WO1997022904A1 - Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays - Google Patents
Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997022904A1 WO1997022904A1 PCT/US1995/016927 US9516927W WO9722904A1 WO 1997022904 A1 WO1997022904 A1 WO 1997022904A1 US 9516927 W US9516927 W US 9516927W WO 9722904 A1 WO9722904 A1 WO 9722904A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light
- offending
- pixels
- liquid crystal
- visor
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 title claims 2
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000001747 pupil Anatomy 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000002238 attenuated effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/13306—Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells
- G02F1/13318—Circuits comprising a photodetector
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F9/04—Eye-masks ; Devices to be worn on the face, not intended for looking through; Eye-pads for sunbathing
- A61F9/06—Masks, shields or hoods for welders
- A61F9/065—Masks, shields or hoods for welders use of particular optical filters
- A61F9/067—Masks, shields or hoods for welders use of particular optical filters with variable transmission
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J1/00—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter
- G01J1/10—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value provisionally void
- G01J1/20—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value provisionally void intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detectors, e.g. by varying incidence angle
- G01J1/28—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value provisionally void intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detectors, e.g. by varying incidence angle using variation of intensity or distance of source
- G01J1/30—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value provisionally void intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detectors, e.g. by varying incidence angle using variation of intensity or distance of source using electric radiation detectors
- G01J1/32—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value provisionally void intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detectors, e.g. by varying incidence angle using variation of intensity or distance of source using electric radiation detectors adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value
Definitions
- the present invention relates to visors used to block disturbing light sources affecting an operator of a vehicle or other equipment, and more particularly, to such visors with transparency coefficients that are electronically controlled.
- visors Many different designs have been designed in the past. However, to the best of applicant's knowledge, all of these designs have been mechanical and use opaque, or semi-opaque bodies that are interposed between the light source and the user. There has been no electronically controlled visor wherein only a portion of the visor is obscured keeping the rest of the area transparent for the user's benefit. None of the designs known to applicant provide for a mechanism for blocking only the offending source of light nor do they provide for an adjustment of what constitutes an offending light source.
- Figure 1 represents a schematic diagram of the electronic visor incorporating the subject matter claimed in this application.
- a two- dimensional sensor array shows three photo-elements activated through a lens causing three sections, of six pixels each, of the visor panel to be activated.
- Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram for an alternate embodiment incorporating two longitudinally extending sensor assemblies, instead of the two-dimensional array shown is figure 1, that are perpendicularly disposed with respect to each other.
- Figure 3 represents the same device as in the previous figure, except that the sections, of six pixels each, that are activated are not contiguous.
- Figure 4 is a partial representation of the electronic unit controlling the liquid crystal pixels.
- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the alternate embodiment shown in figure 3 wherein the elongated horizontal sensor assembly has three photo-diodes activated and the elongated vertical sensor assembly has two photo-diodes activated.
- Figure 6A shows the characteristics of the lens used in the preferred embodiment for the vertical sensor array.
- Figure 6B shows the characteristic of the lens used in the preferred embodiment for the horizontal sensor array.
- FIG. 10 where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes liquid crystal panel 20, control unit 40, sensor assembly 60 and power supply 80.
- Panel 20 is positioned between a user and the sources of light being monitored.
- a user In a typical situation, a user is behind the wheel of a vehicle monitoring light sources and the reflection of the light from the sources on objects and people. Depending on what the user observes, he or she takes actions on the operation of the equipment. Some of these light sources (the sun, beams of light from approaching vehicles, etc.) may become offensive or disturbing to the user. Blocking or attenuating these offending light sources then becomes not only desirable but necessary for the safe operation of the equipment or vehicle.
- Section 24 in figure 1 represents a group of six pixels grouped together to block or attenuate the offending light source.
- sensor assembly 60 includes lens member 62 and two- dimensional photosensitive array 63 (consisting of 12 x 6 units for a total of 72 photo-diodes).
- Lens member 62 is designed so that the offending light source affects three photo-diodes, in this embodiment, and through control unit 40, causes three sections 24 to be activated.
- Each section 24 has six pixels 22 that are hardwired together.
- sensor assembly 60' includes one-dimensional elongated horizontal sensor member 63' and elongated vertical one-dimensional sensor member 65' with corresponding lens members 62' and 64'.
- Elongated horizontal sensor member 63' is perpendicularly disposed with respect to elongated vertical sensor member 65'. With twelve and six outputs from members 63' and 65', respectively, the horizontal and vertical axes can provide the location on panel 20' corresponding to sections 24' of pixels 22' that need to be activated by control unit 40'.
- Power supply 80' provides the necessary electrical power to operate control unit 40' and panel 20'.
- circuit control unit 40" is designed so that non ⁇ contiguous sections 24" are activated.
- section 24" (24 and 24' also) is 2.50 cm. and its width is 3.3 cm.
- Panels 20; 20' and 20" include a number of identical liquid crystal pixels 22; 22' and 22". These pixels are shutters with their transparency being controlled by an input voltage signal. Depending on the intensity of the offending light source on sensor assemblies 60; 60' and 60", the coefficient of transparency in the corresponding activated pixels 22; 22' and 22" will then be reduced ( or opacity in are used).
- Liquid crystal pixels 22; 22' and 22" can be implemented, among others, with liquid crystal shutter type CID manufactured by UCE, Inc., 35 Rockland Rd., Norwalk, CT 06854. A predetermined number of pixels are always turned on together and they constitute sections 24; 24' and 24" , as best seen in figures 1 through 4.
- Sections 24; 24' and 24" include six pixels 22; 22' and 22", respectively, having a rectangular shape with 1.25 cm. in height and 1.1 cm. in width, in the preferred embodiment.
- Panels 20; 20' and 20" include twelve rows and thirty six columns for each of these embodiments.
- Control unit 40 in figure 1, includes the necessary circuit to provide the one to one (photosensitive element 69 to sections 24) corresponding activation of sections 24.
- Control unit 40 includes multi-channel electronic rheostat circuit 42 which can be implemented with an integrated circuit manufactured by Analog Devices under part No. MUX 24. Basically, each analog output from photo-diode array 63 is connected to an input in multi-channel electronic rheostat circuit includes in control unit 40.
- This electronic rheostat circuit will provide an amplified output to drive a corresponding section 24 having six pixels 22. Pixels 22 will correlate in position with the photo-diodes 69 in array 63 that were activated by the offending light source. The higher the intensity of the offending light source, the higher the voltage transmitted to pixel 22 , the higher the opacity (lower transparency), thereby increasing the attenuation of the offending light.
- Control unit 40' in figure 2 operates similar to the one described above, except that it receives less outputs from sensor assembly 60'.
- the outputs received are the ones necessary to locate the position in panel 20' for the pixels 22' that will be used to block or attenuate the offending light source.
- Control unit 40" in figure 3 works like control unit 40' except that the circuit is designed to activate section 24" that are not contiguous in order to effectively attenuate the offending light source with a minimum of opacity in the surrounding area.
- control unit 48 is adjusted, as best seen in figure 5.
- Bias control unit 48" can be implemented with gain amplifier 47" and photodiode 46". In this manner, only the offending light source will cause the opacity of the critical pixels to increase. For example, if panel 20" is adjusted at night, only the beams from approaching vehicles will be considered offending light sources. Without unit 48" the same circuitry would cause the entire panel to be opaque in broad daylight. Circuits 68; 68'; and 68" are included in control units 40; 40' and 40". The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN94206732U CN2184596Y (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1994-03-08 | Intelligent sun shade board of automobile |
US08/323,181 US5530572A (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1994-10-14 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
AU46464/96A AU712564B2 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
PCT/US1995/016927 WO1997022904A1 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
CA002241154A CA2241154A1 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN94206732U CN2184596Y (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1994-03-08 | Intelligent sun shade board of automobile |
PCT/US1995/016927 WO1997022904A1 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
CA002241154A CA2241154A1 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997022904A1 true WO1997022904A1 (en) | 1997-06-26 |
Family
ID=27170736
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1995/016927 WO1997022904A1 (en) | 1994-03-08 | 1995-12-20 | Electronic light control visor with two mutually perpendicular unidimensional photodetector arrays |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO1997022904A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2341965A (en) * | 1998-09-24 | 2000-03-29 | Secr Defence | Pattern recognition |
EP1160549A2 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2001-12-05 | The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Sun optical limitation illumination detector |
EP1752818A2 (en) * | 2005-08-12 | 2007-02-14 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
EP3741333A1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-11-25 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Darkening filter comprising a non-uniform pattern of switchable shutters |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4848890A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-07-18 | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | Visor with point sun blocking |
US4968127A (en) * | 1988-11-23 | 1990-11-06 | Russell James P | Controllable, variable transmissivity eyewear |
US5172256A (en) * | 1988-01-19 | 1992-12-15 | Sethofer Nicholas L | Liquid crystal variable color density lens and eye protective devices incorporating the same |
US5248880A (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1993-09-28 | Osd Envizion Company | Detector system for detecting the occurrence of welding |
US5379111A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1995-01-03 | Nidek Co., Ltd. | Lens meter |
US5412439A (en) * | 1993-02-17 | 1995-05-02 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Laser visor having overlying photosensors |
US5444232A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1995-08-22 | Xelux Ag | Antiglare device to protect eyes during welding and immediately thereafter for a time based on the intensity and duration of the welding light |
-
1995
- 1995-12-20 WO PCT/US1995/016927 patent/WO1997022904A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4848890A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-07-18 | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | Visor with point sun blocking |
US5172256A (en) * | 1988-01-19 | 1992-12-15 | Sethofer Nicholas L | Liquid crystal variable color density lens and eye protective devices incorporating the same |
US4968127A (en) * | 1988-11-23 | 1990-11-06 | Russell James P | Controllable, variable transmissivity eyewear |
US5248880A (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1993-09-28 | Osd Envizion Company | Detector system for detecting the occurrence of welding |
US5379111A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1995-01-03 | Nidek Co., Ltd. | Lens meter |
US5412439A (en) * | 1993-02-17 | 1995-05-02 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Laser visor having overlying photosensors |
US5444232A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1995-08-22 | Xelux Ag | Antiglare device to protect eyes during welding and immediately thereafter for a time based on the intensity and duration of the welding light |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2341965A (en) * | 1998-09-24 | 2000-03-29 | Secr Defence | Pattern recognition |
EP1160549A2 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2001-12-05 | The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Sun optical limitation illumination detector |
EP1160549A3 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2002-01-23 | The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Sun optical limitation illumination detector |
US6433330B1 (en) | 2000-05-29 | 2002-08-13 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence | Sun optical limitation illumination detector (SOLID) |
EP1752818A2 (en) * | 2005-08-12 | 2007-02-14 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
EP1752818A3 (en) * | 2005-08-12 | 2007-08-22 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
US8207908B2 (en) | 2005-08-12 | 2012-06-26 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
US8957833B2 (en) | 2005-08-12 | 2015-02-17 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
US9773461B2 (en) | 2005-08-12 | 2017-09-26 | Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. | Display module, and cellular phone and electronic device provided with display module |
EP3741333A1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-11-25 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Darkening filter comprising a non-uniform pattern of switchable shutters |
WO2020234759A1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-11-26 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Darkening filter comprising a non-uniform pattern of switchable shutters |
CN113905696A (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2022-01-07 | 3M创新有限公司 | Darkening filter comprising a non-uniform pattern of switchable shutters |
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