Independent and anonymous night time glare reduction system

• US 8,899,656 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sam Mingsan Chen
• Original Assignee: Sam Mingsan Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Sam Mingsan
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/083,574
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.1, 296/97.2, 296/97.7, 296/97.8, 362/259
• US Class Current: 296/97.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency

Abstract

This invention uses fixed number of randomly generated pulses to turn on/off headlamp(s) and viewing screen simultaneously in each base time interval. The percentage of total “on” time during each base interval, the duty cycle, is low. This method dims the oncoming headlights by at least a half without dimming any objects illuminated by own vehicle'"'"'s headlights. The system is independent and anonymous, meaning in order to make the system work, there is no need for other vehicles to install anything nor will drivers of other vehicles notice anything different in the vehicle with such system installed.

Claims

1. A method for reducing glare with a system composed of a lamp system, a control unit and a viewing screen system by simultaneously turning on/off bright headlamp and viewing screen at low duty cycle with randomly selected pulses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a clock sets up repeated time intervals called base intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the clock divides each base interval into a fixed number of sub-intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a random number generator generates a fixed number of random numbers for each base interval for the selection of sub-intervals within that base interval to turn on headlamp and viewing screen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the total number of sub-intervals selected in each base interval is based on the duty cycle which makes the effective brightness within range of government regulations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source of said lamp is LED, laser diode or strobe discharge bulb.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing screen can be made less dark when “

off”

to allow desired light to pass through.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is mounted on left lower corner of windshield to allow clear viewing of traffic signals and other objects through other part of windshield.

9. An alternate embodiment of claim 8, wherein the viewing screen can be mounted at other locations as needed when the system is used for other purposes such as spot light in police car.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the default mode of the viewing screen is transparent.

11. In one embodiment of the method of claim 1, the viewing screen is directly attached to windshield glass.

12. In an alternate embodiment of the method of claim 1, the viewing screen can be rolled up and stored in windshield frame and can be pulled out for use with one end attached to windshield using a suction cup or other means.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the rate of the clock in the control unit can be adjusted faster to reduce blur or slower to extend screen life.