Light-Dimmable Glass With Individually Controlled Electrochromic Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light-shielding technologies for vehicles require manual adjustment of light transmittance, which can compromise driving safety, and lack automatic control capabilities for dynamic light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of light-dimmable glass with electrochromic or liquid crystal units that can be individually controlled to adjust light transmittance, combined with a light intensity detector and controller to automatically adjust light transmittance based on detected light conditions, ensuring optimal visibility and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual adjustment of light-shielding plate is used, then device complexity is reduced, but driving safety deteriorates due to inability to respond to dynamic light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding device automatically detects light intensity through light sensors and adjusts the light transmittance of electrochromic glass without manual intervention. The system serves itself by using environmental light information to control its own state, eliminating the need for manual operation while ensuring driving safety through automatic adaptation to changing light conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of light-shielding plates with an automated electro-optical system. Light sensors detect illumination levels and trigger electrical control signals that adjust the electrochromic glass transmittance, substituting mechanical human operation with an automated sensing-control system to improve response time and driving safety.
2Reliability
If automatic light transmittance adjustment is implemented, then driving safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochromic glass serves multiple functions: it acts as both a transparent window and a variable light-shielding element. The same glass structure that provides visibility also provides automatic light control when voltage is applied, eliminating the need for separate mechanical shutters or blinds, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining driving safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls light transmittance by changing the electrical parameter (voltage) applied to the electrochromic glass. By adjusting the voltage level, the glass transitions between different transmittance states, providing a simple electrical control mechanism that avoids complex mechanical adjustment systems while ensuring driving safety through automatic adaptation.
3Ease of operation
If light transmittance is reduced to prevent glare, then driving comfort is improved, but visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochromic glass can be divided into multiple independently controllable regions, each with different light transmittance levels. This allows selective dimming of specific areas (such as the upper portion for glare reduction) while maintaining higher transmittance in other areas (such as the lower portion for driver visibility), thereby simultaneously improving driving comfort and maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The light transmittance of the glass is dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors light conditions and adjusts transmittance in real-time, allowing the glass to transition between transparent and shaded states as needed. This dynamic control enables optimal balance between glare reduction for comfort and visibility maintenance for safe driving.
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
This solution enables automatic adjustment of light transmittance in real-time, enhancing driving safety and comfort by reducing glare from changing light conditions without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
the light dimmers are electrochromic units arranged in an array form on the glass substrate, and each of the electrochromic units is capable of being controlled individually so as to change its color and light transmittance
Implementation Method 2
the light dimmers are liquid crystal membranes arranged in an array form between the two glass substrates, and a light transmittance of each of the liquid crystal membranes changes by adjusting a voltage applied to the liquid crystal membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Light-dimmable glass, a controllable light shielding device, a controllable light shielding method and a vehicle are provided. The light-dimmable glass includes a plurality of light-dimmable regions and a plurality of light dimmers each arranged on a respective one of the plurality of light-dimmable regions. Each of the light dimmers is capable of being controlled individually so as to change its light transmittance, thereby to adjust a light transmittance of the corresponding light-dimmable region where the light dimmer is located.