JP2021062747A - Vehicular dimming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular dimming system capable of appropriately dimming in accordance with a state of an occupant.SOLUTION: A vehicular dimming system 1 is mounted in a vehicle 3. The dimming system comprises: a dimming member 7 disposed at an incident part that external light enters; an incident direction detecting unit 14 that detects an incident direction of the external light; an occupant position estimating unit 16 that estimates an occupant position of an occupant M seated on a seat SS1; a determination unit 18 that, based on incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light and the position information regarding the estimated position of the occupant, determines whether the external light enters from a position further forward than the occupant M; and a transmittance control unit 22 that, when the external light enters from the position further forward than the occupant M, controls transmittance of the dimming member 17 to reduce external light falling on the occupant M.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle dimming system.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a vehicle dimming system. The dimming device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a dimming unit capable of forming a low light transmission region and adjusting the width of the low light transmission region, and a control unit for controlling the dimming unit.

JP-A-2017-159730

The dimming device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is premised on the fact that the occupant is fixed in a state of facing forward. Therefore, this dimming device cannot dimmer when the occupant faces a direction other than the front, for example, when the seat faces backward and the occupant faces backward.
The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle dimming system capable of appropriately dimming according to the condition of an occupant. The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[1] A vehicle dimming system mounted on a vehicle.
A dimming member arranged at the incident part where external light is incident,
An incident direction detection unit that detects the incident direction of the external light, and
The occupant position estimation unit that estimates the occupant position of the occupant seated on the seat,
A determination unit for determining whether or not the external light is incident from the front of the occupant based on the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light and the estimated position information regarding the occupant position.
A transmittance control unit that controls the transmittance of the dimming member so that the external light that hits the occupant is reduced when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant.
A dimming system for vehicles.

In the vehicle dimming system of the present disclosure, it is determined whether or not the external light is incident from the front of the occupant based on the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light and the position information regarding the estimated occupant position. Then, when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant, the transmittance of the dimming member is controlled so that the external light that hits the occupant is reduced. Therefore, the vehicle dimming system of the present disclosure can appropriately dimm the light according to the state of the occupant.

It is a schematic view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle dimming system as viewed from above vertically. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the dimming system for a vehicle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dimming member of the front seat side window. It is an exploded perspective view which shows each part of a dimming member. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the transmittance of each part of a light control member. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the dimming control performed in the dimming system for a vehicle. It is the schematic which looked at the vehicle which the external light was incident from from the vertical upper side. It is the schematic which looked at the vehicle which the external light was incident from from the vertical upper side. It is the schematic which looked at the vehicle which the external light was incident from from the vertical upper side. It is explanatory drawing explaining the incident direction with respect to a vehicle. It is explanatory drawing explaining the rotation position of a sheet. It is explanatory drawing explaining the slide position of a sheet.

Here, a desirable example of the present disclosure is shown.
[2] On the vehicle floor, the seat is rotatably supported within a range from a front facing state to a rear facing state.
The vehicle dimming system according to [1], wherein the occupant position estimation unit estimates the occupant position based on the rotation position information of the seat on which the occupant is seated.
In this configuration, since the occupant position is estimated based on the rotation position information of the seat, it is easy to estimate the orientation of the occupant.

[3] On the vehicle floor, the seat is supported so as to be slidably movable within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
The vehicle dimming system according to [1] or [2], wherein the occupant position estimation unit estimates the occupant position based on the slide position information of the seat.
In this configuration, since the occupant position is estimated based on the slide position information of the seat, it is easy to estimate the occupant position.

An embodiment of the vehicle 3 including the vehicle dimming system 1 of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle 3 equipped with a vehicle dimming system 1 as viewed from above vertically. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the vehicle dimming system 1.
The vehicle dimming system 1 includes an incident unit 5 on which external light is incident, a dimming member 7 arranged on the incident unit 5, and a control unit 11 (ECU (Electronic Control Unit)). The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory (for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory)), and the like. The transmittance control unit 22 of the control unit 11 controls the transmittance of the dimming member 7.
Although not shown, an operation input unit such as an operation key or an operation button for receiving an operation from the occupant M can also be provided.

The vehicle 3 is provided with seats SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4. Seat SS1 is the driver's seat. The passenger on the seat SS1, that is, the occupant M is the driver of the vehicle 3.
On the vehicle floor, the seats SS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4 are rotatably supported within a range in which the vehicle 3 faces the front Ff to the rear. FIG. 11 schematically shows how the seat SS1 is rotatably supported.
Further, on the vehicle floor, the seats SS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4 are slidably supported within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 3. FIG. 12 schematically shows how the seat SS1 is supported so as to be slidably movable within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction.
Specifically, the incident portion 5 on which the external light is incident includes a front seat side window 5A on the driver's seat side, a rear seat side window 5B on the driver's seat side, a front seat side window 5C on the passenger seat side, and a rear passenger seat side. The seat side window 5D, the front window 5E, and the rear window 5F. A roof window (not shown) may be provided as the incident portion 5.

