JPH0738906Y2 - Automatic control device for EC anti-glare mirror for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an antiglare mirror for an automobile, and in particular, is an EC type antiglare mirror automatic control device improved so as to appropriately control changes in reflectance. It is about.

[Conventional technology]

Mirrors for automobiles (inside mirror, outside mirror, door mirror) are indispensable for checking the rear view and driving safely, but when strong light such as the light of the following vehicle is reflected, It causes a hindrance.

In order to reduce this glare, it is effective to reduce the reflectance of the mirror at night.

For this purpose, an antiglare mirror having a structure that can be adjusted to increase or decrease the reflectance is used.

Generally, prism type anti-glare mirrors and liquid crystal type anti-glare mirrors have been put to practical use, and EC type anti-glare mirrors utilizing electrochromism (hereinafter abbreviated as EC) have been developed and put to practical use. I am trying.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a cross section of an EC type anti-glare mirror, the thickness dimension of which is enlarged for convenience of reading, and the right side of the drawing is the rear surface of the mirror.

A transparent conductive layer 2 is provided as a first electrode on the glass substrate 1. As a material, for example, ITO (indium tin tin
Oxide) and SnO ₂ are used.

Furthermore, EC colored by a reduction reaction (for example, WO
₃ , M ₀ O ₃ ) first EC layer 3, electrolyte layer (eg Ta ₂ O ₅ , ZrO ₂ , S
iO ₂ ) 4, EC colored by oxidation reaction (eg Cr ₂ O ₃ , N
iO, IrO ₂ ) second EC layer 5, second electrode / reflection layer (materials are Al, A
6) are sequentially layered, and an electrically insulating protective layer 7 is covered thereover. Note that the above 1st EC material and 2nd EC
It may be configured by replacing the material of.

Between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 6, the DC voltage (0.5
(Approx. ~ 2.0V) and switch the polarity,
Electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions occur in the second EC layer,
The first EC layer 3 and the second EC layer 5 are colored or erased.

Due to the coloring and decoloring, the absorptance of passing light changes, and the reflectance changes when the function as a mirror is examined.

When the EC anti-glare mechanism configured as described above is applied to a rearview mirror for an automobile, it is mainly required at night.

Considering further in detail, it is desirable that the EC anti-glare mirror is decolored during normal nighttime driving to increase the reflectance and brighten the rear view reflected on the mirror.

Then, when the light of the following vehicle is reflected by the mirror and enters the rear view, and the driver's car feels dazzling, the EC anti-glare mirror is colored to reduce the reflectance and darken the rear view reflected on the mirror. Is desirable.

Based on these requirements, EC anti-glare mirrors having an automatic control device as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 have been developed.

FIG. 6 is a front view and FIG. 7 is a rear view.

The EC anti-glare mirror body 8 having the configuration described with reference to FIG. 5 is supported by the stay 10 via the mirror body 9.

An ambient brightness sensor 11 is provided on the back side and a following vehicle light sensor 12 is provided on the front side (the side facing the driver).

The VV cross section shown in FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8, and the VI-VI cross section is shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an electronic circuit board connected to the ambient brightness sensor 11 and the following vehicle light sensor 12, which is installed in the mirror body 9.

The ambient brightness sensor 11 detects the luminosity of the outside scene through the windshield of the automobile and outputs the luminosity level signal to the electronic circuit board 13
To a control circuit (not shown) provided in the.

The control circuit determines whether daytime or nighttime is determined from the brightness of the outside scene, and operates so as not to apply a voltage in the coloring direction to the EC antiglare mirror body during the daytime.

Then, when it is determined that it is nighttime, the EC anti-glare mirror main body operates so that the coloring direction voltage or the erasing direction voltage can be applied.

When it is determined that the vehicle is at night, the following vehicle light sensor 12 automatically controls the vehicle.

However, a switch 14 for switching operation shown in FIG. 6 is provided so that automatic control and manual operation can be switched. 15 is an adjusting lever.

The EC anti-glare mirror main body 8 increases the coloring degree when a voltage is applied in the coloring direction, and decreases the coloring degree when a voltage is applied in the erasing direction.

Further, when the degree of coloring is at a certain level, if the connection with the power source is cut off so as to prevent leakage, the degree of coloring at that time is maintained.

The following vehicle light sensor 12 and the ambient brightness sensor 11
Are connected as shown in FIG. That is, the switch (A) 22, the switch (B) 23, and the switch (C) 24 are provided between the EC anti-glare mirror body 8 and the driving power supply circuit 21.
And are connected in series.

Of the above three types of switches, the switch (A) 22 is controlled by the ambient brightness sensor 11 via the amplifier circuit 28 and the discrimination circuit 29, and detects a state requiring EC antiglare effect (for example, at night). It will be closed when you do. This switch (A)
When the switch 22 is opened, the DC power of the drive circuit 21 is not applied to the EC anti-glare mirror body 8 regardless of whether the other switches (23, 24) are open or closed.

Therefore, the antiglare mirror main body 8 is not colored on a general daytime road.

The regulator 30 of the discriminating circuit 29 can be arbitrarily adjusted as to how many luxes or less the ambient brightness makes the anti-glare mirror operable.

Thus, the following vehicle light sensor 12 is connected to the discrimination circuit 26 via the amplification circuit 25.

The discrimination circuit 26 controls the single-pole single-throw switch (B) 23 and the double-pole double-throw switch (C) 24 based on the output signal of the vehicle light sensor 12.

When the switch (C) 24 is turned on to the contact A'side,
The EC anti-glare mirror main body 8 is wired so that a voltage in the coloring direction is applied and a voltage in the erasing direction is applied when the contact B'is conducted.

Now, assuming that the driver is traveling at night, the switch (A) 22 is closed.

Then, it is assumed that the driver operates the regulator 27 of the determination circuit 26 to adjust the desired illuminance to, for example, 5 lux.

In this case, the switch (B) 23 is for the following vehicle light sensor 12
When the received light is 5 lux + α lux or more, and 5
It is controlled so that it is closed when it is less than or equal to lux-α lux and opens between 5 lux-α lux or 5 lux + α lux.

When the light from the following vehicle enters the EC anti-glare mirror body 8, the following vehicle light sensor 12 also receives the light from the following vehicle.

In this way, the following vehicle light sensor 12 receives a light amount proportional to the light amount entering the eyes of the driver.

When the following vehicle light sensor 12 detects 5 lux or more, the switch (C) 24 is switched to the coloring side by the control operation of the determination circuit 26.

At this time, if it is 5 lux + α lux or more, the switch (B) 23 is closed, so the EC anti-glare mirror body 8
A voltage in the coloring direction is applied to the EC anti-glare mirror main body 8 to reduce its reflectance.

In this way, when the light entering the eyes of the driver and the light received by the following vehicle light sensor 12 are reduced to less than 5 lux + α lux, the switch (C) 24 remains switched to the contact A ′ side (colored side), The switch (B) 23 is opened, the EC anti-glare mirror main body 8 is disconnected from the drive circuit, and the colored state (reflectance) is maintained as it is.

Switch (C) when the following car light is less than 5 lux
24 is switched to contact B '(decoloring side).

Further, when it becomes 5 lux-α lux or less, the switch (B) 23 is closed and a voltage in the erasing direction is applied to the EC anti-glare mirror main body 8, and the EC anti-glare mirror restores the reflectance by the erasing reaction.

After exemplifying the above, the reason why the inactive region of ± α looks is provided is to prevent chattering of the switch.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

As described above, the conventional automatic control device for the EC anti-glare mirror for automobiles detects the ambient brightness and the light amount of the light of the following vehicle, and the anti-glare mirror body is colored or erased at the illuminance set by the driver. And has the function of changing the reflectance.

However, in an actual driving state, there is a problem of a dark obstacle (which means a road object that does not emit light) as described below. That is, objects on the road such as pedestrians, bicycles, carts, baby carriages, objects left on the road, objects installed on the road, etc., become invisible when the reflectance of the antiglare mirror is lowered.

Therefore, in the automatic control device for the EC anti-glare mirror for automobiles of the conventional example, the anti-glare mirror is colored to such an extent that the light of the following vehicle is not dazzled regardless of the presence or absence of a road object that does not emit light (reflectance The reality is that it is used without lowering.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when a roadside object that emits no light to the side or rear of a vehicle exists in a dangerous range, the roadside object can be detected even if the light of the following vehicle is strong. Automatic control device that erases the antiglare mirror body to the extent that it can be visually recognized (increases the reflectance) and colors the antiglare mirror according to the light of the following vehicle when there is no on-road object in the dangerous range The purpose is to provide.

In the present invention, the term "side to rear" refers to a range shown by hatching in FIG. 11, and does not include a separated area that may not come into contact with the own vehicle.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transparent conductive layer as a first electrode provided on a glass substrate, a first EC layer that changes a color tone according to an electrochemical redox reaction, an electrolyte layer, and an electrical layer. Second E that changes color tone by chemical reductive oxidation reaction
An EC type anti-glare mirror for an automobile, in which a C layer, a conductive layer as a second electrode, and an engineering reflection surface are sequentially layered, which comprises an optical sensor installed facing the end face of the glass substrate. A vehicle light sensor, a drive power supply circuit for applying a DC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, a switch interposed in the drive power supply circuit, and a following vehicle light sensor including the optical sensor. Output from the vehicle and comparing the level of the above output with a preset value to activate the switch, a non-contact object on the side or rear of the vehicle Is provided with an obstacle sensor that detects the target signal, and the determination circuit, when the output signal of the obstacle sensor is input, the first EC layer and the second EC layer in the direction to decolor the switch. Activate And characterized in that having a function of.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, the obstacle sensor does not emit an obstacle detection signal unless there is a dark obstacle in the dangerous area.
As in the conventional example shown in the figure, the anti-glare mirror automatic control based on the ambient brightness sensor and the following vehicle light sensor is performed.

Further, when a dark obstacle is detected within the danger range, the anti-glare mirror is controlled to weaken the coloring (in the direction of increasing the reflectance) even if the light of the following vehicle is detected. Will be visible.

