Adaptive Vehicle Glare Shield Using Segmented Translucent Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glare shield technologies for vehicles reduce translucency and generate visible artifacts, failing to effectively block lateral light sources and adapt to driver movements without restricting the field of vision.
Innovation Solution
A glare shield device with multiple translucent layers, each comprising elements with variable translucency and specific viewing direction ranges, selectively blocks light from glare sources while maintaining maximum translucency for non-affected areas, using liquid crystal displays and adaptive control to ensure artifact-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If surfaces which can be darkened locally are attached to the windshield, then the dazzling effect of glare sources can be reduced, but the translucency of the windshield is adversely affected and visible artifacts are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is divided into a multiplicity of individually controllable elements (e.g., pixels or segments), each capable of independent translucency adjustment. This segmentation allows selective darkening of only those elements intersected by glare light trajectories, while other elements remain fully transparent, thus reducing the dazzling effect without adversely affecting overall translucency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the windshield are assigned different translucency properties based on their function: elements intersected by glare light trajectories have reduced translucency to block glare, while elements not intersected by such trajectories maintain high translucency for optimal visibility. This local differentiation eliminates visible artifacts while effectively reducing dazzling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If surfaces which can be darkened locally are used, then glare from direct sources can be reduced, but light incident laterally on the vehicle cannot be blanked out
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends glare protection from a single-plane approach to a three-dimensional spatial approach by calculating light trajectories in 3D space between glare sources and the driver's eyes. This allows the system to identify and darken elements along oblique and lateral light paths, not just direct perpendicular glare, thereby blanking out lateral light sources effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cameras and sensors to detect glare sources and driver eye position, calculates light trajectories in real-time, and dynamically adjusts the translucency of windshield elements accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables adaptive protection against varying glare sources from different directions, including lateral sources.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If adaptive devices for reducing glare are implemented, then the dazzling effect can be reduced, but visible artifacts are generated and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, maintains vehicle integrity, and simultaneously acts as a display surface for the adaptive glare shield elements. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by integrating the glare protection system into the existing windshield rather than adding separate complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing cameras, sensors, and processing units to detect glare sources and control the adaptive elements, rather than requiring dedicated specialized components. This self-service approach leverages available resources to minimize additional device complexity while achieving effective glare reduction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces glare for both eyes without visible artifacts, maintains high translucency, and adapts to changing light sources and driver positions, enhancing visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The translucency of the multiplicity of elements can be changed separately. The elements of the multiplicity of elements each have a viewing direction range.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a corresponding device for providing a glare shield in a vehicle is designed to select a first element from the plurality of elements of the first layer, so that the first element lies on a light trajectory between the source of glare and a first eye of the viewer, the light trajectory between the source of glare and the first eye lies within the viewing direction range of the first element, and a light trajectory between the source of glare and a second eye of the viewer lies outside of the viewing direction range of the first element.