Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A glare reducing apparatus (100) configured to be fixed in a first vehicle (I), said apparatus (100) configured to reduce glare (101) coming from an external light source impinging onto the eyes of the occupant (1) of the vehicle (I), said apparatus (100) comprising:
a. electro-optical elements (102) disposed on transparent elements (2) of the first vehicle (I);
b. a plurality of sensors (104) configured to be coupled to said electro-optical elements (102), each of said sensors (104) configured to sense glare coming from the external light source and generate sensed signals corresponding to the incident glare;
c. an electronic control unit (ECU) (106) of the first vehicle (I) configured to be coupled with said sensors (104) and said electro-optical elements (102) to receive the sensed signals, and further configured to generate a trigger signal to control said electro-optical elements (102) under electromagnetic effect to momentarily reduce the transparency or increase opacity of said transparent elements (2); and
d. a power supply (108) of the first vehicle (I) electrically coupled with said sensors (104) and said electro-optical element (102).
2. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, includes a circuit breaker (110) electrically coupled with said ECU (106) between said power supply (108) and said electro-optical elements (102) to make and break the loop (112), and control the transparency and opacity of the transparent elements (2).
3. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker (110) breaks the loop (112) upon receiving a trigger signal from said ECU (106) of the first vehicle (I) when glare (101) is sensed by said sensors (104).
4. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker (110) allows electric current to flow through the electro-optical element (102) upon receiving trigger signal from said ECU (106) of the first vehicle (I) when glare (101) is absent.
5. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electro-optical element (102) is selected from the group consisting of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC) glass film, a liquid crystal display (LCD) element, a lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) element, electro-chromic element, and elements that are capable of attenuating the transmission of light by application of an electromagnetic field thereto.
6. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electro-optical element (102) includes plurality of crystal layers (102A), said crystal layers (102A) configured to keep themselves in an arranged manner upon receiving electric current, thereby allowing said electro-optical element (102) to make the transparent elements (2) transparent in the absence of glare (101).
7. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said crystal layers (102A) configured to be disarranged during glare (101) impinging on to said electro-optical element (102), thereby momentarily reducing the transparency or increase opacity of the transparent elements (2) to prevent glare (101) impinging onto the eyes of the occupants (1).
8. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transparent elements (2) of the first vehicle includes front windshield, rear windshield, side window glass of driver and passenger compartments.
9. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker (110) is selected as an electromagnetic relay switch which makes or breaks contact upon receiving a trigger signal from said ECU (106) of the first vehicle (I).
10. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor (104) is selected from the group consisting of a photo-resistor, a photodiode, and a photo transistor.
11. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external light source is moving, and wherein the external light source is stationary.
12. The glare reducing apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electro-optical elements (102) is configured to reduce transparency or increase opacity till the external light source is impinging onto the transparent elements (2) of the first vehicle (I).
13. A method (200) for reducing glare coming from an external light source impinging onto transparent elements (2) of a first vehicle (I), said method (200) comprising the following steps:
i. sensing (202), by a plurality of sensors (104), glare of light coming from the external light source;
ii. generating (204), by said plurality of sensors (104), sensed signals corresponding to incident glare;
iii. receiving (206), by an electronic control unit (ECU) (106) of the first vehicle (I), the plurality of sensed signals;
iv. generating (208), by said ECU (106), a trigger signal, based on received said sensed signals;
v. receiving (210), by a plurality of electro-optical elements (102) operatively disposed on the transparent elements (2) of the first vehicle (I), the generated trigger signal via a circuit breaker (110);
vi. breaking (212), by said circuit breaker (110), supply loop from said ECU (106) to said electro-optical elements (102); and
vii. making (214), by said electro-optical elements (102), the transparent elements (2) of the first vehicle (I), momentarily less transparent or more opaque and reducing glare coming from external light source.

Dated this 02nd day of November, 2021

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT CHENNAI
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of apparatus for reducing glare.
DEFINITION
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
The term “Glare” used herein after refers to momentary loss of visual performance in the presence of bright light (i.e., light having higher luminance) such as direct or reflected sunlight or artificial light such as car headlamps at night.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Typically, driving at night is riskier than driving during the day and the accident fatality rate is reportedly three times greater at night than during the day. A sudden glare of light from an external light source such as that coming from the headlights of an opposite approaching vehicle makes a person driving the vehicle blind for a moment. Glare may also come from reflective sign boards, street lights, billboards that are placed aside of the road. This sudden glare of light heavily impacts our decision making performance, which some time leads to fatal accident. Moreover, the glare of light also affects the passengers other than the driver, thereby making the occupants blind for a moment.
There is, therefore, felt a need for an apparatus for reducing glare and that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a glare reducing apparatus.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a glare reducing apparatus that provides good visibility to occupant of a vehicle when glare is impinged on the eyes from an external light source.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a glare reducing apparatus that attenuates and reduces glare coming from an external light source impinging on to the eyes of occupants.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a glare reducing apparatus. The apparatus is configured to be fixed in a first vehicle. The apparatus is configured to reduce glare coming from an external light source impinging onto the eyes of the occupant of the first vehicle. The apparatus comprises electro-optical elements, a plurality of sensors, an electronic control unit (ECU) of the first vehicle. The electro-optical elements are disposed on transparent elements of the first vehicle. The plurality of sensors is coupled to the electro-optical element. Each of the sensors is configured to sense glare coming from the external source, and further configured to generate sensed signals corresponding to the incident glare. The electronic control unit (ECU) of the first vehicle is configured to cooperate with the sensors and the electro-optical element to receive the sensed signals form the sensors, and further configured to generate a trigger signal to control the electro-optical element under electromagnetic effect to momentarily reduce the transparency or increase opacity of the transparent elements. The power supply is of the first vehicle is electrically coupled with the sensors and the electro-optical element in a loop.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a circuit breaker electrically coupled with the ECU between the power supply and the electro-optical element to make and break the loop, and control the transparency and opacity of the transparent elements.
In an embodiment, the circuit breaker breaks the loop upon receiving a trigger signal from the ECU when glare is sensed by the sensors.
In an embodiment, the circuit breaker allows electric current to flow through the electro-optical element upon receiving trigger signal from the ECU when glare is absent.
In an embodiment, the electro-optical element is selected from the group consisting of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC) glass film, a liquid crystal display (LCD) element, a lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) element, electro-chromic element, and elements that are capable of attenuating the transmission of light by application of an electromagnetic field thereto.
In an embodiment, the electro-optical element includes plurality of crystal layers, the crystal layers configured to keep them in an arranged manner upon receiving electric current, thereby allowing the element to make the transparent element transparent in the absence of glare.
In an embodiment, the crystal layers get disarranged when glare is impinging on to the electro-optical element, thereby momentarily reducing the transparency or increase opacity of the transparent elements to prevent glare from impinging onto the eyes of the occupants.
In an embodiment, the transparent elements of the first vehicle include front windshield, rear windshield, and side window glass of driver and passenger compartments.
In an embodiment, the circuit breaker is selected as an electromagnetic relay switch which makes or breaks contact upon receiving a trigger signal from the ECU of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the sensor is selected from the group consisting of photo-resistor, a photodiode, and a photo transistor.
In an embodiment, the external light source is moving. In another embodiment, the external light source is stationary.
In an embodiment, the electro-optical elements are configured to reduce transparency or increase opacity till the time external light source impinges onto the transparent elements of the vehicle.
The present disclosure also envisages a method for reducing glare coming from an external light source impinging onto a plurality of transparent elements of the first vehicle. The method comprises the following steps:
i. sensing, by a plurality of sensors, glare of light coming from the external light source;
ii. generating, by the plurality of sensors, sensed signals corresponding to incident glare;
iii. receiving, by an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, the plurality of sensed signals;
iv. generating, by the ECU, a trigger signal, based on received sensed signals;
v. receiving, by a plurality of electro-optical elements operatively disposed on the transparent elements of the first vehicle, the generated trigger signal via a circuit breaker;
vi. breaking, by the circuit breaker, supply loop from the ECU to the electro-optical elements; and
vii. making, by the electro-optical elements, the transparent elements of the vehicle, momentarily less transparent or more opaque and reducing glare coming from external light source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A glare reducing apparatus of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a circuit (apparatus) for reducing glare coming from an external light source or from an opposite/ approaching vehicle;
Figure 2 illustrates a top view depicting the apparatus of Figure 1 reducing glare impinging onto an eye of an occupant;
Figure 3 illustrates a front view depicting the windshield of the vehicle of occupant being made less transparent or more opaque by the apparatus of Figure 1 upon sensing glare coming from an approaching vehicle; and
Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart depicting method steps for reducing glare coming from an external source.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
I – First vehicle
II – Second vehicle
1 – Occupant
2 – Transparent elements
100 – Glare reducing apparatus
101 – Glare
102 – Electro-optical element
102A – Crystal layers
104 – Plurality of sensors
106 – Electronic control unit (ECU)
108 – Power supply
110 – Circuit breaker
112 – Electric flow apparatus/ wire loop
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being "mounted on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
The present disclosure envisages a vehicular glare reducing apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as “apparatus 100”) is configured to be fixed in a first vehicle I. The apparatus 100 reduces glare 101 coming from an external light source impinging onto the eyes of the occupants of the first vehicle I. The apparatus 100 will now be described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 3. The apparatus 100 is configured to be fixed in the first vehicle I in electrical communication with the electronic control unit (ECU) 106 and the power supply 108 of the first vehicle I.
Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus 100 comprises electro-optical elements 102, a plurality of sensors 104, the ECU 106, and the power supply 108.
An electric flow apparatus such as wire loop or cable 112 is used to couple the electro-optical element 102, the sensors 104, the ECU 106 between positive and negative terminals of the power supply 108, thereby forming the apparatus 100 for reducing glare.
The electro-optical elements 102 are disposed on transparent elements 2 of the first vehicle I. In an embodiment, the transparent elements 2 of the first vehicle I include front windshield, rear windshield, and side window glass of driver and passenger compartments.
In an embodiment, the electro-optical element 102 is selected from the group consisting of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC) glass film, a liquid crystal display (LCD) element, a lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) element, electro-chromic element, or any other element that can attenuate the transmission of light by application of an electromagnetic field thereto. In an embodiment, the electro-optical element 102 includes plurality of crystal layers 102A.
The plurality of sensors 104 is disposed near the electro-optical element 102. Each of the sensors 104 is configured to sense glare 101 coming from the external light source. In an embodiment, the sensor 104 is selected from the group consisting of photo-resistor, a photodiode, or a photo transistor or any suitable element which generates electric current upon receiving light beam or light rays.
The electronic control unit (ECU) 106 of the first vehicle I is configured to cooperate with the sensors 104 to receive the sensed signals form the sensors 104. The ECU 106 is further configured to generate a trigger signal to control switching of the electro-optical element 102 to momentarily reduce the transparency or increase opacity of the transparent elements 2 to attenuate and reduce glare 101, thereby providing visibility to the occupant 1 of the first vehicle I. In an embodiment, the electro-optical elements 102 are configured to reduce transparency or increase opacity till the time external light source impinges onto the transparent elements 2 of the first vehicle I.
In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 includes a circuit breaker 110 electrically coupled with the ECU 106 between the power supply 108 and the electro-optical element 102 to make and break the loop 112. In an embodiment, the circuit breaker 110 is selected as an electromagnetic relay switch which makes or breaks contact upon receiving a trigger signal from the ECU 106 of the second vehicle II.
Once the sensors 104 sense the glare 101 coming from an external light source, it triggers the ECU 106 to allow the circuit breaker 110 to break the loop 112 (i.e., discontinue). This causes the electro-optical element 102 film’s crystal layer 102A configured to be disarranged (in zigzag order), thereby making the transparent elements 2 more opaque or less transparent at certain zones (please refer Figure 3). Once the external light source is passed, the sensors 104 sense absence of glare 101 and it again triggers the ECU 106 to allow the circuit breaker 110 to make the circuit and allow current to flow through the electro-optical element 102 to make the transparent elements 2 again back to transparent, and prevent the driver and other occupants of the first vehicle I from getting momentarily blind, thereby causing accident. In an embodiment, the sensors 104 senses glare 101 when the intensity of glare crosses a predetermined threshold value.
More particularly, the circuit breaker 110 either makes or breaks the path of the loop 112 upon receiving trigger signal from the ECU 106 to continue or discontinue the flow of current from power supply 108 to the electro-optical element 102.
Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method 200 for reducing glare coming from an external light source impinging onto a plurality of transparent elements 2 of the first vehicle I. The method 200 comprises the following steps:
i. At step 202, sensing, by the plurality of sensors 104, glare of light coming from the external light source;
ii. At step 204, generating, by the plurality of sensors 104, sensed signals corresponding to incident glare;
iii. At step 206, receiving, by the electronic control unit (ECU) 106 of the first vehicle, the plurality of sensed signals;
iv. At step 208, generating, by the ECU 106, a trigger signal, based on received sensed signals;
v. At step 210, receiving, by a plurality of electro-optical elements 102 operatively disposed on the transparent elements 2 of the vehicle I, the generated trigger signal via a circuit breaker 110;
vi. At step 212, breaking, by the circuit breaker 110, supply loop between the ECU 106 and the electro-optical elements 102; and
vii. At step 214, making, by the electro-optical elements 102, the transparent elements of the first vehicle I, momentarily less transparent or more opaque and reducing glare coming from external light source.
In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to reduce the glare 101 coming from the external light source such as an approaching vehicle, glare coming from advertising billboards, glare coming from reflective road signs and the like. In an embodiment, the light source is moving. In another embodiment, the light source is stationary.
For the purpose of understanding the working of the apparatus 100, a second vehicle II approaching the first vehicle I scenario is described (see Figures 2 and 3).
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the second vehicle II is approaching towards the first vehicle I. The transparent elements 2 such as the front windshield of the first vehicle I has electro-optical element 102 disposed thereon which allows the reduction of glare 101 coming from the headlights of the second vehicle II impinging onto the eyes of the occupant of the first vehicle I.
In normal driving condition, the circuit is completed in the loop 112 which allows electro-optical element film’s crystal layers 102A in an arranged manner under electromagnetic effect. More particularly, due to electric charge, the crystal layers 102A configured to keep themselves in an arranged manner (in parallel manner) under electromagnetic effect, which helps it to keep the electro-optical element 102 and the windshield of the first vehicle I transparent. Electricity flows through positive and negative terminal of the power supply 110 which passes through circuit breaker 110 (i.e., in closed condition) and then to the sensors 104 which are inactive (since no glare 101 is sensed), and then it passes through the electro-optical element 1.
The circuit breaker 110 breaks the loop 112 upon receiving trigger signal from the ECU 106 when glare 101 coming from the second vehicle II is sensed by the sensors 104. This causes the loop 112 to break and prevent current from reaching the electro-optical element 102. The crystal layers 102A are configured to get disarranged (i.e., in zigzag order) in the absence of charge, thereby momentarily (i.e., till the glare is incident on transparent elements 2) reducing the transparency or increasing opacity of the windshield to prevent glare 101 impinging onto the eyes of the occupants of the first vehicle I.
The electro-optical element 102 hides visual field of zone of the occupant 1 of first vehicle I slightly more than one eye visual zone. Referring to Figure 2, in this condition the electro-optical element 102 makes the windshield more opaque for field of view of slightly more than one eye. This leads to restrict the glare but at the same time remaining field of view of the other eye still provides the clear visual without glare of the road condition during glare.
Once, the second vehicle II passes, the sensors 104 send sensed signal to the ECU 106 of the first vehicle I to trigger the circuit breaker 110 make the loop 112 to allow flow of current through the electro-optical element 102. The crystal layers 102A again get arranged (i.e., arranged in a parallel manner) due to charge and make the windshield transparent.
The apparatus 100 of the present disclosure provides good visibility to occupant of a vehicle when glare is impinged on the eyes from an external light source. The apparatus 100 attenuates and reduces glare impinging on to the eyes of occupants and prevents the occupants from momentary blindness, thereby causing fatal accident on road.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a glare reducing apparatus, that:
• provides good visibility to occupant of a vehicle when glare is impinged on the eyes from an external light source; and
• attenuates and reduces glare impinging on to the eyes of occupants and prevents the occupants from going momentarily blind and causing fatal accident.
The embodiments as described herein above, and various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the description. Descriptions of well-known aspects, components and molecular biology techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein, that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications of such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Further, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the present disclosure with reference to the described embodiments, it will be recognized that the described embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the scope of such principles.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this disclosure, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other modifications in the nature of the disclosure or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.