Light control window

Abstract

To provide a lighting control window which changes light transmittance depending on the glare which an individual user feels.SOLUTION: A window 10 can control light transmittance, by a bonding dimming film 10b which can control the light transmittance to a window main body 10a. Then, a camera as a detection unit 20 photographs facial expression and gestures of a user U. Then, on the basis of the photographing screen, a determination unit 30 determines presence / absence of the glare which the user is feeling. When determining that the user is feeling the glare, the light transmittance of the window 10 is controlled and changed, through a control unit 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a window capable of controlling the light transmittance.

Background Art

[0002] Natural light enters the interior through the windows provided on the outer walls of buildings. The interior of the building is brightened by the incoming natural light, but on the other hand, the users inside the building may feel dazzled. The same is true for the windows of vehicles such as trains when the light coming in through the windows is dazzling.

[0003] Therefore, windows that control the transmittance to enable appropriate daylighting are known. The window described in Patent Document 1 is a window that detects whether there is a user indoors and changes the light transmittance depending on whether there is a user or not. Further, Patent Document 2 is a window that uses a human body clock, that is, a circadian rhythm, to change the light transmittance, for example, between morning and afternoon.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the light transmittance is changed according to whether there is a user indoors or the time, and the amount of light entering the room is adjusted.

[0006] However, whether or not a user inside an indoor space perceives glare is not necessarily dependent on the time of day. For example, the amount of natural light differs between sunny and rainy days, so someone might find it glare on a sunny afternoon but not on a rainy afternoon. Furthermore, perceptions vary from person to person, and whether or not someone perceives glare can also depend on their physical condition.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a daylight control window that changes the light transmittance according to the glare perceived by individual users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In other words, the first aspect of the present invention comprises a window capable of controlling the light transmittance, a control unit for controlling the light transmittance of the window, a detection unit for detecting the facial expressions and gestures of a user located on one side of the window, and a determination unit for determining the user's glare by quantifying the degree of glare felt by the user as a glare evaluation value based on the facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit. This is a daylight control window characterized in that the control unit controls the light transmittance of the window according to the glare evaluation value determined by the determination unit.

[0009] The aforementioned window can be composed of a light-transmitting window body and a light-adjusting film that is bonded to the window body and can control the light transmittance.

[0010] Furthermore, the determination unit can be configured to store a reference table that associates the user's facial expressions and gestures with the level of glare, and to compare the glare evaluation value with the reference table to determine the degree of glare.

[0011] The aforementioned reference table may include at least one of the following parameters, from the first to the fourth:

[0012] The first parameter: How much the user squints. The second parameter: the degree to which the user's brow wrinkles. Third parameter: The gesture of the user holding their hand in front of their face. The fourth parameter: The user's gesture of turning their face away from the window.

[0013] The detection unit can be comprised of a camera. When the detection unit is comprised of a camera, the control unit can also be provided with a function to control the light transmittance of the window if the image captured by the camera is too bright or too dark to detect the user's facial expressions and gestures. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the facial expressions and gestures of a user positioned on one side of the window are detected, and based on the detected expressions and gestures, the presence or absence of glare felt by the user is determined. The light transmittance of the window is then controlled according to this glare, so that the light transmittance can be changed to suit each individual user. For this reason, for example, it is possible to change the transmittance between sunny and rainy days to achieve optimal lighting, or to change the lighting according to the user's physical condition, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of the daylight control window of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an embodiment of the daylight control window of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Specific examples of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of the daylight control window of the present invention.

[0017] As can be seen from Figure 1, this daylight control window 100 is composed of a window 10, a detection unit 20, a determination unit 30, and a control unit 40.

[0018] And in FIG. 1, to explain the usage method of this daylighting control window 100, on one side of it, user U is sitting on a chair. The daylighting control window 100 is, for example, a window provided on the outer wall of a building, with one side inside the building and the other side outside the building, and user U is located inside the building. Alternatively, the daylighting control window 100 may be a window of a vehicle such as a train, and in this case, user U is located inside the vehicle. Also, the daylighting control window 100 may be something that divides two areas of the same building. For example, it is a window that divides a dark interior and a bright lobby.

[0019] By the way, window 10 can control the light transmittance. For example, it can be composed of a light-transmissive window body 10a and a dimming film 10b that is bonded to this window body and can control the light transmittance.

[0020] The light-transmissive window body 10a may be, for example, a conventional window glass.

