WO2013120152A1

WO2013120152A1 - On board vehicle system for suppressing the dazzle effect from counter and surrounding lights

Info

Publication number: WO2013120152A1
Application number: PCT/BG2013/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivaylo Gerov GYOZOV
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-13
Filing date: 2013-02-08
Publication date: 2013-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-13
Also published as: BG111138A

Description

Ivaylo Gerov Gyozov - Varna, Republic of Bulgaria

ONBOARD VIHECLE SYSTEM FOR SUPPRESSING THE DAZZLE EFFECT FROM COUNTER AND SURROUNDING LIGHTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is within the field of lighting installations electronic control systems and will be applied in the vehicle industries.

BACKGROUND ART

A system reducing dazzle effect from front and side vehicles lights exists and it consists of lighting installation producing polarized light and inserted in the vehicle windows polarizing filters. The installation generated light is polarized under certain angle to the vehicle vertical axis. The polarizing filter is structured in such a way as to transmit the installation generated light and to block the polarized light generated at any different angle. The result is that in two-way traffic vehicles equipped with this system the light generated by the installation of one vehicle is blocked by the polarizing filter of the other, and vice-versa. Thus the dazzle effect from front and surrounding lights is blocked, while the lighting installation light is transmitted.

The disadvantage of the existing system is that this effect can only be achieved in cases where the front and surrounding lights are polarized. This is the reason why the system is inefficient where in the traffic take part vehicles which are not equipped with it. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention seeks to provide an electronic system for reducing the intensity of front and surrounding lights in order to suppress the driver dazzle effect while keeping the intensity of the light generated by the vehicle lighting system.

In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished in a system which consists of a control module connected to the vehicle LED lighting via power switching units, user interface module connected to the control module, and installed on vehicle front and side windows liquid crystal filters (LCD) or LCD glasses for the driver. LED lighting is accomplished with LED boards which are periodically switched to power by the power switching units, under the control of rectangular pulses with specific frequency and phase generated by the control module. During the plateau time interval of each pulse, the LED boards are switched to feeding state, while during the pause interval between two pulses are not fed. As result the light emitted by the LED boards is pulse light with phase coinciding with the rectangular pulses series. Due to human vision inertia at rectangular pulse frequency over 25 Hz this light is perceived as constant. Well-known property of pulse light is the fact that its intensity is perceived by human vision as equivalent to the one of constant light, with intensity equal to the product of the intensity of the pulse light in the rectangular pulse plateau, and the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. Consequently the intensity of perceived pulse light is directly proportional to the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. In order to control the intensity of light emitted on base of that property, within the control module is embedded a functionality for carrying out pulse width modulation (PWM) of the generated rectangular pulses. The LCD filters are made of liquid-crystal matrices and connected to them electronic control units. The latter are connected to the control module for inputting rectangular pulses, inputted as well to the LED boards. The electronic control units of the LCD filters are set in such way as the LCD matrices to be transparent during the plateau time interval of each pulse, while during the pause time interval between two pulses the LCD matrices are opaque. Because the rectangular pulses inputted to the LED boards correspond in phase and filling coefficient to those inputted to the LCD filters, the time intervals during which the LED boards are fed correspond exactly with the time intervals during which the LCD matrices are transparent. By analogy, the time intervals during which the LED boards are not fed, correspond exactly with the time intervals in which the LCD matrices are opaque. As result the intensity of light emitted by the vehicle LED lighting does not change during passage through the LCD matrix, while the illumination of objects lighted by the light is not affected by the time interval during which the LCD matrix is opaque. On the other hand the counter and surrounding lights for the vehicle, may be produced by a constant or pulse source of light and accordingly the light may be constant or pulse. When constant light passes through the LCD matrix, it is converted into pulse light due to the fact that the matrix is transparent only during the rectangular pulses plateau time interval. Because of the pulse light property described above, the intensity of light which have passed through the LCD matrix is perceived by human vision as equivalent to the one of constant light, with intensity equal to the product of the intensity of the pulse light in the rectangular pulse plateau, and the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. Therefore the intensity of the produced pulse light is lower as compared to the one of the constant light and is in directly proportional dependence of the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. When pulse counter and surrounding light passes through the LCD matrix, it is not synchronized neither in phase nor in frequency with the rectangular pulses inputted to the LCD filter and this is the reason why the light pulses within the time intervals where the matrix is opaque are not transmitted. The result is that filling coefficient for pulses of counter and surrounding pulse lights is lowered and therefore the intensity of pulse light passing through the matrix is lowered too. In summary of the two cases described follows the conclusion that the intensity of the counter and surrounding lights perceived by the vehicle driver is as lower as low is the filling coefficient value of the rectangular pulses. In order to use that dependence in the user interface module is embedded a functionality for changing the rectangular pulses filling coefficient at driver will, as well as for selection of values provided for in the legislation of various countries. The value selected by user interface module is then applied in the control module for realizing PWM of the rectangular pulses inputted to the LED boards and the LCD filters. In order to achieve constant intensity of the LED emitted light the power switching units are designed to allow dynamic change of the current passing through the LED boards, depending of the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. In low filling coefficient values the current passing through is high, while in high coefficient values the current passing through is low. This is the way how a constant value of the product of the intensity of the light emitted from the LED boards in the rectangular pulse plateau, and the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses is guaranteed. The result is that the emitted light is with constant intensity and is perceived the same way by all observers, i.e. traffic participants, notwithstanding of their position.