The dimming member 7 is arranged on substantially the entire surface of the front seat side window 5A, the rear seat side window 5B, the front seat side window 5C, the rear seat side window 5D, the front window 5E, and the rear window 5F, respectively.
More specifically, a glass plate as an example of a transparent plate material constituting the front seat side window 5A, the rear seat side window 5B, the front seat side window 5C, the rear seat side window 5D, the front window 5E, and the rear window 5F. A dimming member 7 is attached to the inside of the vehicle. The dimming member 7 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 interlayer film.

The dimming members 7 arranged in the front seat side window 5A, the rear seat side window 5B, the front seat side window 5C, the rear seat side window 5D, the front window 5E, and the rear window 5F are each a plurality of parts 41. The case where it is divided into is described. The dimming member 7 may not be divided into a plurality of parts 41.
Here, the dimming member 7A of the front seat side window 5A will be specifically described. The structures of the other rear seat side window 5B, front seat side window 5C, rear seat side window 5D, front window 5E, and rear window 5F are also the same, and the dimming members 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, respectively. The 7th floor is arranged.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a dimming member 7A of the front seat side window 5A. The dimming member 7A is divided into a plurality of portions 41 by a plurality of lines L1 arranged along the horizontal direction and a plurality of intersecting lines L2 intersecting the plurality of lines L1. The plurality of portions 41 are rectangular portions 41A having the same area inside the outer edge portion of the dimming member 7A. At the outer edge of the dimming member 7A, not only a rectangular shape but also a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape portion 41B exists.
The transmittance control unit 22 is capable of adjusting the individual transmittance of each part 41.

As shown in FIG. 4, each portion 41 of the light control member 7 has a light control film 25 arranged between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 23, and the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 23 are connected to each other. An example is one in which the transmittance is changed by the voltage applied between them. For example, each portion 41 becomes transparent or has a high transmittance when applied as shown in the left figure of FIG. 5, and becomes opaque or has a low transmittance when not applied as shown in the right figure of FIG. Note that FIGS. 4 and 5 conceptually show each part 41 and each part constituting each part 41, and the outer edge shape of each part 41 is not limited to a square and varies. That is, the outer edge shape of each part 41 can be made into various shapes according to the parts to be arranged.

As the light control film 25, (1) a light control film 25 using an EC method (Electro chromatic), (2) a light control film 25 using a SPD method (Suspended Particule Device), and (3) a VA (Virtual Element) method. , TN (Twisted Nematic) type, IPS (In-Place-Switching) type liquid crystal light control film 25 is preferably exemplified.
The light control film 25 using the EC method has a structure in which a light control layer (electrolyte layer) is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Depending on the potential difference between the electrodes, the color of the light control layer changes between transparent and navy blue using a redox reaction.

The light control film 25 using the SPD method is usually colored in dark blue by utilizing the orientation of fine particles, but changes to transparent when a voltage is applied and returns to the original dark blue when the voltage is turned off. , The shade can be adjusted by the voltage.

Further, the light control film 25 using the PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) method may be used. The light control film 25 using the PDLC method has a network structure made of a special polymer formed in the liquid crystal layer, and the action of the polymer network induces an irregular arrangement of liquid crystal molecules to emit light. Scatter. Then, when the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the electric field direction by applying a voltage, the light is not scattered and becomes a transparent state.

The control unit 11 includes an incident direction detection unit 14, an occupant position estimation unit 16, a determination unit 18, a solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20, and a transmittance control unit 22.

The incident direction detection unit 14 detects the incident direction of external light with respect to the vehicle 3. In addition, in FIGS. 7 to 10, a plurality of parallel arrows schematically indicate external light.
The GPS sensor 13A is composed of a known GPS receiver, receives information from GPS satellites (not shown), and calculates the current position (detailed latitude and longitude) of the vehicle 3 provided with the GPS sensor 13A. It is configured in. The GPS sensor 13A may be of any known method as long as the current position of the vehicle 3 can be grasped based on the information from the GPS satellite.

The incident direction detection unit 14 detects the direction in which the vehicle 3 faces by a known method based on the information on the current position of the vehicle 3 monitored by the GPS sensor 13A. That is, the incident direction detection unit 14 continuously detects the current position of the vehicle 3 by the GPS sensor 13A, and continuously detects the direction in which the vehicle 3 faces based on the information of the current position detected in this way. to continue. Further, the incident direction detection unit 14 has a clock function and a calendar function so that the date and time can be specified, and the sun when the vehicle 3 is used as a reference based on the date and time. Identify the orientation of.

The incident direction detection unit 14 specifies the direction in which the vehicle 3 faces and the direction of the sun with respect to the vehicle 3 in this way, and then the incident direction of the external light with respect to the vehicle 3, that is, the incident of sunlight with respect to the vehicle 3. Specify the direction. The "direction of light incident on the vehicle 3" as used herein means the direction of sunlight entering the vehicle 3 when there is no obstacle that blocks the sunlight around the vehicle 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the angle (clockwise) between the reference direction (direction Ff, which is the front direction of the vehicle in FIG. 11) and the direction of the sun (direction Fs1 in FIG. 10) when viewed from the reference position Bp. It is an angle when the direction is a positive direction, and in FIG. 10, the angle θ1) can be set as the “direction of incidence of sunlight on the vehicle 3”.

In this way, the incident direction detection unit 14 acquires the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light based on the data obtained by the GPS sensor 13A. The incident direction detection unit 14 also functions as an incident direction information acquisition unit. The incident direction detection unit 14 transmits the acquired incident direction information to the determination unit 18.

In the above-mentioned representative example, the horizontal direction θ1 of the sunlight entering the vehicle 3 is specified without considering the altitude of the sun, but the height direction is considered in consideration of the altitude of the sun. The orientation may also be specified.

The seat position detection sensor 13B detects the rotation position data (rotation position information) of the seat SS1 and the slide position data (slide position information) of the seat SS1. The seat position detection sensor 13B is installed in each seat SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4.

Hereinafter, the sheet SS1 will be specifically described. The same applies to the other sheets SS2, SS3, and SS4. The rotation position data of the seat SS1 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the angle between the direction Ff which is the front direction of the vehicle 3 and the direction Sf which is the front direction of the seat (when the clockwise direction is the positive direction). In FIG. 11, it can be used as data relating to the angle θ2). As shown in FIG. 12, the slide position data of the seat SS1 can be, for example, a moving distance in the vehicle front-rear direction from the reference position Bp of the seat SS1 (for example, L mm in the front and L mm in the rear). In FIG. 12, the case of “Lmm backward” is illustrated.
The rotation position data of the seat SS1 and the slide position data of the seat SS1 may be acquired by measuring the position of the seat SS1 with a displacement sensor such as an encoder, or the operation of a seat moving device such as a motor for driving the seat SS1. It may be obtained from the amount, time, applied load amount, and the like.

The occupant position estimation unit 16 identifies the position of the seat SS1 from the rotation position data and the slide position data of the seat SS1 on which the occupant M is seated, and estimates the occupant position from the position of the seat SS1. In estimating the occupant position, the occupant position is estimated assuming that the occupant M is seated in a normal posture with respect to the seat SS1. For example, the occupant M can estimate the occupant position assuming that the occupant M is seated on the seat SS1 and fastened with a seat belt.

In this way, the occupant position estimation unit 16 acquires the position information regarding the occupant position based on the rotation position data obtained by the seat position detection sensor 13B and the slide position data. The occupant position estimation unit 16 also functions as a unit for acquiring position information regarding the occupant position. The occupant position estimation unit 16 transmits the position information regarding the occupant position to the determination unit 18.

The solar radiation amount detection sensor 13C (illuminance sensor) detects the amount of solar radiation that reaches the room of the vehicle 3, and is provided at an appropriate position inside or outside the vehicle 3.
The solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20 acquires solar radiation amount information regarding the solar radiation amount based on the data detected by the solar radiation amount detection sensor 13C. The solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20 transmits the acquired solar radiation amount information to the determination unit 18.

The determination unit 18 determines whether the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M based on the incident direction information of the external light transmitted from the incident direction detection unit 14 and the position information regarding the occupant position transmitted from the occupant position estimation unit 16. Judge whether or not. Here, "external light is incident from the front of the occupant M" means that the external light is incident from a range of 180 ° from 90 ° on the right side to 90 ° on the left side with respect to the MF in the front direction of the occupant M. Means that is incident. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, since the external light is incident on the occupant M from 45 ° on the left side with respect to the front direction MF, in this case, when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M. Equivalent to. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 7, since the external light is incident on the occupant M from 135 ° on the right side with respect to the front direction MF, in this case, when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M. Not equivalent.

At the time of determination, the determination unit 18 determines the information on the installation position of the incident portion 5 (window) in the vehicle 3, the information on the size of the incident portion 5 (window), and the installation position of the pillar between the incident portions 5 (between windows). It is desirable to specify the incident range of external light in consideration of at least one of the information and the information on the size of the pillars between the incident portions 5 (between windows).

The determination unit 18 determines whether or not the amount of solar radiation exceeds a predetermined value (threshold value) determined in advance based on the amount of solar radiation information transmitted from the solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20.
When the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M (in the case of FIGS. 8 and 9) and the amount of solar radiation exceeds a predetermined value, the determination unit 18 determines that shading is required. The determination result of is notified to the transmittance control unit 22 (transmittance adjustment unit).
When the transmittance control unit 22 receives a determination result from the determination unit 18 that light shielding is necessary, the transmittance control unit 22 of the dimming member 7 reduces the external light that hits the occupant M. Control the transmittance. Specifically, the transmittance of the dimming member 7 is made lower than the current state.

The transmittance control unit 22 has a function of controlling the transmittance of the dimming member 7. The transmittance is controlled by the transmittance control unit 22 as follows, for example.
When the dimming member 7 is not divided into a plurality of portions 41, the transmittance control unit 22 controls so that the overall transmittance of the dimming member 7 is changed. For example, the transmittance of visible light (for example, wavelength 380 nm to 750 nm) of the dimming member 7 is adjusted within the first range (for example, 0 to 30%).
When the dimming member 7 is divided into a plurality of portions 41, the transmittance control unit 22 determines a light-shielding portion to be shielded from light and a non-light-shielding portion to be shielded from the plurality of portions 41, and determines the light-shielding portion Adjust the transmittance of. When adjusting the transmittance in two stages, the transmittance of the light-shielding portion is adjusted within the first range, and the transmittance of the non-light-shielding portion is adjusted within the second range. For example, the transmittance of visible light (for example, wavelength 380 nm to 750 nm) in the light-shielded portion is adjusted within the first range (for example, 0 to 30%), and the transmittance of visible light in the non-light-shielded portion is within the second range (for example, 70). ~ 100%). When adjusting in two steps in this way, the first range, which is the transmittance of visible light in the light-shielding portion, is smaller than the second range, which is the transmittance of visible light in the non-light-shielding portion (first range <second range). ). The example of adjusting to two stages described here is just an example, and the transmittance of the light-shielding portion may be changed in multiple stages of two or more stages or continuously by changing the potential difference between the electrodes. ..

The term "light shielding" as used herein includes not only completely blocking light but also weakening the transmission of light.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the vehicle dimming system 1. This operation program is stored in a ROM or the like in the control unit 11 and is executed by the CPU. When the CPU executes the operation program, the control unit 11 functions as an incident direction detection unit 14, an occupant position estimation unit 16, a determination unit 18, a solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20, and a transmittance control unit 22.
In step S1, the incident direction detection unit 14 acquires the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light based on the data obtained by the GPS sensor 13A, and transmits the acquired incident direction information to the determination unit 18.
In step S2, the occupant position estimation unit 16 acquires the position information regarding the occupant position and transmits the acquired position information regarding the occupant position to the determination unit 18.
In step S3, the solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20 acquires the solar radiation amount information regarding the solar radiation amount based on the data detected by the solar radiation amount detection sensor 13C, and transmits the acquired solar radiation amount information to the determination unit 18.
In step S4, the determination unit 18 receives the external light from the front of the occupant M based on the incident direction information of the external light transmitted from the incident direction detection unit 14 and the position information regarding the occupant position transmitted from the occupant position estimation unit 16. Determines whether or not is incident. When external light is incident from the front of the occupant M (in the case of FIGS. 8 and 9), the process proceeds to step S5. When no external light is incident from the front of the occupant M (in the case of FIG. 7), the process returns to step S1.
In step S5, the determination unit 18 determines whether or not the amount of solar radiation exceeds a predetermined value (threshold value) set in advance. If the amount of solar radiation exceeds a predetermined value (threshold value), the process proceeds to step S6. If the amount of solar radiation does not exceed a predetermined value (threshold value), the process returns to step S1.
In step S6, the transmittance control unit 22 lowers the transmittance of the dimming member 7 so as to reduce the external light that hits the occupant M (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

In the vehicle dimming system 1 of the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M based on the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light and the position information regarding the occupant position. Then, when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M, the transmittance of the dimming member 7 is controlled so that the external light hitting the occupant M is reduced, so that the dimming can be appropriately performed according to the state of the occupant M. ..

For example, a case where the incident direction of the external light is obliquely backward 45 ° will be specifically described. Since the occupant M in FIG. 7 is facing forward, it is not dazzling. However, since the occupant M in FIG. 8 is facing backward, it is dazzling. In the conventional technique, the dimming is performed without considering the position information of the occupant M, so that the dimming cannot be performed appropriately in the case of FIG. In the present embodiment, in the case of FIG. 8, it is determined that the external light is incident from the front of the occupant M, and the transmittance of the dimming member 7 can be reduced. That is, since the position such as the direction of the occupant M is detected in the vehicle 3 and the dimming member 7 is automatically adjusted, the optimum dimming state is maintained even when the seat SS1 is turned backward. Can be done.

In the vehicle dimming system 1 of the present embodiment, since the occupant position is estimated based on the rotation position information of the seat SS1, it is easy to estimate the direction of the occupant M.

In the vehicle dimming system 1 of the present embodiment, since the occupant position is estimated based on the slide position information of the seat SS1, the position of the occupant M can be easily estimated.

In the vehicle dimming system 1 of the present embodiment, the transmittance of the dimming member 7 is adjusted based on the solar radiation amount information acquired by the solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 20, so that the vehicle 3 changes every moment. The transmittance of the dimming member 7 can be adjusted according to the situation.

The examples described above or below are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Although the present invention has been described with reference to typical embodiments, the language used in the description and illustration of the invention is understood to be descriptive and exemplary rather than restrictive. As described in detail here, modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the scope or nature of the invention in that form. Although specific structures, materials and examples have been referred to herein in detail of the invention, it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosures herein, but rather the invention is claimed in the accompanying claims. It shall cover all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses within the scope.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various modifications or modifications can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.
(1) Examples of vehicles include vehicles (automobiles), trains, amusement vehicles, airplanes, helicopters, ships, and submersibles.
(2) In the above embodiment, the example in which the solar radiation amount detection sensor 13C is arranged in each window is shown, but the arrangement place of the solar radiation amount detection sensor 13C is not particularly limited. Further, the number of solar radiation detection sensors 13C is not particularly limited.
(3) In the above embodiment, an example in which only the dimming member 7 of a specific window is dimmed is shown, but the dimming member 7 of a plurality of windows may be dimmed. For example, FIG. 8 shows an example in which only the dimming member 7A of the front seat side window 5A existing on the side of the occupant M is dimmed, but not only the dimming member 7A of the front seat side window 5A but also the rear The transmittance of the dimming member 7B of the seat side window 5B may be controlled.
(4) In the above embodiment, an example of reducing the external light hitting the occupant M seated on the seat SS1 has been described, but the vehicle dimming system 1 is similarly applied to the occupants seated on other seats. it can.

1 ... Vehicle dimming system 3 ... Vehicle 5 ... Incident part 5A ... Front seat side window 5B ... Rear seat side window 5C ... Front seat side window 5D ... Rear seat side window 5E ... Front window 5F ... Rear window 7 ... Dimming Member 11 ... Control unit 13A ... GPS sensor 13B ... Seat position detection sensor 13C ... Solar radiation amount detection sensor 14 ... Incident direction detection unit 16 ... Crew position estimation unit 18 ... Judgment unit 20 ... Solar radiation amount information acquisition unit 21 ... First electrode 22 ... Transmittance control unit 23 ... Second electrode 25 ... Dimming film 41 ... Part Bp ... Reference position Ff ... Vehicle front direction Fs1 ... Sun direction M ... Crew MF ... Crew front direction SS1 ... Seat SS2 ... Seat SS3 ... Sheet SS4 ... Sheet Sf ... Seat front direction

Claims (3)

It is a dimming system for vehicles mounted on vehicles.
A dimming member arranged at the incident part where external light is incident,
An incident direction detection unit that detects the incident direction of the external light, and
The occupant position estimation unit that estimates the occupant position of the occupant seated on the seat,
A determination unit for determining whether or not the external light is incident from the front of the occupant based on the incident direction information regarding the incident direction of the external light and the estimated position information regarding the occupant position.
A transmittance control unit that controls the transmittance of the dimming member so that the external light that hits the occupant is reduced when the external light is incident from the front of the occupant.
A dimming system for vehicles. On the vehicle floor, the seat is rotatably supported within a range from a front facing state to a rear facing state.
The vehicle dimming system according to claim 1, wherein the occupant position estimation unit estimates the occupant position based on the rotation position information of the seat on which the occupant is seated. On the vehicle floor, the seat is slidably supported within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
The vehicle dimming system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the occupant position estimation unit estimates the occupant position based on the slide position information of the seat.

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