[0021] Also, the dimming film 10b that can control the light transmittance is also well-known. For example, the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-45612 can be used. That is, this dimming film has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two electrode films. The electrode film is a transparent film with a transparent electrode laminated on one side of a flexible film, and the transparent electrode is laminated so as to face the liquid crystal layer. Also, the other electrode film is similarly a transparent film with a transparent electrode laminated on one side of a flexible film, and its transparent electrode is also laminated so as to face the liquid crystal layer. And by applying a voltage to these two electrodes, the optical properties of the liquid crystal layer change. For example, by applying a voltage, the liquid crystal layer becomes cloudy and opaque, blocking the light rays, and on the other hand, by stopping the application of the voltage, the liquid crystal layer becomes transparent and the light rays are transmitted. Note that there is also a dimming film in which the liquid crystal layer becomes transparent and transmits light rays by applying a voltage, and the liquid crystal layer becomes opaque and blocks the light rays by stopping the application of the voltage. Either one may be used.

[0022] The detection unit 20 is responsible for detecting the facial expressions and gestures of user U. In this embodiment, a camera capable of shooting video is used as the detection unit 20. The facial expressions and gestures of user U are detected by analyzing the captured images. Image analysis may be performed within the camera, or, as with the determination unit described below, a personal computer or server may be used.

[0023] The facial expressions and gestures detected by this detection unit 20 should preferably be those related to glare. For example, if user U squints or furrows their brow, it can be inferred that user U is experiencing glare. Similarly, if user U shields their face with their hand or turns away from the window, it can also be inferred that they are experiencing glare. Therefore, for example, by detecting the following first to fourth facial expressions and gestures, it is possible to determine the degree of glare that user U is experiencing. First facial expression / gesture: The way the user narrows their eyes. Second facial expression / gesture: The way the user's brow furrows. Third expression / gesture: The user holds their hand in front of their face. Fourth facial expression / gesture: The user turns their face away from the window.

[0024] It is possible to detect any one of these 1-4 facial expressions / gestures, or to detect multiple of them.

[0025] Next, the determination unit 30 determines whether or not the user is experiencing glare based on the facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit 20. That is, the degree of glare the user is experiencing is quantified as a glare evaluation value based on the facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit 20, thereby determining the user's glare. As an example of quantification, the user may make any of the first to fourth facial expressions or gestures described above and count it. For example, if the user squints their eyes beyond a predetermined value, it is counted as 1. Alternatively, numerical values ​​that precisely associate subtle movements related to facial expressions and gestures with glare may be prepared in advance, and when the user takes an action corresponding to glare, the user may be quantified using these values. In this case, the degree of glare the user can be determined more accurately. For this reason, the detection unit 20 and the determination unit 30 are linked to each other so that information regarding facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit 20 is sent to the determination unit 30. In Figure 1, the dashed line connecting the detection unit 20 and the determination unit 30 shows this connection.

[0026] A personal computer or server can be used as the determination unit 30. When a personal computer or server is used as the determination unit 30, it may be used as both the determination unit 30 and the control unit 40, which will be described below. In other words, the personal computer or server can perform image analysis in the detection unit 20, as well as the determination unit 30 and the control unit 40.

[0027] Furthermore, in order to determine the user's glare, the determination unit 30 may store a reference table in advance that associates the user's facial expressions and gestures with the degree of glare. By comparing the reference table of facial expressions and gestures stored in this way with the calculated glare evaluation value, it is possible to determine the degree of glare. The reference table includes at least one parameter from the following first to fourth parameters. Note that the first to fourth parameters are each These are parameters corresponding to the first to fourth facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit 20.

[0028] The first parameter: How much the user squints. The second parameter: the degree to which the user's brow wrinkles. Third parameter: The gesture of the user holding their hand in front of their face.

[0029] The fourth parameter: The user's gesture of turning their face away from the window.

[0030] Furthermore, it is possible to store a threshold value for glare evaluation calculated from facial expressions and gestures, and to judge the degree of glare by comparing it to this threshold.

[0031] For example, if a threshold is set for each of the first to fourth parameters mentioned above, and two of these first to fourth parameters exceed their respective thresholds, the degree of glare can be judged as higher than if only one parameter exceeds the threshold. Of course, if three or more parameters exceed their respective thresholds, the degree of glare can be judged as even higher.

