CA2352955A1 - Vehicle window transmissivity control - Google Patents
Vehicle window transmissivity control Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2352955A1 CA2352955A1 CA002352955A CA2352955A CA2352955A1 CA 2352955 A1 CA2352955 A1 CA 2352955A1 CA 002352955 A CA002352955 A CA 002352955A CA 2352955 A CA2352955 A CA 2352955A CA 2352955 A1 CA2352955 A1 CA 2352955A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- window
- transmissivity
- moving forward
- user
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
- E05B77/54—Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
- B60J3/04—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in transparency
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
- Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
- Liquid Crystal (AREA)
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 i f the vehicle is determined as in forward motion.
Description
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VEHICLE WINDOW TRANSMISSIVITY CONTROL
Field of the invention The present invention relates to vehicle automatic control system, and particularly, to an automatic system for maintaining transmissivity of vehicle windows) to a safety level, when the vehicle is moving.
Background of the invention Applying controllable windows, i.e., windows which transmissivity is controllable, to a vehicle such as automobile, aeroplane or ship is well known to those in the art.
Such a controllable window, although desirable, can be a potential danger to the occupants) therein, including driver. Because it requires, for e.g., a manual operable switch to be disposed in the interior of the vehicle for an occupant to control the transmissivity thereof, and it will then be possible that an occupant who may be a child, or even driver himself, may inadvertently switch the manual switch and cause the controllable windows) to become opaque or a very low level transmissivity and blind the driver from seeing anything outside clearly when the vehicle is moving at great speed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve such vehicle electronic controllable windows such that it will not blind the driver from seeing the outside view and permit the driver has a good enough outside view, when the vehicle is moving.
,~r;,n,=idJEt~ SN'=c~
VEHICLE WINDOW TRANSMISSIVITY CONTROL
Field of the invention The present invention relates to vehicle automatic control system, and particularly, to an automatic system for maintaining transmissivity of vehicle windows) to a safety level, when the vehicle is moving.
Background of the invention Applying controllable windows, i.e., windows which transmissivity is controllable, to a vehicle such as automobile, aeroplane or ship is well known to those in the art.
Such a controllable window, although desirable, can be a potential danger to the occupants) therein, including driver. Because it requires, for e.g., a manual operable switch to be disposed in the interior of the vehicle for an occupant to control the transmissivity thereof, and it will then be possible that an occupant who may be a child, or even driver himself, may inadvertently switch the manual switch and cause the controllable windows) to become opaque or a very low level transmissivity and blind the driver from seeing anything outside clearly when the vehicle is moving at great speed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve such vehicle electronic controllable windows such that it will not blind the driver from seeing the outside view and permit the driver has a good enough outside view, when the vehicle is moving.
,~r;,n,=idJEt~ SN'=c~
Drawing Fig.l is a block diagram of the present control system for vehicle controllable window.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Please refer to Fig.l, which is a block diagram of the present control system.
As seen, the tachometer of the vehicle outputs an analogue signal which value is proportional to the moving speed of the vehicle, the signal will be "zero-value" if the vehicle is not moving and the signal is being feed into an input of the zero comparator which is an operational amplifier. The other input of the operational amplifier is ground so that its output will go "high" if the signal from the tachometer is non-zero and its output is "low" if the difference between its 2 inputs is "0", that is, the signal from the tachometer is zero. The output of the operational amplifier is supplied to an input port of the CPU. When in operation, the CPU can determine when/whether the vehicle is moving from that input port, if it is "high", then the CPU will know the vehicle is moving, otherwise the vehicle is not moving. It should be noted that the above-mentioned means for detecting whether a vehicle is in operation, can also be designed in other ways, such as, detecting movement of steering-wheel or other user-operable parts of a vehicle which will be operated by a driver when the vehicle is in operation.
The position of gearbox selector rod can tell whether the vehicle is in forward or backward movement direction, from whether forward or rear gear is selected.
