JP2018177193A - Vehicular lighting control system, control method of lighting control member, control program of lighting control member and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the transmittance of a lighting control member to be easily adjusted in accordance with the need of an occupant.SOLUTION: A vehicular light control system 31 provided in a vehicle 20 in which a lighting control film 1 is arranged includes: a control mode selection unit 32 which receives selection of a control mode being the control target of the lighting control film 1; and a drive control unit 35 controlling the transmittance of the lighting control film. The drive control unit 35 adjusts the transmittance of the lighting control film 1 on the basis of the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control system for a vehicle, a control method of a light control member, a control program of a light control member, and a vehicle.

Heretofore, various devices have been proposed for light control members (light control films and the like) that are attached to windows and control transmission of extraneous light (Patent Documents 1 and 2). One of such light control members is one using liquid crystal. A light control member using such liquid crystal sandwiches a liquid crystal material by a transparent film material provided with a transparent electrode to manufacture a liquid crystal cell, and sandwiches the liquid crystal cell by a linear polarizer.
In this light control member, the transmission of extraneous light is controlled by changing the electric field applied to the liquid crystal to change the alignment of the liquid crystal.

Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which the transmittance is changed according to the amount of light incident on the interior of the vehicle, with regard to the use of such a light control member in a vehicle.
Moreover, the structure which changes the transmittance | permeability of the light control member is disclosed by patent document 4 by the contact of the specific site | part of the light control member.
Moreover, the structure which reduces the transmittance | permeability of the light control member is disclosed by patent document 5 by parking of specific places, such as a garage.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 03-47392 Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 08-184273 JP, 2008-222045, A International publication 2015/098312 JP 2007-326526 A

Here, in the vehicle, there are multiple places where external light enters, such as side windows, rear windows, roof windows, sun visors, etc. It is considered that the amount of external light incident on the light source can be adjusted individually for each part, and a more comfortable vehicle interior space can be provided to the passenger.
For this purpose, it is desirable that the transmittance of the light control film disposed at each site can be easily adjusted according to the request of the passenger.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily adjust the transmittance of a light control member according to the request of a passenger.

  Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) A vehicle light control system provided in a vehicle in which a light control member is disposed,
A drive control unit that controls the transmittance of the light adjustment member;
A control mode selection unit that receives selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member;
The drive control unit adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit.
A light control system for vehicles characterized by

(2) In (1),
The drive control unit selects at least one light adjustment member from the light adjustment members disposed at a plurality of portions where the outside light of the vehicle is incident, and adjusts the transmittance of the selected light adjustment member.
A light control system for vehicles characterized by

(3) In (1) or (2),
The passenger position information acquisition unit is configured to acquire passenger position information that is information on a position of a passenger in the vehicle.
The drive control unit
Selecting and controlling at least one of the light control members from the light control members disposed at a plurality of sites where the outside light of the vehicle is incident, based on the passenger position information;
A light control system for vehicles characterized by

(4) In any of (1) to (3),
The control mode selection unit can select a plurality of different control modes.
A light control system for vehicles characterized by

(5) In any of (1) to (4),
Providing a reference setting unit that receives the setting of the control reference of the light adjustment member based on the control mode;
A light control system for vehicles characterized by

(6) A control method of a light control member provided in a vehicle,
A drive control step of controlling the transmittance of the light control member;
A control mode selection step of receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member,
The drive control step adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection step.
Control method of the light control member characterized by the above.

(7) A control program for a light control member that controls the light control member disposed in the vehicle by causing the information processing device to execute a predetermined processing procedure by execution by the information processing device,
The processing procedure is
A drive control step of controlling the transmittance of the light control member;
A control mode selection step of receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member,
The drive control step adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection step.
Control program for a light control member characterized by

(8) A light control member disposed at a site where external light is incident;
The vehicle light control system according to any one of (1) to (5),
Only the light control member changes the amount of external light passing through the site;
A vehicle characterized by

(9) In (8),
The site where external light is incident is an opening provided in the vehicle,
A vehicle characterized by

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the transmittances of the respective light control members disposed at a plurality of sites where external light is incident, in accordance with the passenger's request.

It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the light control film used for the light control system for vehicles of 1st Embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the vehicle which has a light control system for vehicles of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the selection screen by a control mode selection part. It is a figure explaining the setting screen by a standard setting part. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the light control system for vehicles of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining a vehicle which has a dimmer system for vehicles of a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure explaining the selection screen by the control mode selection part of the light control system for vehicles of a 2nd embodiment.

First Embodiment
[Light control film]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a light control film used in the vehicle light control system of the first embodiment.
The light control film 1 is a film-like member that controls transmitted light using liquid crystal, and is configured by sandwiching the liquid crystal cell 4 for the light control film between the linear polarizers 2 and 3.

[Linear polarizing plate]
The linear polarizing plates 2 and 3 are not particularly limited as long as they include a polarizer, and may have a polarizing plate protective film on one side or both sides of the polarizer.
For example, a polarizer is made to form a complex of polyvinyl alcohol and iodine by immersing a film made of a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in an aqueous solution containing iodine, which is a dichroic dye, and stretching it. And a polarizer comprising a polyene oriented by processing a plastic film such as polyvinyl chloride.
When a dichroic dye is used as a dichroic dye instead of iodine, an azo dye, a stilbene dye, a methine dye, a cyanine dye, a pyrazolone dye, a triphenylmethane dye as a dichroic dye Quinoline dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, anthraquinone dyes and the like are used.

The above-mentioned polarizing plate protective film is not particularly limited as long as it can protect the above-described polarizer and has desired transparency. As a material of the polarizing plate protective film, for example, acetyl cellulose resin, cycloolefin resin, polyether sulfone resin, amorphous polyolefin, modified acrylic polymer, polystyrene, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide Examples thereof include thermosetting resins such as acrylic resins, urethane resins, acrylic urethane resins, epoxy resins and silicone resins, and ultraviolet curable resins. Among them, it is preferable to use an acetyl cellulose resin, a cycloolefin resin, or an acrylic resin as the above-mentioned resin material. Among them, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), which is an acetyl cellulose resin, is particularly preferable.
The linear polarizers 2 and 3 are disposed in the liquid crystal cell 4 by an adhesive layer made of an acrylic transparent adhesive resin or the like in a cross nicol arrangement. In addition, although the retardation films 2A and 3A for optical compensation are each provided in the liquid crystal cell 4 side in the linear polarizing plates 2 and 3, the retardation films 2A and 3A may be abbreviate | omitted as needed. . Further, instead of the cross nicol arrangement, the arrangement may be a parallel nicol arrangement.

In addition, you may apply the E-type linear-polarizing plate formed by the coating film comprised from the dichroism organic pigment which expresses optical anisotropy in the orthogonal | vertical direction to the linear-polarizing plates 2 and 3. FIG. Thereby, the total thickness of the light control film 1 can be made thinner.
In this case, each linearly polarizing plate is a liquid crystal layer on the liquid crystal layer 8 side of the substrate 15 of the upper laminate 5U constituting the liquid crystal cell 4 described later and on the liquid crystal layer 8 side of the substrate 6 of the lower laminate 5D. It is desirable to be disposed so as to sandwich 8. As described later, it is desirable that the substrates 6 and 15 have small optical anisotropy, but the transmitted light was variously polarized in the substrate by arranging the E-type linear polarization plate as described above. Also, it is possible to use transparent resin films with high versatility, such as PET films, as the substrates 6 and 15, because the transmitted light of the liquid crystal layer can not be affected at all. .

