Smart Car Windows
Smart Car Windows
Driving into the sunset without sun visor.
When driving very early or late in the day, the sun can be blinding. The HinesLab Smart Car Window eliminates this problem by creating a moving dark area on the glass that blocks the sun and eliminates the need to switch the visor from front to side.
A dark patch appears to slide around on the windows to shade the driver’s eyes while turning. The position of the dark area on the glass uses a fisheye camera on the dash and a microprocessor.
Driving into the sunset. Dash-Camera View
A patch on the windows is darkened using electro-chromic glass technology (used on auto-dimming rear view mirrors), or LCD-television-screen technology. The driver is not aware of a dark patch, but rather the absence of the blinding sun in a more evenly lit sky.
The system creates moving dark spots for more than the sun at sunset… but also for road glare, oncoming headlights at night.
Setting the eye location, which the system uses as it’s pivot point as the car turns, is relatively easy. The driver uses a small joystick or paddle switch on the door or the side of the seat to adjust the height and forward position, similar to adjusting the seat.
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The system compensates for side windows being partially rolled down. When a window is rolled down, the dark area on the glass remains stationary as the glass slides down out of it, and reappears as the window rolls up again through it. When the car is parked, all windows darken to protect the valuables inside. |
The HinesLab sun-visor window technology provides the same benefit in commercial and military aircraft, especially useful for military fighter pilots.
Hines’ 1993 lab notebook entry for this invention:
Ironically, a very similar concept, independently developed by Bosch 27 years later, won the Best Innovation Award at the 2020 CES show in Las Vegas.
HinesLab is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. This is not a product being offered for sale to end users. To discuss licensing, please contact Steve Hines at:
USA
phone: 818-507-5812
email: Steve@HinesLab.com