Variable transmissivity window system

• US 20060158715A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Furusawa, Isao, Ouchi, Katsuo, Kasuya, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/206,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency

Abstract

The variable transmissivity window system comprises a camera for detecting light from a light source, a transmissivity control unit for controlling the transmissivity of light passed through the windshield, and a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying the transmissivity of each of blocks into which the windshield is divided. The camera calculates light source information including the direction, size and intensity of the light source. The transmissivity control unit calculates a position of the windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a range of the position thereof for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity. The imaging unit decides whether or not the light source gives glare to the occupant, and when the imaging unit decides that the light source gives glare to the occupant, the imaging unit changes a glare decision threshold according to an ambient light level outside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A variable transmissivity window system comprising:

an imaging unit for detecting and processing light from a light source;

a transmissivity control unit for controlling a transmissivity of light passed through a windshield on the basis of light source information from said imaging unit; and

a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying a transmissivity of each of blocks into which said windshield is divided on the basis of control information from said transmissivity control unit,

wherein said imaging unit calculates the light source information including a direction and size of the light source, and said transmissivity control unit calculates a position of said windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a position range thereof for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity to be modified and controls said transmissivity modifying unit on the basis of said light source information.

2. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging unit decides whether or not said light source issues light giving glare to an occupant located behind said windshield, and when said imaging unit decides that said light source issues light giving glare to the occupant, said imaging unit issues an instruction to modify the transmissivity of said windshield block, and a threshold for use in the glare decision is changed according to an ambient light level outside said windshield.

3. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 2, wherein the ambient light level outside said windshield is calculated with use of part of an image taken by said imaging unit.

4. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 1, wherein said transmissivity control unit calculates a position of said windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a position range for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity to be modified, and controls said transmissivity modifying unit, on the basis of said light source information including a direction, a size, and an intensity of said light source and a correspondence relation table of the transmissivity of said windshield block previously found from the light source information.

11. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 1, wherein said transmissivity control unit stepwise modifies transmissivities of the windshield blocks from one for the transmissivity to be lowered to another one for the transmissivity not to be lowered.

12. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 1, wherein a transmissivity modification position change switch for changing the transmissivity modification position and/or the transmissivity modification position range of said windshield block calculated by said transmissivity control unit is provided.

5. A variable transmissivity window system comprising:

an imaging unit for detecting and processing light from a light source;

a transmissivity control unit for controlling a transmissivity of light passed through a windshield on the basis of light source information from said imaging unit;

a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying a transmissivity of each of blocks into which said windshield is divided on the basis of control information from said transmissivity control unit; and

a detection unit for detecting a position of an eye of an occupant located behind said windshield,

wherein said imaging unit calculates the light source information including a direction, size, and intensity of the light source, said transmissivity control unit calculates a position of said windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a range of the position for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity to be modified and controls said transmissivity modifying unit, on the basis of said light source information issued from said imaging unit and information about the occupant'"'"'s eye position issued from said detection unit.

6. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 5, wherein said detection unit is a measurement unit for measuring a camera for photographing said occupant and/or a position of an occupant'"'"'s seat.

13. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 5, wherein said transmissivity control unit stepwise modifies transmissivities of the windshield blocks from one for the transmissivity to be lowered to another one for the transmissivity not to be lowered.

14. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 5, wherein a transmissivity modification position change switch for changing the transmissivity modification position and/or the transmissivity modification position range of said windshield block calculated by said transmissivity control unit is provided.

7. A variable transmissivity window system comprising:

an imaging unit for detecting and processing light from a light source giving glare to an occupant located in a vehicle;

a transmissivity control unit for controlling a transmissivity of light passed through a windshield on the basis of light source information from said imaging unit;

a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying a transmissivity of each of blocks into which said windshield is divided on the basis of control information from said transmissivity control unit; and

a vehicle control unit for controlling steering or acceleration of the vehicle on the basis of the light source information from said imaging unit,

wherein said imaging unit calculates the light source information including a direction, size, and intensity of the light source, said transmissivity control unit calculates a position of said windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a range of the position for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity to be modified, and controls said transmissivity modifying unit on the basis of said light source information, and when the light source information issued from said imaging unit exceeds a glare threshold, said imaging unit causes said vehicle control unit to be operated.

8. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 7, wherein, when said light source information exceeds the glare threshold, said vehicle control unit changes and sets a lane departure range at a narrow threshold, and when the vehicle reaches said narrow threshold, the vehicle control unit issues an alarm.

9. A variable transmissivity window system according to claim 7, wherein, when said light source information exceeds the glare threshold, said vehicle control unit controls the vehicle so as not to execute acceleration control of the vehicle.

10. A variable transmissivity window system comprising:

an imaging unit for detecting and processing light from a light source giving glare to an occupant located within a vehicle;

a transmissivity control unit for controlling a transmissivity of light passed through a windshield on the basis of light source information from said imaging unit;

a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying a transmissivity of each of blocks into which said windshield is divided on the basis of control information from said transmissivity control unit; and

a video display unit for displaying video information from said imaging unit,

wherein said imaging unit calculates the light source information including a direction, size, and intensity of the light source, said transmissivity control unit calculates a position of said windshield for the transmissivity to be modified, a range of the position for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity to be modified, and controls said transmissivity modifying unit on the basis of said light source information, and when the light source information issued from said imaging unit exceeds a glare threshold, said transmissivity control unit causes said video display unit to display a video of a scene around said glaring light source.