Method for controlling opaque glazing for motor vehicles.

Abstract

Method for controlling opaque glazing for motor vehicles.Method for controlling an opaque glazing (2) for a motor vehicle (10), at least a portion of the glazing comprising several zones, the opacity level of each zone being individually controlled to vary between a minimum and a maximum value, the several zones being arranged with increasing order numbers i in a first direction, the method comprising the following steps: - increasing (E2) the opacity of the glazing comprising increases in the opacity level of each zone according to increasing functions of time, the increases being initialized zone by zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i, and / or - decreasing (E3) the opacity of the glazing comprising decreases in the opacity level of each zone according to decreasing functions of time, the decreases being initialized zone by zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i. Figure for the abstract: 9.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for controlling opaque glazing for a motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling an opacifying glazing for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a device for controlling an opacifying glazing for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a computer program implementing the mentioned method. The invention finally relates to a recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0002] Motor vehicles equipped with a fixed glass roof or a sunroof are generally provided with a means of concealment which may be a flexible or rigid curtain and which opens mechanically or electrically. This means of concealment is essential for the visual and thermal comfort of the users of the motor vehicle. However, it significantly increases the mass of the vehicle and reduces its habitability.

[0003] In order to reduce the mass and volume of the occulting means, one solution consists of replacing this type of occulting means with solutions using opacifying glazing. The use of opacifying glazing also offers multiple possibilities for opacifying the passenger compartment.

[0004] However, this solution has drawbacks. Indeed, for a user, the use of opaque glazing is less intuitive than the use of physical occulting. In particular, the user may encounter difficulties in appropriating the new possibilities offered by the opaque glazing as well as the controls allowing him to modify the opacity of the glazing according to his needs.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide a device and a method for controlling opacifying glazing which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the devices and methods for controlling opacifying glazing known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a device and a method which are simple and reliable and which allow intuitive and multidirectional control of opacifying glazing.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for controlling an opacifying glazing for a motor vehicle, at least part of the glazing comprising several zones, the opacity level of each zone being controlled individually to vary between a minimum value and a maximum value, the several zones being arranged with increasing order numbers i in a first direction.

[0007] The method comprises the following steps: - increase in the opacity of the glazing including increases in the opacity level of each zone according to increasing functions of time, the increases being initialized zone after zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i crescents with a time lag between each zone, and / or - reduction in the opacity of the glazing including reductions in the opacity level of each zone according to decreasing functions of time, the reductions being initialized zone after zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i with a time shift between each zone.

[0008] The method may comprise, prior to the steps of increasing the opacity of the glazing and decreasing the opacity of the glazing, a step of detecting a command to change the opacity of the glazing.

[0009] The step of detecting a command may comprise a sub-step of determining an orientation of the command either in the first direction, or in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and the increase and decrease steps can initiate area by area, respectively the increases and decreases of opacity, - according to the increasing order numbers i of the zones if the direction of the order is determined according to the first direction, or - according to the decreasing order numbers i of the zones if the direction of the order is determined according to the second direction.

[0010] The sub-step of determining a control orientation may comprise: - a detection of a control direction indicated by a support location and / or - a direction of pressing a control button.

[0011] The increasing or decreasing functions of the time of the opacity of the zones may be linear or non-linear and / or the increasing or decreasing functions of the time of the opacity of the zones may be different depending on the zone considered.

[0012] The method may comprise a step of automatically controlling the glazing using data from a set of sensors.

[0013] The invention further relates to a method for controlling an opacifying glazing for a motor vehicle, in which: - a first type of order, such as a short press on a control button, causes a phase of implementation of the control method according to the invention applied to a part of the glazing, and / or - a second type of order, such as a long press on a control button, causes a phase of implementation of the control method according to the invention applied to the entire glazing.

[0014] The invention further relates to an opacifying glazing device, the device comprising hardware and / or software elements implementing a method as defined previously.

[0015] The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising a glazing device such as previously defined.

[0016] The invention further relates to a computer program product comprising program code instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium for implementing the steps of a method as defined above when said program operates on a computer or computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a data medium readable by a computer and / or executable by a computer, characterized in that it comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by the computer, lead the latter to implement the method as defined above.

[0017] The invention also relates to a computer-readable data recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing a method as defined above or a computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the method as defined above.

[0018] The invention also relates to a signal of a data medium, carrying the computer program product defined previously.

[0019] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of a glazing device according to the invention and an embodiment of a control method according to the invention.

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a motor vehicle equipped with a device for glazing.

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view of an embodiment of an opacifying glazing.

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a principle of operation of an opacifying glazing.

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a principle of operation of an opacifying glazing.

[0024] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a top view of an embodiment of a glazing opacifier composed of several zones and placed on a vehicle.

[0025] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] schematically represents an embodiment of partitions and stable states of the opacifying glazing.

[0026] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents an embodiment of a control interface.

[0027] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] represents a flowchart of a first mode of execution of a ordering process.

[0028] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] illustrates a first logic of operation of the opacifying glazing.

[0029] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] illustrates a sequencing of individual opacification commands for several zones of the opacifying glazing.

[0030] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] illustrates a second logic of operation of the opacifying glazing.

[0031] [Fig.12] [Fig.12] represents a flowchart of a second mode of execution of the control method

[0032] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] illustrates a third logic of operation of the opacifying glazing.

[0033] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] schematically represents the perception by a user of the animation implemented in the first mode of execution of the control method.

[0034] An example of a motor vehicle 10 equipped with an embodiment of a glazing device 1 of opacifying glazing is described below with reference to [Fig.l].

[0035] The motor vehicle 10 may be a vehicle of any type, in particular a passenger vehicle or a utility vehicle.

[0036] The glazing device 1 mainly comprises the following elements: - opaque glazing 2, - a microprocessor or calculator 3, - a command interface 4, - a set of 5 sensors.

[0037] An embodiment of an opacifying glazing 2 is illustrated by figures 2 to 5.

[0038] The opacifying glazing 2 allows the implementation of a variable opacity of the glazing. The opacity of the glazing can be characterized by different physical quantities, including a percentage of transmission of light rays. The opacity can vary between at least two values, a minimum value OPMIN corresponding to a state called "clear state" or "transparent state" of the glazing, and a maximum value OPMAX corresponding to a state called "dark state" of the glazing. Different technologies also make it possible to implement intermediate opacification states. This is particularly the case for PDLC technology (acronym for "Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal"), preferably described in this document.

[0039] In this embodiment represented by figures 3 and 4, the opacifying glazing 2 comprises an opacifying film 25, in particular a PDLC film, laminated between two layers of glass 23, 27. A PDLC film consists of liquid crystals embedded in a polymer resin.

[0040] A first and a second conductive layer 24, 26 are respectively arranged between the opacifying film 25 and each of the glass layers 23, 27.

[0041] As illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, the modification of opacity of the glazing is controlled by application, or not, of an electrical voltage between the first and second conductive layers 24, 26.

[0042] In [Fig. 3], since no voltage is applied between the two conductive layers 24, 26, the liquid crystals are randomly arranged in the polymer resin and block the transmission of light.

[0043] In [Fig.4], the application of a voltage between the two conductive layers 24, 26 induces an orientation of the liquid crystals in the polymer resin, which allows transmission of light through the PDLC film.

[0044] In the remainder of the document, the expression “opacity modification control” is used to designate the application of a voltage between the two conductive layers 24, 26 of the opacifying glazing, the applied voltage possibly being zero or non-zero.

[0045] A glazing 2 according to the invention comprises several zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7, the opacity level of each zone being controlled individually to vary between a minimum value OPMIN and a maximum value OPMAX. The number n of zones of the glazing is greater than or equal to two.

[0046] In the embodiment more specifically illustrated by [Fig. 5], the glazing 2 is a motor vehicle roof glazing. In the embodiment presented, the opacifying film has been cut, in particular into seven separate segments upstream of its shaping between two sheets of glass. The glazing 2 thus has seven zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7, respectively associated with the seven opacifying film segments. The cutting of the opacifying film into seven separate segments thus makes it possible to independently control the level of opacification of each of the seven defined zones.

[0047] The glazing device 1 has the role of implementing a coordination of the controls of a set of zones of an opacifying glazing which allows: - a multidirectional opacification of the glazing 2, that is to say a multidirectional increase in the opacity of the glazing, and - multidirectional deopacification of the glazing 2, i.e. a multidirectional reduction in the opacity of the glazing.

[0048] Multidirectional opacification and de-opacification correspond to an implementation of opacity in several directions. They are opposed to unidirectional opacification and de-opacification, such as those achieved in particular by a physical occultant, which allows opacification of the roof glazing in a single direction, generally from the rear to the front of the vehicle, and de-opacification of the roof glazing in a single direction, opposite to the direction of opacification. Multidirectional opacification allows an increase or a decrease in opacity of the glazing which can both be carried out in at least two directions, for example from the rear to the front and from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

[0049] In the embodiment presented, the defined zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 correspond to a segmentation of the glazing into bands, the bands being arranged along a line 28, called in the remainder of the document “command line” 28. In this embodiment, the control line 28 is a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 10.

[0050] Two directions of the control line 28 are defined, - a first direction 281, connecting, in the illustrated case, the front of the motor vehicle 10 to the rear of the motor vehicle 10, - a second direction 282 opposite to the first direction 281.

[0051] In the embodiment described, the zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 are numbered in ascending order or have an ascending order number i along the first direction 281.

[0052] The direction 281, 282 of the command line defines the order in which several zones are commanded to modify their opacity. For example, in the event of a command to modify the opacity of zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, if the command line is oriented in the direction 281, zone Z1 will be commanded first to modify its opacity, then zone Z2 will be commanded second, zone Z3 will be commanded third and zone Z4 will be commanded fourth. If the command line is oriented in the direction 282, then zone Z4 will be commanded first to modify its opacity, then zone Z3 will be commanded second, then zone Z2 will be commanded third and zone Z1 will be commanded fourth.

[0053] In alternative embodiments, the glazing 1 could be cut into fewer zones, for example into three zones. Alternatively, the glazing 1 could be cut into a number of zones greater than seven, for example into ten zones.

[0054] The zones could also have different widths and the distance, according to the control line 28, between two adjacent strips could be variable.

[0055] The zones could take various forms, in particular being delimited from each other by lines of various forms, for example curved lines.

[0056] Depending on the spatial arrangement of the zones, the control line 28 could also be a curve.

[0057] In the embodiment described, the zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 being defined by the very structure of the glazing 2, the number of zones of the glazing is fixed.

[0058] Nevertheless, the glazing device makes it possible to group the zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 into a set of partitions 20 containing at least one partition 21, 22.

[0059] A partition is formed from a subset of zones, preferably arranged continuously along the control line. In other configurations, the zones could also be distributed alternately between at least two partitions, for example the odd-rank zones could be contained in a first partition 21 and the even-rank zones could be contained in a second partition 22, so as to be able to opacify the glazing according to spaced bands.

[0060] The partitions have the function of parameterizing, from the glazing zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 different glazing opacity configurations. These configurations are called "glazing stable states" or "stable states" in the rest of the document.

[0061] The glazing 2, in particular each zone of the glazing, can be either in a stable state or in a transient state.

[0062] A stable state of the glazing is characterized by the fact that the opacity of the zones of the glazing is homogeneous on each of the partitions. In other words, when the glazing is in a stable state, the zones of a given partition all have the same opacity, and this for each partition 21, 22 of the glazing 2.

[0063] A transient state of the glazing corresponds to one of the states taken by the glazing during its transition between two stable states. When the glazing is in a transient state, at least two zones of a partition of the glazing have different levels of opacity.

[0064] An embodiment of the partitions of a glazing and the associated stable states is illustrated by [Fig.6]. In this embodiment, the zones and partitions are defined so as to allow differentiated opacification between the front and the rear of the vehicle: - partition 21 groups together zones Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 located in the front part of the glazing, - partition 22 groups together zones Z5, Z6 and Z7 located in the rear part of the glazing.

[0065] In the embodiment illustrated by [Fig.6], a set of possible stable states implementing the partitions 21, 22 is defined as a function of two stable opacity levels, a minimum level OPMIN and a maximum level OPMAX.

[0066] Partitions 21 and 22 combined with the two opacity levels OPMIN and OPMAX make it possible to implement four stable states of the glazing ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4: - the first stable state ESI corresponds to the application of the maximum opacity level OPMAX to the two partitions 21, 22, - the second stable state ES2 corresponds to the application of the minimum opacity level OPMIN to the two partitions 21, 22, - the third stable state ES3 corresponds to the application of the minimum opacity level OPMIN to partition 21, and the application of the maximum opacity level OPMAX to partition 22, - the fourth stable state ES4 corresponds to the application of the maximum opacity level OPMAX to partition 21, and the application of the minimum opacity level OPMIN to partition 22.

[0067] Alternatively, other sets of stable states of the glazing comprising zones Z1 to Z7 could be defined by varying at least one of the following parameters: - the number of partitions, which can vary from 1 to 7, a number of partitions equal to 1 corresponding to a distribution of the seven zones in a single partition, a number of partitions equal to 7 corresponding to the distribution of one zone per partition. - the distribution of zones ZI to Z7 between the at least one and at most seven partitions, and - the number of stable opacity levels, which is greater than or equal to two.

[0068] Advantageously, the partitions 21, 22 are defined so as to allow differentiated opacification between the front and the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, other embodiments of the zones and partitions could allow differentiated opacification between the right part and the left part of the vehicle.

[0069] The glazing device 1 further comprises a control interface 4 which allows a user of the vehicle to select the stable state of the glazing ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4 which he wishes to implement in the motor vehicle 10.

[0070] In a first embodiment, the control interface 4 can be implemented by a button, in particular a directional impulse button 4 illustrated by [Fig.7]. The directional impulse button allows a user to control a change in opacity by means of two parameters: the chosen direction, and the duration of the press.

[0071] In the first embodiment of the control interface, the choice of direction is made by pressing a first location 41 of the button pointing towards the rear of the vehicle, and a second location 42 of the button pointing towards the front of the vehicle. In other words, the button makes it possible to select one or the other of the first and second directions, 281, 282.

[0072] In addition, the directional pulse button makes it possible to measure a DAPP press duration. This measurement thus makes it possible to categorize the presses by comparing their duration to an APPMIN threshold. Thus, a press whose duration is strictly less than the APPMIN threshold will be considered a “short press”, and a press whose duration is greater than or equal to the APPMIN threshold will be considered a “long press”. The categorization of the presses according to their duration makes it possible to differentiate the processing according to the category of the press.

[0073] Optionally, the directional impulse button 4 may comprise a third location 43, more specifically shown in [Fig. 13]. The third location 43 is preferably located between the first and second locations 41, 42. The third location 43 allows the activation of an automatic glazing control mode described later in the document. In one embodiment, a long press on the location 43 could deactivate the automatic control mode. In addition or alternatively, the deactivation of the automatic mode could be obtained by a long or short press on one of the locations 41 or 42.

[0074] In a second embodiment, alternative or complementary to the first embodiment, the control interface 4 could be implemented by a human-machine interface, which could, for example, be provided by the vehicle's multimedia screen or a mobile phone application.

[0075] The human-machine interface could make it possible to control the glazing 2 according to the same parameters as a physical button of the directional impulse button type, i.e. a control direction 281, 282 and a pressing duration DAPP. Instead of strictly speaking controlling a pressing duration, the user could select a type of pressing between two proposals, a long press or a short press.

[0076] Alternatively, the human-machine interface could make it possible to select a final stable state of the glazing from among all the possible stable states ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4, for example by clicking directly on a visual representation of the possible stable states for glazing 2.

[0077] In addition or alternatively, the human-machine interface could also include a voice command, in particular allowing the activation and deactivation of an automatic glazing control.

[0078] The glazing device may further comprise a set of sensors 5. The set of sensors 5 provides data enabling the implementation of automatic control of the glazing 2. For example, the set of sensors 5 may comprise one or more sunlight sensors advantageously placed on the roof of the vehicle. The data from these sunlight sensors may enable automatic determination of which roof partitions must be opaque to protect the passenger compartment from the sun's rays.

[0079] In addition or alternatively, the set of sensors 5 may comprise one or more interior and exterior temperature sensors arranged on the motor vehicle 10. The temperature sensors may allow the implementation of automatic control of the opacifying glazing, for example to reach and maintain a desired interior temperature.

[0080] In addition, the outside temperature sensors could make it possible to manage the influence of the outside temperature on the operation of the opacifying roof. Indeed, very low temperatures significantly slow down the operation of the opacifying film, which significantly limits the possibilities of modifying the opacity of the glazing. Advantageously, the glazing device 1 could be deactivated when the outside temperature is below a temperature limit threshold, the limit threshold possibly being -20 degrees. The user would be informed of this deactivation in relation to the outside temperature.

[0081] The glazing device 1, and particularly the microprocessor, mainly comprises the following modules: - a module 31 for detecting a command to change the opacity of the glazing, the module 31 being able to cooperate with the control interface 4, - a module 32 for opacifying the glazing, the module being able to cooperate with the glazing 2, - a module 33 for deopacifying the glazing, the module being able to cooperate with the glazing 2, and - an automatic glazing control module 34, the module being able to cooperate with the glazing 2 and the set of sensors 5.

[0082] The motor vehicle 10, in particular the glazing device 1, preferably comprises all the hardware and / or software elements configured so as to implement the method defined in the subject of the invention or the method described below.

[0083] A first mode of execution of the method for controlling an opacifying glazing is described below with reference to [Fig.8].

[0084] In a first step E1, a command to change the opacity of the glazing is detected at a time T.

[0085] In the first embodiment of the control interface 4, the detection of a command to change the opacity of the glazing is triggered by pressing a control button 4, in particular on the locations 41, 42 of the control button.

[0086] The detection step E1 comprises a sub-step of determining an orientation of the command: - pressing location 41 determines the control orientation as being the first direction 281, - pressing location 42 determines the control orientation as being the second direction 282.

[0087] Alternatively or additionally, the detection step E1 comprises a sub-step of determining an orientation of the command: - pressing a button in a third direction determines the control orientation as being the first direction 281, - pressing a button in a fourth direction determines the control orientation as being the second direction 282.

[0088] The detection step E1 further comprises a determination of the duration of pressure DAPP on the control button. By comparing the duration of pressure with a minimum threshold of duration of pressure APPMIN, two categories of pressure are determined: - so-called short supports, the duration of which is strictly less than the minimum support duration threshold APPMIN, and - so-called long supports, the duration of which is greater than or equal to the minimum support duration threshold APPMIN.

[0089] Thus, as will be seen in the rest of the document, the press duration DAPP is used to differentiate two types of orders: - a first type of order, such as a “short” press on the control button, causes a phase of implementation of opacification or deopacification commands applied to a part of the glazing, said part of the glazing corresponding, in the embodiment presented, to one or other of the partitions 21, 22 and / or - a second type of order, such as a "long" press on the control button, causes a phase of implementation of opacification or deopacification commands resulting in complete opacification or deopacification of the glazing. As a note, following the second type of order, the opacification or deopacification commands can be applied to part or all of the glazing, depending on the initial opacification state of the glazing.

[0090] Step E1 further comprises a sub-step of determining an initial stable state ESI. The initial stable state ESI corresponds to the opacity state of the glazing at the instant T when the opacity change command is issued. In the embodiment described, the initial stable state corresponds to one of the four stable states ESI, ES2, ES3 and ES4 described by [Fig.6].

[0091] The initial stable state is determined by the voltage applied to each zone of the glazing at time T, the zones of the same partition all being subjected to substantially the same voltage. Of course, the control device could use a technology other than voltage control in order to guarantee a stable state of at least one partition.

[0092] Thus, knowing the voltages applied to the zones, the initial stable state ESI is determined as being one of the stable states defined for the glazing 2, i.e. the ESI state, the ES2 state, the ES3 state or the ES4 state.

[0093] We then move on to a sub-step of determining a final stable state ESF. As a note, a new opacity change command possibly issued by a user during the execution of the control method will only be taken into consideration when the glazing has reached the final stable state ESF.

[0094] In the embodiment described, the final stable state ESF of the glazing 2 can be determined as a function of the parameters previously defined in step E1, i.e. an initial stable state ESI, a control direction 281, 282 and a pressing duration DAPP.

[0095] A first mode of determining the final stable state as a function of these parameters is described by [Fig.9].

[0096] A short press type command is represented by a thin arrow oriented in one of the control directions 281, 282. A long press type command is represented by a thick arrow oriented in one of the control directions 281, 282.

[0097] [Fig.9] represents the possible transitions between two stable states of the glazing according to a first operating logic of the glazing. Each control sequence includes: - an initial stable state ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4, - a command consisting of a command direction 281, 282 and a press duration DAPP, - a transition ET12a, ET12b, ET13, ET14, ET21a, ET21b, ET23, ET24, ET31, ET32, ET41, ET42, each transition consisting of a set of transient states between two stable states, - and a final stable state ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4.

[0098] The first logic of operation of the glazing described by [Fig.9] is transcribed in table 1, called in the rest of the document “first transition table”.

[0099] [Tables 1] ET ESI ESF DAPP direction Partition Opacity variation Change order ET 14 ESI ES4 short 282 22 decrease Z7, Z6, Z5 ET13 ESI ES3 short 281 21 decrease Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4 ET 12a ESI ES2 long 282 21,22 decrease Z7, Z6, Z5, Z4, Z3, Z2, ZI ET 12b ESI ES2 long 281 21,22 decrease Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 ET23 ES2 S3 short 282 22 increase Z7, Z6, Z5 ET24 ES2 ES4 short 281 21 increase Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4 ET21a ES2 ESI long 282 21,22 increase Z7, Z6, Z5, Z4, Z3, Z2, ZI ET21b ES2 ESI long 281 21.22 increase Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 ET31 ES3 ESI short / long 282 21 increase Z4, Z3, Z2, ZI ET32 ES3 ES2 short / long 281 22 decrease Z5, Z6, Z7 ET42 ES4 ES2 short / long 282 21 decrease Z4, Z3, Z2, ZI ET41 ES4 ESI short / long 281 22 increase Z5, Z6, Z7

[0100] The first transition table translates the chosen operating logic into a set of possible transitions between two states, with each row of the table representing a transition. A unique reference is associated with each possible transition. The first column of the first transition table contains the unique reference of each transition. The reference is defined by the letters "AND" followed by a first digit corresponding to the number of the initial stable state, and a second digit corresponding to the number of the final stable state. For example, the first row of the table describes a transition ET14 between the initial stable state ESI and the final stable state ES4.

[0101] A reference may also contain an additional letter, as is the case for example for the references ET 12a and ET 12b appearing respectively in the third and fourth lines of the table. The transitions ET 12a and ET 12b describe two possible transitions between the same initial stable state ESI and the same final stable state ES2; the transitions ET 12a and ET 12b, however, differ from each other by the control direction, which will result - in the deopacification step E3 to execute one or other of these transitions - in a different order of deopacification of the zones concerned.

[0102] The second column of the first transition table contains the reference of the initial state ESI of each transition.

[0103] The third column of the first transition table contains the reference of the final state ESF of each transition.

[0104] The fourth column of the first transition table contains the category of the pressing duration DAPP of each transition, this category being able to be a short pressing or a long pressing. For certain transitions, such as for example the transition ET31, the category of the pressing is indifferent. In other words, whatever the duration of the pressing, the glazing will pass from the initial stable state ES3 to the final stable state ESI by pressing in the second control direction 282, the transition being carried out by an increase in opacity of the zones Z4 to Z1, the sequencing of the opacification commands being carried out in the decreasing order of the numbering of the zones.

[0105] The fifth column of the first transition table contains the control direction, which can be either the first direction 281 or the second direction 282.

[0106] The sixth column of the first transition table contains the reference of at least one partition 21, 22 whose opacity is modified during each transition.

[0107] The seventh column of the first transition table contains the direction of variation (increase, decrease) of the opacity of the at least one partition designated in the sixth column.

[0108] The eighth column of the first transition table contains the order in which the areas of the at least one partition designated in the sixth column are commanded to change their opacity.

[0109] As a note, the first transition table implements a multidirectional displacement of the change in opacity. In other words, the glazing 1 can - become opaque in the first or second directions, and - become lighter in the first or second directions.

[0110] The parameters defined during the previous sub-steps of step El, i.e. a initial stable state ESI, a command direction 281, 282 and a press duration DAPP allow to select a single line of the table.

[0111] Thus, by using the first transition table, a single transition ET12a, ET12b, ET13, ET14, ET21a, ET21b, ET23, ET24, ET31, ET32, ET41, ET42 is determined, thus determining the other parameters of the transition, i.e. the final stable state, the at least one partition whose opacity is modified - referred to in the remainder of the document as "the at least one selected partition", the direction of variation of the opacity, and the order in which the zones of the at least one partition designated in the sixth column are commanded to modify their opacity.

[0112] The determination of these parameters makes it possible to chain - either on a step E2 of opacification of the at least one partition 21, 22 selected, if the direction of variation of the opacity determined by the transition is an increase in the opacity, - either on a step E3 of deopacification of the at least one partition 21, 22 selected, if the direction of variation of the opacity determined by the transition is a reduction in the opacity.

[0113] The opacification step E2 comprises a sub-step E21 of determining an individual opacification command for each zone of the at least one selected partition 21, 22.

[0114] In the remainder of the document, the zones of the at least one selected partition 21, 22 are called “selected zones”.

[0115] In sub-step E21, an individual opacity change command is determined for each selected zone.

[0116] The individual opacification control is defined to control the temporal evolution of the opacity of an area between an initial value OPMIN and a final value OPMAX, the final value being greater than the initial value.

[0117] However, the opacity of a glazing zone increases when the voltage V applied between the first and second conductive layers 24, 26 of this zone decreases.

[0118] Therefore, an individual opacification command is defined to control a decreasing time evolution of the voltage V between an initial value VMAX and a final value VMIN lower than VMAX, the voltage V being applied between the first and second conductive layers 24, 26 of this zone.

[0119] In the remainder of the document, the term “zone voltage variation function” is used to name the temporal evolution of the voltage controlled between the first and second conductive layers 24, 26 of this zone.

[0120] The voltage variation function of a zone may be linear or non-linear. In particular, the voltage variation function of a zone may be defined so as to achieve a gradual fading of the opacity of the zone or a gradual appearance of the opacity of the zone. progressive opacity of the area.

[0121] In one embodiment, the voltage variation function may be different depending on the area, for example to create an animation effect in association with the sequencing of the individual opacity change commands described below.

[0122] The opacification step E2 comprises a sub-step E22 of sequencing the individual opacification commands of the selected zones.

[0123] The sequencing order is defined by the orientation of the command line, according to the first or second direction 281, 282. Thus, sub-step E22 initiates the opacity increases zone by zone, - according to the increasing order numbers i of the zones Zi if the direction of the command is determined according to the first direction 281, or - according to the decreasing order numbers i of the zones Zi if the direction of the order is determined according to the second direction 282.

[0124] The individual commands determined in step E21 are therefore applied in an ascending or descending order of numbering of the selected zones. Advantageously, a time delay separates the application of two successive individual commands, for example a delay of 500 milliseconds. The time delay may be constant over all the intervals separating two successive commands. Alternatively, the time delay may vary according to the interval, in order to create an animation. For example, the time delay may decrease during the successive application of the commands, which creates an effect of acceleration of the change in opacity according to the command direction.

[0125] [Fig. 10] illustrates a mode of execution of the sequencing of individual commands for opacifying zones ZI to Z4 of partition 21. Graph G1 represents the temporal evolution of the opacity of each of zones ZI to Z4 by a non-linear increasing function of time.

[0126] The temporal variation profile of the opacity is substantially the same from one zone to another, which means that each zone becomes opaque according to the same cycle.

[0127] The profile can be of the evolving variation type: - a start at a minimum opacity value OPMIN and a low acceleration of the opacity at the beginning of the cycle until reaching a given opacification speed, - maintaining the given opacification speed until reaching an opacity close to the maximum opacity value OPMAX, - then a slowdown in opacification at the end of the cycle.

[0128] According to a variant, the profile can be of linear type between the minimum opacity values ​​OPMIN and maximum OPMAX.

[0129] On the other hand, the time delays between two individual commands successive opacifications vary, in particular decrease over time: - The first individual opacification command for zone ZI is commanded at time T=0, - a first delay Atl is applied between the first individual opacification command of zone ZI and the second individual opacification command of zone Z2, - a second delay At2, less than the first delay Atl, is applied between the second individual opacification command of zone Z2 and the third individual opacification command of zone Z3, and - a third delay At3, less than the second delay At2, is applied between the third individual opacification command of zone Z3 and the fourth individual opacification command of zone Z4.

[0130] Therefore, - the opacification of the second zone Z2 starts while the first zone ZI has reached a first level of opacity OP1, then - the opacification of the third zone Z3 starts when the second zone Z2 has reached a second opacity level OP2, lower than the first opacity level OP1, then - the opacification of the fourth zone Z4 starts while the third zone Z3 has reached a third opacity level OP3, lower than the second opacity level OP2.

[0131] Thus graph G1 illustrates a method of executing the process which implements a progressive acceleration of the opacification speed of the glazing while each zone evolves individually according to the same opacification curve.

[0132] Alternatively, when step E1 has detected a command to reduce the opacity, we continue with a deopacification step E3.

[0133] The deopacification step E3 is executed according to the same principle as the opacification step E2. In other words, step E3 comprises - a sub-step of E31 for determining an individual deopacification command for each selected zone, and - a sub-step E32 for sequencing individual commands for de-opacification of the selected areas.

[0134] In sub-step E31, an individual deopacification command is determined for each selected zone.

[0135] The individual deopacification control is defined to control the temporal evolution of the opacity of an area between an initial value OPMAX and a final value OPMIN, the final value being lower than the initial value. The opacity varying inversely with the voltage applied between the first and second layers conductive 24, 26 of this zone, an individual deopacification command is therefore defined to control an increasing temporal evolution of the voltage V between an initial value VMIN and a final value VMAX greater than VMIN.

[0136] The sub-step E32 of sequencing the individual commands for deopacification of the selected zones operates according to the same principle as the sub-step E22 previously described for opacification. The sequencing order is defined by the orientation of the command line, according to the first or second direction 281, 282. Thus, the sub-step E32 initiates the reductions in opacity zone by zone, - according to the increasing order numbers i of the zones Zi if the direction of the command is determined according to the first direction 281, or - according to the decreasing order numbers i of the zones Zi if the direction of the order is determined according to the second direction 282.

[0137] The description of the sequencing implemented in sub-step E32 is similar to the description of the sequencing implemented in sub-step E22.

[0138] Different variants of the first embodiment can be envisaged.

[0139] A first variant consists of using a transition table different from the first transition table, for example a second transition table described in table 2, describing the transitions illustrated by [Fig.11].

[0140] [Fig. 11] represents the possible transitions between two stable states of the glazing according to a second operating logic of the glazing. ET ESI ESF DAPP direction Partition Opacity variation Change order ET11 ESI ESI short / long 282 ___ ___ ___ ET13 ESI ES3 Short 281 21 decrease Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4 ET 12 ESI ES2 Long 281 21,22 decrease Z1,Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7 ET23 ES2 ES3 short 282 22 increase Z7, Z6, Z5 ET22 ES2 ES2 short / long 281 ___ ___ ___ ET21 ES2 ESI long 282 21,22 increase Z7, Z6, Z5, Z4, Z3, Z2, ZI ET31 ES3 ESI short / 282 21 increase Z4, Z3, Z2, long ZI ET32 ES3 ES2 short / long 281 22 decrease Z5, Z6, Z7

[0141] As a note, the second transition table implements a unidirectional displacement of the change in opacity. In other words, the glazing 1 can - lighten only in the first direction 281, and - become opaque only in the second direction 282.

[0142] Consequently, the operation described by the second transition table does not make it possible to reach the stable state ES4. In other words, in this embodiment, the partition 21 located at the front of the glazing can only be opacified if the partition 22 located at the rear of the glazing is opacified, and the partition 22 located at the rear of the glazing can only be clarified if the partition 21 located at the front of the glazing is clarified.

[0143] In an alternative embodiment of the control interface, a human-machine interface could allow a user of the automobile 10 to select or configure a transition table from a predefined set of partitions and possible stable states of the glazing comprising this predefined set of partitions.

[0144] The user's configuration could also relate to the number of partitions of the glazing, the distribution of the zones of the glazing between the different partitions, the possible stable states of the glazing associated with these partitions and then the definition of a transition table between the possible stable states of the glazing.

[0145] The number of intermediate opacity levels between the minimum level OPMIN and the maximum level OPMAX could also be configurable via a human-machine interface. The different configured opacity levels should then be taken into account in the definition of the possible stable states of the glazing, as well as a transition table between these stable states.

[0146] Alternatively or in addition to one of the previously described embodiments, other variants of embodiments could comprise a step E4 of automatic control of the glazing.

[0147] A mode of execution of the control method comprising a step E4 of automatic control of the glazing is described by [Fig. 12].

[0148] In this mode of execution, step E1 comprises, in addition to the processing previously described for this step, a detection of a command to activate an automatic mode.

[0149] In one embodiment of the control interface 4 involving a multidirectional impulse button, the detection of a command to activate an automatic mode can be carried out by detecting a press on the third location 43 of the button.

[0150] Alternatively or in addition, the detection of a command to activate an automatic mode can be carried out by means of a human-machine interface or a voice command. The human-machine interface or the voice command can also make it possible to control a desired temperature in the passenger compartment, the opacification state of the roof then being able to contribute to reaching this temperature.

[0151] When a command to activate the automatic mode is detected, we continue with a step E4 of automatic control of the opacifying glazing.

[0152] Step E4 comprises a determination of a target opacity level based on measurements from the set of sensors 5. The measurements may comprise one or more measurements of sunlight on the roof of the vehicle and / or a measurement of the outside temperature. Advantageously, the measurements also comprise a measurement of the temperature in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 10.

[0153] Step E4 comprises determining a target temperature, corresponding to the temperature desired by the users in the passenger compartment. Depending on the type of control interface used, the target temperature may be determined by the user via a human-machine interface and / or a voice command. Alternatively, the target temperature may be determined by a default value, for example 20 degrees, or by a predetermined deviation from the outside temperature and / or the inside temperature, the predetermined deviation being able to be a function of at least one of these temperatures.

[0154] From the defined target temperature, and the sunlight or temperature measurements, a target opacity level of the glazing is determined allowing the temperature of the passenger compartment to evolve towards the target temperature.

[0155] In an embodiment of step E4, all the zones of the glazing are controlled simultaneously to implement the target opacity level uniformly over all the zones of the glazing corresponding to the implementation of a fifth stable state ES5 represented by [Fig. 13].

[0156] In an alternative embodiment, step E4 may comprise a selective modification of one or more of the at least one partition 21, 22 of the glazing, in particular as a function of the sunlight measurements making it possible to determine the direction of the light rays.

[0157] Step E4 comprises an update of the target opacity level as a function of the update of the measurements of the set of sensors 5. The opacity of all or part of the at least one partition of the glazing is then modified according to the target opacity level updated for each partition.

[0158] In an execution mode, when a modification command is detected, in particular by pressing one of the locations of the multidirectional impulse button, we continue with step E2 of detecting a modification command. of opacity.

[0159] In total, the invention makes it possible to control opacifying glazing in a simple and intuitive manner.

[0160] The simple and intuitive character comes first of all from the possible use of a directional impulse button, allowing a user to visually link the direction of pressing the button and the direction of modification of the opacity.

[0161] Furthermore, the first mode of execution of the method, defined by the first transition table, simulates the movement of an occultant made up of several segments, in particular 7 segments.

[0162] [Fig. 14] very schematically illustrates the perception by a user of the animation implemented in the first mode of execution of the control method. An eye drawing has been placed under each of the four stable states of the glazing represented ESI, ES2, ES3, ES4 to represent the point of view of a user on the glazing during the implementation of these stable states.

[0163] The solid rectangular segments correspond to the opacified glazing areas. For example, the ESI steady state comprises 7 solid rectangular segments which represent the 7 opacified glazing areas.

[0164] The hollow rectangular segments are fictitious; they materialize the mental representation of a fictitious hidden part of an occultant. This perception of a hidden part of the occultant is created by the animation which simulates a physical displacement of the occultant.

[0165] For example, the transition ET14 makes it possible to go from a totally opaque glazing to a glazing that is opaque only on the partition 21, located at the front of the vehicle. The implementation of the transition ET14 is carried out by a successive reduction in the opacity of the zones of the partition 22 according to the control direction 282, thus creating the illusion that an occultant is moving towards the front of the vehicle and that a part of the occultant is gradually disappearing into the roof of the vehicle, until the stable state ES4 is reached.

[0166] From the stable state ES4, if the user continues the opacity modification to obtain a glazing of minimal opacity, he implements the transition ET42. This transition creates a successive decrease in the opacity of the zones of the partition 21, creating the illusion that the occultant continues its physical movement towards the front of the vehicle until it disappears completely upon reaching the stable state ES2.

[0167] The representation of the stable state ES2 therefore comprises 7 hollow rectangular segments which materialize the disappearance of a fictitious occultant.

[0168] This mental representation of the stable state ES2 allows, for example, a user to intuitively perceive two possible maneuvers to make the glazing opaque from the stable state ES2: - by ordering an opacity modification according to the second direction 282, directed towards the front of the vehicle, the opaque zones will appear at the rear of the vehicle according to the transition ET23, as if the physical occultant reappeared at the rear of the glazing and deployed towards the front of the vehicle, - by ordering an opacity modification according to the first direction 281, directed towards the rear of the vehicle, the opacified zones will appear at the front of the vehicle according to the transition ET24, as if the physical occultant reappeared at the front of the glazing and deployed towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0169] Thus, the first mode of execution of the control method creates a sensation of physical unfolding of a blind, which allows a user to intuitively understand the operation of the invention and to simply control the glazing as if controlling a physical blind. The first mode of execution of the method thus makes it possible to create an intuitive character to the operation according to the invention while benefiting from advantages compared to the use of a physical blind.

[0170] A first advantage arises from the multidirectional displacement of the change in opacity, thanks to which the front and rear passengers can choose a level of opacification independently of each other. This advantage is notably materialized by the possibility of reaching the stable state ES4 in which the partition 21 located at the front of the glazing is opacified while the partition 22 located at the rear of the glazing is clarified.

[0171] A second advantage relates to the automatic control of the glazing according to a desired temperature and / or brightness in the passenger compartment, and potentially combined with other vehicle functions, such as the air conditioning system for example.

[0172] Other advantages can be provided by the possibility for a user to configure the partitions of the glazing and the transitions between stable states defined from these partitions according to his needs.

[0173] Advantageously, the automatic glazing control could also be configured to use different sets of partitions 20 and opacity levels depending on the weather conditions. For example, the automatic glazing control could use - a first set of partitions in a first sunlight configuration, this first set of partitions and opacity levels making it possible in particular to differentiate the opacity of the front and rear parts of the passenger compartment in order to adapt the opacity of the glazing according to the direction of the solar rays, and - a second set of partitions and opacity levels in a second sunlight configuration, this second set of partitions and levels opacity allowing, for example, to optimize the maintenance of a target temperature in the passenger compartment.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling an opacifying glazing (2) for a motor vehicle (10), at least a portion of the glazing comprising several zones (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7), the opacity level of each zone being individually controlled to evolve between a minimum value (OPMIN) and a maximum value (OPMAX), the several zones (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7) being arranged with increasing order numbers i along a first direction (281), the method comprising the following steps: - increasing (E2) the opacity (E2) of the glazing comprising increases in the opacity level of each zone according to increasing functions of time, the increases being initialized zone after zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i with a time shift between each zone, and / or - decreasing (E3) the opacity of the glazing comprising decreases in the level opacity of each zone according to decreasing functions of time,the decreases being initialized zone after zone according to their increasing or decreasing order numbers i with a time shift between each zone, the steps of increase (E2) and decrease (E3) of opacity allowing a multidirectional displacement of the change of opacity.,

2. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, prior to the steps of increasing the opacity (E2) of the glazing and of decreasing the opacity (E3) of the glazing, a step of detecting (El) a command to change the opacity of the glazing.

3. Control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the step of detecting a command (El) comprises a sub-step of determining an orientation of the command (E31) either in the first direction (281), or in a second direction (282), opposite to the first direction and in that the steps of increase (E2) and decrease (E3) initiate zone by zone, respectively the increases and decreases in opacity, - according to the increasing order numbers i of the zones if the direction of the command is determined in the first direction (281), or - according to the decreasing order numbers i of the zones if the direction of the command is determined in the second direction (282).

4. Control method according to claim 3, characterized in that the sub-step of determining a control orientation comprises: - a detection of a control direction (281, 282) indicated by a pressing location and / or - a pressing direction on a control button (4).

5. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the increasing or decreasing functions of the time of the opacity of the zones are linear or non-linear and / or in that the increasing or decreasing functions of the time of the opacity of the zones are different depending on the zone considered.

6. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of automatic control of the glazing from data from a set of sensors (5).

7. Method for controlling an opacifying glazing (2) for a motor vehicle (10), in which: - a first type of order, such as a short press on a control button, causes a phase of implementation of the method according to one of the preceding claims applied to a part of the glazing, and / or - a second type of order, such as a long press on a control button, causes a phase of implementation of the method according to one of the preceding claims applied to the entire glazing.

8. Device (1) for opacifying glazing (2), the device comprising hardware and / or software elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 33, 34, Zl, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7) implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in particular hardware elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21, 22, Zl, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7) and / or software designed to implement a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Motor vehicle (10) equipped with a glazing device (1) according to the preceding claim.

10. A computer program product comprising program code instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium for implementing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is running on a computer.

11. A computer-readable data storage medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

12. Signal of a data carrier, carrying the computer program product according to claim 10.

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