Virtual Visor Gradient Blocking for Driver Sunlight Shielding

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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 lights.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-mounted virtual visor system with a camera and a visor comprising contiguously arranged pixels, where a controller adjusts the opacity of each pixel based on images of the driver's face to block sunlight effectively while minimizing visual disturbance, using gradient blocking modes to ensure continuous coverage without obstructing the view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sun visor is made larger to block sunlight with various head positions and sunlight directions, then the reliability of blocking sunlight is improved, but the view of high mounted road signs and stop lights is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblocking sunlightVSAvoidview area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The visor is divided into multiple independently controllable zones or pixels, allowing selective activation of only the portions needed to block sunlight from specific eye positions, rather than deploying a single large opaque visor that blocks the entire view area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the visor have different opacity levels, with the controller adjusting each region's transparency locally to block sunlight only where needed while maintaining clear view in other areas, creating a gradient of optical properties across the visor surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sun visor is positioned to block sunlight, then the harmful effect of sunlight on driver's eyes is reduced, but the visor must be frequently adjusted as the vehicle changes directions and the driver moves their head

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesunlight disruptionVSAvoidadjustment frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The visor transitions from a static, fixed-position structure to a dynamic system where the controller continuously or periodically adjusts the opacity of different visor regions based on real-time detection of sunlight direction and driver eye position, allowing the visor to adapt automatically without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect sunlight direction and driver eye position, feeds this information back to the controller, which then adjusts the visor opacity accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically maintains optimal blocking without requiring manual adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Illumination intensity

If a conventional sun visor is used to block direct sunlight, then the intensity of sunlight reaching the driver's eyes is reduced, but the visor obstructs the view through the windshield when not precisely positioned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesunlight intensityVSAvoidwindshield view area

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The visor material or structure changes its optical properties, specifically its transparency or opacity, in response to detected sunlight conditions, allowing it to transition between transparent and opaque states or intermediate states to block sunlight only when and where needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color 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 system reliably blocks high-intensity light sources, such as the sun, while minimizing driver distraction and maintaining an unobstructed view through the windshield, by dynamically adjusting the visor's opacity based on the driver's head position and sunlight direction.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight blocking/Opacity: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11840130B2Vehicle mounted virtual visor system with gradient blocking modes

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

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 adopts a gradient blocking mode for the optical state of the visor that includes a blocker and a transition gradient, which has the effect of making updates to optical state of the visor less distracting. Additionally, the transition gradient in the optical state of the visor makes the virtual visor system more robust against errors in positioning the blocker on the visor.