Vehicle Sun Visor Control With Auxiliary Panel for Low-Angle Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sun visor systems require manual adjustment, which can be inconvenient and hazardous while driving, especially on curved roads or during sunset, as they may obstruct the driver's view and are limited in size, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
An automatic vehicle sun visor control system that includes a camera to detect sunlight around the driver's eyes, an angle sensor to determine the sunlight's angle, an actuator to rotate the sun visor, and an auxiliary sun visor that slides down when necessary, all controlled by a motor and rack-pinion gear to automatically block sunlight without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the sun visor area is increased to block sunlight at various angles, then the sunlight blocking capability is improved, but the obstruction of the driver's view is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sun visor is designed to be rotatable around a rotary shaft, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation according to the incident angle of sunlight detected by the angle sensor. This dynamic adjustment enables the visor to block sunlight from various angles without requiring a permanently large area that would obstruct the driver's view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates an angle sensor that detects the incident angle of sunlight and provides feedback to the controller, which then adjusts the sun visor rotation angle accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the visor is positioned optimally to block sunlight while minimizing obstruction of the driver's forward view.
2Device complexity
If manual adjustment of the sun visor is required, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation is worsened and driving safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sun visor system performs self-adjustment through automated rotation based on sunlight detection. The angle sensor detects sunlight angle, the controller processes this information, and the actuator automatically rotates the visor to the appropriate position, eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing the driver to focus on driving without distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an automated electromechanical system comprising an angle sensor, controller, and actuator. This substitution transforms the visor from a static or manually-adjusted component to an automatically controlled system that responds to environmental conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sun visor is rotated to block sunlight, then the sunlight blocking capability is improved, but the device complexity is worsened due to additional actuators and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sun visor serves multiple functions: it blocks sunlight from various angles through rotation, and it can extend downward using the rack-pinion mechanism to block low-angle sunlight during sunrise or sunset. The auxiliary sun visor integrated into the body part provides additional blocking capability without requiring a separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary sun visor is nested within the sun visor body part, allowing it to extend downward when needed and retract when not needed. The rack-pinion gear mechanism is integrated into the body part, enabling compact storage and deployment of the auxiliary blocking surface without adding external complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the driver adjusts the sun visor while holding the steering wheel, then the ease of operation is improved for one-handed adjustment, but the driving safety is worsened due to distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The sun visor system performs self-adjustment through automated rotation based on sunlight detection. The angle sensor detects sunlight angle, the controller processes this information, and the actuator automatically rotates the visor to the appropriate position, eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing the driver to focus on driving without distraction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is configured to detect whether sunlight that shines into an interior through a glass shines around eyes of a driver, detect an incident angle of the sunlight at the same time, and control an actuator to unfold a sun visor to block the sunlight which hinders a driving view of the driver, so that the driver can drive safely as the sun visor is automatically unfolded even without the driver manipulating the sun visor when there is a worry that the driving view of the driver will be hindered. In particular, the present invention can improve an effect of blocking the sunlight and allow the driver to drive safely by minimizing hindrance of a driving view of the driver by the sun visor by driving the actuator such that the sun visor is located to be perpendicular to an incident angle. In addition, the present invention is configured to block the sunlight by automatically operating an auxiliary sun visor when the sunlight shining around the eyes of the driver cannot be blocked using only the sun visor which rotates as described above, so that, even when an angle between the ground and the sun is small like when the sun sets or rises, an effect of blocking the sunlight is improved to allow the driver to drive safely.