Smart mirror apparatus using LCD panel

• US 20080074606A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SODY
• Original Assignee: SODY
• Inventors: Lee, Jong
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133533 Colour selective polarisers G02F1/1347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1393 the birefringence of the liquid crystal being electrically controlled, e.g. ECB-, DAP-, HAN-, PI-LC cells G02F1/1396, G02F1/141 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a smart mirror apparatus using an LCD panel. The smart mirror of the present invention includes a reflective mirror, which is provided in the vehicle, and an LCD panel, which is placed in a light path between the reflective mirror and eyes of the driver and has one or two polarizing sheets. The smart mirror further includes an incident light detecting unit, which detects both the brightness of the incident light transmitted from the rear to the LCD panel and the brightness around the LCD panel, and calculates a difference value therebetween. The smart mirror further includes a voltage determination unit, which receives the calculated difference value and determines the drive voltage depending on the difference value, and a voltage apply and supply unit which applies the drive voltage, determined by the voltage determination unit, to the LCD panel.

Claims

1. A smart mirror apparatus to prevent light transmitted from behind a vehicle from dazzling a driver of the vehicle, comprising:

a reflective mirror provided in the vehicle;

an LCD panel placed in a light path between the reflective mirror and eyes of the driver, and comprising one or two polarizing sheets, each having a polarization rate ranging from 50% to 95% in a visible light band, the LCD panel varying a light transmissivity thereof depending on a magnitude of voltage applied to the LCD panel, thus adjusting a quantity of light that reaches the driver after being reflected by the reflective mirror;

an incident light detecting unit detecting both brightness of the incident light transmitted from behind the vehicle to the LCD panel and brightness around the LCD panel, and calculating a difference value therebetween;

a voltage determination unit receiving the difference value calculated by the incident light detecting unit and determining the drive voltage depending on the difference value; and

a voltage apply and supply unit to apply the drive voltage determined by the voltage determination unit to the LCD panel.

2. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LCD panel is attached to the reflective mirror using a transparent hardening agent.

3. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a nonreflecting layer is applied on an outermost surface of the LCD panel opposite a surface attached to the reflective mirror.

4. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transparent hardening agent is a thermosetting resin or a UV-setting resin, and a refractive index of the transparent hardening agent in the visible light band is from 1.40 to 1.55.

5. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflective mirror and the LCD panel are spaced apart from each other.

6. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reflective mirror is disposed outside the vehicle, and the LCD panel is disposed inside the vehicle.

7. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a nonreflecting layer is applied to each of opposite outermost surfaces of the LCD panel.

8. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reflective mirror and the LCD panel are configured such that the light transmitted from behind the vehicle is directly reflected by the reflective mirror, passes through the LCD panel, and reaches the driver.

9. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid crystal layer constituting the LCD panel is formed according to a TN mode, an ECB mode or a VA mode.

10. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each polarizing sheet has a constant polarization rate and light transmissivity throughout an entire visible light wavelength band.

11. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each polarizing sheet comprises a color polarizing sheet, a polarization rate or light transmissivity of which varies depending on a visible light wavelength.

12. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflective mirror is formed by applying aluminum or chrome on an outer surface of a plastic or glass substrate such that a metal film is formed on the substrate.

13. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incident light detecting unit comprises:

a plurality of semiconductor light sensors provided at front and rear sides of the vehicle.

14. The smart mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises a power source of the vehicle, a primary battery, a secondary battery or a solar battery.