Forward viewing camera configured to control outside electro-optic mirror

• US 9,937,863 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Soderstrom, Joakim D. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, DYLAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/807,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20160023607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 315 82
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• 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 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A system for controlling a dimming function of a display element of a host vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a display element configured to provide a rearward view from the host vehicle and a sensor directed forward relative to the host vehicle. A controller is in communication with the sensor and the display element. The controller is configured to identify a taillight of a detected vehicle from data received from the sensor. Based on the data received from the sensor, the controller calculates a passing period for the host vehicle to pass the detected vehicle. Based on the passing period the controller adjusts a display property of the display element to limit a glare displayed by the display element.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a dimming function of a display element configured to provide a rearward view from a host vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor directed forward relative to the host vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the display element, wherein the controller is configured to;

identify a taillight of a detected vehicle from data received from the sensor;

calculate a passing period for the host vehicle to pass the detected vehicle based on a change in the data received from the sensor; and

adjust a display property of the display element based on the passing period to limit a glare displayed by the display element.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an image sensor.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the passing period is determined based on image data received from the image sensor by identifying at least one of a change in position of the taillight, a change in size of the taillight, and a change in proportion of the taillight in the image data.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a speed input configured to communicate a speed of the host vehicle with the controller.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller utilizes the speed of the host vehicle in addition to the image data to calculate the passing period.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display property corresponds to a brightness of the display element.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the brightness is controlled by adjusting a reflectivity of the display element.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display element corresponds to an outside mirror of the vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the outside mirror comprises an electrochromic mirror.

10. An apparatus for controlling a dimming function of a display element configured to provide a rearward view from the host vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to monitor a blind spot of the host vehicle;

a controller in communication with the sensor and the display element, wherein the controller is configured to;

identify a detected vehicle from data received from the sensor;

calculate a passing period for the host vehicle to pass the detected vehicle based on a change in the data received from the sensor;

based on the passing period, adjust a display property of the display element to limit a glare displayed by the display element.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the property of the display element is adjusted prior to an intersection of a headlight emission with the display element.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the property is adjusted prior to the intersection by predicting the intersection based on the passing period.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the property prior to the glare intersecting the display element.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the property corresponds to a reflectivity of the display element.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display element corresponds to an electrochromic mirror.

16. A method of adjusting a brightness of a display element for a host vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying a taillight of a detected vehicle from data received from a sensor;

calculating a passing period for the host vehicle to pass the detected vehicle based on a change in the data received from the sensor; and

adjusting a display property of the display element based on the passing period to limit a glare displayed by the display element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein calculating the passing period is determined by identifying at least one of a change in position of the taillight, a change in size of the taillight, and a change in proportion of the taillight in the image data.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving image data from the sensor to identify the taillight.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a speed input of the host vehicle comprising speed data.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the passing period is calculated based on the image data and the speed data.