Vehicle window transmissivity control

• US 6,622,812 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ho Keung Tse
• Original Assignee: Ho Keung Tse
• Inventors: Tse, Ho Keung
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/806,018
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/49, 180/271
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12

Abstract

A system which determines whether a vehicle is in forward motion or not, and to disable dangerous command(s) which changes transmissivity of controllable window(s) of that vehicle to an unacceptable level, in an automatic manner if the vehicle is determined as in forward motion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in controlling a vehicle, comprising:

determining means for determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;

receiving means for receiving user actuation for controlling transmissivity of said window, and in response thereto, generating corresponding command signals;

disabling means for disabling of said receiving means, in such a manner that said receiving means becomes incapable of generating an effective said command signal which can change the transmissivity of said window to a dangerous level for forward driving, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward by said determining means.

2. A method for use in controlling transmissivity of a window of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;

causing at least one user-selectable command to become inactive if said vehicle is determined as moving forward;

wherein said at least one user-selectable command being for setting the transmissivity of said window to a comparatively low level.

3. A window system of a vehicle, comprising:

determining means for determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;

means for preventing transmissivity of a window of said system from being controlled by a user to a dangerous level for forward driving, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward by said determining means.

4. A method for use in controlling a window of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;

preventing transmissivity of said window from being controlled by a user to below a predetermined level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.

5. A method as claimed by claim 4, wherein said vehicle being a car and said determining step comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether said vehicle'"'"'s speed tachometer is outputting a non-zero value;

b) determining whether forward gear is selected;

c) determining said vehicle as moving forward if results of steps a) and

b) are both positive.

6. A method for use in controlling transmissivity of a window of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;

preventing transmissivity of said window from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.

7. Apparatus for use in controlling transmissivity of a window of a vehicle, comprising:

means for obtaining status of said vehicle;

means for preventing transmissivity of said window from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.

8. A method for use in controlling transmissivity of a window of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining status of said vehicle;

preventing transmissivity of said window from being controlled by a user to from a comparatively high level to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.