Pixelated Virtual Visor for Localized Sun Glare Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sun visors in vehicles fail to consistently block sunlight from disrupting the driver's view due to the need for frequent adjustments, and their larger size to accommodate various head positions and sunlight directions often obstructs the view of road signs and other important features.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted virtual visor system with a camera and a visor comprising contiguously arranged pixels, where the controller adjusts the opacity of each pixel based on images of the driver's face to automatically block sunlight, minimizing visual disturbances and maintaining an unobstructed view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sun visor is made larger to block sunlight with various head positions, then the effectiveness of blocking sunlight is improved, but the obstruction of the driver's view of road signs and other features worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or zones. Each segment can be adjusted individually to block sunlight in specific directions while leaving other areas transparent, allowing the driver to maintain visibility of road signs and features that would otherwise be blocked by a large opaque visor
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the visor have different optical properties - some areas are opaque to block sunlight, while other areas remain transparent to maintain driver visibility. The opacity of each region can be dynamically adjusted based on the direction of sunlight and driver's head position, creating local quality variations that resolve the contradiction between blocking sunlight and maintaining view
2Reliability
If the sun visor is manually adjusted frequently to track the sun, then the blocking effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The visor system automatically tracks the sun and adjusts its opacity without driver intervention. Sensors detect the sun's position and the driver's head orientation, and the control system automatically repositions or adjusts the visor segments to maintain optimal blocking, eliminating the need for frequent manual adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms including sun position sensors and driver head position detection. This feedback loop allows the visor to continuously monitor environmental conditions and automatically adjust its position or opacity to maintain effective sunlight blocking throughout driving conditions changes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the visor is made opaque to block high intensity light, then the protection from glare is improved, but the illumination of the driving environment worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The visor provides selective opacity - only the portions of the visor that would block sunlight from reaching the driver's eyes are made opaque, while other portions remain transparent. This localized opacity approach blocks harmful glare while preserving overall illumination of the driving environment through the windshield
Solution Approach 2:
The visor is divided into multiple zones with different opacity levels. The control system adjusts each segment's opacity independently based on the angle of incoming sunlight and the driver's line of sight, ensuring that only necessary areas block light while maintaining overall environmental illumination
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 effectively blocks high-intensity light sources while minimizing driver distraction and maintaining an unobstructed view of the road, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and preserving visibility of important features.
Implementation Method 1
A camera mounted within an environment and configured to capture a plurality of images of a face of a person in the environment
Implementation Method 2
Each pixel optical state in the plurality of pixel optical states has a different opacity such that the respective pixel blocks a different amount of light from passing through a corresponding area of the visor
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual visor system is disclosed that includes a visor having a plurality of independently operable pixels that are selectively operated with a variable opacity. A camera captures images of the face of a driver or other passenger and, based on the captured images, a controller operates the visor to automatically and selectively darken a limited portion thereof to block the sun or other illumination source from striking the eyes of the driver, while leaving the remainder of the visor transparent. The virtual visor system advantageously detects whether the driver of other passenger is performing particular head gestures and updates the optical state of the visor using suitable modified procedures that accommodate the intent or goals of the driver or other passenger that are inferred from the predefined head gesture. In general, the modified procedures reduce distracting or frustrating updates to the optical state of the visor.