Vehicle automatic anti-glare device

• US 6,394,614 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chia-Jung Chang, San-Shun Chen
• Original Assignee: Chia-Jung Chang, San-Shun Chen
• Inventors: Chang, Chia-Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikder, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/968,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 162 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604,607,608,601,602,603,265,267,272,273,275,276,277
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/084 using a removable filtering or hiding screen associated with windows or windscreens B60J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers

Abstract

A vehicle automatic anti-glare device comprises a LCD panel having a function of being converted into a “non-light filtering” mode from a “light filtering” mode as voltage is applied thereon; a reflection film installed at a back side of said LCD panel, when the said LCD panel is in a “light filtering” mode, said reflection film reflects the light of said LCD panel so that said LCD panel reflects images; a light sensor for detecting the light intensity of the light radiated to said LCD panel and sends out a signal; and a control module for receiving an output signal from said light sensor. As the signal is over is default value, then a pressure is applied to the LCD panel so that said LCD panel is converted into a “non-light filtering” mode. The control module has a data receiving device which receives the data from a microcomputer in a vehicle and then transfers said data to said LCD panel. A back side of said LCD panel is installed with a battery device and a retainer seat for receiving said control module so that said LCD panel has power for operation, and via the said retainer seat, said LCD panel is fixed and connected to said rear-view mirror of a vehicle. Thereby, the user may install the vehicle automatic anti-glare device himself (or herself).

Claims

1. A vehicle automatic anti-glare device comprising:

a LCD panel having a function of being converted into a “

non-light filtering”

mode from a “

light filtering”

mode as voltage is applied thereon;

a reflection film installed at a back of the said LCD panel, so that when the said LCD panel is in a “

light filtering”

mode, the said reflection film can reflect the light cast on the said LCD panel, allowing the said LCD panel to reflect images;

a light sensor for detecting the light intensity of the light radiated to the said LCD panel and then sends out a signal which corresponds to the intensity of the light; and

a control module for receiving an output signal from said light sensor;

when the signal exceeds the default value, then voltage is applied to the LCD panel, so that said LCD panel is converted into a “

light filtering”

mode.

2. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control module receives the data from a microcomputer in a vehicle and then transmits the said data to said LCD panel.

3. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the output information includes vehicle speed, water and oil temperature, condition of the car door, condition of the vehicle light and condition of petrol usage.

4. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said control module includes

a processor for running a control program stored in a memory or a chip on a printed circuit board;

a data-receiving device for receiving signals from a microcomputer in a vehicle;

an EEPROM for storing a display driving program of the said LCD panel and storing a control program for comparing signals sent out from the light sensor with a default value;

a RAM for storing data from said microcomputer in a vehicle and received by said data receiving device;

a driving display circuit for receiving the data from said data receiving device according to said processor for driving devices on the LCD panel; and

a anti-glare processing circuit for applying voltage to said LCD panel.

5. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data receiving device receives data from external electronic devices.

6. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electronic device is a PDA.

7. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the information stored inside the PDA is displayed on the LCD panel.

8. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electronic device is cellular phone.

9. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the information stored inside the cellular phone is displayed on the LCD panel.

10. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information entered is GPS information.

11. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 10, wherein map is displayed on the LCD panel.

12. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflection film is plated with chromium in a normal temperature.

13. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet-proof coating process is performed on a parallel light filter mirror at outer layer of LCD panel.

14. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a switch device is installed between said LCD panel and said control module for automatically switching an anti-glare function .

15. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a sleep-proof device having a needle type camera for detecting the driver'"'"'s frequency of blinking and a speaker for playing warning messages to alert the driver.

16. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said EEPROM stores a control program and related data of said needle type camera.

17. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said related data includes a default value and warning messages from said speaker, and the default value is used to be compared with a signal from said needle type camera.

18. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic anti-glare device is installed in a rear-view mirror in a vehicle.

19. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 18, wherein a number of fixed patterns of pictures are arranged on said LCD panel;

said fixing patterns include;

a vehicle direction displaying portion, an oil consumption displaying portion, a speed displaying portion, a head light control displaying portion, an engine temperature displaying portion, a vehicle parking distance displaying portion, a communication antenna displaying portion and a wiper displaying portion.

20. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic anti-glare device is installed on the rear-view mirror of a vehicle.

21. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a back side of said LCD panel is installed with a battery device and a retainer seat for receiving said control module so that said LCD panel has power for operation and via the said retainer seat, said LCD panel is firmly connected to said rear-view mirror of a vehicle.

22. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the visual area of the said LCD panel is determined by the minimum area of mirror lenses of each vehicle.

23. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said LCD panel is stuck to said retainer seat by a sticky medium.

24. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said sticky medium is a double-sided tape.

25. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said battery is a mercury battery.

26. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said battery is a lithium battery.

27. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the edges of the visual area is kept wide to allow room for adjustment to suit different sizes of vehicles.

28. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said light sensor is a light sensitive resistor.

29. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said control module includes an EEPROM for storing a control program related to said control module and storing a default value for comparing with a signal sent out from said light sensor;

a processor unit for running said control program of said control module; and

a signal port for receiving a signal inputted from said light sensor and sending signal to said LCD panel.

30. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said LCD panel is connected to a signal terminal for being connected to a signal connecting port of said control module.

31. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said control module has a structure including a circuit board and the electronic parts installed in the circuit board.

32. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control module includes the light-sensing element;

when the light-sensing element senses strong light, the anti-glare function is switched off.

33. The vehicle automatic anti-glare device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the light-sensing element is photodiode.