Liquid Crystal Sun Visor Control Using Light and Angle Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automobile sun visors that use liquid crystal technology to block ambient light are complex to control and prone to failure due to the need for precise AI calculations to align with the sun's position and human eye position, leading to potential safety issues during driving.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a dimming structure, control unit, sensors, and an angle sensor that adjusts the dimming structure's voltage based on sensing results and rotation angle to control light transmittance, allowing for effective blocking of ambient light without obstructing the driver's view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If LCD sun visor is used to block sunlight by controlling dark and transparent states, then ambient light blocking is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of AI calculations for sun position and eye position alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex AI calculation system with a simpler optical-mechanical solution using a light sensor to detect sun position and an angle sensor to measure visor rotation. This substitution of the control mechanism reduces computational complexity while maintaining the ability to block ambient light effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the visor's own rotation angle, detected by the angle sensor, as part of the control input. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external complex calculations by utilizing the system's inherent state information to determine the appropriate dark/transparent region configuration.
2Measurement precision
If LCD sun visor is used with AI calculations for precise control, then light blocking precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential control failure under drastic sunlight changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the light sensor continuously detects the actual sun position and the angle sensor monitors the visor rotation angle. This real-time feedback allows the system to dynamically adjust the dark/transparent region configuration, maintaining precision and reliability even under drastic sunlight changes without relying on pre-computed AI models.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operating parameters dynamically by adjusting which regions of the visor are in dark state versus transparent state based on real-time sensor inputs. This parameter adjustment approach allows the system to adapt to varying sunlight conditions reliably, overcoming the rigidity of pre-programmed AI control sequences.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If entire sun visor is made dark to block ambient light, then light blocking is improved, but driver's sight is obstructed causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only specific regions of the visor dark while keeping other regions transparent. The control unit determines the precise boundaries of the dark region based on light sensor and angle sensor data, ensuring that the dark area blocks sunlight effectively while the transparent area maintains the driver's field of view, thus eliminating sight obstruction.
4Measurement precision
If complex AI calculations are used for visor control, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to system fragility under drastic sunlight changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fragile AI calculation system with a more robust mechanical-optical sensing system. The light sensor detects sun position directly and the angle sensor measures visor rotation, providing simple, reliable inputs to the control unit that are not susceptible to the numerical instability and computational complexity issues that plague AI-based solutions under drastic sunlight changes.
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 device provides a reliable and efficient method to block ambient light by calculating the incident angle of sunlight and adjusting the dimming structure accordingly, enhancing safety by reducing the complexity of control and improving performance compared to existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal structure 111 is used as an example but is not limited thereto. The liquid crystal type of the liquid crystal layer may be, for example, PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal), PSCT (polymer stabilized cholesteric texture), PNLC (polymer network liquid crystal), CLC (cholesteric liquid crystal), etc.
Implementation Method 2
the control unit 13 outputs a voltage to the dimming structure 11 based on the incident angle of the ambient light and the rotation angle (θ) of the sun visor 10
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a dimming structure, a control unit, a plurality of sensors and an angle sensor. The control unit is electrically connected to the dimming structure. The plurality of sensors are electrically connected to the control unit, and output a sensing result based on a plurality of sensing values sensed by the sensors. The angle sensor is electrically connected to the control unit, and senses a rotation angle of the dimming structure. Based on the sensing result and the rotation angle, the control unit outputs a voltage to the dimming structure.