JP2015030305A - On-board dimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-board dimmer that reduces external incident light and has high convenience.SOLUTION: A control unit of an ECU 10 determines a viewing direction of a driver on the basis of a captured image of a driver of a vehicle 100. A dimmer 4 has a variable dimming rate and reduces external light entering the inside of the vehicle. A luminometer 2 detects the illuminance of the external light. The control unit determines whether or not the illuminance detected by the luminometer 2 is larger than a first threshold value, and determines whether or not the viewing direction of the driver is present within a predetermined range. When the illuminance is larger than the first threshold value and the viewing direction of the driver is present within the predetermined range, the control unit 11 commands dimming at a high dimming rate, such as 100%, to the dimmer 4. When the viewing direction of the driver is present, for example, within a predetermined range in the front and the illuminance of the external light is larger than the first threshold value, the external light is reduced without sense of incongruity so that the convenience of an on-board dimmer 1 is improved.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle dimming device that reduces light incident on the driver's seat of a vehicle from the outside.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of automobiles, functions of vehicles have been increasingly advanced, and various devices are mounted on vehicles, and many control devices for controlling these on-vehicle devices are mounted. The control device mounted on the vehicle automatically operates on the equipment of the vehicle that has been manually operated by the occupant in the past, and assists the occupant in driving the vehicle. For example, when a strong external light such as sunlight enters the driver's seat from the front during driving of a vehicle, an in-vehicle dimming device that automatically operates to reduce the external light has been devised.

  For example, a conventional in-vehicle dimming device described in Patent Document 1 includes an imaging unit that images a driver's eyes, a pupil detection unit, a reflected light detection unit, a light shielding unit, and a control unit. The light guide detection means detects the position and area of the driver's pupil from the output image of the imaging means. The reflected light detection means detects the position of the reflected light from the pupil detected by the pupil detection means and the surrounding eyeball. The light blocking means blocks or attenuates incident light from a light source that causes glare. The control means controls the light shielding means based on the detected position and area of the pupil and the position of the reflected light. Thus, the conventional in-vehicle dimming device can shield light only when the driver feels dazzling without unnecessarily shielding light when not in a dazzling state.

JP 2010-179817 A

  However, the in-vehicle dimming device described in Patent Document 1 operates to shield the driver from determining that the driver is in a dazzling state when the pupil and the reflected light overlap in the image captured by the imaging unit. . When viewed from the imaging means side, when a light source that generates reflected light in a small pupil of about several millimeters in the iris of the driver's pupil is detected, the light source is determined to be in a dazzling state, and the light source is substantially in the line-of-sight direction. If there is, it will be shielded.

  Therefore, when there is a light source in the driver's field of view, the light source is instantaneously shielded when the light source enters the line of sight due to the direction change of the vehicle, etc., and the driver may feel uncomfortable. However, there is a problem that convenience is lowered. In addition, since the direction of the line of sight suddenly becomes brighter or darker without giving the driver an opportunity to predict, there is a possibility that the driver may feel uneasy, and there is a problem that convenience is similarly reduced. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle dimming device that reduces light incident from the outside and has high convenience.

  The in-vehicle dimming device according to the present invention reduces gaze direction identifying means for identifying the gaze direction of the driver based on an image of the driver of the vehicle, and reduces external light incident on the vehicle from outside. In a vehicle-mounted dimming device including a dimming unit with a variable rate, an illuminance detection unit that detects the illuminance of the external light, and whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than a first threshold value It is determined that the first illuminance determining means, the gaze direction determining means for determining whether the gaze direction specified by the gaze direction specifying means is within a predetermined range, and the first illuminance determining means are large, and the gaze direction And a command unit that commands the dimming unit to perform dimming with a predetermined dimming rate when it is determined that the determining unit is within a predetermined range.

  In the present invention, the line-of-sight direction of the driver is specified based on the image obtained by capturing the driver of the vehicle by the line-of-sight direction specifying means, and is incident on the inside of the vehicle from the outside by the light reduction unit having a variable light attenuation rate. Reduce external light. The illuminance detection unit detects the illuminance of the external light, the first illuminance determination unit determines whether the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than the first threshold, and the line-of-sight direction specified by the line-of-sight direction specifying unit is within a predetermined range. It is determined by the line-of-sight direction determination means whether or not it is within the range. The command means determines that the first illuminance determination means is large and determines that the line-of-sight direction determination means is within a predetermined range, and instructs the light reduction unit to perform light reduction with a predetermined light reduction rate. Thereby, for example, when the line-of-sight direction is in a predetermined range in front and the illuminance of the external light is greater than the first threshold, the external light is reduced without a sense of incongruity, and the convenience of the in-vehicle dimming device can be improved.

  The in-vehicle dimming device according to the present invention includes a second illuminance determination unit that determines whether the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and the command unit includes: If the first illuminance determining means determines NO and the second illuminance determining means determines that the light intensity is large, the light intensity is commanded to be dimmed with a light attenuation rate lower than the predetermined light attenuation rate. Features.

  In the present invention, the second illuminance determination means determines whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is larger than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value. The commanding unit commands the dimming with a dimming rate lower than the predetermined dimming rate when the first illuminance determining unit determines NO and the second illuminance determining unit determines that it is large. Thereby, before the illuminance becomes larger than the first threshold value, the external light is dimmed at a dimming rate lower than the predetermined dimming rate, so that the uncomfortable feeling at the time of dimming can be further reduced.

  In the in-vehicle dimming device according to the present invention, the illuminance detection unit can detect the incident direction of the external light, and the dimming unit has a plate shape that allows light to pass in the thickness direction, and includes a plurality of light incident surfaces. The dimming rate is variable for each area, and the command means is the area of the dimming section to be dimmed based on the incident direction of the external light detected by the illuminance detection section. Is specified, and dimming is commanded.

  In the present invention, the illuminance detection unit can detect the incident direction of the external light, the dimming unit has a plate shape that allows light to pass in the thickness direction, and the light incident surface is configured by a plurality of regions. The dimming rate is variable for each region. The command means designates the dimming by designating the area of the dimming unit to be dimmed based on the incident direction of the external light detected by the illuminance detecting unit. Thereby, the area | region of a light reduction part is designated based on the incident direction of external light, and a visual field can be ensured widely because a light reduction part partially attenuates external light.

  According to the present invention, the driver's line-of-sight direction is specified based on an image obtained by capturing the driver of the vehicle by the line-of-sight direction specifying unit, and the external light incident from the outside into the vehicle by the dimming unit having a variable light attenuation rate. Reduce light. The illuminance detection unit detects the illuminance of the external light, the first illuminance determination unit determines whether the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than the first threshold, and the line-of-sight direction specified by the line-of-sight direction specifying unit is within a predetermined range. It is determined by the line-of-sight direction determination means whether or not it is within the range. The command means determines that the first illuminance determination means is large and determines that the line-of-sight direction determination means is within a predetermined range, and instructs the light reduction unit to perform light reduction with a predetermined light reduction rate. For this reason, when the line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range, for example, and the illuminance of the external light is greater than the first threshold, the external light is reduced without a sense of incongruity, and the convenience of the in-vehicle dimming device can be improved.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the vehicle carrying the vehicle-mounted dimming device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted dimming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a typical vertical side view which shows an example of an illuminance meter. It is a flowchart which shows the change process of the light attenuation rate by a control part. It is a perspective view which shows typically the external appearance of the illumination meter which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the partial light attenuation by the light reduction apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the change process of the light attenuation rate by a control part.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a vehicle 100 equipped with an in-vehicle dimming device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of the in-vehicle dimming device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. The in-vehicle dimming device 1 is mounted on the vehicle 100 and reduces light that enters the vehicle from the outside through a front window or the like. The in-vehicle dimming device 1 includes an ECU (Electric Control Unit) 10, an illuminance meter 2, a camera 3, and a dimming device 4.

  The illuminance meter 2 is installed at the upper center of the front window (back side of the rear mirror) or the like so as to face the front of the vehicle 100. FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal side view showing an example of the illuminometer 2. The illuminometer 2 includes a shielding part 21, a detector 22, and a neutral density filter 23. The shielding part 21 is a cylinder-shaped cylinder, and a detector 22 is arranged at one bottom part on the rear side of the vehicle 100, the other bottom part on the front side is opened, and the illuminance of light incident from the opening is detected by the detector 22. Detected. The detector 22 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode, and converts light incident on the light receiving surface into an electrical signal. The neutral density filter 23 is provided in the middle of the shielding unit 21 in the axial direction, and attenuates strong light such as sunlight that enters from the front of the vehicle 100. For example, the neutral density filter 23 may be configured such that the neutral density is variable by relatively rotating two filters. The illuminometer 2 functions as an illuminance detector in the present invention.

  The shielding part 21 is widened from one bottom where the detector 22 is arranged toward the front opening, and shields the angle of view of the detector 22 in a weight shape. The angle of view of the detector 22 is limited by the shielding unit 21, for example, from −30 deg to +30 deg in the left-right direction and −20 deg to +20 deg in the vertical direction with the front direction being 0 deg. It should be noted that the left direction is minus, the right direction is plus, the down direction is minus, and the up direction is plus angle with respect to the front direction.

  The camera 3 is disposed in a frame portion on the right side of the front window or the like so as to capture the driver's face. Further, the camera 3 may be arranged at the lower part or the upper part of the front window in front of the driver as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view. An image captured by the camera 3 is input to the ECU 10. ECU10 analyzes a driver | operator's gaze direction based on the input image.

  The dimming device 4 is provided integrally with a front window, a sun visor above the driver's seat of the vehicle 100, and the like, and reduces external light that passes through a specific area of the vehicle 100 and enters the vehicle. The dimming device 4 is made of, for example, light control glass, and reduces incident light by bonding the light control glass to the front window. Moreover, the light-shielding device 4 reduces incident light by bonding the light control glass to a sun visor formed of a transparent material. The dimming device 4 functions as a dimming unit in the present invention.

  The light control glass has a structure in which, for example, a liquid crystal sheet is sandwiched between transparent electrodes and further reinforced with a transparent glass plate or the like, and the dimming rate can be changed by controlling the voltage applied between the transparent electrodes. it can. The light control glass can be controlled to be in a substantially transparent state by adjusting to the lowest light attenuation rate, and to be in a light blocking state in which light is almost completely blocked by adjusting to a high light attenuation rate. Moreover, the light control glass can make a light reduction rate variable for every partial area | region by distributing a transparent electrode in a light-incidence surface and a light-projection surface. The light attenuation rate has a relationship of light attenuation rate (%) = 100 (%) − transmittance (%).

  The ECU 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, and an output unit 14. The control unit 11 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls each unit by performing processing based on a control program stored in the storage unit 12. The storage unit 12 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), stores a control program and data such as a threshold used for control, and the control program in the control unit 11 Data generated by execution is stored. The input unit 13 is connected to the illuminometer 2 and the camera 3, and outputs input data from the illuminometer 2 and the camera 3 to the control unit 11. The output unit 14 is connected to the dimming device 4 and outputs a control signal from the control unit 11 to the dimming device 4.

  The control unit 11 acquires illuminance data input from the illuminometer 2, and compares and determines the acquired illuminance with the first threshold value and the second threshold value. The illuminance of the light is about 100,000 lux in direct sunlight that the driver feels dazzling, and the first threshold is high illuminance (for example, 80,000 to 90,000 lux) so that the light that is felt dazzling such as direct sunlight can be discriminated. Set. The second threshold is set to an illuminance (for example, about 30,000 to 50,000 lux) that is lower than the first threshold and is not felt as bright as direct sunlight. If the illuminance acquired from the illuminometer 2 is equal to or less than the second threshold, the control unit 11 instructs the dimming device 4 not to dimm, and if greater than the second threshold and equal to or less than the first threshold, For example, the light is commanded to be dimmed at a low dimming rate of about 30% to 50%.

  When the illuminance acquired from the illuminometer 2 is greater than the first threshold, the control unit 11 is highly dimmed to completely block external light when the driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range in the front direction of the vehicle. Commands the dimmer 4 to dimm at a rate. Here, the predetermined range in the front direction of the vehicle 100 may be, for example, a range from −30 deg to +30 deg in the left-right direction and −20 deg to +20 deg in the vertical direction with respect to the front direction of the vehicle 100. It should be noted that the predetermined range related to the driver's line-of-sight direction may have the same or wide difference with respect to the angle of view of the detector 22 in the illuminometer 2.

  The control unit 11 specifies the driver's line-of-sight direction based on the image captured by the camera 3. The control unit 11 performs image analysis based on image information such as color and shade from the image captured by the camera 3. In the image analysis, the face outline, the eye outline, the outer shape of the iris, and the like are analyzed to identify the face direction and the direction in which the pupil is facing. Assuming that the driver's line-of-sight direction is often in the front direction of the face, the line-of-sight direction can be easily specified to coincide with the direction in which the face is facing. Further, the control unit 11 may correct the gaze direction based on the outline of the eye, the outer shape of the iris, and the like in order to specify the gaze direction in detail.

  The dimming device 4 changes the dimming rate based on a command from the control unit 11. For example, when using a light control glass, the light reduction device 4 controls the voltage applied to the transparent electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal sheet based on a command from the control unit 11, so that the transparent state with a light reduction rate of 0% and a half of the reduction light rate. Change to a transparent state and a light-blocking state with a high attenuation rate.

  Next, the processing flow regarding the change of the light attenuation rate will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of changing the light attenuation rate by the control unit 11 of the ECU 10. The control part 11 acquires the illumination intensity of the light which enters from the illuminometer 2 by step S1. Moreover, the control part 11 performs the image analysis based on the image acquired from the camera 3 by step S2, and specifies a driver | operator's gaze direction. The control unit 11 functions as the line-of-sight direction specifying means in the present invention by executing the processing in step S2.

  The control unit 11 determines whether or not the acquired illuminance is larger than the second threshold value in step S3. When it determines with illumination intensity being below a 2nd threshold value (S3: NO), the control part 11 outputs the control signal which instruct | indicates that it is not dimmed with respect to the light reduction apparatus 4 by step S4, and complete | finishes a process. The dimming device 4 allows external light to pass through by setting a transparent state with a dimming rate of 0% based on a control signal from the control unit 11. In addition, the control part 11 functions as a 2nd illumination intensity determination means in this invention by performing the process by step S3.

  When it determines with illumination intensity being larger than a 2nd threshold value (S3: YES), the control part 11 determines whether illumination intensity is larger than a 1st threshold value by step S5. When it is determined that the illuminance is equal to or less than the first threshold (S5: NO), the control unit 11 outputs a control signal that instructs the dimming device 4 to dimm at a reduced light rate in step S6, and performs processing. finish. Based on the control signal from the control unit 11, the dimming device 4 attenuates external light with a low dimming rate of, for example, about 30% to 50%. In addition, the control part 11 functions as a 1st illumination intensity determination means in this invention by performing the process by step S5.

  When it determines with illumination intensity being larger than a 1st threshold value (S5: YES), the control part 11 determines whether a driver | operator's gaze direction is in the predetermined range of the front direction by step S7. When it is determined that the driver's line-of-sight direction is outside the predetermined range in the forward direction (S7: NO), the control unit 11 instructs the dimming device 4 to dimm at a reduced light rate in step S6. Is output and the process ends. Based on the control signal from the control unit 11, the dimming device 4 attenuates external light with a low dimming rate of, for example, about 30% to 50%. In addition, the control part 11 functions as a gaze direction determination means in this invention by performing the process by step S7.

  When it is determined that the driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range of the forward direction (S7: YES), the control unit 11 controls the dimming device 4 to perform dimming at a high dimming rate in step S8. A signal is output and the process ends. Based on the control signal from the control unit 11, the dimming device 4 attenuates the external light at a dimming rate of 100%, for example, and puts it in a light shielding state. Note that the control unit 11 functions as command means in the present invention by executing the processing in steps S4, S6 and S8.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 specifies the driver's line-of-sight direction based on the image of the driver of the vehicle 100 captured by the camera 3. The dimming device 4 has a variable dimming rate and reduces external light that enters the vehicle from the outside. The illuminometer 2 detects the illuminance of external light. The control unit 11 determines whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminometer 2 is greater than the first threshold, and determines whether or not the identified driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range. When the control unit 11 determines that the illuminance detected by the illuminometer 2 is greater than the first threshold and determines that the driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range, the control unit 11 performs predetermined dimming on the dimming device 4. Command dimming by rate (for example, high dimming rate such as 100%). Accordingly, when the driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range, for example, and the illuminance of the external light is greater than the first threshold, the external light is reduced without a sense of incongruity, and the convenience of the in-vehicle dimming device 1 can be improved. it can.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminometer 2 is greater than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value. When it is determined that the illuminance detected by the illuminometer 2 is smaller than the first threshold and greater than the second threshold, the control unit 11 has a dimming rate lower than the predetermined dimming rate (high dimming rate) (for example, The light reduction device 4 is instructed to reduce light by a reduced light rate of about 30% to 50%. Thereby, before the illuminance becomes larger than the first threshold value, the external light is dimmed at a dimming rate lower than the predetermined dimming rate, so that the uncomfortable feeling at the time of dimming can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In the in-vehicle dimming device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the illuminometer 2 that can specify the incident direction of light incident from the outside, and the dimming device 4 that partially reduces the light incident from the outside. Use. Other configurations of the in-vehicle dimming device 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as the in-vehicle dimming device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of the illuminometer 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The illuminometer 2 includes illuminance detection cells 2a to 2f that detect the illuminance of light incident from the outside. The illuminance detection cells 2a to 2f are arranged in a fan shape in two upper and lower rows and three left and right rows. Each of the illuminance detection cells 2 a to 2 f is equivalent to the configuration of the illuminometer 2 shown in FIG. 3, and the angle of view of light incident on the detector 22 is limited. The illuminance detection cells 2a to 2c are directed obliquely upward, and the illuminance detection cells 2d to 2f are directed obliquely downward. Further, the illuminance detection cells 2b and 2e are directed to the left and right central directions (that is, the front front direction of the vehicle 100), the illuminance detection cells 2a and 2d are directed obliquely to the right, and the illuminance detection cells 2c and 2f are directed obliquely to the left. Yes.

  For example, each of the illuminance detection cells 2a to 2f has an angle of view of 20 deg in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and is arranged so that the angle of view does not overlap, so that the angle of view of the entire illuminance meter 2 is -30 deg to +30 deg in the horizontal direction. It can be −20 deg to +20 deg in the vertical direction. The illuminometer 2 inputs the illuminance data detected by each of the illuminance detection cells 2a to 2f to the ECU 10, and the control unit 11 of the ECU 10 identifies the illuminance detection cell that detects the highest illuminance among the illuminance data, It is determined that light is incident from the direction in which the illuminance detection cell is facing, and the incident direction of external light is specified.

  As in the first embodiment, the dimming device 4 is provided integrally with a front window, a sun visor above the driver's seat of the vehicle, and the like, and reduces external light that passes through a specific area of the vehicle 100 and enters the vehicle. To do. The dimming device 4 is formed by laminating a plate-shaped light control glass or the like that transmits light in the thickness direction on a transparent front window, a sun visor, or the like, and the light incident surface is configured by a plurality of regions. The dimming rate is variable. As described above, the light control glass has a structure in which, for example, a liquid crystal sheet is sandwiched between transparent electrodes and further reinforced with a transparent glass plate or the like. The transparent electrode is configured to include a plurality of regions in which voltage application can be controlled independently, and light can be dimmed for each region by applying a voltage to each of the plurality of regions.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining partial dimming by the dimming device 4 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The light shielding device 4 has six regions A11 to A13 and A21 to A23 where voltage can be applied independently. The control unit 11 of the ECU 10 determines the incident direction of light incident from the outside based on the illuminance data from the illuminometer 2, designates the area of the dimming device 4 corresponding to the incident direction, and dimming due to a high dimming rate Is commanded. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 11 specifies the area A <b> 13 of the dimming device 4 and reduces light incident on the vehicle from the outside with a high dimming rate.

  Next, a processing flow relating to the change of the light attenuation rate in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of changing the light attenuation rate by the control unit 11 of the ECU 10. The processing in steps S11 to S17 shown in FIG. 7 is equivalent to the processing in steps S1 to S7 shown in FIG. The control unit 11 determines that the illuminance acquired from the illuminometer 2 is greater than the first threshold (S15: YES), and further, the driver's line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range based on the image captured by the camera 3. (S17: YES), in step S18, the incident direction of the external light is specified by specifying the illuminance detection cell of the illuminometer 2 having an illuminance greater than the first threshold.

  In step S19, the control unit 11 designates a region corresponding to the specified incident direction of the external light, and commands the dimming device 4 to perform dimming at a high dimming rate. At this time, the control unit 11 designates a region to be dimmed out of the regions A11 to A13 and A21 to A23 in the dimming device 4, and instructs the dimming device 4 to perform dimming with a high dimming rate of, for example, 100%. . The dimming device 4 changes the dimming rate in the corresponding area based on the command, and sets the light-blocking state in which external light passing through the area is blocked. In addition, the control part 11 functions as a command means in this invention by performing the process by step S19.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the illuminance meter 2 can detect the incident direction of external light, and the dimming device 4 includes a plate-shaped light control glass that allows light to pass in the thickness direction, and a transparent front window. The light incident surface is composed of a plurality of regions, and the light attenuation rate is variable for each region. Based on the incident direction of the external light detected by the illuminometer 2, the control unit 11 designates the area of the dimming device 4 to be dimmed and commands dimming. Thereby, the area | region of the light reduction apparatus 4 is designated based on the incident direction of external light, and the driver | operator's visual field can be ensured widely because the light reduction apparatus 4 partially attenuates external light.

  The disclosed embodiments should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle dimming device 11 Control part (Gaze direction specific | specification means, 1st illumination intensity determination means, gaze direction determination means, command means, 2nd illumination intensity determination means)
100 vehicle 2 illuminance meter (illuminance detector)
4 dimming device (dimming part)

Claims (3)

Line-of-sight direction specifying means for specifying the driver's line-of-sight direction based on an image of the driver of the vehicle, and a light-attenuating unit that reduces external light incident from the outside into the vehicle and has a variable light attenuation rate In-vehicle dimming device with
An illuminance detector that detects the illuminance of the external light;
First illuminance determination means for determining whether the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than a first threshold;
Gaze direction determining means for determining whether or not the gaze direction specified by the gaze direction specifying means is within a predetermined range;
Command means for instructing the dimming unit to dimm at a predetermined dimming rate when it is determined that the first illuminance determining means is large and the gaze direction determining means is within a predetermined range; A vehicle-mounted dimming device comprising: A second illuminance determining means for determining whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit is greater than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold;
When the first illuminance determining unit determines NO and the second illuminance determining unit determines that the second illuminance determining unit is large, the command unit instructs the dimming with a dimming rate lower than the predetermined dimming rate. The in-vehicle dimming device according to claim 1, wherein The illuminance detection unit is capable of detecting the incident direction of the external light,
The dimming portion has a plate shape that allows light to pass in the thickness direction, and the light incident surface is constituted by a plurality of regions, and the dimming rate is variable for each region,
The command means designates a dimming operation by designating a region of the dimming portion to be dimmed based on an incident direction of the external light detected by the illuminance detecting unit. The in-vehicle dimming device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images