Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
  • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
  • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
  • B60Q1/1423—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
  • B60J3/04—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in transparency
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
  • B60R1/08—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors
  • B60R1/083—Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors
  • B60R1/088—Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C7/00—Optical parts
  • G02C7/10—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
  • G02C7/101—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses having an electro-optical light valve

Definitions

• the invention is within the field of lighting installations electronic control systems and will be applied in the vehicle industries.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• a functionality for carrying out pulse width modulation (PWM) of the generated rectangular pulses within the control module is embedded a functionality for carrying out pulse width modulation (PWM) of the generated rectangular pulses.
• PWM pulse width modulation
• 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.
• 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.
• the light 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• the system may be equipped with module for connection with global positioning system (GPS) which is connected to the control module.
• GPS global positioning system
• 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.
• the control module 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.
• sources of constant (non-modulated) light 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.
• the rectangular pulses shall be synchronized in phase and frequency and correspondingly the light produced by their LED boards is synchronized.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• the LED boards 2 are switched to feeding state by the power switching units 3 and LED boards 2 emit light.
• 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.
• a GPS module 7 which transmits synchronizing pulses from the GPS and data for the geographical azimuth of the vehicle 8 direction of travel.
• 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.
• 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.
• LCD matrix 5.2 which is connected to electronic control unit 4.2.
• LCD matrices 5.3 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.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Liquid Crystal (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=47996950

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (2)

Citations (5)

• 2012
  • 2012-02-13 BG BG10111138A patent/BG111138A/bg unknown
• 2013
  • 2013-02-08 WO PCT/BG2013/000003 patent/WO2013120152A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events