The structure of the electronic system allows to achieve a technical effect consisting in reducing to desired level the intensity of the counter and surrounding lights perceived by vehicle driver in traffic conditions, while at the same time keeping the intensity of light emitted from vehicle lighting system unchanged. This is how the purpose of the invention is achieved.

However, taking into account the system principle of functioning, if the counter or surrounding light for the vehicle is pulse and corresponds to phase and frequency to the light emitted by the system LED boards, the technical effect described above cannot be achieved. Such a situation is possible when two vehicles of oncoming traffic are equipped with the system described. In order to prevent eventual failure of system in such cases, the system may be equipped with module for connection with global positioning system (GPS) which is connected to the control module. The GPS module shall transmit synchronizing pulses from the global positioning system to the system control module, as well as information for the geographic azimuth of the vehicle direction of travel. In such a realization of the system, in the control module is embedded a functionality for deviation of the rectangular pulses phase from the GPS synchronizing pulses phase, to a number of degrees equal to the azimuth of the vehicle direction of travel. The result for both oncoming vehicles shall be that their lights shall be dephased by 180 degrees (pi radians), thus guaranteeing system correct operation. Because at certain values of dephasing and filling coefficient the light emitted by the oncoming vehicle is completely absorbed by the LCD filter, within the lighting system of vehicles equipped with the current system, shall be included sources of constant (non-modulated) light. Such sources may be the vehicle parking lights. For vehicles in the same direction of travel the rectangular pulses shall be synchronized in phase and frequency and correspondingly the light produced by their LED boards is synchronized. In such cases for vehicles equipped with rear view mirrors or rear window is possible dazzle effect from the lighting of the vehicle traveling behind. In order to suppress this effect the rear-view mirrors and the rear window may be equipped with LCD filters connected to the system control module. The latter shall emit rectangular pulses dephased by 180 degrees (pi radians) compared to the lights emitted to the system modules as described.

The advantage of the system proposed in the invention is its efficiency, notwithstanding the nature of counter and surrounding lights. This fact allows the implementation of the system at industrial scale without requiring all vehicles be equipped with it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 - Represents the system suppressing the dazzle effect from counter and surrounding lights;

Figure 2 - Represents a variant embodiment of the system with installed LCD filters on the rear window and the rear-view mirrors; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

