JP2010143463A - Light control glass device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compatibly secure the view of an occupant on a driver's seat and suppress the entry of light into a vehicle room in a further effective manner. <P>SOLUTION: This light control glass device 10 includes a front glass 12 having a plurality of light control regions 24A-24F having changeable light transmissibility, and a control unit 22 for controlling the light transmissibility of the plurality of light control regions 24A-24F. When the specified light control region 24F out of the plurality of light control regions 24A-24F, located on a line between each of eyeballs 50 of the occupant on the driver's seat and eyeballs 52 of an occupant on a passenger's seat and a light source 54 (a headlamp of an opposite vehicle) on the front side of a vehicle is in a transmissibility reduced condition, the control unit 22 changes the specified light control region 24F into a transmissible condition in the case that the eyes of the occupant on the driver's seat are directed to the front side of the vehicle through the specified light control region 24F, and keeps the specified light control region 24F in the transmissibility reduced condition in the case that the eyes of the occupant on the passenger's seat are directed to the front side of the vehicle through the specified light control region 24F. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control glass device.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a window glass for fluoroscopy. In the example described in Patent Document 1, a part of the windshield is provided with a discoloration area where the light transmittance can be adjusted. In this discoloration area, a driver's seat passenger can look into the traffic light. There is a small window.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-159463 JP 2005-297716 A JP 2005-35384 A

  However, in the example described in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in order to more effectively achieve both the securing of the field of view of the passenger in the driver's seat and the suppression of the incidence of light into the passenger compartment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a light control glass device that can more effectively achieve both ensuring the visibility of a driver's occupant and suppressing the incidence of light into the passenger compartment. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle door structure according to claim 1 is capable of changing between a transmission state in which light is transmitted and a transmittance reduction state in which light transmittance is lower than that in the transmission state. And a specific dimming area located on a line connecting the eyeball of the passenger in the driver's seat and the eyeball of the passenger in the front passenger seat and the light source in front of the vehicle among the plurality of dimming areas. When the line of sight of the occupant in the driver's seat is directed forward of the vehicle through the specific dimming area when the is in the reduced transmittance state, the specific dimming area is changed to the transmissive state, A control unit that maintains the specific dimming area in the reduced transmittance state when the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is directed forward of the vehicle through the specific dimming area.

  In the vehicle door structure according to claim 1, the specific light control located on the line connecting the eyeball of the passenger in the driver seat and the eyeball of the passenger in the passenger seat and the light source in front of the vehicle among the plurality of light control regions. When the line of sight of the driver's occupant is directed to the front of the vehicle through this specific dimming area when the area is in the reduced transmittance state, this specific dimming area is changed to the transmissive state. Thereby, the field of view of the driver's seat occupant can be secured.

  On the other hand, when the above-mentioned specific dimming area is in the reduced transmittance state, the specific dimming area is transmitted even when the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is directed to the front of the vehicle through the specific dimming area. Maintained in a reduced rate state. Thereby, the incidence of light into the passenger compartment can be suppressed.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to more effectively achieve both the securing of the field of view of the driver's occupant and the suppression of the incidence of light into the passenger compartment.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The whole structure of the light control glass apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is shown by FIG.

  As shown in this figure, the light control glass device 10 includes a windshield 12, an occupant detection sensor 14, a light detection sensor 16, line-of-sight detection sensors 18 and 20, and a control unit 22. ing.

  The windshield 12 is divided into a plurality of light control regions 24A to 24F. Each of the light control regions 24A to 24F is configured to include, for example, a light control film and the like. The decoloring state (transmission state) that transmits light according to the applied voltage, and the decoloring state. The light transmittance is changed to a colored state (transmittance reduced state).

  The occupant detection sensor 14 includes, for example, a seating sensor, a seat belt sensor, and the like, and is configured to output a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat to the control unit 22.

  The light detection sensor 16 is provided integrally with the windshield 12, for example, and emits light that is emitted from a light source in front of the vehicle (for example, a headlamp of the oncoming vehicle, the sun, the moon, a roadside lamp, etc.) A signal corresponding to the incident angle, the position of the light source, and the like is output to the control unit 22.

  The line-of-sight detection sensors 18 and 20 are each configured by a camera or the like, for example. The line-of-sight detection sensor 18 is configured to output a signal corresponding to the direction of the line of sight of the passenger in the driver's seat to the control unit 22, and the line-of-sight detection sensor 20 outputs a signal according to the direction of the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat. It is configured to output to the control unit 22.

  The control unit 22 controls the voltage applied to each of the light control regions 24A to 24F based on the signals output from the occupant detection sensor 14, the light detection sensor 16, and the line-of-sight detection sensors 18 and 20 as described below. It is configured.

  Next, the operation and effect will be described together with the operation of the light control glass device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart representing the operation when the control unit 22 colors the plurality of light control regions 24A to 24F.

  As shown in this figure, first, in step S1, the control unit 22 detects the direction of the line of sight of the driver's occupant and the passenger's occupant on the basis of the signals output from the line-of-sight detection sensors 18, 20. .

  Subsequently, in step S2, the control unit 22 is emitted from a light source in front of the vehicle (for example, a headlamp of the oncoming vehicle, the sun, the moon, a roadside lamp, etc.) based on the signal output from the light detection sensor 16. The incident angle of light incident on the windshield 12, the position of the light source, and the like are detected.

  Then, in step S3, the control unit 22 detects the direction of the line of sight of the driver seat passenger and the passenger seat passenger detected in step S1 and the incident light incident on the windshield 12 detected in step S2. From the angle, the position of the light source, and the like, a light control region to be colored is determined from among the light control regions 24A to 24F, and the determined light control region is set to a colored state.

  For example, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 4, when the sun (sunset, morning sun) as the light source 54 in front of the vehicle is in a low position, the line of sight of the passenger in the driver seat and the passenger in the passenger seat When the light control regions 24A and 24B and the central light control regions 24C and 24D are not directed, the upper light control regions 24A and 24B and the central light control regions 24C and 24D are colored.

  In addition, for example, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the light control area in which the sun as the light source 54 in front of the vehicle is at a high position and the line of sight of the passenger in the driver seat and the passenger in the passenger seat is above When it is not directed in the direction of 24A, 24B, the upper light control regions 24A, 24B are colored.

  Further, for example, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 6, there is an oncoming vehicle in which a headlamp is lit as a light source 54 in front of the vehicle, and the line of sight of the passenger in the driver seat and the passenger in the passenger seat is downward. In the case where the light control areas 24E and 24F are not directed, the lower light control areas 24E and 24F are colored according to the switching state of the low beam and the high beam of the headlamp.

  Subsequently, when the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is completed, the control unit 22 shifts to the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing the operation when the control unit 22 erases the plurality of light control regions 24A to 24F.

  As shown in the figure, the control unit 22 first determines whether or not there is a passenger in the passenger seat based on the signal output from the passenger detection sensor 14 in step S11.

  If the control unit 22 determines in step S11 that no passenger is present in the passenger seat, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S18 described later.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 22 determines in step S11 that an occupant is present in the passenger seat, the control unit 22 determines the direction of the sight line of the passenger in the passenger seat based on the signal output from the line-of-sight detection sensor 20 in step S12. To detect.

  Subsequently, in step S13, the control unit 22 is emitted from a light source in front of the vehicle (for example, a headlamp of the oncoming vehicle, the sun, the moon, a roadside lamp, etc.) based on the signal output from the light detection sensor 16. The incident angle of light incident on the windshield 12, the position of the light source, and the like are detected.

  Then, in step S14, the control unit 22 determines the front of the vehicle among the plurality of light control regions 24A to 24F from the incident angle of the light incident on the windshield 12 detected in step S13 and the position of the light source. A light control region in which light stronger than a predetermined reference value is incident from a light source (that is, located on a line L1 connecting the eyeball 50 of the driver's occupant and the light source 54 in front of the vehicle and the passenger's occupant in the passenger seat) A dimming region located on a line L2 connecting the eyeball 52 and the light source 54 in front of the vehicle.

  That is, the dimming area to be specified is the upper left and left middle dimming areas 24A and 24C arranged on the side where the sun is located in the case of FIG. 4, and the side where the sun is located in the case of FIG. The light control region 24A located at the upper left in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is the light control region 24F at the lower right disposed on the side where the oncoming vehicle is located.

  Subsequently, in step S15, the control unit 22 colors the dimming area in the direction in which the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is directed based on the direction of the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat detected in step S12 described above. Determine whether it is in a state.

  When the control unit 22 determines in step S15 that the dimming area in the direction in which the passenger's line of sight of the passenger seat is directed is in a colored state, in step S16, the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat It is determined whether or not the dimming area in the direction in which is directed is the dimming area (specific dimming area) specified in step S13 described above.

  Here, if the control unit 22 determines in step S16 that the dimming area in the direction in which the passenger's line of sight of the passenger seat is directed is not the dimming area specified in step S13 described above, In S22, the dimming area is changed to a decolored state.

  For example, as shown in the lower diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5, when the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is directed to the front of the vehicle through the upper right dimming region 24B, the upper right dimming region 24B changes to a decolored state. Is done.

  If the control unit 22 determines in step S15 described above that the dimming area in the direction in which the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is not colored, the passenger in the passenger seat in step S21. The dimming area in the direction in which the line of sight is directed is maintained in a decolored state.

  And the control unit 22 transfers to step S18 mentioned later after step S21 or step S22.

  On the other hand, in step S16, the control unit 22 determines that the dimming area in the direction in which the passenger's line of sight of the passenger seat is directed is the dimming area (specific dimming area) specified in step S13 described above. If it is determined, in step S17, the specific light control area is maintained in a colored state.

  That is, for example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 6, when the lower right dimming area 24 </ b> F that is identified as being incident with light that is stronger than a predetermined reference value is in a colored state, the passenger in the passenger seat Is directed to the front of the vehicle through the lower right dimming area 24F, the lower right dimming area 24F is maintained in a colored state.

  Thereby, since the incidence of light into the passenger compartment is suppressed, the driver's seat occupant is anti-glare. Further, when the light source in front of the vehicle is the sun, the passenger in the driver's seat is prevented from glare and temperature rise in the passenger compartment is suppressed.

  Subsequently, in step S18, the control unit 22 detects the direction of the line of sight of the occupant in the driver seat based on the signal output from the line-of-sight detection sensor 18.

  In step S19, the control unit 22 determines that the dimming area in the direction in which the driver's occupant's line of sight is directed is colored based on the direction of the driver's occupant's line of sight detected in step S18 described above. It is judged whether it is in.

  Here, in step S19, the control unit 22 determines that the dimming area (including the dimming area specified in step S13 described above) in the direction in which the driver's sight line is directed is not in a colored state. If so, in step S23, the dimming area is maintained in a decolored state, and the series of processes is terminated.

  On the other hand, in step S19, the control unit 22 determines that the dimming area (including the dimming area specified in step S13 described above) in the direction in which the driver's sight line is directed is in a colored state. In this case, in step S20, the dimming area is changed to a decolored state.

  For example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4, when the line of sight of the driver in the driver's seat is directed forward of the vehicle through the right center dimming area 24D, the right center dimming area 24D is changed to a decolored state. The

  Further, for example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 7, even if the dimming region in the direction in which the driver's line of sight of the driver's seat is directed is the dimming region 24F specified in step S13 described above, the driver's seat When the line of sight of the occupant is directed forward of the vehicle through the dimming area 24F, the dimming area 24F is changed to a decolored state. Thereby, the field of view of the driver's seat occupant is secured.

  And control unit 22 complete | finishes a series of processes after step S20, and transfers to the operation | movement shown by the flowchart of the above-mentioned FIG. 2 again.

  As described above in detail, according to the light control glass device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the light control region where the strong light is incident (the light control region specified in step S14) is in a colored state. Sometimes, even when the driver's seat and the passenger's sight line are directed in the direction of this specific dimming area, the driver's occupant's line of sight has priority over the passenger's sight line. A specific dimming area is set to a decolored state. This makes it possible to more effectively achieve both the visibility of the driver's seat occupant and the suppression of light incidence into the passenger compartment.

  Next, the modification of the light control glass apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  In the said embodiment, although the light control glass apparatus 10 was set as the structure which has several light control area | regions 24A-24F only in the windshield 12, for example, as FIG. 8 shows, the windshield 12 and the side glass 26 are included. , 28 may have a plurality of light control regions 24A-24H.

  In this case, for example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 8, when the line of sight of the driver's occupant is directed to the side mirror 30 through the dimming region 24H of the side glass 26 in a colored state, the dimming is performed. The region 24H may be configured to be changed to a decolored state.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 22 is configured to detect the incident angle of light incident on the windshield 12, the position of the light source, and the like based on the signal output from the light detection sensor 16. For example, it may be configured to detect the incident angle of light incident on the windshield 12, the position of the light source, and the like from time, place, season, and the like based on output information of the navigation system.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The whole structure of the light control glass apparatus 40 which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention is shown by FIG.

  The light control glass apparatus 40 shown by this figure is the structure changed as follows with respect to the light control glass apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st embodiment of the above-mentioned this invention.

  That is, the windshield 12 is divided into a plurality of light control regions 24A to 24N. That is, the windshield 12 is further divided into a plurality of sections as compared with the case of the first embodiment of the present invention described above. Moreover, each light control area | region 24A-24N is comprised by the strip shape.

  In addition, eyeball position detection sensors 42 and 44 are added to the light control glass device 40. The eyeball position detection sensor 42 outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the eyeball 50 of the passenger in the driver's seat to the control unit 22, and the eyeball position detection sensor 44 controls the signal according to the position of the eyeball 52 of the passenger in the passenger seat. It is configured to output to the unit 22.

  Based on the signals output from the occupant detection sensor 14, the light detection sensor 16, the line-of-sight detection sensors 18, 20 and the eyeball position detection sensors 42, 44, the control unit 22 adjusts the light control regions 24A to 24N as follows. The voltage applied to is controlled.

  Next, the operation and effect will be described together with the operation of the light control glass device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart representing the operation when the control unit 22 changes the section of the windshield 12.

  As shown in this figure, first, in step S31, the control unit 22 determines the position of the eyeball 50 of the driver's occupant and the passenger's occupant based on the signals output from the eyeball position detection sensors 42, 44. The position of the eyeball 52 is detected.

  In step S32, the control unit 22 changes the classification of the windshield 12 based on the position of the eyeball 50 of the driver's occupant and the position of the eyeball 52 of the passenger's occupant detected in step S31.

  For example, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 11, when the position of the eyeball 50 of the driver's occupant is at the standard position, the dimming areas 24B and 24D, the dimming areas 24F, 24H, and 24J For example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 11, when the position of the eyeball 50 of the driver's occupant is higher than the standard position, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. , 24D, dimming areas 24F, 24H, and dimming areas 24J, 24L, 24N.

  In other words, in the case of the upper diagram in FIG. 11, the upper right dimming area is constituted by the dimming areas 24B and 24D, and the right middle dimming area is constituted by the dimming areas 24F, 24H and 24J. The lower right dimming region is configured by 24L and 24N. On the other hand, in the lower diagram of FIG. 11, the upper right dimming area is configured by the dimming areas 24B and 24D, and the right middle dimming area is configured by the dimming areas 24F and 24H. , 24L, 24N constitute a lower right dimming region.

  Similarly, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 11, when the position of the eyeball 52 of the passenger in the passenger seat is in the standard position, the dimming areas 24A and 24C, the dimming areas 24E, 24G, and 24I, For example, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 11, when the position of the eyeball 52 of the passenger in the passenger seat is lower than the standard position, the light control region is divided into the light control regions 24K and 24M. 24A, 24C, light control areas 24E, 24G, 24I, 24K, and light control areas 24M.

  In other words, in the case of the upper diagram in FIG. 11, the upper left dimming area is configured by the dimming areas 24A and 24C, and the left central dimming area is configured by the dimming areas 24E, 24G, and 24I. 24K and 24M constitute a lower left dimming area. On the other hand, in the lower diagram of FIG. 11, the upper left dimming area is constituted by the dimming areas 24A and 24C, and the left middle dimming area is constituted by the dimming areas 24E, 24G, 24I and 24K. The lower left dimming area is configured by the dimming area 24M.

  When there is no passenger in the passenger seat, the position of the eyeball 52 of the passenger in the passenger seat is a standard position.

  And the control unit 22 complete | finishes a series of processes, after changing the division in the windshield 12 as mentioned above.

  According to such a configuration, even when the position of the occupant's eyeball changes in the height direction according to the seating position or physique of the occupant, the occupant can be more effectively anti-glare.

  Next, the modification of the light control glass apparatus 40 which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  In the said embodiment, although the light control glass apparatus 40 was set as the structure which changes the division in the windshield 12 according to the position of a passenger | crew's eyeball, as FIG. 12 shows, the height of a driver's seat and a passenger seat is shown. Motors 46 and 48 for adjusting the height are provided, and even when the seating position or physique of the occupant changes, the heights of the driver seat and the passenger seat are adjusted by driving the motors 46 and 48 of the occupant. The position of the occupant's eyes 50 and 52 may be maintained at the standard position.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course.

It is a figure showing the whole light control glass device composition concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement in case the control unit shown by FIG. 1 colors a some light control area | region. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement in case the control unit shown by FIG. 1 erases a some light control area | region. It is a figure explaining a mode that the some light control area | region shown by FIG. 1 is changed from a coloring state to a decoloring state. It is a figure explaining a mode that the some light control area | region shown by FIG. 1 is changed from a coloring state to a decoloring state. It is a figure explaining a mode that the some light control area | region shown by FIG. 1 is changed from a coloring state to a decoloring state. It is a figure explaining a mode that the some light control area | region shown by FIG. 1 is changed from a coloring state to a decoloring state. It is a figure which shows the modification of the light control glass apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the light control glass apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement in case the control unit shown by FIG. 9 changes the division | segmentation of a windshield. It is a figure explaining a mode that the division | segmentation of the windshield shown by FIG. 9 is changed. It is a figure which shows the modification of the light control glass apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,40 Light control glass apparatus 12 Windshield 22 Control unit 24A-24F Light control area 50 Eyeball 52 of a passenger | crew of a driver's seat 54 Eyeball 54 of a passenger | crew of a passenger seat Light source ahead of a vehicle

Claims (1)

A windshield having a plurality of light control regions that can be changed into a transmission state that transmits light and a transmittance reduction state in which the transmittance of light is lower than that of the transmission state;
Among the plurality of dimming areas, when a specific dimming area located on a line connecting the eyeball of the driver's occupant and the eyeball of the passenger's occupant and the light source in front of the vehicle is in the reduced transmittance state When the line of sight of the occupant in the driver's seat is directed forward of the vehicle through the specific light control area, the specific light control area is changed to the transmission state, and the line of sight of the passenger in the passenger seat is the specific line A control unit that maintains the specific dimming area in the reduced transmittance state when directed to the front of the vehicle through the dimming area.
Dimmable glass device with

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