Light-responsive control device of electrochromic rearview mirror system
First Claim
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1. A light-responsive control device of an electrochromic rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said electrochromic rearview mirror system including first, second, and third rearview mirrors and first, second, and third electrochromic units for changing a reflection rate of said first, second, and third rearview mirrors in response to voltages respectively applied thereto, and said light-responsive control device comprising:
- a first photo-sensor disposed at a front side of said first rearview mirror for generating a first signal in response to an intensity of a forward light reaching said first rearview mirror;
a second photo-sensor disposed at a back side of said first rearview mirror for generating a second signal in response to an intensity of a rear light reaching said first rearview mirror;
a third photo-sensor disposed at a driver'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a third signal in response to an intensity of rear light reaching said second rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system;
a fourth photo-sensor disposed at a driver'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a fourth signal in response to an intensity of rear light reaching said third rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system;
a discriminating circuit electrically connected to said first, second, third, and fourth photo-sensors, generating a reference signal in response to said first signal, and generating first, second, and third adjusting signals in response to respective comparing results of said second, third, and fourth signals with said reference signal, wherein said discriminating circuit further comprises;
a first comparing unit electrically connected to said first photo-sensor for comparing said first signal with a third predetermined signal to determine which of said first and second predetermined signals to serve as said reference signal;
a second comparing unit electrically connected to said second photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said second signal with said reference signal to generate said first adjusting signal;
a third comparing unit electrically connected to said third photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said third signal with said reference signal to generate said second adjusting signal; and
a fourth comparing unit electrically connected to said fourth photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said fourth signal with said reference signal to generate said third adjusting signal;
a reflectance-adjusting unit comprising three variable resistors coupled to said first, second, and third electrochromic units, respectively for independently selecting reflection-rate ranges of said first, second, and third electrochromic units according to user'"'"'s options;
a drive circuit electrically connected to said discriminating circuit, said reflectance-adjusting unit and said first, second, and third electrochromic units for providing first, second, and third variable drive voltages for said first, second, and third electrochromic units in response to said first, second, and third adjusting signals to result in reflection rates within said reflection-rate ranges;
wherein said drive circuit includes three charge/discharge units electrically connected between said second, third and fourth comparing units and said first, second and third electrochromic units for charging/discharging said first, second and third electrochromic units in response to said first, second and third adjusting signals, respectively.
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Abstract
A light-responsive control device of an electrochromic rearview mirror system is disclosed. The light-responsive control device includes a discriminating circuit for generating a first and a second reference levels provided for daytime and nighttime glaring determination, respectively. By providing a photo-sensor for each rearview mirror, and individually comparing the outputs of the photo-sensors with the first or the second reference level, the color-change degrees of different rearview mirrors can be individually controlled. By providing a variable resistor for the drive circuit, the initial reflection rate of the rearview mirror can be adjusted optionally.
27 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A light-responsive control device of an electrochromic rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said electrochromic rearview mirror system including first, second, and third rearview mirrors and first, second, and third electrochromic units for changing a reflection rate of said first, second, and third rearview mirrors in response to voltages respectively applied thereto, and said light-responsive control device comprising:
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a first photo-sensor disposed at a front side of said first rearview mirror for generating a first signal in response to an intensity of a forward light reaching said first rearview mirror; a second photo-sensor disposed at a back side of said first rearview mirror for generating a second signal in response to an intensity of a rear light reaching said first rearview mirror; a third photo-sensor disposed at a driver'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a third signal in response to an intensity of rear light reaching said second rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system; a fourth photo-sensor disposed at a driver'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a fourth signal in response to an intensity of rear light reaching said third rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system; a discriminating circuit electrically connected to said first, second, third, and fourth photo-sensors, generating a reference signal in response to said first signal, and generating first, second, and third adjusting signals in response to respective comparing results of said second, third, and fourth signals with said reference signal, wherein said discriminating circuit further comprises; a first comparing unit electrically connected to said first photo-sensor for comparing said first signal with a third predetermined signal to determine which of said first and second predetermined signals to serve as said reference signal; a second comparing unit electrically connected to said second photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said second signal with said reference signal to generate said first adjusting signal; a third comparing unit electrically connected to said third photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said third signal with said reference signal to generate said second adjusting signal; and a fourth comparing unit electrically connected to said fourth photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said fourth signal with said reference signal to generate said third adjusting signal; a reflectance-adjusting unit comprising three variable resistors coupled to said first, second, and third electrochromic units, respectively for independently selecting reflection-rate ranges of said first, second, and third electrochromic units according to user'"'"'s options; a drive circuit electrically connected to said discriminating circuit, said reflectance-adjusting unit and said first, second, and third electrochromic units for providing first, second, and third variable drive voltages for said first, second, and third electrochromic units in response to said first, second, and third adjusting signals to result in reflection rates within said reflection-rate ranges; wherein said drive circuit includes three charge/discharge units electrically connected between said second, third and fourth comparing units and said first, second and third electrochromic units for charging/discharging said first, second and third electrochromic units in response to said first, second and third adjusting signals, respectively.
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2. A light-responsive control device of an electrochromic rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said electrochromic rearview mirror system including first, second and third rearview mirrors and first, second and third electrochromic units for changing reflection rate of said first, second and third rearview mirrors in response to voltages respectively applied thereto, and said light-responsive control device comprising:
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a first photo-sensor disposed at a front side of said first rearview mirror for generating a first signal in response to an intensity of a forward light reaching said first rearview mirror; a second photo-sensor disposed at a back side of said first rearview mirror for generating a second signal in response to an intensity of a rear light reaching said first rearview mirror; a third photo-sensor disposed at a driver'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a third signal in response to an intensity of a rear light reaching said second rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system; a fourth photo-sensor disposed at a passenger'"'"'s side outside said vehicle for generating a fourth signal in response to an intensity of a rear light reaching said third rearview mirror of said electrochromic rearview mirror system; a discriminating circuit, comprising; a first comparing unit electrically connected to said first photo-sensor for comparing said first signal with a third predetermined signal to determine which of said first and second predetermined signals to serve as a reference signal; a second comparing unit electrically connected to said second photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said second signal with said reference signal to generate a first adjusting signal; a third comparing unit electrically connected to said third photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said third signal with said reference signal to generate a second adjusting signal; and a fourth comparing unit electrically connected to said fourth photo-sensor and said first comparing unit for comparing said fourth signal with said reference signal to generate a third adjusting signal; a reflectance-adjusting unit comprising three variable resistors coupled to said first, second and third electrochromic units, respectively, for independently selecting reflection-rate ranges of said first, second and third electrochromic units according to user'"'"'s options; a drive circuit comprising three charge/discharge units electrically connected to said second, third and fourth comparing units, said first, second and third electrochromic units and said three variable resistors for charging/discharging said first, second and third electrochromic units in response to said first, second and third adjusting signals, respectively, to result in reflection rates within said reflection-rate ranges. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeExon Science, Inc.
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Original AssigneeExon Science, Inc.
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InventorsHsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Chen, Kuei-Hung, Su, Wen-Wei
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Primary Examiner(s)Luu, Thanh X.
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Assistant Examiner(s)YAM, STEPHEN K
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Application NumberUS09/945,881Time in Patent Office1,456 DaysField of Search250/214.R, 250/206, 250/201.1, 250/204, 250/208.1, 359/265, 359/267, 359601-604US Class Current250/214.00RCPC Class CodesB60R 1/088 using a cell of electricall...