One preferable embodiment of the system according to the invention is shown on fig. 1 and 2. The control module 1 is connected to the LED boards 2 via power switching units 3, as well as to installed in the vehicle front window LCD filter 8, consisting of electronic control unit 4.1 and LCD matrix 5.1. The rectangular pulses generated by the control module 1 are simultaneously inputted to the power switching units 3 and the electronic control unit 4.1. During the rectangular pulses plateau time intervals the LED boards 2 are switched to feeding state by the power switching units 3 and LED boards 2 emit light. During the pause time intervals between two pulses the LED boards 2 are not switched to feeding state and do not emit light. The LCD filter electronic control unit 4.1 is set in such manner as to provide during the plateau time interval of each pulse to make the LCD matrix 5.1 transparent, while during the pause time interval between two pulses to make the same LCD matrix 5.1 opaque. Because the rectangular pulses inputted to the power switching units 3 correspond in phase and filling coefficient to those inputted to the electronic control unit 4.1, the time intervals when the LED boards 2 are switched to feeding state, correspond with the time intervals when the LCD matrix 5.1 is transparent. By analogy, during the time interval when the LED boards 2 are not switched to feeding state, the LCD matrix 5.1 is opaque. The user interface module 6 connected to the control module 1 is designed for adjusting the intensity of counter and surrounding lights perceived by the driver of the vehicle 8 by changing the filling coefficient of the rectangular pulses. In order to- achieve constant intensity of the light emitted by LED boards 2, the power switching units 3 are designed to allow dynamic change of the current passing through the LED boards 2, depending on the filling coefficient value of the rectangular pulses.

The control module 1 may be connected to a GPS module 7 which transmits synchronizing pulses from the GPS and data for the geographical azimuth of the vehicle 8 direction of travel. According to this embodiment, in the control module 1 is embedded functionality for deviation of the rectangular pulses phase from the GPS synchronizing pulses phase, to a number of degrees equal to the azimuth of the vehicle 8 direction of travel. As result the rectangular pulses of two oncoming vehicles 8 with opposite directions of travel are dephased by 180 degrees (pi radians) and the chance for system failure is avoided. In order to suppress the dazzle effect from corresponding in phase and filling coefficient light coming from a vehicle traveling behind in the same direction, on the vehicle rear window is installed LCD matrix 5.2, which is connected to electronic control unit 4.2. On the rear-view mirrors are installed LCD matrices 5.3, which are connected to electronic control units 4.3. Both units 4.2 and 4.3 are connected to the control module 1 for inputting rectangular pulses, dephased by 180 degrees (pi radians) compared to the those inputted to the power switching units 3 and the electronic control unit 4.1.

Claims

1. Onboard vehicle system for suppressing the dazzle effect from counter and surrounding lights, consisting of light sources and filters, characterised in that, it is equipped with a control module (1), connected to LED boards (2) via power switching units (3), as well as to installed on the vehicle (8) front window LCD filter consisting of electronic control unit (4.1) and LCD matrix (5.1), operating by rectangular pulses with specified frequency, phase and filling coefficient, inputted by the control module (1) to the power switching units (3) and the electronic control unit (4.1), whereupon the LED boards (2) emit light during the plateau time intervals of the pulses and the LCD matrix (5.1) is transparent, while during the pause time intervals between two pulses the LED boards (2) do not emit light and the LCD matrix (5.1) is opaque, at same time to the control module (1) is connected user interface module (6), intended for adjusting the counter and surrounding light intensity by changing the rectangular pulses filling coefficient, and in order to be achieved constant intensity of the light emitted by the LED boards (2) the power switching units (3) are designed to allow dynamic change of the current passing through the LED boards (2), depending on the filling coefficient value of the rectangular pulses.

2. System in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that, a GPS module (7) is connected to the control module (1) intended for transmitting synchronizing pulses from the GPS and information for the geographical azimuth of the vehicle (8) direction of travel, whereupon in the control module (1) is embedded functionality for deviation of the rectangular pulses phase from the GPS synchronizing pulses phase, to a number of degrees equal to the azimuth of the vehicle 8 direction of travel.

3. System in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that, in order to block the dazzle effect from corresponding in phase and filling coefficient light from vehicle traveling behind in same direction, is equipped with installed on the rear window LCD matrix (5.2) with connected electronic control unit (4.2), and on the rear-view mirrors are installed LCD matrices (5.3) with connected electronic control units (4.3), whereupon both boards (4.2) and (4.3) are connected to the control module (1), for inputting rectangular pulses dephased by 180 degrees (pi radians) compared to those inputted to the power switching units (3) and electronic control unit (4.1.)