Anti-glare device and anti-glare method

Abstract

To provide an anti-glare device which develops and decolors a color of an optical active member having such optical characteristics as to develop a color in reaction with ultraviolet light and decolor a color in reaction with infrared light in a short time, and can satisfactorily keep a visual field of a driver of a movable body.SOLUTION: An anti-glare device includes: a light reaction member 10 which is arranged in a planar shape in front of a driver driving a movable body and includes an optical active member having such optical characteristics as to develop a color in reaction with ultraviolet light and decolor a color in reaction with infrared light; a light irradiation part 30 for emitting ultraviolet light and infrared light from inside of the movable body to the light reaction member; and a specific light shielding member 20 which is arranged in front of the light reaction member 10, and shields at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light incident on the light reaction member from the outside of the movable body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an anti-glare device and an anti-glare method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an anti-glare device for a moving body using a photochromic compound whose color (absorption spectrum) changes in response to light of a specific frequency has been known (Patent Document 1). The anti-glare device described in Patent Document 1 disposes a specific frequency light reaction sheet formed in a sheet shape by dispersing a photochromic compound in a polymer on the inner surface of a windshield. When light incident on the moving body is detected, the specific frequency light reaction sheet is irradiated with light of a specific frequency. As a result, the anti-glare device reduces the transmittance of the light incident on the moving body by causing the specific frequency light reaction sheet to develop color and changing the absorption spectrum, thereby reducing the glare felt by the driver.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the anti-glare device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a heat-return type photochromic compound, and when canceling anti-glare, the specific frequency light reaction sheet is decolorized by stopping light irradiation. Therefore, the anti-glare device disclosed in Patent Document 1 takes time to decolorize the specific frequency light reaction sheet. Therefore, even if the external light source suddenly disappears and anti-glare is no longer required, the windshield remains colored and the way external light enters the passenger compartment changes, affecting the visibility of the passengers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an antiglare device and an antiglare method that can color and fade an optically active member having optical properties of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light in a short time, and can keep the field of view of a driver of a moving body good.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An antiglare device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a photoreactive member that is disposed in a planar shape in front of a driver who drives a moving body and includes an optically active member having optical properties of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light, and a light irradiation unit that irradiates the photoreactive member with ultraviolet light and infrared light from inside the moving body. The antiglare device includes a specific light blocking member that is disposed in front of the photoreactive member and blocks at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light incident on the photoreactive member from outside the moving body.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, an optically active member having optical properties of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light can be colored and faded in a short time, and the field of view of a driver of a moving body can be kept good.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0010] [Configuration of Anti-Glare Device] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the anti-glare device according to the embodiment will be described. The anti-glare device is a device that includes a photoreactive member 10 containing a photochromic compound, which is an example of an optically active member having optical properties of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light, and causes the photoreactive member 10 to color and fade in a short time to keep the field of view of the passengers in the moving body good. In the present embodiment, the anti-glare device is mounted on a vehicle and performs anti-glare on the light incident from the front glass of the vehicle into the passenger compartment.

[0011] The anti-glare device according to the embodiment includes a photoreactive member 10, a specific light blocking member 20, a light irradiation unit 30, a driver monitor 40, a light source specifying unit 50, an external illuminance measuring unit 60, and a control unit 70.

[0012] The photoreactive member 10 is disposed in a planar shape in front of the driver of the vehicle and contains a photochromic compound having optical properties of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light. The photoreactive member 10 contains, for example, a light-return type photochromic compound. The photoreactive member 10 is, for example, a sheet-like member having a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) resin as a base material, and is obtained by blending a light-return type photochromic compound with the PVB resin. The PVB resin is used for the interlayer film of laminated glass such as the front glass 1 of the vehicle. Details of the photochromic compound will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0013] The specific light-blocking member 20 is disposed in front of the photoreactive member 10 and blocks at least one of ultraviolet rays and infrared rays incident on the photoreactive member 10 from outside the vehicle. Note that the specific light-blocking member 20 used in the present embodiment blocks both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays. The specific light-blocking member 20 reduces deterioration of interior parts due to ultraviolet rays incident on the vehicle interior and sunburn of passengers, and reduces the heat felt by passengers due to infrared rays incident on the vehicle interior. The specific light-blocking member 20 preferably cuts off 99% or more of the light in the wavelength region of ultraviolet rays and 90% or more of the light in the wavelength region of infrared rays, for example. A more detailed arrangement example of the photoreactive member 10 and the specific light-blocking member 20 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0014] The light irradiation unit 30 irradiates the photoreactive member 10 with ultraviolet rays and infrared rays from inside the vehicle. The light irradiation unit 30 includes an ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 and an infrared irradiation unit 32. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 irradiates ultraviolet rays, and the infrared irradiation unit 32 irradiates infrared rays. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 and the infrared irradiation unit 32 are configured as one light irradiation unit 30, but the configuration of the light irradiation unit 30 is not limited to this. For example, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 and the infrared irradiation unit 32 may be configured as individual light irradiation units, respectively.

[0015] The light irradiation unit 30 is installed at a position where the irradiation direction is below the horizontal, and irradiates the photoreactive member 10 with ultraviolet rays and infrared rays from the installation position of the light irradiation unit 30. The light irradiation unit 30 is installed, for example, on the ceiling 2 inside the vehicle. More specifically, it is installed above the driver. At least the infrared irradiation unit 32 irradiates infrared rays from a position where the irradiation direction is below the horizontal. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 may irradiate ultraviolet rays from a position where the irradiation direction is below the horizontal.

[0016] The light irradiation unit 30 can irradiate ultraviolet rays and infrared rays to specific positions. Specifically, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 and the infrared irradiation unit 32 are each rotatable in the vertical and horizontal directions. Thereby, the light irradiation unit 30 can irradiate ultraviolet rays and infrared rays to specific positions. Furthermore, the light irradiation unit 30 can change the illuminance of ultraviolet rays.

[0017] The irradiation area of the infrared irradiation unit 32 is set wider than the irradiation area of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 and the infrared irradiation unit 32 are, for example, spot-type irradiators that locally irradiate only a part of the windshield and have a circular irradiation area. The sizes of the irradiation areas of the ultraviolet and infrared rays are determined by the focal length of the lens used, etc. For example, the size of the irradiation area of the ultraviolet ray is 10 cm in diameter, and the size of the irradiation area of the infrared ray is 15 cm in diameter.

[0018] The driver monitor 40 measures the brightness around the driver's eyes. The driver monitor 40 acquires a face image of the driver captured by a camera included in the driver monitor 40, and specifies the brightness around the driver's eyes based on the acquired face image. For example, the driver monitor 40 can specify the position of the driver's eyes from the acquired face image by using known face recognition technology. The driver monitor 40 can specify the illuminance around the position of the driver's eyes in the face image, and calculate the illuminance around the driver's eyes based on the specified illuminance. The driver monitor 40 is installed at a position where it can image the driver's face from an angle looking up from below, for example, at the upper part of the steering column 3. The driver monitor 40 transmits the measured brightness (illuminance) around the driver's eyes to the control unit 70.

[0019] The driver monitor 40 may have a function of detecting inattention ahead due to the driver looking sideways, dozing off, etc. from the face image by using known face recognition technology and prompting the driver to pay attention. The driver monitor 40 is provided with an illumination unit of an infrared LED (light emitting diode) near the camera. By irradiating the driver's face with infrared rays, the driver's face can be recognized even in a dark environment such as at night and in a tunnel. Further, the driver monitor 40 is provided with an infrared transmission filter. By imaging the driver's face through the infrared transmission filter, strong shadows in the face caused by the morning sun and the evening sun can be reduced, and a decrease in the driver's face recognition function can be suppressed.

[0020] The light source specifying unit 50 specifies the position of a light source existing outside the vehicle (hereinafter also simply referred to as "light source"). Specifically, the light source specifying unit 50 includes a camera that images the outside of the vehicle, and specifies the relative position of the light source with respect to the vehicle from an image obtained by imaging the outside of the vehicle. For example, the light source specifying unit 50 determines that there is a light source in a pixel portion of an image obtained by imaging the outside of the vehicle where the luminance value is equal to or greater than a predetermined luminance value, and specifies the relative position of the light source from the position of the light source on the image, the attachment angle of the camera to the vehicle, and the attachment position. The light sources existing outside the vehicle are the sun and lighting devices such as the headlights of other vehicles. The light source specifying unit 50 is installed, for example, at the upper part of the passenger compartment of the windshield 1. The light source specifying unit 50 transmits the specified position of the light source to the control unit 70. Note that the light source specifying unit 50 may use a camera that detects objects such as obstacles in front and preceding vehicles for ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) provided in the vehicle.

[0021] The external illuminance measurement unit 60 measures the brightness outside the vehicle. The external illuminance measurement unit 60 includes an illuminance meter and can measure the brightness (illuminance) outside the vehicle. The external illuminance measurement unit 60 is installed, for example, at the lower part on the passenger compartment side of the windshield 1. The external illuminance measurement unit 60 transmits a signal indicating the measured brightness outside the vehicle to the control unit 70.

[0022] The control unit 70 is installed inside the dashboard 4 of the vehicle. The control unit 70 acquires a signal indicating the brightness around the eyes of the driver of the vehicle from the driver monitor 40, acquires a signal indicating the position of the light source existing outside the vehicle from the light source specifying unit 50, and acquires a signal indicating the brightness outside the vehicle from the external illuminance measurement unit 60. The control unit 70 specifies the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10.

[0023] The control unit 70 determines whether the brightness around the driver's eyes of the vehicle measured by the driver monitor 40 is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness. When the control unit 70 determines that the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than the predetermined brightness, the control unit 70 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate ultraviolet rays at the intersection of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10. Thereby, the light reaction member 10 reacts to the ultraviolet rays and changes color. The control unit 70 sets the illuminance of the ultraviolet rays irradiated by the light irradiation unit 30 based on the brightness outside the vehicle. When the control unit 70 determines that the brightness around the driver's eyes has become less than the predetermined brightness, the control unit 70 stops the irradiation of ultraviolet rays and controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate infrared rays having a wider irradiation area than the ultraviolet irradiation area at the ultraviolet irradiation position. Further, when the relative position of the light source changes due to the movement of the vehicle or the movement of another vehicle, etc., the position of the intersection of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10 also changes. Therefore, the control unit 70 changes the ultraviolet irradiation position in accordance with the change in the position of the intersection. When the ultraviolet irradiation position changes, the control unit 70 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate infrared rays at the irradiation position before the ultraviolet irradiation position changes. Thereby, the light reaction member 10 reacts to the infrared rays and fades.

[0024] The control unit 70 is a general-purpose microcomputer including a memory (storage unit) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM, and a ROM, and an input / output unit. A computer program for functioning as an anti-glare device is installed in the microcomputer. By executing the computer program, the microcomputer functions as a plurality of information processing circuits (71, 72, 73, 74) provided in the anti-glare device. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a plurality of information processing circuits (71, 72, 73, 74) provided in the anti-glare device are realized by software. However, it is also possible to prepare dedicated hardware for executing each information process and configure the information processing circuit. Further, the plurality of information processing circuits may be configured by individual hardware.

[0025] Next, the plurality of information processing circuits included in the control unit 70 will be specifically described. The control unit 70 includes a brightness determination unit 71, an irradiation position specification unit 72, an illuminance setting unit 73, and an irradiation control unit 74.

[0026] The brightness determination unit 71 determines whether the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness. Specifically, it determines whether the illuminance around the driver's eyes received from the driver monitor 40 is equal to or greater than a predetermined illuminance stored in advance. The predetermined brightness may be set, for example, by measuring in advance through experiments the illuminance around the eyes at which the driver feels dazzled and setting the illuminance around the eyes at which the driver feels dazzled as the predetermined brightness.

[0027] The irradiation position specification unit 72 acquires the position of the light source existing outside the vehicle from the light source specification unit 50, and specifies the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10. Specifically, first, the irradiation position specification unit 72 specifies the relative position of the driver's eyes with respect to the vehicle. The position of the driver's eyes can be specified from the position of the driver's seat, for example, by measuring in advance through experiments the correlation between the position of the driver's seat (front-rear position and up-down position) set by the driver and the position of the driver's eyes when the driver is seated on the set driver's seat. Alternatively, the driver monitor 40 specifies the position of the driver's eyes in order to detect the driver's side glances and dozes. Therefore, the position of the driver's eyes specified by the driver monitor 40 can also be used. Thereby, the irradiation position specification unit 72 can create a line connecting the position of the light source specified by the light source specification unit 50 and the position of the driver's eyes. Then, the irradiation position specification unit 72 can specify the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10 by acquiring the relative position of the light reaction member 10 with respect to a predetermined position of the vehicle stored in advance.

[0028] The illuminance setting unit 73 sets the illuminance of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 based on the brightness outside the vehicle. Specifically, when the brightness determination unit 71 determines that the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or higher than a predetermined brightness, the illuminance setting unit 73 sets the illuminance when irradiating ultraviolet rays based on the brightness outside the vehicle measured by the outside illuminance measurement unit 60. The illuminance when irradiating ultraviolet rays is set in consideration of the relationship between the brightness outside the vehicle and the optical characteristics of the photochromic compound contained in the photoreactive member 10. More specifically, the illuminance of the irradiated ultraviolet rays can be set by setting the transmittance of the light incident on the photoreactive member 10 estimated from the illuminance outside the vehicle based on the absorption spectrum that changes according to the illuminance when the photochromic compound is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The transmittance of the light incident on the photoreactive member 10 is the transmittance at which the driver does not feel dazzled.

[0029] When it is determined that the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or higher than a predetermined brightness, the irradiation control unit 74 transmits to the light irradiation unit 30 a signal indicating the position of the intersection of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member 10, the illuminance of the irradiated ultraviolet rays, and an instruction to irradiate ultraviolet rays. When it is determined that the brightness around the driver's eyes is less than the predetermined brightness, the irradiation control unit 74 stops the irradiation of ultraviolet rays and transmits to the light irradiation unit 30 a signal instructing to irradiate infrared rays at the irradiation position of the ultraviolet rays. The irradiation control unit 74 determines whether or not the irradiation position of the ultraviolet rays has changed. When it is determined that the irradiation position of the ultraviolet rays has changed, the irradiation control unit 74 transmits to the light irradiation unit 30 a signal instructing to irradiate infrared rays at the irradiation position before the irradiation position of the ultraviolet rays changes.

[0030] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a photochromic compound suitable for the anti-glare device according to the present embodiment will be specifically described.

[0031] A photochromic compound is a compound in which the molecular structure changes under the action of light or heat, and reversibly changes between two isomers with different colors and absorption spectra. There are two types of photochromic compounds: a photo-return type that changes from a state with a changed molecular structure back to the original state by the action of light, and a heat-return type that changes by the action of heat.

[0032] FIG. 3A shows a diarylethene having a dicyanoethylene group, which is a photo-return type photochromic compound. When the diarylethene is irradiated with ultraviolet light, a closed-ring form is generated and it colors, and the absorption spectrum changes. Specifically, an absorption band of the absorption spectrum appears in the visible light region along with the coloring. Also, when the closed-ring form of the diarylethene is irradiated with infrared light, it returns to the original open-ring form, and the absorption spectrum returns to the original state along with the decolorization.

[0033] FIG. 3B shows a spiropyran having a nitro substituent at the 6-position of the benzopyran moiety, which is a heat-return type photochromic compound. When the spiropyran is irradiated with ultraviolet light, an open-ring form is generated and it colors, and the absorption spectrum changes. Specifically, an absorption band of the absorption spectrum appears in the visible light region along with the coloring. Also, the open-ring form of the spiropyran returns to the original closed-ring form by the action of heat, and the absorption spectrum returns to the original state along with the decolorization.

[0034] It has been confirmed that in the photo-return type and the heat-return type, the photo-return type returns to the original state in terms of decolorization and absorption spectrum faster than the heat-return type. Therefore, the antiglare device according to the present embodiment preferably uses a photo-return type photochromic compound. However, even a heat-return type photochromic compound having optical characteristics of absorbing infrared light and decolorizing is applicable in the present embodiment.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a more detailed arrangement example of the photoreactive member 10 and the specific light blocking member 20 will be described.

[0036] Figures 4A and 4B are layout examples of arranging the photoreactive member 10 and the specific light blocking member 20 on the windshield 1 of the vehicle. Note that the windshield 1 of the vehicle is a laminated glass.

[0037] Figure 4A is an example of arranging the photoreactive member 10 and the specific light blocking member 20 at the position where the interlayer film of the windshield 1 is arranged. The photoreactive member 10 and the specific light blocking member 20 are arranged adjacent to each other. The specific light blocking member 20 is arranged in front of the photoreactive member 10. The specific light blocking member 20 is obtained by coating an ultraviolet cut material that blocks ultraviolet rays and an infrared cut material that blocks infrared rays on the interlayer film. Therefore, the specific light blocking member 20 blocks ultraviolet rays and infrared rays. The specific light blocking member 20 has a function as an interlayer film that prevents the windshield 1 from breaking into fragments and scattering even when it is subjected to an impact.

[0038] Figure 4B is an example of arranging the specific light blocking member 20 at the position where the interlayer film of the windshield 1 of the vehicle is arranged and arranging the photoreactive member 10 on the vehicle compartment side surface of the windshield 1. The configuration of the specific light blocking member 20 is the same as that in Figure 4A. The photoreactive member 10 is adhered to the vehicle compartment side surface of the windshield 1. The photoreactive member 10 is provided with a hard coat for improving wear resistance and scratch resistance while maintaining its original characteristics when installed in the vehicle compartment. As a result, in the configuration of Figure 4B, the arrangement of the photoreactive member 10 is simpler than that in Figure 4A, and the photoreactive member 10 can be easily replaced.

[0039] [Anti-glare method] Next, with reference to Figure 5, an example of the processing of the anti-glare device shown in Figure 1 will be described. The operation of the anti-glare device shown in the flowchart of Figure 5 starts simultaneously when the accessory switch of the vehicle is turned ON, and the processing ends when the accessory switch is turned OFF.

[0040] In step S10, the driver monitor 40 measures the brightness around the eyes of the driver of the vehicle, and the processing proceeds to step S20.

[0041] In step S20, the external illuminance measurement unit 60 measures the brightness outside the vehicle, and the process proceeds to step S30.

[0042] In step S30, the light source identification unit 50 identifies the position of the light source existing outside the vehicle, and the process proceeds to step S40.

[0043] In step S40, the irradiation position identification unit 72 acquires the position of the light source existing outside the vehicle from the light source identification unit 50, and identifies the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10, and the process proceeds to step S50.

[0044] In step S50, the brightness determination unit 71 determines whether the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness. Specifically, it determines whether the illuminance around the driver's eyes received from the driver monitor 40 is equal to or greater than a predetermined illuminance stored in advance.

[0045] In step S50, when the brightness determination unit 71 determines that the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness (YES in step S50), the process proceeds to step S60. In step S50, when the brightness determination unit 71 determines that the brightness around the driver's eyes is less than a predetermined brightness (NO in step S50), the process proceeds to step S70.

[0046] In step S60, the illuminance setting unit 73 sets the illuminance of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 31 based on the brightness outside the vehicle, and the process proceeds to step S80.

[0047] In step S80, the irradiation control unit 74 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate ultraviolet rays with an illuminance set based on the external brightness at the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the light reaction member 10, and the process proceeds to step S90.

[0048] In step S90, the irradiation control unit 74 determines whether the irradiation position of the ultraviolet rays has changed from the previous position.

[0049] In step S90, if the irradiation control unit 74 determines that the irradiation position of the ultraviolet ray has not changed from the previous position (NO in step S90), the process ends. In step S90, if the irradiation control unit 74 determines that the irradiation position of the ultraviolet ray has changed from the previous position (YES in step S90), the process proceeds to step S100.

[0050] In step S100, the irradiation control unit 74 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate infrared rays at the irradiation position before the irradiation position of the ultraviolet ray changes, and the process ends.

[0051] In step S70, the irradiation control unit 74 determines whether the ultraviolet ray was irradiated in the previous process.

[0052] In step S70, if the irradiation control unit 74 determines that the ultraviolet ray was not irradiated in the previous process (NO in step S70), the process ends. In step S70, if the irradiation control unit 74 determines that the ultraviolet ray was irradiated in the previous process (YES in step S70), the process proceeds to step S110.

[0053] In step S110, the irradiation control unit 74 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to stop the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray, and the process proceeds to step S120.

[0054] In step S120, the irradiation control unit 74 controls the light irradiation unit 30 to irradiate infrared rays at the irradiation position of the ultraviolet ray, and the process ends.

[0055] [Operational Effects] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.

[0056] The anti-glare device is arranged in a planar shape in front of the driver driving the vehicle, irradiates ultraviolet rays on the photoreactive member 10 including an optically active member having optical characteristics of coloring in response to ultraviolet rays and fading in response to infrared rays, and causes the photoreactive member 10 to color. Thereby, the anti-glare device can change the absorption spectrum of the photoreactive member 10, reduce the transmittance of the light passing through the photoreactive member 10, and reduce the glare felt by the driver.

[0057] The anti-glare device is arranged in a planar shape in front of the driver driving the vehicle, irradiates infrared rays on the photoreactive member 10 including an optically active member having optical characteristics of coloring in response to ultraviolet rays and fading in response to infrared rays, and causes the photoreactive member 10 to fade. Thereby, the anti-glare device can return the absorption spectrum of the photoreactive member to the state before anti-glare is started, that is, the state before the light irradiation unit 30 irradiates ultraviolet rays, in a short time. Thereby, when the external light incident on the inside of the vehicle disappears, the anti-glare device can return the transmittance of the light passing through the photoreactive member 10 to the state before anti-glare is started in a short time. That is, the driver's field of vision can be kept good.

[0058] The anti-glare device includes a specific light blocking member 20 arranged in front of the photoreactive member 10 and blocking at least one of ultraviolet rays and infrared rays incident on the photoreactive member 10 from the outside of the vehicle. Thereby, the anti-glare device can prevent unnecessary coloring or fading of the photoreactive member 10 caused by at least one of ultraviolet rays and infrared rays incident on the photoreactive member 10 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0059] The anti-glare device further includes a light source specifying unit 50 for specifying the position of a light source existing outside the vehicle and a control unit 70. The anti-glare device specifies the intersection point of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member 10, and irradiates ultraviolet rays at the intersection point of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member 10. Thereby, the anti-glare device can appropriately anti-glare only the portion where the driver feels glare.

[0060] The anti-glare device further includes a driver monitor 40 that measures the brightness around the driver's eyes. When the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness, ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the light irradiation unit 30. Thereby, anti-glare can be performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays only when the driver feels glare, and the energy consumed by the light irradiation unit can be reduced.

[0061] The anti-glare device further includes an external illuminance measurement unit 60 that measures the external brightness, and changes the illuminance of the irradiated ultraviolet rays according to the external brightness of the vehicle. Thereby, the anti-glare device can change the shade of the color development of the photoreactive member 10 according to the external brightness of the vehicle, and can appropriately set the transmittance of the light incident through the photoreactive member 10 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0062] The anti-glare device can prevent the discoloration leakage when the photoreactive member 10 is decolorized, and can prevent the occurrence of color unevenness of the photoreactive member 10 due to the discoloration leakage, by making the irradiation area of the infrared rays wider than the irradiation area of the ultraviolet rays.

[0063] The anti-glare device installs the light irradiation unit 30 at a position where the irradiation direction is downward from the horizontal. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet rays and infrared rays irradiated from the light irradiation unit 30 from being reflected by the window glass disposed in front of the driver and hitting the driver's face.

[0064] The anti-glare device irradiates infrared rays from the light irradiation unit 30 installed at a position where the irradiation direction is downward from the horizontal. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the infrared rays irradiated from the light irradiation unit 30 from being reflected by the window glass disposed in front of the driver and hitting the driver's face, and it is possible to prevent malfunction of the driver monitoring system that monitors the state of the driver by irradiating the driver's face with infrared rays.

[0065] When the irradiation position of ultraviolet rays changes, the anti-glare device irradiates infrared rays at the irradiation position before the change in the irradiation position of ultraviolet rays. Thereby, the anti-glare device can cause color development only at the intersection of the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member 10, and can prevent the driver's poor visibility due to unnecessary color development.

[0066] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but it should not be understood that the discussions and drawings forming part of this disclosure limit this invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0067] 10 Photoreactive member 20 Specific light blocking member 30 Light irradiation unit 40 Driver monitor 50 Light source identification unit 60 External illuminance measurement unit 70 Control unit

Claims

1. A photoreactive member including an optically active member that is arranged in a planar shape in front of a driver who drives a moving body, has an optical property of coloring in response to ultraviolet light and fading in response to infrared light, A light irradiation unit that irradiates the photoreactive member with the ultraviolet light and the infrared light from inside the moving body, A specific light blocking member that is arranged in front of the photoreactive member and blocks at least one of the ultraviolet light and the infrared light that enters the photoreactive member from outside the moving body, A light source specifying unit that specifies the position of a light source existing outside the moving body, A control unit, Comprising, The control unit specifies an intersection point between a line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member, The light irradiation unit irradiates the intersection point with the ultraviolet light, and when the irradiation position of the ultraviolet light changes, irradiates the infrared light at the irradiation position before the irradiation position of the ultraviolet light changes An anti-glare device characterized by the above.

2. The anti-glare device according to claim 1, further comprising a driver monitor that measures the brightness around the driver's eyes, The light irradiation unit irradiates the ultraviolet light when the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness.

3. The anti-glare device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an external illuminance measurement unit that measures the brightness outside the moving body, The light irradiation unit changes the illuminance of the ultraviolet light according to the brightness outside.

4. The anti-glare device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the irradiation area of the infrared light is wider than the irradiation area of the ultraviolet light.

5. The anti-glare device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light irradiation unit is installed at a position where the irradiation direction is below the horizontal.

6. The anti-glare device according to claim 5, wherein the light irradiation unit irradiates the infrared light from a position where the irradiation direction is below the horizontal.

7. Measure the brightness around the eyes of the driver of the moving body, Specify the position of the light source existing outside the moving body, Specify the intersection point between the line connecting the position of the light source and the position of the driver's eyes and the photoreactive member, Determine whether the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness, When it is determined that the brightness around the driver's eyes is equal to or greater than a predetermined brightness, irradiate the intersection point with ultraviolet light, When it is determined that the brightness around the driver's eyes is less than the predetermined brightness, stop the irradiation of the ultraviolet light and irradiate the infrared light at the irradiation position of the ultraviolet light, When the irradiation position of the ultraviolet light changes, irradiate the infrared light at the irradiation position before the change in the irradiation position of the ultraviolet light A glare prevention method characterized by the above.

Images