And, U.S, patent 5,845,538 discloses a "Device for detecting vehicle gearbox selector rod position". Further, by sensing the electric energy supplied to the turn signal light emitter, whether a vehicle will be turned left or right can be determined.
When in operation, the above-mentioned manual operable switch is used for receiving commands from user to the CPU to cause the controllable windows) of the vehicle to be darkened to different levels. In this embodiment, different user-selectable commands are available for setting the controllable windows) to respectively different predetermined transmissivity levels.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The CPU, in response to the command received by the manual switch, will first determine if the level of darkness requested by the command will block outside view, by comparing it with a minimum level of transmissivity required. If not, it will carry out the command.
Otherwise, the CPU will determine if the vehicle is moving or not, if the vehicle is not moving, it will also carry out the command.
Otherwise, the CPU will determine whether the controllable windows) selected to be darkened is the windows) which if darkened to an unacceptable level, will block the driver's outside view, by comparing the identity of the controllable windows) to be darkened against a list stored in a memory of itself, and of course, this depends on which direction of movement the vehicle will be or is going to, including forward, backward, turn left or right, and different directions may require the use of a different list.
Those selected controllable window{s) whose identity(ies) readable on the active list will not be affected by the user command . For the others, the CPU will send a control signal thereto in corresponding to the command.
It should be noted that when the vehicle changes the movement direction and is detected, a new list will be active for use and CPU will check if any previously darkened controllable windows) is in the list and cause them to become transparent immediately.
Alternatively, the user command input means may be a touch screen display with touch sensitive key thereon for receiving commands. And in this case, information of/representative of the commands) which is not going to be accepted and inactive when the vehicle is moving, will not be displayed and those inactive commands cannot be inputted.
It should be noted that the above embodiments are given by way of example only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/24b01 PCT/IB99/01755 For instance, the controllable window may comprise a light blocking element which may be a window bfind or the like, physically separate from a piece of transparent glass of the controllable window, to control the transmissivity of the window.
For another instance, whether a vehicle is in motion can also be detected by the sensor as disclosed by U.S. patent 5,444,430, invented by McShane, title "Motor vehicle security system", against carjacking. And, as readable on the Detailed Description thereof, first paragraph, a magnet is to be mounted on the periphery of the rear axle which drives rear wheel and a magnetic sensor is used for sensing the magnetic flux produced by the magnet, to produce a electrical pulse upon each revolution on the axle.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Please refer to Fig.l, which is a block diagram of the present control system.
As seen, the tachometer of the vehicle outputs an analogue signal which value is proportional to the moving speed of the vehicle, the signal will be "zero-value" if the vehicle is not moving and the signal is being feed into an input of the zero comparator which is an operational amplifier. The other input of the operational amplifier is ground so that its output will go "high" if the signal from the tachometer is non-zero and its output is "low" if the difference between its 2 inputs is "0", that is, the signal from the tachometer is zero. The output of the operational amplifier is supplied to an input port of the CPU. When in operation, the CPU can determine when/whether the vehicle is moving from that input port, if it is "high", then the CPU will know the vehicle is moving, otherwise the vehicle is not moving. It should be noted that the above-mentioned means for detecting whether a vehicle is in operation, can also be designed in other ways, such as, detecting movement of steering-wheel or other user-operable parts of a vehicle which will be operated by a driver when the vehicle is in operation.
The position of gearbox selector rod can tell whether the vehicle is in forward or backward movement direction, from whether forward or rear gear is selected.
And, U.S, patent 5,845,538 discloses a "Device for detecting vehicle gearbox selector rod position". Further, by sensing the electric energy supplied to the turn signal light emitter, whether a vehicle will be turned left or right can be determined.
When in operation, the above-mentioned manual operable switch is used for receiving commands from user to the CPU to cause the controllable windows) of the vehicle to be darkened to different levels. In this embodiment, different user-selectable commands are available for setting the controllable windows) to respectively different predetermined transmissivity levels.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The CPU, in response to the command received by the manual switch, will first determine if the level of darkness requested by the command will block outside view, by comparing it with a minimum level of transmissivity required. If not, it will carry out the command.