[Liquid crystal cell]
The liquid crystal cell 4 is configured by sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 8 by the film-like lower laminate 5D and the upper laminate 5U.

[Lower stack, upper stack]
The lower laminate 5D is formed by laminating the transparent electrode 11, the alignment layer 13 and the spacer 12 on the base material 6.
The upper laminate 5U is formed by laminating the transparent electrode 16, the alignment layer 17 and the spacer 12 on the base material 15.

〔Base material〕
Although various transparent resin films can be applied to the substrates 6 and 15, a transparent resin film having a small optical anisotropy and having a transmittance of 80% or more at a visible wavelength (380 to 800 nm) It is desirable to apply
Examples of the material of the transparent resin film include acetyl cellulose-based resins such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polyester-based resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) Polyolefin resins such as polystyrene, polymethylpentene and EVA, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, polysulfone (PEF), polyether sulfone (PES), polycarbonate Mention may be made of resins such as PC), polysulfone, polyether (PE), polyether ketone (PEK), (meth) acronitrile, cycloolefin polymer (COP), cycloolefin copolymer and the like.
In particular, resins such as polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin polymer (COP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are preferable.
In the present embodiment, a polycarbonate film with a thickness of 100 μm is applied to the substrates 6 and 15, but transparent resin films with various thicknesses can be applied.

[Transparent electrode]
The transparent electrodes 11 and 16 are comprised from the transparent conductive film laminated | stacked on the said transparent resin film and a transparent resin film.
As the transparent conductive film, various transparent electrode materials applied to this kind of transparent resin film can be applied, and a transparent metal thin film having an oxide-based total light transmittance of 50% or more can be mentioned. . For example, tin oxide type, indium oxide type and zinc oxide type can be mentioned.

Examples of tin oxide (SnO ₂ ) include nesa (tin oxide SnO ₂ ), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide: antimony-doped tin oxide), and fluorine-doped tin oxide.
Examples of indium oxide (In ₂ O ₃ ) -based materials include indium oxide, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide: Indium Tin Oxide), and IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide).
Examples of zinc oxide (ZnO) -based include zinc oxide, AZO (aluminum-doped zinc oxide), and gallium-doped zinc oxide.
In the present embodiment, a transparent conductive film is formed of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).
The specific configuration of the transparent electrodes 11 and 16 of the present embodiment will be described in detail later.

〔Spacer〕
The spacer 12 is provided to define the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 8, and various resin materials can be widely applied. Here, the spacer 12 mainly includes two types of spherical spacers (hereinafter referred to as “bead spacers”) and columnar spacers (hereinafter referred to as “photo spacers”).
Here, it is conceivable that the light control film 1 forms a photo spacer using a photolithography method in which a photosensitive resin is applied, exposed, and developed after forming an alignment layer on a base material. In this case, it is not preferable because the alignment layer is damaged by the exposure or development process to cause an alignment failure. Also, it is conceivable to apply an alignment layer after preparing the photospacer first on the substrate, but in this case, the alignment layer around the photospacer can not be provided with sufficient alignment control force. It is not preferable because it causes an orientation defect. Therefore, the light control film manufactured by the photo spacer may not be able to control the desired transmittance with high accuracy due to poor alignment.
On the other hand, the bead spacer is dispersed on the alignment layer after forming the alignment layer, and since the contact area with the alignment layer is narrow, the alignment layer as described above may be damaged or defective in alignment. Problems can be reduced.
Therefore, by applying a bead spacer as the spacer 12, it is possible to change the transmittance of the manufactured light control film 1 more precisely and finely as compared with the case of using a photo spacer.
Here, since the light control film 1 of the present embodiment is disposed in the vehicle 20, it is necessary to control the transmittance with high accuracy as needed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a bead spacer is applied to the spacer 12.

Here, the bead spacer used for the spacer 12 can apply the well-known bead used for a liquid crystal display device, a color filter, etc. Specifically, inorganic components include glass, silica, metal oxides (MgO, Al ₂ O ₃ ), and organic components such as acrylic resins, epoxy resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, unsaturated polyester resins, Using core particles obtained by suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization or emulsion polymerization of material systems such as divinylbenzene copolymer, divinylbenzene-acrylic ester copolymer, diacrylic phthalate copolymer, allyl isocyanurate copolymer It is possible to use spherical, cylindrical, cylindrical, etc. granular bodies obtained by polymerization methods such as seed polymerization method, porous bodies, hollow bodies and the like.
The surface of the bead spacer may be subjected to surface treatment from the viewpoint of improving the dispersibility and adhesion of the bead spacer 12 on the alignment layer. The surface coating material is not particularly limited as long as fixation to the bead surface and outflow of the chemical substance into the liquid crystal material do not matter, but examples thereof include polyethylene, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer A combination, ethylene / acrylic ester copolymer, polymethyl (meth) acrylate polymer, SBS type styrene / butadiene block copolymer, epoxy resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, etc. can be used.
In the above description, the spacer 12 is provided on both the upper laminate 5U and the lower laminate 5D. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper laminate 5U and the lower laminate are described. It may be provided in any one of 5D.

[Alignment layer]
The alignment layers 13 and 17 are formed of a photo alignment layer. As the photo alignment material applicable to the photo alignment layer, various materials to which the photo alignment method can be applied can be widely applied. For example, photo decomposition type, photo dimerization type, photo isomerization type, etc. may be mentioned. it can.
In the present embodiment, a light dimerization type material is used. Examples of the photo-dimerization type material include cinnamate, coumarin, benzylidene phthalimidine, benzylidene acetophenone, diphenyl acetylene, stilbazole, uracil, quinolinone, maleimide, or a polymer having a cinnamylidene acetic acid derivative. Among them, a polymer having one or both of cinnamate and coumarin is preferably used in that it has a good alignment control force. As specific examples of such photo-dimerization type materials, for example, compounds described in JP-A-9-118717, JP-A-10-506420, JP-A-2003-505561 and WO2010 / 150748 are disclosed. Can be mentioned.
In addition, it may replace with a photo alignment layer, an alignment layer may be produced by a rubbing process, and a fine line-shaped uneven | corrugated shape may be formed and processed to produce an alignment layer. Further, the present invention is not limited to these, and may be an alignment layer which does not perform alignment processing such as photo alignment or rubbing processing.

[Liquid crystal layer]
The liquid crystal layer 8 can be widely applied to various liquid crystal materials applicable to the light control film 1 of this type. Specifically, a nematic liquid crystal compound, a smectic liquid crystal compound and a cholesteric liquid crystal compound can be applied to the liquid crystal layer 8 as a liquid crystal compound having no polymerizable functional group.
Examples of nematic liquid crystal compounds include biphenyl compounds, terphenyl compounds, phenylcyclohexyl compounds, biphenylcyclohexyl compounds, phenylbicyclohexyl compounds, trifluoro compounds, phenyl benzoate compounds, cyclohexyl benzoate phenyl compounds , Phenylbenzoic acid phenyl compounds, bicyclohexylcarboxylic acid phenyl compounds, azomethine compounds, azo compounds, azooxy compounds, stilbene compounds, tolane compounds, ester compounds, bicyclohexyl compounds, phenylpyrimidine compounds And biphenyl pyrimidine compounds, pyrimidine compounds, and biphenyl ethyne compounds.

Examples of smectic liquid crystal compounds include ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal compounds such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polychloroacrylates, polyoxiranes, polysiloxanes, and polyesters.
As a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl oleate, cellulose, a cellulose derivative, polypeptide etc. can be mentioned, for example.

  In the liquid crystal cell 4, a sealing material 19 is disposed to surround the liquid crystal layer 8. The upper laminate 5U and the lower laminate 5D are integrally held by the sealing material 19, and the liquid crystal material is prevented from leaking. For example, a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, or the like can be used as the sealing material 19.

  In the light control film 1, an alternating current voltage whose polarity is switched in a predetermined cycle is applied to the transparent electrodes 11 and 16, and an electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer 8 by the alternating current voltage. Further, the orientation of liquid crystal molecules provided in the liquid crystal layer 8 is controlled by this electric field, and the transmitted light is controlled.

The VA method (Vertical Alignment, vertical alignment type) is applied to the alignment control of the liquid crystal layer 8 in the light control film 1 of the embodiment. In the VA system, an alignment film having an alignment control force in the vertical direction is provided on a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 8 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates.
In the VA mode, when no electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 8 are vertically aligned, whereby the light control film 1 blocks incident light and becomes a light blocking state, and the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 8 is applied by applying this electric field. Are horizontally oriented, and the light control film 1 transmits incident light to be in a transmission state.
A light control mode in which light is blocked when no electric field occurs and light is transmitted when an electric field is applied as in the VA mode is referred to as a normally black mode.

However, instead of the VA method, various driving methods such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) method, an IPS (In Plane Switching) method, and a GH (Guest Host) method may be applied.
Here, in the TN method, an alignment film subjected to rubbing processing or the like that has an alignment direction different by 90 ° is attached on a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 8 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the alignment direction of the alignment film by the alignment regulating force of the alignment film, and the other liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the liquid crystal molecules, so that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a 90 ° twisting direction. Then, polarizing plates are disposed outside the upper and lower substrates in parallel with the alignment direction of the alignment film.
In the TN mode, when there is no electric field, light passing through the polarizing plate becomes linearly polarized light and enters the liquid crystal. Since the liquid crystal molecules are oriented at 90 ° twist, the incident light is also allowed to pass at 90 °, so that it can pass through the lower polarizing plate. Thereby, the light control film 1 transmits incident light and is in a transmission state.
In addition, although the liquid crystal molecules can stand upright and get twisted by the application of this electric field, the alignment control force of the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the alignment film is stronger, so that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules remains along the alignment film. In such a state, since the liquid crystal molecules are isotropic to the light passing therethrough, no rotation of the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 8 occurs. Therefore, linearly polarized light that has passed through the upper polarizer can not pass through the lower polarizer, and the light control film 1 blocks incident light to be in a light shielding state.
A control mode of light which is in the transmission state in the absence of an electric field and in the light shielding state in the application of an electric field as in the TN method is referred to as a normally white mode.

  In the IPS method, electrodes are formed collectively on one substrate, and the amount of transmitted light is controlled by rotating liquid crystal molecules aligned by an electric field by the electrodes in a lateral (horizontal) direction with respect to the substrate. is there.

Furthermore, the GH method is a method using a liquid crystal composition in which a dichroic dye is dissolved as a guest in a host nematic liquid crystal. Since the dichroic dye has a uniaxial light absorption axis and absorbs only light oscillating in the light absorption axis direction, it changes the orientation of the dichroic dye in accordance with the movement of the liquid crystal due to the electric field. By controlling the direction of the light absorption axis, the transmission state of the liquid crystal cell can be changed.
Liquid crystal compositions used in the GH system are roughly classified into positive type and negative type depending on the difference in the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied.
A positive nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal whose dielectric constant is large in the long axis direction and small in the direction perpendicular to the long axis and whose dielectric anisotropy is positive. When no electric field is applied, the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules is relative to the optical axis. It is vertical, and the major axis direction of liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the optical axis when an electric field is applied.
On the other hand, a negative nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal in which the dielectric constant is small in the major axis direction and the dielectric anisotropy is large in the direction perpendicular to the major axis, and the major axis direction of liquid crystal molecules is the optical axis when no electric field is applied. They are parallel to each other, and the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules is perpendicular to the optical axis when an electric field is applied.
Here, since the dichroic dye molecules are aligned in the same direction as the liquid crystal molecules, when a positive nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, the dichroic dye molecules are shielded when no electric field is applied and are transmitted when an electric field is applied (normally Black mode).

On the other hand, when a negative nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, on the other hand, it is in the transmission state in the absence of an electric field, and in the light shielding state when the electric field is applied (normally white mode).
The dichroic dye used in the GH system is a dye having solubility in liquid crystal and high dichroism, preferably a dye having an order parameter (S value) of 0.7 or more, for example, azo Dichroic dyes such as a system, anthraquinone system, quinophthalone system, perylene system, indigo system, thioindigo system, merocyanine system, styryl system, azomethine system, tetrazine system and the like can be mentioned.
In addition, when the light control film 1 is manufactured by GH system, a linear-polarizing plate can be abbreviate | omitted.
In addition, the liquid crystal cell 4 may drive the liquid crystal material by so-called multi-domain method by patterning of the photo alignment layer or the like, and may further drive by a single domain.
Furthermore, the light control film 1 can be widely applied when using various light control films capable of adjusting the amount of transmitted light, in addition to the above-described light control films using liquid crystals.

[Light control system for vehicle]
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the vehicle 20 of the first embodiment. The vehicle 20 of FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vehicle 20 as viewed vertically from above.

Vehicle 20 is a four-seater passenger car, and as shown in FIG. 2, seats S1 to S4 are provided in the vehicle. The seat S1 is a driver's seat, and a passenger M1 of the seat S1 is a driver of the vehicle 20.
The light control film 1 of the present embodiment includes a roof window 22 of a vehicle (passenger car) 20, a front seat side window 23A on the driver side, a rear seat side window 23B on the driver side, and a front seat side window 23C on the passenger side. It is disposed on substantially the entire surface of the rear seat side window 23D on the passenger seat side, the rear window 24, the sun visor 25A on the driver seat side, and the sun visor 25B on the passenger seat side.

  More specifically, the light control film 1 is attached to the roof window 22, the side windows 23A to 23D, and the rear window 24 from the inside of the vehicle to a glass plate which is a transparent plate material constituting the windows 22 to 24 and held. Be done. The light control film 1 may be attached from the outside of the vehicle, or may be sandwiched between the glass plates of the laminated glass of each window via an intermediate film.

The sun visors 25A and 25B are sunshades respectively provided on the driver's seat (S1) side and the front passenger's seat (S3) side of the upper end edge of the front window. In the sun visors 25A and 25B of the present embodiment, a transparent plate made of an acrylic material or the like is movably held at the upper end edge of the front window, and the light control film 1 is attached to the entire surface of the transparent plate.
The sun visors 25A and 25B are disposed to overlap the upper end of the front window by the operation of the occupants of the seat S1 and the seat S3, respectively, and the use position for exhibiting the function as a sunshade, When not used as a shield, it can be moved to a retracted position located at a position retracted from the front window.

Drive power is individually supplied to the light control films 1 provided in the windows 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and the sun visors 25A, 25B. Therefore, the transmittance of external light such as sunlight incident on the windows 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and the sun visors 25A, 25B can be individually adjusted by the respective light control films 1.
The light control film 1 may be provided at any one or a plurality of positions of the plurality of portions, or may be provided at other portions of the vehicle 20.

The vehicle 20 includes the light control film 1 disposed on each of the windows 22, 23A to 23D and 24, the sun visors 25A and 25B, the control mode selection unit 32, the passenger position information acquisition unit 33, the reference setting unit 34, and the light control. A vehicle light control system 31 having a drive control unit 35 of the film 1 is provided.
The vehicle light control system 31 having the control mode selection unit 32, the passenger position information acquisition unit 33, the reference setting unit 34, and the drive control unit 35 is information for executing the control program of the light control film 1 in the present embodiment. A processing apparatus (for example, an electronic control unit (ECU 37) provided in the vehicle 20) is provided.
Here, the ECU 37 is an input circuit unit for inputting various sensor outputs provided in the vehicle, various signals such as position information of the vehicle 20, operation signals output from the operation panel, etc., an arithmetic processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU" A control circuit for storing various calculation programs executed by the CPU, a control program for the light control film 1 described above, a storage circuit unit for storing calculation results, etc., control signals for controlling each part such as a drive source (engine) of the vehicle 20, An output circuit unit or the like that outputs a control signal or the like for controlling the light control film 1 is provided.
The vehicle light control system 31 is not limited to the configuration according to the above control program, and the respective units 32 to 35 constituting the vehicle light control system 31 may be configured by dedicated processing circuits.

In the vehicle 20, an image display device 38 by a display panel provided with a touch panel is provided in an instrument panel, and an input circuit of an operation signal related to the operation of the light control film 1 is configured by the touch panel. Moreover, a menu etc. which concern on operation of a touch panel is displayed on this display panel, and the user interface which concerns on operation of the light control film 1 is comprised with these touch panels and a display panel.
In addition, although the image display apparatus 38 shows the example arrange | positioned in the center part of an instrument panel, for example, it is not limited to this, You may make it arrange | position in various site | parts, such as a center console.
In addition, the configuration of the display panel provided with the touch panel may use the configuration of a car navigation device, and may further use the configuration of a head-up display provided with a touch screen on a transparent screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the selection screen by the control mode selection unit 32, and shows an example of the selection screen by the control mode selection unit displayed on the display panel.
The control mode selection unit 32 is a part that receives selection of a target control mode.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control mode selection unit 32 displays a menu of selectable control modes on the display panel of the image display device 38.
A menu screen for adjusting each part of the vehicle 20 is displayed as an initial image on the display panel of the image display device 38, and the control mode selection unit 32 selects the control mode of the light control film 1 on the menu screen. When the user selects the desired menu, the selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

On the selection screen of the example shown in FIG. 3, a message of “Please select a control mode” prompting selection of a target control mode is displayed at the top, followed by a menu of selectable control modes. Displayed sequentially.
The vehicle light control system 31 according to the present embodiment has a direct sunlight protection mode for shielding direct sunlight incident on the passenger, a control mode, a peep prevention mode for preventing peeping from the outside of the vehicle during parking, a temperature in the vehicle Select the constant temperature mode to adjust the light quantity of external light entering the car to keep the constant, and select the constant brightness mode to adjust the light quantity of external light entering the car to keep the brightness inside the car constant can do. In the selection screen shown in FIG. 3, “direct sunlight prevention”, “peeping prevention”, “constant temperature”, and “constant brightness” are sequentially displayed as these selectable control modes.
Further, the display of each control mode includes a brief description of the control mode, and "ON" or "OFF" indicating selection or non-selection of the control mode.

Furthermore, on the bottom of the selection screen, a “Return” button for switching the display to the previous screen (menu screen) and a “Done” button indicating the completion of the selection are displayed.
The control mode selection unit 32 switches the display indicating selection or non-selection by the operation of the touch panel on the selection screen, and when the “Done” button for instructing the completion of selection is operated, the corresponding display Accept the selection. When the "return" button is operated, the display is switched to the original menu screen.

Here, the control mode selection unit 32 may change the display order of the control mode according to the frequency of use. For example, the control mode selection unit 32 displays the control mode with the highest frequency of use at the top, and the position displayed becomes lower as the frequency of use decreases, and the control mode with the lowest frequency of use at the bottom. It may be displayed.
In addition, although the control mode selection unit 32 illustrated an example in which the control mode is selected based on the operation of the touch panel, the present invention is not limited thereto, and corresponds to the instrument panel and the seat position of each passenger. An operation button may be provided at a position or the like, and the control mode may be selected by the operation of the operation button.

The control mode selection unit 32 may select one of a plurality of control modes, or may select a plurality of control modes as shown in FIG. By thus making it possible to select a plurality of control modes, it is possible to automatically change the transmittance of each light control film appropriately according to the environmental change in the vehicle.
Also, according to these control modes, a light receiving sensor that measures the brightness in the car, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the car, and a light receiving that detects the angle at which external light such as sunlight is incident A sensor or the like is disposed, and the drive control unit 35 inputs an output signal of each sensor.

The passenger position information acquisition unit 33 detects the passenger position information of the passenger sitting in the seats S1 to S4 of the vehicle 20 and outputs the detected position information to the drive control unit 35. Here, each seat S1 to S4 of the vehicle 20 is provided with a pressure sensor (not shown), and the passenger position information acquisition unit 33 detects the seating of the passenger on the corresponding seat by weighting to the pressure sensor. This detection result is output as passenger position information.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the passenger M1 is seated on the seat S1, the passenger position information acquiring unit 33 detects the seating of the passenger from the pressure sensor of the seat S1, and the boarding based on the detection result. The position information of the person is output to the drive control unit 35.

  The passenger position information acquisition unit 33 is provided with an imaging device for photographing the entire interior of the vehicle in place of the detection of the passenger by the above-described pressure sensor, and image processing of the entire imaging results to board each seat. Various detection methods can be applied to the detection method of a passenger, such as detecting the presence or absence of a person.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a setting screen of the reference setting unit.
FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing the setting screen of the control reference, and FIG. 4 (a) is a setting screen when the constant brightness mode is selected. b) is a setting screen when the constant temperature mode is selected.
The reference setting unit 34 is a part that receives the setting of the control reference of each control mode provided in the control mode selection unit 32. In the present embodiment, the setting of the control reference of each control mode is an example set in advance by the reference setting unit 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When accepted, the setting of the control standard may be accepted.

Here, on the menu screen which is the initial image of the display panel of the image display device 38, the setting of the control reference of the control mode is displayed so as to be selectable, and the setting of the control reference of the control mode is the passenger on the menu screen. When selected, the setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed.
More specifically, when the setting of the control reference in the constant brightness mode is selected, the reference setting unit 34 displays a selection screen as shown in FIG. When the setting is selected, a selection screen as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed, and the setting of the control reference of the light adjusting member is received. In the present embodiment, when another control mode (a direct sunlight prevention mode or a peeping prevention mode) is selected, the setting of the control reference is omitted.

In the setting screen of constant brightness mode shown in Fig. 4 (a), the message "Constant brightness mode" indicating the selected control mode and the message "Please select brightness" prompting the operation are displayed at the top. Is displayed.
Further, in the middle, an option to select brightness as a control reference, “bright”, “middle”, “dark” is displayed. The passenger can select the brightness to be set by touching any of these options.
When the "Return" and "Done" buttons are displayed at the bottom and the "Done" button is operated, the setting of the selected control standard is accepted. In addition, when the “return” button is operated, the display is switched to the original menu screen.

Also, on the setting screen of the constant temperature mode shown in FIG. 4 (b), a message “constant temperature mode” indicating the selected control mode and a message “Please select temperature” prompting the operation are displayed at the top. Is displayed.
In the middle part, an image for selecting a temperature in the form of a bar graph is displayed as a control reference. The image in the bar graph format shown in FIG. 4 (b) shows that the left end of the bar graph indicates the lowest temperature, and the higher it goes to the right, the higher the temperature, and the rider touches the part corresponding to the desired temperature. Thus, the set temperature can be selected.
When the "Return" and "Done" buttons are displayed at the bottom and the "Done" button is operated, the setting of the selected control standard is accepted. In addition, when the “return” button is operated, the display is switched to the original menu screen.

The drive control unit 35 includes a power supply unit that outputs a drive power supply to the light control film 1, and is configured by an arithmetic processing unit that controls the power supply unit.
The drive control unit 35 controls the drive power supply of each light control film 1 provided in the roof window drive control unit 35A for controlling the drive power supply of the light control film 1 provided in the roof window 22 and the side windows 23A to 23D. Side window drive control unit 35B for individual control, rear window drive control unit 35C for controlling power supply for driving the light control film 1 provided on the rear window 24, and each light control film 1 provided on the sun visors 25A and 25B And a sun visor drive control unit 35D that individually controls the driving power supply of

  The drive control unit 35 selects the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit 32 by the roof window drive control unit 35A, the side window drive control unit 35B, the rear window drive control unit 35C, and the sun visor drive control unit 35D. The drive voltage of each light control film 1 is changed based on the setting content of each control mode set in advance by the setting unit 34, and the transmittance of the corresponding light control film 1 is changed.

That is, when the peeping prevention mode is selected in the control mode selection unit 32 by the rider, the drive control unit 35 minimizes the transmittance of all the light control films 1 when the vehicle 20 is in the parking state. It is possible to prevent the inside of the vehicle from being seen from the outside of the vehicle by changing the light shielding state to a value.
Here, the parking state is a state in which the vehicle 20 is stopped continuously, or a state in which the vehicle 20 stops and the driver of the vehicle 20 can not leave the vehicle 20 and can not drive immediately. The drive control unit 35 according to the present embodiment detects an operation of a parking brake of the vehicle 20 to detect parking of the vehicle 20.
It should be noted that instead of detecting such parking brake operation, for example, in the case where the parking brake mechanism is in a braking state for a certain period of time or longer, and in the case of an automatic type vehicle, the shift lever is in the parking range or neutral range. In the case of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine, the electric motor is used in a vehicle powered by an electric motor such as an electric car. It is also possible to detect a state in which the power of the drive control circuit to be driven is shut off, a state in which all the passengers get off and the door is locked (locked), or the like.

Further, when the direct sunlight prevention mode is selected by the passenger, the drive control unit 35 causes the passenger position information acquisition unit 33 to detect a seat on which the passenger is seated. Moreover, the incident direction of the sunlight which injects into a vehicle interior is detected by the light reception sensor provided in the vehicle exterior.
And the light control film 1 to control based on the incident direction of the detected sunlight, and the detected passenger | crew position information is selected, and the transmittance | permeability is reduced. Thus, the vehicle light control system 31 can prevent the direct sunlight from entering the passenger in the direct sunlight protection mode.
For example, it is detected that the passenger (driver) is on the seat S1 (driver's seat) by the passenger position information acquisition unit 33, and it is detected that sunlight is incident from the horizontal right front of the vehicle 20. In this case, the drive control unit 35 selects the light control film 1 provided on the side window 23A on the driver's seat side and the sun visor 25A and performs control to reduce the light shielding state or the transmittance.
Further, temporarily, it is detected that the passenger is seated at the seat S2 on the driver's seat rear side by the passenger position information acquisition unit 33, and the sunlight is incident from a direction slightly inclined to the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the vertical direction. If it is detected, the drive control unit 35 selects the light control film 1 provided in the roof window 22 and the rear window 24 and performs control to reduce the light shielding state or the transmittance.

As described above, the light control film for a vehicle is selectively controlled by selectively controlling the light control films provided on the windows and the sun visors according to the incident direction of the sunlight and the seat position of the passenger on the vehicle. The system 31 can prevent direct sunlight from entering a passenger seated in each seat. In addition, it is possible to prevent the driver from interfering with safe driving due to direct sunlight, in particular.
From the viewpoint of driving the vehicle 20 safely, the drive control unit 35 transmits the light transmittance specified in the security standards of the Road Transport Vehicle Act for the light control film 1 provided in the side windows 23A and 23C on the front seat side. The transmittance is controlled in the range satisfying the criteria of

Note that instead of using a light receiving sensor that detects the angle at which sunlight is incident, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device mounted in a car navigation or the like, an acceleration sensor provided in a vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor are applied. The position information, the attitude information, and the date and time information of the vehicle 20 may be detected, and the direction in which the sunlight is incident on the vehicle 20 may be detected based on the information.
Here, the GPS receiver receives signals from GPS satellites, measures the distance between the vehicle and the GPS satellites, and the rate of change of the distance with respect to three or more satellites, thereby determining the current position and the progress of the vehicle. The speed and heading are measured, the acceleration sensor outputs information on the acceleration of the sensor itself (change in speed per second), the vehicle speed sensor converts the detected number of revolutions of the wheel into a pulse signal, It outputs information used to calculate a predetermined vehicle speed, such as the number of pulse signals in time.

When the constant brightness mode is selected, the drive control unit 35 causes the brightness in the vehicle detected by the light receiving sensor provided in the vehicle to be the brightness of the control reference preset by the reference setting unit 34. The transmittance of the light control film 1 provided on each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and each sun visor 25 is changed to adjust the interior of the vehicle to a predetermined brightness.
Specifically, when the brightness in the car is lower than the brightness of the control standard, the transmittance of the light control film 1 provided in each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and each sun visor 25 is increased, and the outside light is reduced. Take in enough to brighten the car interior. Even when the transmittance is set to the maximum value, when the brightness in the car is lower than the control reference temperature, the drive control unit 35 further controls the lighting mechanism (not shown) provided in the car to control the inside of the car. You may make it bright.
Conversely, when the brightness in the vehicle is brighter than the brightness of the control reference, the drive control unit 35 transmits the light control film 1 provided in each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and each sun visor 25. The rate is reduced to suppress the incidence of outside light and darken the vehicle interior.

Even in the constant brightness mode, the drive control unit 35 controls the transmittance of the light control film relating to the seat on which the passenger is seated, based on the passenger position information, as in the above-described direct sunlight protection mode. You may do so. For example, when the passenger is seated at the seat S2 on the driver's seat side rear of the vehicle 20, the drive control unit 35 is a roof window 22 and a side window which are portions to which outside light mainly enters the seat S2. 23B, the light control film 1 of the rear window 24 may be controlled to adjust only the brightness of the seat S2.
This makes it possible to omit the control of the light control film that is not necessary for the brightness control, so it is possible to suppress the vehicle interior from becoming excessively dark and to reduce the power consumption of the vehicle. be able to. In this case, it is desirable to provide each seat with a light receiving sensor for detecting the brightness.

Further, when the constant temperature mode is selected, the drive control unit 35 causes the in-vehicle temperature detected by the temperature sensor provided in the vehicle to be the temperature of the control reference set by the reference setting unit 34, By changing the transmittance of each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and the light control film 1 provided on each sun visor 25, the temperature inside the vehicle is adjusted by adjusting the amount of light incident into the vehicle.
Specifically, when the in-vehicle temperature is lower than the control reference temperature, the transmissivity of the light control film 1 provided on each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and each sun visor 25 is increased, whereby the outside light is reduced. Intake fully into the car to raise the temperature inside the car. Even if the transmittance is set to the maximum value, if the in-vehicle temperature is lower than the control reference temperature, the heating device (air conditioner) provided in the vehicle is further controlled to raise the in-vehicle temperature. It is also good.
On the contrary, when the temperature inside the vehicle is higher than the control reference temperature, the transmittance of the light control film 1 provided on each window 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and each sun visor 25 is reduced, thereby the ambient light Reduce the temperature inside the vehicle by suppressing the incidence of Even if the transmittance is set to the minimum value, if the in-vehicle temperature is higher than the control reference temperature, the in-vehicle temperature is further reduced by controlling the cooling device (air conditioner) provided in the vehicle. It is also good.

  The drive control unit 35 omits control of the light control film 1 provided on the sun visor when the sun visors 25A and 25B are located at the retracted position retracted from the front window in each control mode described above. You may do it. Thereby, the power consumption of the vehicle 20 can be reduced.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which the light control film 1 is provided in each of roof window 22, side windows 23A-23D, rear window 24, and sun visor 25A, 25B as several site | parts which exterior light injects is mentioned. Although shown, it is not limited to this.
The light control film 1 may be provided only on one of the multiple light incident portions, for example, on the roof window 22. Even in this case, the vehicle light control system 31 can easily adjust the transmittance of the roof window according to the request of the passenger according to the selected control mode.

The vehicle light control system 31 operates when power is supplied from an alternator and a battery mounted on the vehicle 20.
Here, the alternator is a generator connected to the axle of the vehicle 20 or the engine, and a rectifier called rectifier that rectifies the generated AC voltage and converts it to a DC output voltage, and an integrated circuit And a voltage control device or the like called a voltage regulator which controls the output voltage.
The voltage regulator monitors the output voltage and controls the field current of the alternator because the voltage output from the alternator changes in accordance with the number of revolutions of the axle of the vehicle 20 or the number of revolutions of the engine. The output voltage is adjusted. The voltage regulator supplies power at a voltage at which the electrical components of the vehicle 20 operate normally even under ever-changing operating conditions.

The battery is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lead battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery, and stores the output voltage from the alternator and discharges the stored output voltage to supply power to the vehicle light control system 31. Supply.
In addition, although the power supply method to the light control system 31 for vehicles showed the example to which electric power is supplied from the alternator and battery mounted in the vehicle 30, it is not limited to this, For example, the vehicle 20 Power supplied from any one of an alternator and a battery mounted on the vehicle, and a battery for the light control system 31 for a vehicle is separately provided so that power is supplied from the battery, and other known Power supply method may be applied.

The drive control unit 35 of the vehicle light control system 31 may drive the light control film 1 with an alternating voltage, or may drive the light control film 1 with a direct current voltage. In this case, a converter may be provided in the power supply unit to the light control film 1, and the power supplied from the battery or the alternator may be converted according to the type of voltage used by the light control film 1.
In the light control film 1 of the present embodiment, the fluctuation of the transmittance is usually controlled by the application of an alternating voltage. However, light emitted from an external light emitter such as a traffic light may be difficult to see due to the frequency of the AC voltage. In such a case, the drive control unit 35 of this embodiment is used. Can switch the voltage supplied from the converter from the AC voltage to the DC voltage, and can minimize the difficulty in viewing the light emitted from the light emitter.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the vehicle light adjustment system of the first embodiment.
The vehicle light control system 31 controls the light control film 1 by repeating the processing procedure (SP1 to SP4) shown in FIG.

That is, the vehicle light control system 31 provided in the vehicle 20 receives the selection of the target control mode from the control mode selection unit 32 (SP1).
Subsequently, according to the selected control mode, the light control film 1 provided on the corresponding window or sun visor is selected (SP2), and the transmittance thereof is determined (SP3).
Finally, the drive voltage of the corresponding light control film 1 is controlled to change the transmittance so as to obtain the determined transmittance (SP4).

As mentioned above, the light control system 31 for vehicles of this embodiment has the following effects.
(1) The vehicle light control system 31 of the present embodiment is provided in the vehicle 20 in which the light control member 1 is disposed in each of the windows 22, 23A to 23D, 24 and the sun visors 25A, 25B on which outside light is incident. A control mode selection unit 32 for receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light control film, and a drive control unit 35 for individually controlling the transmittance of the light control film 1 disposed on each window and each visor. The drive control unit 35 selects at least one light control film from the light control films disposed on each window and each sun visor based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit 32, and selects the selected light control film. Adjust the transmittance of the light film.
Thereby, the vehicle light control system 31 easily adjusts the transmittance of the light control film 1 disposed in each window and each sun visor based on the control mode selected according to the passenger's request. Can be comfortable in the car environment.

(2) Further, the vehicle light adjustment system 31 of the present embodiment includes the passenger position information acquisition unit 33 that acquires the passenger position information that is the information of the position of the passenger in the vehicle 20, and the drive control unit 35 At least one light control film is selected from the light control films disposed in each window and each visor based on the passenger position information and controlled. Thus, the vehicle light control system 31 can omit the control of the light control film corresponding to the seat where the passenger is not seated, and reduces the control load of the drive control unit 35. Power consumption of the vehicle can be reduced.

(3) The vehicle light control system 31 of the present embodiment allows the control mode selection unit 32 to select a plurality of different control modes, so that the light transmission of each light control film is automatically performed according to the environmental change in the vehicle. The rate can be changed appropriately. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the direct sunlight prevention mode and the constant brightness mode are selected as the control mode, the vehicle light control system 31 prevents the sunlight from being directly incident on the passenger. In addition, the brightness in the vehicle can be adjusted based on the set control standard.

(4) The vehicle light control system 31 according to the present embodiment includes the reference setting unit 34 that receives the setting of the control reference of the light control film based on the control mode. Therefore, the conditions desired by the passenger (brightness, temperature, etc. The control mode can be set in accordance with a) to provide a passenger with a more comfortable in-vehicle environment.

(5) The control method of the light control film 1 of the present embodiment includes a control mode selection step (SP1) for receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light control film, and light control disposed in each window and each visor. And driving step (SP4) for individually controlling the transmittance of the light film 1, and the driving control step (SP4) selects each window based on the control mode selected in the control mode selecting step (SP1). At least one light control film is selected from the light control films disposed in the visor, and the transmittance of the selected light control film is adjusted.
Thereby, the control method of the light control film 1 adjusts the transmittance | permeability of the light control film 1 arrange | positioned at each window and each visor simply based on the control mode selected according to the passenger's request. And the passenger can be comfortable in the car environment.

(6) The control program of the light control film 1 of the present embodiment includes, as a processing procedure, a control mode selection step (SP1) for receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light control film, each window, and each sun visor. And driving step (SP4) for individually controlling the transmittance of the disposed light control film 1, and the driving control step (SP4) is performed based on the control mode selected in the control mode selecting step (SP1). At least one light control film is selected from the window and the light control film disposed on each sun visor, and the transmittance of the selected light control film is adjusted.
Thus, the control program of the light control film 1 can easily adjust the transmittance of the light control film 1 disposed in each window and each visor based on the control mode selected according to the passenger's request. And the passenger can be comfortable in the car environment.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a vehicle having the vehicle light control system of the second embodiment.
In the following description and the drawings, parts having the same functions as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals at the end (last two digits), and redundant description will be appropriately omitted.
As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle light control system 131 according to the present embodiment is provided in the roof window 122 in that the light control film 101 is disposed only in the roof window 122 of the vehicle 120, and in the drive control unit 135. According to the vehicle of the first embodiment, only the roof window drive control unit 135A for controlling the light control film 101 is provided, and the control mode selection unit 132 can select one control mode. This is mainly different from the light control system 31.

Here, the roof window 122 of the vehicle 120 is a transparent substrate disposed in the opening 121 provided in the ceiling (roof) of the vehicle 120.
In the vehicle 120 of the present embodiment, as described above, the light control film 101 is provided only in the roof window 122, and only the light control film 101 passes through the opening 121 where the roof window 122 is provided. Change the light intensity. Specifically, in addition to the light control film 101 of the roof window 122, the opening 121 of the vehicle 120 is not provided with a light blocking member or the like for changing the light amount of the external light passing through the opening 121. That is, only the light control film 101 provided on the roof window 122 changes the amount of external light such as sunlight passing through the opening 121 of the vehicle 120, and in the present embodiment, the outside of the vehicle 120 and the vehicle As viewed from the inside, the roof window 122 is always exposed.

The vehicle 120 of the present embodiment is provided with a light control film 101 disposed in a roof window 122, and a vehicle light control system 131 having a control mode selection unit 132 and a drive control unit 135 of the light control film 101. .
In the present embodiment, the vehicle light control system 131 having the control mode selection unit 132 and the drive control unit 135 is an information processing apparatus that executes a control program of the light control film 101 (for example, an electronic control unit provided in the vehicle 120). (ECU 137)).
The vehicle light control system 131 is not limited to the configuration based on the above control program, and the respective units 132 and 135 constituting the vehicle light control system 131 may be configured by dedicated processing circuits.

  In the vehicle 120, an image display device 138 by a display panel provided with a touch panel is provided in the instrument panel, and an input circuit of an operation signal related to the operation of the light control film 101 is configured by the touch panel. Moreover, a menu etc. concerning operation of a touch panel is displayed on this display panel, and the user interface concerning operation of the light control film 101 is comprised with these touch panels and a display panel.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the selection screen by the control mode selection unit 132, and shows an example of the selection screen by the control mode selection unit displayed on the display panel.
As shown in FIG. 7, the control mode selection unit 132 of the present embodiment displays a menu of selectable target control modes on the display panel of the image display device 138.
A menu of selectable control modes is displayed on the selection screen of the example shown in FIG.
The vehicle light control system 131 of the present embodiment switches between a light transmission state in which external light incident from the roof window 122 is allowed to enter as much as possible and a light shielding state in which external light incident from the roof window 122 is blocked as much as possible. Only the mode of "light transmission / light shielding switching" can be selected by the control mode selection unit 132. Therefore, only the mode of "light transmission / light shielding switching" is displayed on the selection screen shown in FIG.

Here, the light transmission state of the light control film 101 and the light shield state are appropriately different in transmittance depending on the form of the liquid crystal layer used for the light control film 101 and the like. For example, when the liquid crystal layer 108 of the light control film 101 is a GH (guest host) liquid crystal layer, the transmittance in the light transmission state is 35 to 70%, and the transmittance in the light shielding state is 0.1 ~ 20%.
In addition, the liquid crystal layer 108 of the light control film 101 is a liquid crystal layer which is not a GH (guest host) type, that is, does not contain a dichroic dye, and is a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by linear polarizers (see FIG. 1). In the case, the transmittance in the light transmitting state is 35 to 40%, and the transmittance in the light blocking state is 0.01 to 0.1%.
Here, the transmittance is the total light transmittance in the visible light region, and can be measured, for example, by a haze meter HM-150 (manufactured by Murakami Color Research Laboratory).

Further, in the selection screen shown in FIG. 7, the characters “light transmitting” and “light shielding” are displayed next to “light transmission / light shielding switching”, and either of the characters is selectable and selected. Only characters are displayed as white characters ("Translucent" is selected in the example shown in FIG. 7).
Furthermore, in the lower part of the selection screen, a “Return” button for switching the display to the previous screen (menu screen) and a “Done” button indicating the completion of the selection are displayed.
The control mode selection unit 132 selects “light transmit” or “block” by the operation of the touch panel on the selection screen, and controls by the corresponding display when the “completion” button for instructing the completion of the selection is operated. Accept the mode selection. When the "return" button is operated, the display is switched to the original menu screen.

  As described above, in the vehicle light control system 131 of the present embodiment, since the control mode selectable in the control mode selection unit 132 is only the “light transmission / light switch” mode, the light control system according to the first embodiment described above The passenger position information acquisition unit provided in the light system and the reference setting unit can be omitted, and the system can be built more easily.

The drive control unit 135 includes a power supply unit that outputs a drive power supply to the light control film 101, and is configured by an arithmetic processing unit that controls the power supply unit.
The drive control unit 135 includes only a roof window drive control unit 135A that controls a power supply for driving the light control film 101 provided on the roof window 122.

  The drive control unit 135 changes the drive voltage of the light control film 101 disposed in the roof window 122 based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit 132 by the roof window drive control unit 135A, and the transmissivity Change.

That is, when “light transmission” is selected in the “light transmission / light shielding switching” mode of the control mode selection unit 132, the drive control unit 135 has the highest transmittance of the light control film 101 disposed in the roof window 122. By changing to the state (light transmission state), it is possible to maximize the incidence of external light from the roof window 122 into the vehicle interior.
Further, when “light blocking” is selected, the drive control unit 135 changes the transmittance of the light control film 101 disposed in the roof window 122 to the lowest state (light blocking state), and the light is incident from the roof window 122 into the vehicle. Can be minimized.

As mentioned above, the vehicle light control system 131 of this embodiment controls the transmittance | permeability of the light control film 101, and the control mode selection part 132 which receives selection of the control mode used as the control target of the light control film 101. The drive control unit 135 adjusts the transmittance of the light control film 101 based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit 132.
Thereby, the vehicle light control system 131 can easily adjust the transmittance of the light control film 101 based on the control mode selected according to the passenger's request, and the vehicle interior environment is comfortable. Can.

Other Embodiments
As mentioned above, although the specific structure suitable for implementation of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can change the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment variously in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

Even if each window of the first embodiment described above, the light control film provided to each sun visor, and the light control film provided to the roof window 122 of the second embodiment are divided into a plurality of segments Good.
Specifically, the transparent electrodes 11 and / or 16 of the light control film 1 are each divided into a plurality of insulated partial electrodes (regions) capable of individually supplying drive power, and the transmissivity is independently and individually. You may comprise the light control film 1 by the multi-segment provided with the several area | region (segment) which can be changed.
This multi-segment light control film can change the transmittance per segment.

For example, the light control film provided in the side window can be divided from a top end to a bottom end into a plurality of horizontally extending strip-like segments, and the transmittance can be changed for each segment. Therefore, for example, the drive control unit 35 can control the light control film in a gradation shape in which the transmittance gradually changes from the upper end to the lower end of the side window.
As another example, a light control film provided in a roof window may be divided into a plurality of segments corresponding to each seat, and the transmittance of each segment may be controlled according to the request of the passenger of each seat. It can also be possible.

Furthermore, as another example, the light control film provided in the sun visor is divided into a plurality of segments, for example, only the segment corresponding to the portion corresponding to the driver's eye is blocked to It is also possible to minimize the obstructing area.
As described above, by configuring the light control film 1 of each part by multi-segments, the control mode of the light control film of each part can be further increased, and the adjustment can be made more simply and as intended by the passenger. be able to.

Also, instead of the sun visor, a light control film may be partially disposed at the upper end portion of the front window to perform the function of the sun visor. In this way, the interior space can be expanded by omitting the sun visor, and furthermore, the degree of freedom in design relating to the interior space can be further improved.
When the light control film is disposed on the front window and the sun visor is omitted as described above, the light control film is disposed on the entire surface of the front window to partially change the transmittance of the light control film. The light control film may function as a light control film.

  In the above-mentioned each embodiment, although the example which is provided in a passenger car as a vehicle showed the example which is provided in a passenger car as a vehicle, it is not limited to this and is provided in various vehicles (bus, truck, etc.) other than a passenger car You may do so.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned each embodiment demonstrated by the example to which the light control film which has flexibility as a light control member is applied, it is not limited to this. For example, the base material of the light control film 1 described above may be a plate-like glass and a light control member having no flexibility may be applied.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the control mode selection unit has shown an example in which the four control modes of "prevention of direct sunlight", "prevention of peeping", "constant temperature", and "constant brightness" can be selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and control modes other than these may be provided. For example, a control mode of “light transmission / light blocking switching” provided in the control mode selection unit of the second embodiment is included. It is also good. Also, at least one of these control modes may be provided.

  Furthermore, in the above-described second embodiment, the control mode selection unit is illustrated as an example including only the control mode of “light transmission / light shielding switching”, but is not limited thereto. For example, the first embodiment One of the four control modes “direct light prevention”, “peeping prevention”, “constant temperature”, and “constant brightness” provided in the control mode selection unit may be provided. In this case, a passenger position information acquisition unit or a reference setting unit may be provided in the vehicle light control system of the first embodiment according to the control mode.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 101 Light control film 2, 3 Linearly polarizing plate 2A, 3A Retardation film 4 Liquid crystal cell 5U Upper laminated body 5D Lower laminated body 6, 15 Base material 8, 108 Liquid crystal layer 11, 16 Transparent electrode 12 Spacer 13, 17 Orientation layer 19 Sealing material 20, 120 Vehicle 121 Opening 22, 122 Roof window 23A to 23D Side window 24 Rear window 25A, 25B Sun visor 31, 131 Vehicle light control system 32, 132 Control mode selection unit 34 Reference setting unit 35 Drive control unit 35A, 135A Roof window drive control unit 35B Side window drive control unit 35C Rear window drive control unit 35D Sun visor drive control unit 38, 138 Image display device

Claims (9)

A vehicle light control system provided in a vehicle in which a light control member is disposed,
A drive control unit that controls the transmittance of the light adjustment member;
A control mode selection unit that receives selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member;
The drive control unit adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection unit.
A light control system for vehicles characterized by The drive control unit selects at least one light adjustment member from the light adjustment members disposed at a plurality of portions where the outside light of the vehicle is incident, and adjusts the transmittance of the selected light adjustment member.
The light control system for vehicles of Claim 1 characterized by these. The passenger position information acquisition unit is configured to acquire passenger position information that is information on a position of a passenger in the vehicle.
The drive control unit
Selecting and controlling at least one of the light control members from the light control members disposed at a plurality of sites where the outside light of the vehicle is incident, based on the passenger position information;
The light control system for vehicles according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by these. The control mode selection unit can select a plurality of different control modes.
The light control system for vehicles of any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by these. Providing a reference setting unit that receives the setting of the control reference of the light adjustment member based on the control mode;
The light control system for vehicles of any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by these. A control method of a light control member provided in a vehicle, comprising:
A drive control step of controlling the transmittance of the light control member;
A control mode selection step of receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member,
The drive control step adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection step.
Control method of the light control member characterized by the above. A control program for a light control member that causes a light processing member disposed in a vehicle to be controlled by causing the information processing device to execute a predetermined processing procedure by execution by the information processing device.
The processing procedure is
A drive control step of controlling the transmittance of the light control member;
A control mode selection step of receiving selection of a control mode to be a control target of the light adjustment member,
The drive control step adjusts the transmittance of the light adjustment member based on the control mode selected by the control mode selection step.
Control program for a light control member characterized by A light control member disposed at a site where external light is incident;
A vehicle light control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Only the light control member changes the amount of external light passing through the site;
A vehicle characterized by The site where external light is incident is an opening provided in the vehicle,
The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that.

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