JPH01127429A - Sunshade for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve comfortableness and to improve safety by selecting pattern display electrodes arranged at a portion of light transmitting member having liquid crystal panel structure based on signals fed from a direction indicator, a brake and the like and displaying operational information to the outside of vehicle. CONSTITUTION:Pattern display electrodes 7-9 for information to be displayed are arranged at a portion of a liquid crystal panel made of light transmitting material in a vehicle sunshade device comprising a light transmitting member having a liquid crystal structure for varying amount of transmitting light upon application of an electrical signal and a means for varying an electrical signal according to the amount of incident light and regulating the transmitting amount of light. Means for selecting the pattern display electrodes 7-9 based on a direction or brake signal is also provided. Consequently, comfortableness is improved by regulating the amount of incident light automatically, while safety is improved by operating display function selectively based on a signal fed from a direction indicator or a brake and displaying operational information to the outside of vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a windshield or windshield of an automobile, etc. (a sunshade using a liquid crystal, which is suitable for opening the windshield M1).

(Prior art) Conventionally, in order to prevent excessive sunlight from entering a vehicle, a sun visor has been installed on the windshield side, and curtains have been installed on the side and recess windows, but these curtains open and close depending on the amount of sunlight that enters the vehicle. The problem was that it was necessary.

In order to solve this problem, a continuous light device has been proposed that incorporates a liquid crystal panel whose transparency changes depending on the voltage at a level suitable for controlling the incidence of sunlight. 16
Publication No. 7323).

According to such a device, it is possible to automatically adjust the amount of light incident on the interior of the vehicle by controlling the translucency of the liquid crystal panel based on the signal from the sensor that detects light M, thereby improving the comfort of the vehicle. can be achieved.

(Objective) It is an object of the present invention to make a vehicle sunshade device using such a liquid crystal panel more convenient by actively utilizing the features of the liquid crystal.

(Summary of the Invention) In other words, the present invention is characterized by adding a pattern display function to the liquid crystal panel constituting the light shielding member, and selectively operating the display function by signals from the direction indicator, brake, etc. The key point is that operation information is displayed outside the vehicle.

(Example) The details of the present invention will be described below based on illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 denotes a transparent member having a liquid crystal panel structure that can be fitted into, for example, a rear window, and 2 constituting the window glass. A transparent electrode 4.5 is provided on two transparent substrates 2.3, and one electrode 5 is used as a common electrode, and the other electrode 4.5 is provided as a common electrode.
As shown in Figure 2, arrows indicating the direction of travel, ``Turn left'', ``Turn right'', and warnings for rear-end collisions are displayed so that they can be read when viewed from the Tato side. Pattern display electrodes 7, 8 and 9 are used to display figures such as "brake" and characters, and background pattern display electrodes 10 (shaded areas in the figure) fill in the area around these pattern display electrodes 7 to 9. ) are formed to be electrically independent.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, these two transparent substrates 2.3 are integrated into a panel structure by sealing liquid crystal substance 2 with a sealing member 11 that also serves as a spacer to maintain a gap around the periphery. is fixed on one side, and a liquid crystal substance 1 is fixed on one side.
Polarizing plate 1 for forming a polarization-brightening relationship in cooperation with 2
3 are arranged.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a circuit for driving the above-mentioned liquid crystal panel, and reference numeral 20 in the figure is a comparison circuit, which compares signals from optical sensors 21 disposed inside and outside the vehicle. Light M
It is configured to input the reference voltage from the setting circuit 22 and output a signal related to the difference between the two. 23 is
In the display pattern selection circuit, signals from the direction indicator switch D and brake switch are input, and the signals from these switches are matched to the liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 24, which will be described later.
is used to selectively output liquid crystal driving power to the pattern display electrodes 7 to 9. In this embodiment, each switch D,
Inverters 23a, 23b, 2 that invert the signal from E
3c and the output of the liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 24 to one terminal,
The electrodes 7, 8, .
9 is configured to output driving I7I power. 2
5 is a bright/dark switching circuit, which displays the display in white when the light-transmitting member is performing a light-shielding operation, and in black when it is in a clean state.
, E, and a switch 25b that is turned off when a signal is output from the comparator circuit 20. This output terminal serves as an input terminal of a liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 24, which will be described later, and a background pattern display. It is input to a switch 26 connected to the electrode 10.

24 is the aforementioned liquid crystal drive power supply circuit, which converts the pulse into a pulse with a duty proportional to the output from the comparator circuit 2o.When the signal from the bright/dark switching circuit 25 is input, the duty is adjusted as much as possible. It is configured to output a large pulse of .

In this embodiment, when the light amount setting circuit 22 is set to a desired light amount and the device M is operated, the light amount detected by the optical sensor 21 is compared with a reference value by the comparison circuit 20.

At this time, if the amount of incident light is less than the standard value,
A signal is output from the comparator circuit 2o, so that the electrodes 7~
Since no power is supplied between the common electrode 10 and the common electrode 5, the transparent member 1 becomes as transparent as possible (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if the amount of incident light exceeds the reference value, the comparison circuit 2
A signal proportional to the excess amount is output from 0. The liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 24 receives this signal and outputs pulsed power having a duty corresponding to this signal. As a result, the liquid crystal material 12 cooperates with the duty (twist 1 intermittently for a predetermined time) and the polarizing plate 13 to intermittently block the incident light. Thereby, the average amount of incident light is adjusted to the reference value (U).

In such a state, for example, when a brake is turned on, a signal from the brake main switch E is input to the display pattern selection circuit 23. This signal is inverted by the inverter 23c to close the gate 23f and cut off the supply of drive power to the pattern display electrode 9. As a result, the "brake" display will appear as a white background, alerting vehicles behind you.

When you take your foot off the brake, the signal from the brake switch E disappears, so the driving power is supplied to the pattern display electrode 9 again, and together with the background pattern display electrode 10, the display disappears, and it also functions as a continuous light member. act.

Further, when the direction indicator is operated, the gators 23e and 23d are closed corresponding to the right or left direction, the driving power to the pattern display electrode 8.7 is cut off, and the direction indicator is turned to the right or left, and the driving power to the pattern display electrode 8.7 is cut off. It is displayed as a white outline.

In such a state, if the amount of incident light changes, the output from the comparator circuit 20 also changes accordingly, so the duty of the drive power output from the liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 24 also changes in inverse proportion.

As a result, the amount of transmitted light is adjusted to the reference value.

In other words, when the amount of light incident on the vehicle interior increases, the duty of driving power is increased and the average light blocking time is increased (L/(III)).
Also, when the amount of incident light decreases, the duty is lowered to reduce the average continuous light interval (TV).

Furthermore, when the sunlight becomes weaker than the reference value, the comparator circuit 24 no longer outputs a signal, so the drive power generation circuit 24 no longer outputs drive power. As a result, the supply of power to each pattern display electrode 7, 8, 9, ]0 is cut off, and the member 1 becomes as transparent as possible (I).

In this lean state, when the turn signal or brake is operated, a signal is output from switches D and E. This signal is input to the bright/dark switching circuit 25 and outputs a switching signal. This signal is input to the drive power generation circuit 24 to output the drive power with the highest possible duty (V), and at the same time (set the switch 26 to FF), the drive power generation circuit 24
while cutting off the electrical path to the background pattern display electrode 10.

On the other hand, the signals output from the switches D and E are input to the display switching circuit 23 and the corresponding gates 23d, 23e, 2
3f is opened and the power from the drive power generation circuit 24 is applied to the pattern display electrodes 7, 8, . . . 3f corresponding to the display information.
Supply to one of the 9. As a result, only the pattern of information to be displayed becomes black, and the information is displayed in black against a clean background.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 30 denotes a transparent substrate having transparent electrodes 31 and 32 formed on both sides. Liquid crystal material 37.38 @ by transparent substrate 35.36 formed with .34
At the same time, the electrodes 34 of at least one of the substrates are provided with pattern display electrodes 7.8.9 for displaying characters and figures, as described above (FIG. 2), and a background pattern to fill the area around these electrodes. Display electrode] ○ is formed,
Liquid crystal substances 37 and 38 are sealed on both sides of the transparent substrate 30 and fixed by sealing materials 39 and 40 to form a liquid crystal panel.

In this embodiment, a driving voltage is constantly applied to one liquid crystal material, e.g. 37, so as to have a constant polarization angle, and the electrodes 32 and 34 sandwiching the other liquid crystal material 38 are as shown in FIG. Connect a drive power supply circuit similar to the above.

In this state, when the amount of incident light exceeds the reference value, the other liquid crystal material 38 is twisted by the driving power, and the liquid crystal material 38 is twisted by the driving power.
Works with 7 to block light. Also, when the amount of incident light falls below the standard value, the polarization angles to both liquid substances 37 and 38 become the same,
It will be in a clean state.

Further, when displaying the operating status of the vehicle, driving power is supplied so that the display pattern has a density opposite to that of the background pattern, as described above.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need for a polarizing member, and it is also possible to increase the contrast as much as possible by adjusting the polarization angle between the liquid crystal materials 37 and 38.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment has been explained by taking the case where it is used as a window glass as an example, it is clear that the same effect can be achieved even if the glass is mounted opposite to a normal window glass using a member. .

Further, in this embodiment, the light transmittance is changed by changing the duty of the alternating current voltage, but it is clear that the same effect can be achieved even if the level of the direct current voltage is adjusted.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a light transmitting member having a liquid crystal panel structure in which the amount of light transmitted changes according to the application of an electric signal, and a light transmitting member having a liquid crystal panel structure in which the amount of light transmitted changes according to the amount of light incident on the interior of the vehicle. Vehicle sun shades equipped with means for adjusting the amount of light are equipped with pattern display electrodes corresponding to the information to be displayed on a part of the liquid crystal panel of the translucent member, and also display signals from directions, brakes, etc. Equipped with a means to select pattern display electrodes, the system automatically adjusts the light entering the interior of the vehicle to improve comfort, while selectively controlling the display function based on signals from turn signals, brakes, etc. When activated, operation information can be displayed outside the vehicle to improve safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the electrode structure in the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an implementation of the drive circuit of the same device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example, FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the same device, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Transparent member 2.3... Transparent substrate 4.5... Transparent electrode 12... Liquid crystal substance 7
~9... Pattern display electrode 20... Comparison circuit 23... Display pattern selection circuit 24... Liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 25... Display pattern selection circuit D... Brake switch E... Turn signal switch Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sunshade device for a vehicle, comprising: a light-transmitting member having a liquid crystal panel structure in which the amount of light transmitted changes according to the application of an electric signal; and means for adjusting the amount of light transmitted by changing the electric signal depending on the amount of light incident on the interior of the vehicle; A pattern display electrode corresponding to the information to be displayed is provided on a part of the transparent member, and
A sunshade device for a vehicle, comprising means for selecting the pattern display electrode based on a signal from a direction indicator, a brake, or the like.