Otherwise, the CPU will determine if the vehicle is moving or not, if the vehicle is not moving, it will also carry out the command.
Otherwise, the CPU will determine whether the controllable windows) selected to be darkened is the windows) which if darkened to an unacceptable level, will block the driver's outside view, by comparing the identity of the controllable windows) to be darkened against a list stored in a memory of itself, and of course, this depends on which direction of movement the vehicle will be or is going to, including forward, backward, turn left or right, and different directions may require the use of a different list.
Those selected controllable window{s) whose identity(ies) readable on the active list will not be affected by the user command . For the others, the CPU will send a control signal thereto in corresponding to the command.
It should be noted that when the vehicle changes the movement direction and is detected, a new list will be active for use and CPU will check if any previously darkened controllable windows) is in the list and cause them to become transparent immediately.
Alternatively, the user command input means may be a touch screen display with touch sensitive key thereon for receiving commands. And in this case, information of/representative of the commands) which is not going to be accepted and inactive when the vehicle is moving, will not be displayed and those inactive commands cannot be inputted.
It should be noted that the above embodiments are given by way of example only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 00/24b01 PCT/IB99/01755 For instance, the controllable window may comprise a light blocking element which may be a window bfind or the like, physically separate from a piece of transparent glass of the controllable window, to control the transmissivity of the window.
For another instance, whether a vehicle is in motion can also be detected by the sensor as disclosed by U.S. patent 5,444,430, invented by McShane, title "Motor vehicle security system", against carjacking. And, as readable on the Detailed Description thereof, first paragraph, a magnet is to be mounted on the periphery of the rear axle which drives rear wheel and a magnetic sensor is used for sensing the magnetic flux produced by the magnet, to produce a electrical pulse upon each revolution on the axle.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Claims (9)
1) Apparatus for use in the control of window(s) of 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(s), and in response thereto, generating corresponding command signals;
disabling means for disabling a least a part of the functionality 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(s) to a dangerous level for forward driving, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward by said determining means.
determining means for determining whether said vehicle is moving forward;
receiving means for receiving user actuation for controlling transmissivity of said window(s), and in response thereto, generating corresponding command signals;
disabling means for disabling a least a part of the functionality 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(s) to a dangerous level for forward driving, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward by said determining means.
2) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle window(s) includes the wind shield.
3) A method for use in controlling transmissivity of window(s) 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(s) to a comparatively low level.
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(s) to a comparatively low level.
4) Window system of a vehicle, comprising determining means for determining whether said vehicle is moving forward ;
means for preventing transmissivity of window(s) 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.
means for preventing transmissivity of window(s) 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.
5) A method for use in the control of transmissivity of window(s) of a vehicle, comprising the steps of determining whether said vehicle is moving forward ;
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to below a predetermined level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to below a predetermined level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.
6) A method as claimed by claim 5, 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 the results of steps a) and b) are both positive.
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 the results of steps a) and b) are both positive.
7) A method for use in the control of transmissivity of window(s) of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
determining whether said vehicle is moving forward ;
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.
determining whether said vehicle is moving forward ;
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said vehicle is being determined as moving forward in said determining step.
8) Apparatus for use in the control of transmissivity of window(s) of a vehicle, comprising:
means for obtaining status of said vehicle ;
means for preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.
means for obtaining status of said vehicle ;
means for preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.
9) A method for use in the control of transmissivity of window(s) of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
obtaining status of said vehicle ;
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.
obtaining status of said vehicle ;
preventing transmissivity of said window(s) from being controlled by a user to a comparatively low level, if said status of said vehicle being in forward movement operation.