The above-mentioned risk range can be arbitrarily determined by design.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified embodiment of the present invention.

The left mirror 8 _L and the right mirror 8 _R each include an ambient brightness sensor 11 and a following vehicle light sensor 12, and further include a side obstacle sensor 41 and a rear obstacle sensor 42.

In implementing the present invention, a well-known non-contact type sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor may be appropriately selected and used as the lateral and rear obstacle sensors.

The output signals of these sensors are input to the discrimination circuit 43, and the discrimination circuit 43 connects the drive power source 44 to the anti-glare mirrors 8 _L and 8 _R (voltage application in the coloring direction, voltage application in the erasing direction).
Is controlled.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of the side obstacle sensor 41 and the rear obstacle sensor 42.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the relationship between the signal level of the obstacle sensor and the voltage applied to the antiglare mirror.

This chart shows the following situations.

As the sensor signal level, a discrimination level / high H and a discrimination level low / L are predetermined.

When the signal output S _L of the obstacle sensor attached to the left mirror exceeds the discrimination level / low L, the applied voltage curve V _L of the left mirror becomes V _{1 in the} erasing direction.

Also, the signal output of the obstacle sensor attached to the right mirror
When S _R exceeds the discrimination level / high H, the applied voltage curve V _R of the right mirror becomes V _{2 in the} erasing direction.

However, | V ₂ |> | V ₁ |.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing an example of the operation of the above embodiment, in which the vertical axis represents the reflectance of the antiglare mirror and the horizontal axis represents time.

At time t ₀ , the ambient brightness sensor 11 detects that it is nighttime, but the following vehicle light sensor 12 does not detect the light from the following vehicle, so the reflectance is at the clear visual level.

At time t _1, the following vehicle light is detected, anti-glare mirror becomes Tsuyobo glare state (strong coloration and low reflectance).

At time t ₂ , the obstacle detection signal of the discrimination level / high is input to the discrimination circuit, and the antiglare mirror is in the weak antiglare state (weakly colored / slightly high reflectance).

As a result, the light of the following vehicle is slightly dazzling, but the dark obstacle can be visually recognized.

At time t ₃ , the obstacle detection signal of the discrimination level / high / H disappears, and the state returns to the strong anti-glare state.

The following vehicle lights will not detect at time t _4, returns to the clear viewing level, detects a following vehicle light at time t _5, the re Tsuyobo dazzling state.

At time t ₆ , the obstacle sensor signal of the discrimination level / low L is input, and the state becomes the middle anti-glare state (medium coloring / medium reflectance).

At time t ₇ , the discrimination level / low L has not disappeared, but since the incidence of the following vehicle light has disappeared, it is restored to the clear level.

In this embodiment, as described above, when the obstacle detection signal is input, the anti-glare mirror is automatically controlled so as to be biased in the erasing direction, which is convenient for visually recognizing the dark obstacle and is effective for traffic safety. is there. In addition, when no dark obstacle is detected, the light sensor 12 and the ambient brightness sensor 11 of the following vehicle automatically control the anti-glare state, so that the driver of the following vehicle is not dazzled to drive safely. Can be done.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the device of the present invention, when an on-road object that does not emit light is present within the danger range, the anti-glare mirror can be visually recognized even if the light of the following vehicle is strong. The main body is decolorized (increased reflectance), and when there is no roadside object that does not emit light within the dangerous range, the anti-glare mirror can be automatically and properly colored according to the light and surrounding brightness of the following vehicle. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of sensors,
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are also explanatory views of the operation. FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining the structural function of the EC anti-glare mirror. 6 to 10 show a conventional example, FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIG. 7 is a rear view. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VV shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is the same.
VI-VI sectional view, FIG. 10 is a block diagram. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a problem in the conventional technique. 1 ... Glass substrate, 6 ... Reflecting layer and second electrode, 8 ... EC
Main body of anti-glare mirror, 11 ... Ambient brightness sensor, 12 ... Light sensor of following vehicle, 13 ... Electronic circuit board, 41, 42 ... Obstacle sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A transparent conductive layer as a first electrode provided on a glass substrate, a first EC layer that changes a color tone in accordance with an electrochemical redox reaction, an electrolyte layer, and a color tone by an electrochemical redox reaction. For an automobile in which a second EC layer for changing the light emission, a conductive layer as a second electrode and an optical reflection surface are sequentially laminated.
An EC type anti-glare mirror, which is a following vehicle light sensor including an optical sensor installed facing the end face of the glass substrate, and a drive power supply circuit for applying a DC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. A switch connected in the driving power supply circuit, and the output of the following vehicle light sensor composed of the optical sensor is input, and the level of the output is compared with a preset value, and the switch is connected. An obstacle sensor for non-contactly detecting an object existing on the side or rear of the vehicle, and the discrimination circuit is a vehicle for detecting the obstacle. The automatic control of the EC anti-glare mirror for automobiles, characterized in that it has a function of operating the switch in a direction of erasing the first EC layer and the second EC layer when an output signal of apparatus.