[0032] By the way, when a camera is used as the detection unit 20, the image captured by this camera may be too bright or too dark to detect the user U's facial expressions and gestures. In such cases, it is desirable to control the light transmittance of the window 10 so that the user U's facial expressions and gestures can be detected. For example, if it is too bright to detect the user U's facial expressions and gestures, the light transmittance of the window 10 should be reduced. Conversely, if it is too dark to detect the user U's facial expressions and gestures, the light transmittance of the window 10 should be increased.

[0033] Next, the control unit 40 controls the light transmittance of the window 10 based on information from the determination unit 30. The determination unit 30 and the control unit 40 are connected in order to send the information necessary for controlling the light transmittance from the determination unit 30 to the control unit 40. In Figure 1, the dashed line connecting the determination unit 30 and the control unit 40 shows this connection.

[0034] The information necessary for controlling light transmittance is, first and foremost, information about the glare felt by user U. For example, if user U is experiencing strong glare, the control unit 40 will reduce the light transmittance of the window 10 based on this information.

[0035] Furthermore, as mentioned above, information indicating whether the screen captured by the camera (detection unit 20) is too bright or too dark to detect the user U's facial expressions and gestures is also necessary information for controlling the light transmittance.

[0036] Next, with reference to Figure 2, a method for controlling the amount of light transmitted by the daylight control window 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating this operation.

[0037] When controlling the amount of light transmitted through this light-daylighting window 100, first, the camera acting as the detection unit 20 captures the facial expressions and gestures of the user U (Step 1). Then, the facial expressions and gestures of the user U are detected by image analysis based on the captured image (Step 2). In Step 2, if the captured image is too bright or too dark due to the influence of ambient light, it may not be possible to detect the facial expressions and gestures. In that case, the light transmittance of the window 10 may be controlled and changed through the control unit 40.

[0038] Next, the determination unit 30 determines whether or not user U feels dazzled (Step 3). If it determines that user U is feeling dazzled, the control unit 40 controls and changes the light transmittance of the window 10 according to the degree of dazzling (Step 4). If the determination unit 30 determines that user U is not feeling dazzled, the camera continues to capture user U's facial expressions and gestures while maintaining the light transmittance of the window 10.

[0039] Furthermore, if it is determined that user U is experiencing glare, the light transmittance of window 10 may be changed immediately by continuously recording user U's facial expressions and gestures, or the light transmittance of window 10 may be controlled by recording user U's facial expressions and gestures at predetermined times or time intervals.

[0040] This light-controlling window 100 can be installed, for example, in a window adjacent to an eat-in area in a convenience store or supermarket. This allows for the appropriate control of the amount of sunlight entering through the window, without requiring any action from the customer, thereby maintaining a comfortable environment in the eat-in area. For example, it is possible to control the light transmittance of the window 10 by taking photos of the user U's facial expressions and gestures every two hours in the morning, and then control the light transmittance of the window 10 by taking photos of the user U's facial expressions and gestures every hour in the afternoon when the temperature rises. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 100: Light control window 10: Window 10a: Window frame 10b: Dimming film 20: Detection unit 30: Judgment section 40: Control Unit U:User

Claims

1. The system comprises a window capable of controlling the light transmittance, a control unit that controls the light transmittance of the window, a detection unit that detects the facial expressions and gestures of a user located on one side of the window, and a determination unit that determines the user's level of glare by quantifying the degree of glare the user is experiencing as a glare evaluation value based on the facial expressions and gestures detected by the detection unit. The control unit controls the light transmittance of the window according to the glare evaluation value determined by the determination unit. The detection unit consists of a camera. The control unit reduces the light transmittance of the window if the screen captured by the camera is too bright to detect the user's facial expressions or gestures, and increases the light transmittance of the window if the screen captured by the camera is too dark to detect the user's facial expressions or gestures. The aforementioned window is composed of a light-transmitting window body and a light-adjusting film that is bonded to the window body and can control the light transmittance. The dimming film comprises a liquid crystal layer, The light-controlling window is characterized in that the light-adjusting film reduces the light transmittance in the window by causing the liquid crystal layer to become cloudy and opaque.

2. The light control window according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit stores a reference table that associates the user's facial expressions and gestures with the level of glare, and compares the glare evaluation value with the reference table to determine the degree of glare.

3. The daylight control window according to claim 2, characterized in that the reference table includes at least one parameter from the following first to fourth parameters. The first parameter: How much the user squints. The second parameter: the degree to which the user's brow wrinkles. The third parameter: The user's gesture of holding their hand in front of their face. The fourth parameter: The user's gesture of turning their face away from the window.

Images