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9823573.2A GB9823573D0 (en) | 1998-10-28 | 1998-10-28 | Vehicle electronic controllable window |
| GB9823573.2 | 1998-10-28 | ||
| GBGB9824330.6A GB9824330D0 (en) | 1998-11-06 | 1998-11-06 | Vehicle controllable windows |
| GB9824330.6 | 1998-11-06 | ||
| GB9901604A GB2338570B (en) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-01-25 | Vehicle window transmissivity control |
| GB9901604.0 | 1999-01-25 | ||
| PCT/IB1999/001755 WO2000024601A1 (en) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-10-28 | Vehicle window transmissivity control |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2352955A1 true CA2352955A1 (en) | 2000-05-04 |
Family
ID=27269530
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002352955A Abandoned CA2352955A1 (en) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-10-28 | Vehicle window transmissivity control |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| KR (1) | KR20010089313A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2352955A1 (en) |
| DE (2) | DE19983705B8 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2338570B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2000024601A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1566300B1 (en) * | 2004-02-23 | 2011-01-05 | Volkswagen AG | Motor vehicle with a window pane having adjustable transparency |
| GB2441137A (en) * | 2006-08-22 | 2008-02-27 | Leon William Wilde | Anti-theft device for a vehicle comprising variable opacity glazing |
| FR2945067B1 (en) * | 2009-02-23 | 2015-02-27 | Dav | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN OPENING |
| GB201500396D0 (en) * | 2015-01-11 | 2015-02-25 | Bowers John A And Jc & C Bowers Ltd | Secure screen - visual vehicle anti-theft protection |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3443488C2 (en) * | 1984-11-29 | 1998-04-16 | Hubert K Block | Glazing acting against disturbing outside light, especially for motor vehicles, ships and airplanes |
| US4896050A (en) * | 1988-07-18 | 1990-01-23 | Shin Chung Chen | Remote control type of automatic control device for the automobile door |
| JPH0361119A (en) * | 1989-07-31 | 1991-03-15 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | Transmission rate control device for vehicle window glass |
| US5148014A (en) * | 1990-08-10 | 1992-09-15 | Donnelly Corporation | Mirror system with remotely actuated continuously variable reflectant mirrors |
| GB9019617D0 (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1990-10-24 | Good Thinking Ltd | Improvements in or relating to a window or other light transmitting device |
| US5444430A (en) * | 1993-01-04 | 1995-08-22 | Mcshane; Richard | Motor vehicle security system |
| JPH06320954A (en) * | 1993-05-17 | 1994-11-22 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | Rear window device for vehicle |
| CN1059631C (en) * | 1993-11-02 | 2000-12-20 | 陈友苏 | Method and device for automobile dizzy-proof lighting and commucation |
| US5760683A (en) * | 1995-06-06 | 1998-06-02 | Barr; William A. | Vehicle door lock, shift lever interlock system |
| US5653659A (en) * | 1995-09-27 | 1997-08-05 | Isuzu Motors Limited | Automatic engine stop-start system |
| IT1285861B1 (en) * | 1996-05-07 | 1998-06-24 | Magneti Marelli Spa | DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF THE POSITION OF A CONTROL SHAFT FOR THE EXECUTION OF A SELECTION MANEUVER AND A CLUTCH MANEUVER |
| GR1002758B (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1997-08-29 | System for automatic car engine disengagement and automatic stating thereof |
-
1999
- 1999-01-25 GB GB9901604A patent/GB2338570B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-10-28 DE DE19983705A patent/DE19983705B8/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-10-28 DE DE19983705T patent/DE19983705T1/en active Pending
- 1999-10-28 WO PCT/IB1999/001755 patent/WO2000024601A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-10-28 KR KR1020017004855A patent/KR20010089313A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-10-28 CA CA002352955A patent/CA2352955A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2000024601A1 (en) | 2000-05-04 |
| DE19983705B4 (en) | 2004-02-26 |
| KR20010089313A (en) | 2001-09-29 |
| DE19983705T1 (en) | 2002-05-02 |
| GB2338570B (en) | 2000-10-25 |
| GB9901604D0 (en) | 1999-03-17 |
| DE19983705B8 (en) | 2004-07-29 |
| GB2338570A (en) | 1999-12-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |