and OEC elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling the reflected light level of an IEC element and one or more OEC elements to maintain a relatively constant and equal reflected light level at a predetermined reference point, the method comprising:
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(a) providing individual drive circuits for individually controlling the reflectance of each of said IEC element and said one or more OEC elements; and
(b) manipulating one or more predetermined characteristics of the reflectance curves for said IEC element in order to provide a substantially equal level of brightness in the images of a light source to the rear of the vehicle that are reflected from said IEC and OEC elements, as perceived by the driver of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification