WO2014084064A1

WO2014084064A1 - Automobile light amount adjustor

Info

Publication number: WO2014084064A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/080881
Authority: WO
Inventors: 頼宣前田; 直樹照田; 勉家木; 恭樹馬渕; 矢地　兼雄; 克也今川; 加藤　千晴; 聡稲泉; 誠一松本
Original assignee: 株式会社村田製作所
Priority date: 2012-11-28
Filing date: 2013-11-15
Publication date: 2014-06-05

Abstract

Provided is an automobile light amount adjustor that can adjust the amount of light in a front glass or a room mirror of an automobile. A front glass (12) of an automobile (10) is fitted with an automobile light amount adjustor (20). The automobile light amount adjustor (20) includes an electrochromic layer (22) whose transmissivity can be variably controlled in a range from a transmitting state to a mirror-surface state. The electrochromic layer (22) is disposed on a surface, particularly the entire surface of an inner surface, of the front glass (12). The electrochromic layer (22) is divided into two portions in a left/right direction and three portions in an upper/lower direction, to a total of six portions (22a to 22f).

Description

Light intensity controller for automobiles

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile light amount adjuster, and more particularly to an automobile light amount adjuster that adjusts the amount of light such as incident light and reflected light in an automobile windshield and a room mirror.

An example of a conventional automotive electrochromic variable reflectivity mirror as the background of the present invention is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-185030 (Patent Document 1). This variable reflectivity mirror applies electrochromic.

JP 2004-185030 A

The electrochromic variable reflectivity mirror for automobiles disclosed in Patent Document 1 is related to an invention whose main purpose is to provide a lightweight electrochromic mirror, but its application is anti-glare against light from the rear. It has the problem of being limited.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an automobile light amount adjuster that can adjust the amount of light in an automobile windshield or a room mirror.

A vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention is a vehicle light amount adjuster provided on at least one of a front glass of a vehicle and the front and surroundings of a vehicle rearview mirror, and transmits light in a range from a transmission state to a mirror surface state. It is the light quantity controller for motor vehicles containing the electrochromic layer which can variably control a rate.
In the vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least in the upper part of, for example, at least one of the front windshield of the automobile and the front and surroundings of the rear mirror of the automobile, It may be divided into two parts.
Moreover, in the vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least on the windshield of the vehicle, and includes an incident angle recognition sensor for recognizing the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the vehicle. Based on the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the automobile recognized by the above, it may have a function of designating a portion that becomes a mirror state in the electrochromic layer disposed on the windshield of the automobile.
Furthermore, in the light amount adjuster for an automobile according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least on the front side and the periphery of the automobile rearview mirror, and is incorporated into the front side and / or the rear side of the automobile rearview mirror. A sensor may be included.

In the automobile light amount adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer disposed on the front and the periphery of the automobile windshield and the automobile rearview mirror can variably control the transmittance in the range from the transmission state to the mirror state. For example, the amount of incident / reflected light and the amount of reflected light in the windshield and the rear mirror can be adjusted. For example, by setting the electrochromic layer in a transmissive state, light can be transmitted as a transmissive mode, and by setting the electrochromic layer in a mirror state, light can be reflected as a reflective mode, and the electrochromic layer can be transmissive. In addition, the transmittance of the electrochromic layer can be changed between the transmittance in the transmissive state and the transmittance in the mirror surface state as an anti-glare mode for preventing glare of light by setting the intermediate state between the mirror state.
Furthermore, in the vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention, if the electrochromic layer disposed in front and around the vehicle rearview mirror is in a mirror state, the rear view of the vehicle can be viewed by the electrochromic layer compared to the rearview mirror. It can be secured sufficiently.
In the vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least in the upper part of, for example, at least one of the front windshield of the automobile and the front and surroundings of the rear mirror of the automobile, It may be divided into two parts. If the light amount adjuster for an automobile is configured in this way, the state of the electrochromic layer in the range from the transmissive state to the mirror surface state is changed in at least one of the front windshield of the automobile and the front and surroundings of the automobile rearview mirror. It can be partially different in the direction and the vertical direction.
Furthermore, in the vehicle light amount adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least on the windshield of the vehicle, and includes an incident angle recognition sensor for recognizing the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the vehicle. Based on the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the automobile recognized by the above, it has the function of designating the part to be mirrored in the electrochromic layer arranged on the windshield of the automobile, Sunlight can be optimally reflected, and an optimal antiglare effect that prevents glare from sunlight during the day can be obtained.
In the automotive light quantity adjuster according to the present invention, the electrochromic layer is disposed at least on the front surface and the periphery of the automobile rearview mirror, and is incorporated in the front side and / or the rear side of the automobile rearview mirror. When the sensor is included, it is prevented by an electrochromic layer placed around the rearview mirror based on the intensity of light from the sun on the windshield detected by the light intensity detection sensor built into the rear side of the rearview mirror of the car. A dazzling effect can be obtained, and it is arranged on the front and surrounding of the rearview mirror based on the light intensity of the headlight of the following vehicle detected by the light intensity detection sensor built in the front side of the rearview mirror of the car An anti-glare effect can be obtained by the electrochromic layer.

According to the present invention, there is obtained an automobile light amount adjuster capable of adjusting the amount of light such as incident reflection or reflected light in an automobile windshield or a rearview mirror.

The above-mentioned object, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments for carrying out the invention with reference to the drawings.

It is a partial solution figure of the motor vehicle which used the light quantity controller for motor vehicles concerning this invention for the windshield. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the transmission mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the glare-proof mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows the other example of the glare-proof mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the reflection mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is a partial illustration figure of the motor vehicle which used the light quantity controller for motor vehicles concerning this invention for the room mirror. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the transmission mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the glare-proof mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows an example in the reflection mode of the light quantity controller for motor vehicles shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of an automobile using the automobile light amount adjuster according to the present invention on a windshield.

1 includes a windshield 12 and a rearview mirror 14 disposed behind the windshield 12.

An automobile light amount adjuster 20 is provided on the windshield 12 of the automobile 10. The automotive light amount adjuster 20 includes an electrochromic layer 22 that can variably control the transmittance in a range from a transmission state to a mirror surface state. The electrochromic layer 22 is disposed on the entire surface of the windshield 12, particularly the inner surface.

The electrochromic layer 22 described above is produced as follows.
That is, as the material of the electrochromic layer 22, AgNO ₃ (silver nitrate) is prepared at a concentration of 50 mM, TBABr (tetrabutylammonium bromide) is prepared as a supporting electrolyte at a concentration of 250 mM, and CuCl ₂ (copper (II) chloride) is prepared as a mediator at a concentration of 10 mM. An electrochromic solution is prepared by dissolving them in DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). And gel electrolyte is prepared by adding polyvinyl butyral (10 wt%) as a gelling agent to this electrochromic solution. The electrochromic layer 22 is produced by producing a bipolar cell by sandwiching the prepared gel electrolyte between a smooth ITO electrode (working electrode) and an ITO particle-modified electrode (counter electrode) via a 500 μm spacer. The That is, the electrochromic layer 22 is an electrolytic deposition type.
In the electrochromic layer 22, the transmittance can be variably controlled in the range from the transmission state to the specular state by changing the magnitude of the DC voltage applied between the working electrode and the counter electrode.
The electrochromic layer 22 is not a colored type but a reflective type, and the transmittance or reflectance can be arbitrarily changed by arbitrarily changing the potential of the working electrode with respect to the counter electrode.
The electrochromic layer 22 may be a film such as PET or PEN and glass as a base material.
Note that the electrochromic layer 22 may be incorporated in glass.

