Bionic Sunroof with Dynamic Transmittance Grid
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunroofs for vehicles often provide either inadequate or excessive shading and heat transfer, leading to discomfort for passengers due to fixed shading levels that fail to adapt to varying light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sun protection device featuring a grid of surface elements that adjust transmittance based on sunlight intensity and direction, forming patterns of triangular structures or fractals to mimic natural shadows, controlled by an electronic unit to dynamically adjust shading and heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed shading level is used in sunroofs, then the device structure is simple, but the user comfort deteriorates due to inability to adapt to varying light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sunroof surface is divided into multiple independently controllable surface elements (pixels or mosaic elements) arranged in a grid pattern. Each surface element can adjust its transmittance individually, allowing the system to create various shading patterns and adapt to different light conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shading system transitions from a fixed static state to a dynamic adjustable state. The surface elements can change their transmittance properties in real-time based on detected light conditions, enabling the sunroof to adapt dynamically to varying illumination and heat conditions throughout the day.
2Loss of energy
If uniform shading is applied across the entire sunroof, then the control system is simple, but the heat reduction efficiency deteriorates due to excessive shading in already shaded areas
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sunroof surface are shaded differently based on their specific exposure to sunlight and heat. The control unit selectively adjusts the transmittance of individual surface elements or groups of elements, creating localized shading patterns that match the actual heat and light distribution, thereby reducing energy loss more efficiently without requiring complex uniform control.
3Illumination intensity
If the transmittance of all surface elements is reduced, then the shading intensity is high, but the natural appearance deteriorates due to uniform darkening
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies or imitates natural shadow patterns cast by surrounding objects such as trees, buildings, or other shade providers. By detecting the direction and intensity of sunlight, the control unit adjusts surface element transmittance to recreate these natural patterns, providing high shading intensity where needed while maintaining a natural, aesthetically pleasing appearance that blends with the environment.
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 provides flexible and natural-looking shading that balances light and heat, mimicking the effects of natural shadows, thereby enhancing user comfort and optimizing shading intensity.
Implementation Method 1
The surface elements (8) are designed to change their transmittance, in particular their transmittance for visible light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A sun protection device (4) for shading a translucent surface is described, wherein the sun protection device (4) comprises a translucent component (16) with a surface (17) and a number of surface elements (8, 9) arranged in a grid pattern on the surface (17) which are designed to change their transmittance.The sun protection device (4) comprises at least one device for determining the radiation intensity of the sunlight (2), at least one device for determining the direction of incidence (3, 5) of the sunlight (2) and at least one control device (10), wherein the control device (10) is designed to reduce the transmittance of a selected number of the surface elements (8, 9) depending on the radiation intensity and the direction of incidence (3, 5) of the sunlight (2), so that the selected surface elements (8, 9) produce a pattern which can be changed depending on the direction of incidence (3, 5) of the sunlight (2).