Electrochromic Cockpit Panel With Gaze-Based Local Glare Dimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to effectively mitigate sun glare in cockpit environments, impacting pilot safety, comfort, and operational efficiency, with solutions like polarized sunglasses and sun visors providing only partial mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating an electrochromic panel with eye-tracking and sun-tracking cameras, coupled with computational analysis, dynamically adjusts tint levels to optimize visibility and minimize glare by leveraging electrochromic panel technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solid-state lighting efficiency is increased, then brightness per unit power increases, but the ability to achieve low-end brightness levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent LED modules, each capable of operating at minimum current. By controlling individual segments rather than a single light source, the system can achieve lower overall brightness levels while maintaining operational stability of each LED module.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate receive different amounts of light from selectively activated LED segments. This allows local dimming control where specific areas can be dimmed independently, enabling low-end brightness levels in certain regions while maintaining higher brightness in others.
2Illumination intensity
If the number of solid-state light sources is reduced, then light output decreases, but system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple LED segments that can be selectively activated based on viewing angle and brightness requirements. This segmentation allows the system to use fewer LEDs at any given moment while maintaining overall system efficiency by activating only the necessary segments for the current operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which LED segments are active based on real-time conditions including viewing angle, ambient light, and brightness requirements. This dynamic control optimizes the balance between light output and energy consumption, activating minimum necessary light sources while maintaining system efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If display uniformity is prioritized, then light distribution is optimized, but the ability to reduce light output deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into multiple zones corresponding to different LED segments. Each zone can be independently controlled to maintain uniform light distribution within that zone while allowing different overall brightness levels across the display, enabling both uniformity and light output reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display maintain optimized light distribution characteristics through selective LED activation. The system applies local quality control where each region's LED segments are adjusted to maintain uniformity locally while contributing to overall brightness reduction through coordinated dimming of multiple regions.
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 system provides comprehensive glare reduction tailored to pilot-specific needs, enhancing cockpit visibility and operational efficiency by autonomously adjusting tint levels based on real-time eye and light tracking data.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromic material technology provides the ability to dim transparent surfaces by applying an electric potential across the electrochromic material
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first camera located within a cockpit of an aircraft to track the eye movement of at least one pilot, and a second camera to track an ambient light source. The system includes an electrochromic panel having an array of dimmable cells. The system further includes a controller, equipped with one or more processors responsible for modifying the array of dimmable cells. The controller receives eye tracking data from the first camera associated with a gaze target of the pilot, and light tracking data from the second camera, which includes parameters associated with the ambient light source. Based on the eye tracking and light tracking data, the controller determines a glare location on a surface of the electrochromic panel where the gaze target intersects. The controller may then selectively modify a tint level of specific dimmable cells in the panel to address the determined glare location.