The electrochromic layer 22 is disposed, for example, on the entire surface including the upper part of the windshield 12, and is divided into two parts in the left-right direction and into three parts in the up-down direction. In particular, as shown in FIG. Divided into

portions

22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f. Each of these portions 22a to 22f can variably control the transmittance in the range from the transmission state to the specular state.

A controller (not shown) is electrically connected to the electrochromic layer 22. This control unit is for variably controlling the transmittance of each of the six portions 22a to 22f of the electrochromic layer 22 in the range from the transmission state to the specular state. The counter electrode and the working electrode of these portions 22a to 22f Is electrically connected. By this control unit, the potential of the working electrode with respect to the counter electrode of the portions 22a to 22f of the electrochromic layer 22 can be individually controlled, and the portions 22a to 22f can be individually transmitted in the range from the transmission state to the specular state. The rate can be variably controlled.

In this automobile 10, the automobile light quantity adjuster 20 can be controlled to the following three modes: a transmission mode, an antiglare mode, and a reflection mode.

[Transparent mode]
The vehicle light amount adjuster 20 is an electrochromic disposed on the entire surface of the windshield 12 in order to ensure visibility during driving and driving when the anti-glare effect and the reflection effect are not required during driving and driving. The current is not passed through the layer 22 and is used in a transmission mode that is a transmission state in which the transmittance of the electrochromic layer 22 is increased. In this transmission mode, as shown in FIG. 2, the windshield 12 and the electrochromic layer 22 are in a transparent state and do not block the field of view during driving and driving.

[Anti-glare mode]
The vehicle light amount adjuster 20 sends current to, for example, the

upper portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 disposed on the entire surface of the windshield 12 during the day when an antiglare effect is required against sunlight. The anti-glare mode is an anti-glare state in which the transmittance of the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 is arbitrarily controlled. In this anti-glare mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 have low transmittance, and an optimal anti-glare effect can be obtained. In order to obtain such an antiglare effect, the electrochromic layer 22 may be disposed on the side glass or rear glass of the automobile 10 in addition to the windshield 12 of the automobile 10.

In addition, when the sun is slightly lowered, the automobile light amount adjuster 20 causes a current to flow through, for example, the upper and

middle portions

22a, 22b, 22c and 22d of the electrochromic layer 22, and the portion 22a of the electrochromic layer 22 It is used in an anti-glare mode which is an anti-glare state in which the transmittances of 22b, 22c and 22d are arbitrarily controlled. In this case, in the anti-glare mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the

portions

22a, 22b, 22c and 22d of the electrochromic layer 22 have low transmittance, and an optimal anti-glare effect can be obtained.

Note that an incident angle recognition sensor for recognizing the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the automobile 10 may be incorporated in the control system in the automobile light amount adjuster 20. In this case, if the specular portion of the electrochromic layer 22 is specified based on the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the automobile 10 recognized by the incident angle recognition sensor, the reflectivity is increased from the top to an arbitrary position in the electrochromic layer 22. It can be raised to a mirror state, the sunlight can be optimally reflected by the part of the electrochromic layer 22 that has become a mirror surface state, and an optimal anti-glare effect is obtained to prevent glare from sunlight during the day. be able to.

[Reflection mode]
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the automobile light quantity adjuster 20 can be used in a reflection mode if a current is applied to the electrochromic layer 22 disposed on the entire surface of the windshield 12 to bring it into a mirror state. The inside sunlight can be reflected, and the temperature rise in the automobile due to sunlight can be effectively prevented.

In addition, although the electrochromic layer 22 becomes a mirror surface state by applying a voltage thereto, there is a phenomenon that the mirror surface state is maintained for a while after the application of the voltage is stopped. Therefore, by utilizing this phenomenon, the mirror surface state of the electrochromic layer 22 can be maintained not by always energizing the electrochromic layer 22 but also by energizing intermittently.

In this automobile light amount adjuster 20, the electrochromic layer 22 disposed on the surface of the windshield 12 of the automobile 10 can variably control the transmittance in the range from the transmissive state to the specular state. For example, the amount of incident light or reflected light can be adjusted.

Further, in the automobile light amount adjuster 20, the electrochromic layer 22 is disposed at least on the surface of the windshield 12 of the automobile 10, for example, divided into two parts in the left-right direction, and 3 in the up-down direction. Since it is divided into portions, the state of the electrochromic layer 22 on the surface of the windshield 12 of the automobile 10 can be partially varied in the left-right direction and the up-down direction in the range from the transmission state to the mirror state. .

1, the electrochromic layer 22 is disposed on the entire surface of the windshield 12, but the electrochromic layer 22 is only on the upper surface of the windshield 12 of the automobile 10. May be arranged.

1, the electrochromic layer 22 is divided into two parts in the left-right direction and three parts in the up-down direction, but the number of divisions of the electrochromic layer 22 is arbitrary or divided. It does not have to be done.

Furthermore, in the automobile light amount adjuster 20 shown in FIG. 1, the electrochromic layer 22 is disposed on the surface of the windshield 12, but the electrochromic layer 22 is disposed on the surface of any other window glass as necessary. May also be arranged.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view of an automobile using the automobile light amount adjuster according to the present invention as a rearview mirror.

6 is provided around the front of the room mirror 14 of the automobile 10.

6 includes an electrochromic layer 22 that can variably control the transmittance in a range from a transmission state to a specular state. The electrochromic layer 22 is disposed around the room mirror 14, in particular, the front surface of the room mirror 14 and the circumference thereof.

Further, the electrochromic layer 22 is divided into, for example, a portion 22a on the front surface of the rearview mirror 14 and a surrounding portion 22b. Each of these

portions

22a and 22b can variably control the transmittance in the range from the transmission state to the specular state.

A control unit (not shown) is electrically connected to the electrochromic layer 22. This control unit is for variably controlling the transmissivity of the

portions

22a and 22b constituting the electrochromic layer 22 individually in the range from the transmission state to the specular state. Electricity is applied to the counter electrode and the working electrode of the

portions

22a and 22b. Connected. By this control unit, the potential of the working electrode with respect to the counter electrode of the

portions

22a and 22b can be individually controlled, and the transmittance of each of the

portions

22a and 22b can be variably controlled in the range from the transmission state to the specular state.

In the vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle light amount adjuster 20 can be controlled to the following three modes: a transmission mode, an antiglare mode, and a reflection mode.

[Transparent mode]
The vehicle light amount adjuster 20 is an electrochromic disposed around the rearview mirror 14 in order to ensure visibility during driving and driving when the anti-glare effect and the reflection effect are not required during driving and driving. The current is not passed through the layer 22 and is used in a transmission mode that is a transmission state in which the transmittance of the electrochromic layer 22 is increased. In this transmission mode, as shown in FIG. 7, the electrochromic layer 22 is in a transparent state and does not block the field of view during driving and driving.

[Anti-glare mode]
The vehicle light amount adjuster 20 causes a current to flow through, for example, the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 disposed around the room mirror 14 during the day when the antiglare effect is required for sunlight. It uses in the glare-proof mode which is the glare-proof state which controlled the transmittance | permeability of the

parts

22a and 22b of the chromic layer 22 arbitrarily. In this antiglare mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 have low transmittance, and an optimal antiglare effect can be obtained. In this case, even if the transmittance of only the portion 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 is lowered, an optimal antiglare effect can be obtained. In order to obtain such an antiglare effect, the electrochromic layer 22 may be disposed on the windshield 12, side glass, or rear glass of the automobile 10 in addition to the room mirror 14 of the automobile 10.

Further, the automobile light amount adjuster 20 causes a current to flow through, for example, the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 at night when an anti-glare effect is required for the light from the following vehicle. It is used in an anti-glare mode which is an anti-glare state in which the transmittances of 22a and 22b are arbitrarily controlled. In this case, in the anti-glare mode, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the

portions

22a and 22b of the electrochromic layer 22 have low transmittance, and an optimal anti-glare effect can be obtained. In this case, even if the transmittance of only the portion 22a of the electrochromic layer 22 is lowered, an optimal antiglare effect can be obtained.

Thus, the vehicle light amount adjuster 20 can obtain an optimal anti-glare effect during the day and at night.

In the automobile light amount adjuster 20 shown in FIG. 6, a light intensity detection sensor (not shown) that detects the light intensity on at least one of the rear side (front glass 12 side) and the front side of the room mirror 14 of the automobile 10. ) May be incorporated.
When the light intensity detection sensor is incorporated on the back side of the rearview mirror 14, for example, when light from the sun having a certain intensity or more enters the light intensity detection sensor incorporated on the rear side of the rearview mirror 14, the light intensity detection sensor. The anti-glare effect can be obtained by reducing the transmittance or reflectance of the electrochromic layer 22 by passing a current through the electrochromic layer 22 arranged around the room mirror 14 based on the intensity of light from the sun detected by Obtainable.
Further, when a light intensity detection sensor is incorporated on the front side of the rearview mirror 14, for example, the light of the headlight of the succeeding vehicle is detected by the light intensity detection sensor incorporated on the front side of the rearview mirror 14, and is detected by the light intensity detection sensor. Based on the detected light intensity from the following vehicle, an electric current is passed through the electrochromic layer 22 disposed in front of and around the rearview mirror 14 to reduce the transmittance or reflectance of the electrochromic layer 22, thereby preventing glare. An effect can be obtained. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the rear view of the vehicle from being taken away by the light of the headlight of the following vehicle.

[Reflection mode]
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle light amount adjuster 20 can be used in a reflection mode if a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer 22 so as to be in a mirror surface state. It can be used as a rearview mirror that can ensure a wide field of view with significantly improved rear visibility.

At this time, if the current flows through the electrochromic layer 22 in conjunction with the reverse gearing, the electrochromic layer 22 can be promptly brought into the mirror state during the back operation.

Further, in the automobile light amount adjuster 20 shown in FIG. 6, the electrochromic layer 22 is divided into two parts, a part 22 a on the front side of the room mirror 14 and a part 22 b around it, but the number of divisions of the electrochromic layer 22 Are optional or may not be divided.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an electrolytic deposition type electrochromic layer is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color developing type electrochromic type that can control transparency and reflection is used. A chromic layer can be used as well.

The light amount adjuster for an automobile according to the present invention is provided on the front and the periphery of an automobile windshield or an automobile room mirror, for example, to prevent glare caused by sunlight or light from other automobile headlamps. It is preferably used to obtain an effect.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Car 12 Windshield 14 Room mirror 20 Light quantity controller for motor vehicles 22 Electrochromic layer 22a-22f Electrochromic layer part

Claims

A vehicle light amount adjuster provided on at least one of a front windshield of a vehicle and a front and periphery of a vehicle rearview mirror,
A vehicle light amount adjuster including an electrochromic layer capable of variably controlling transmittance in a range from a transmission state to a mirror surface state.
The electrochromic layer is disposed at least in an upper part of at least one of a front windshield of the automobile and a front mirror and a periphery of the rear mirror of the automobile, and is divided into at least two parts in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. The light amount adjuster for automobiles described in 1.
The electrochromic layer is disposed on at least the windshield of the automobile,
Including an incident angle recognition sensor for recognizing the incident angle of sunlight with respect to the automobile;
2. The function of designating a portion that is in a specular state in the electrochromic layer disposed on the windshield of the automobile based on the incident angle of sunlight on the automobile recognized by the incident angle recognition sensor. The light quantity adjuster for automobiles according to claim 2.
The electrochromic layer is disposed at least in front of and around a rearview mirror of the automobile,
4. The vehicle light amount adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising a light intensity detection sensor incorporated in a front side and / or a back side of a rear mirror of the vehicle.