Vehicle with control for the automatic adjustment of the transparency of vehicle window panes

• US 7,245,205 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Stoschek, Arne, Strohband, Sven, Matthai, Annegret
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/064,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602
• US Class Current: 340/426.27
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10504 Liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10532 Suspended particle layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

The invention concerns a vehicle with a window pane, especially a front window, a rear window, a side window or a roof window, for covering of the internal space of the vehicle. The transparency of the window pane is adjustable, and the vehicle includes a control for automatic adjustment of the transparency of the window pane as a function of an operating state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a window pane to cover an inter space of the vehicle, wherein transparency of the window pane is adjustable, wherein the window pane comprises a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) layer and a suspended particle device (SPD) layer arranged on the PALC layer; and

a control for automatic adjustment of the transparency of the window pane as a function of a vehicle operating state.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises solar radiation acting on the window pane.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control comprises a solar radiation module to produce a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of an output signal of a sensor measuring the solar radiation acting on the window pane.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises an output signal of a rain sensor to measure rain acting on the vehicle.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the control comprises a rain module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of the output signal of the rain sensor.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises an amount of light present outside of the vehicle.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control comprises an outside light module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of an output signal of the light sensor to measure the amount of light present outside of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises a switching state of a fog lamp.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the control comprises a fog module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of a window pane as a function of the switching state of the fog lamp.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises a state of an air conditioner.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the control comprises a temperature management module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of the state of the air conditioner.

12. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises a state of a door lock.

13. A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the control comprises a closure module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of the door lock.

14. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises an engaged gear of a transmission.

15. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control comprises a reverse module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of whether a reverse gear is engaged.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the window pane is a rear window.

17. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises the presence of an accident.

18. A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the control comprises an accident management module to generate a control signal to adjust the highest transparency of the window pane during recognition of an accident.

19. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises a geographic location of the vehicle.

20. A vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the control comprises a location module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of the legal provisions prevailing at the geographic location of the vehicle.

21. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises an occupancy of the internal space of the vehicle.

22. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises an occupation module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of the occupancy of the internal space of the vehicle.

23. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a conflict management module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of at least two operating states.

24. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises:

a conflict management module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of a first control signal to adjust the transparency of a window pane as a function of the first operating state; and

at least one second control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of a second operating state.

25. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a PVB layer or PU layer is arranged between the PALC layer and the SPD layer.

26. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a PVB layer is arranged on the side of the SPD layer facing away from the PALC layer.

27. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a PVB layer is arranged on the side of the PALC layer facing away from the SPD layer.

28. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the window pane is a front window.

29. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the window pane is a rear window.

30. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the window pane is a side window.

31. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the window pane is a roof window.

32. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transparency sensor to measure the transparency of the window pane, and

a calibration device for automatically changing a control signal generated by the control as a function of an output signal of the transparency sensor.

33. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage converter to convert the voltage of a control signal that can be generated by the control to adjust the transparency of the window pane.

34. A vehicle according to claim 33, wherein the voltage converter is mechanically connected to the window pane.

35. A vehicle according to claim 34, wherein the window pane can be moved up and down.

36. A vehicle comprising:

a window pane for covering of an internal space of the vehicle, wherein transparency of the window pane is adjustable as a function of a control signal, wherein the window pane comprises a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) layer and a suspended particle device (SPD) layer arranged on the PALC layer;

a control to generate the control signal;

a transparency sensor to measure the transparency of the window pane; and

a calibration device for automatically changing the control signal as a function of an output signal of the transparency sensor.

37. A vehicle according to claim 36, wherein the PVB layer or PU layer is arranged between the PALC layer and the SPD layer.

38. A vehicle according to claim 36, wherein the PVB layer is arranged on the side of the SPD layer facing away from the PALC layer.

39. A vehicle according to claim 36, wherein the PVB layer is arranged on the side of the PALC layer facing away from the SPD layer.

40. A vehicle according to claim 36, further comprising a voltage converter to convert the voltage of the control signal.

41. A vehicle according to claim 40, wherein the voltage converter is mechanically connected to the window pane.

42. A vehicle according to claim 41, wherein the window pane can be moved up and down.

43. An armored vehicle comprising:

a bullet-proof window pane for covering of an internal space of the armored vehicle, wherein transparency of the bullet-proof window pane is adjustable and wherein the window pane comprises a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) layer and a suspended particle device (SPD) layer arranged on the PALC layer;

a vibration sensor to record a vibration acting on the armored vehicle or bullet-proof window pane; and

a control for automatic adjustment of the transparency of the bullet-proof window pane as a function of an output signal of the vibration sensor.

44. An armored vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the bullet-proof window pane is a bullet-proof rear window.

45. An armored vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the bullet-proof window pane is a bullet-proof side window.

46. An armored vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the PVB layer or PU layer is arranged between the PALC layer and the SPD layer.

47. An armored vehicle according to claim 43, wherein a PVB layer is arranged on the side of an SPD layer facing away from the PALC layer.

48. An armored vehicle according to claim 43, wherein a PVB layer is arranged on the side of the PALC layer facing away from the SPD layer.

49. A vehicle comprising:

a window pane for covering an internal space of a vehicle, wherein transparency of the window pane is adjustable, said window pane comprising;

a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) layer; and

an suspended particle device (SPD) layer arranged on the PALC layer.

50. A vehicle according to claim 49, wherein a PVB layer or PU layer is arranged between the PALC layer and the SPD layer.

51. A vehicle according to claim 49, wherein a PVB layer is arranged on the side of the SPD layer facing away from the PALC layer.

52. A vehicle according to claim 49, wherein the PVB layer is arranged on the side of the PALC layer facing away from the SPD layer.

53. A vehicle according to claim 49, further comprising a voltage converter to convert the voltage of a control signal for adjustment of the PALC layer.

54. A vehicle according to claim 53, wherein the voltage converter is mechanically connected to the window pane.

55. A vehicle according to claim 54, wherein the window pane can be moved up and down.

56. A vehicle according to claim 49, further comprising a voltage converter to convert the voltage of a control signal for adjustment of the SPD layer.

57. A vehicle according to claim 56, wherein the voltage converter is mechanically connected to the window pane.

58. A vehicle according to claim 57, wherein the window pane can be moved up and down.

59. A vehicle comprising:

a window pane to cover the internal space of a vehicle, wherein the transparency of the window pane is adjustable, wherein the window pane comprises a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) layer and a suspended particle device (SPD) layer arranged on the PALC layer; and

a voltage converter mechanically connected to the window pane for conversion of the voltage of a control signal for adjustment of the transparency of the window pane.

60. A vehicle according to claim 59, wherein the window pane can be moved up and down.

61. A window pane according to claim 59, wherein a PVB layer or PU layer is arranged between the PALC layer and the SPD layer.

62. A window pane according to claim 59, wherein the PVB layer is arranged on the side of the SPD layer facing away from the PALC layer.

63. A window pane according to claim 59, wherein the PVB layer is arranged on the side of the PALC layer facing away from the SPD layer.

64. A vehicle comprising:

a window pane to cover an inter space of the vehicle, wherein transparency of the window pane is adjustable; and

a control for automatic adjustment of the transparency of the window pane as a function of a vehicle operating state, wherein the operating state comprises a geographic location of the vehicle and wherein the control comprises a location module to generate a control signal to adjust the transparency of the window pane as a function of legal provisions prevailing at the geographic location of the vehicle.